The birds show the way. Annual bird counts at Highlands Nature Sanctuary/Arc of Appalachia in SE Ohio, indicated to avid birders that about 35 species migrate from the cloud forests of Guatemala to/or through the Sanctuary to breed. In 2024, the Arc director connected with the Community Cloud Forest Conservation (CCFC) organization in Alta VeraPaz, Guatemala to celebrate this connection and consider becoming sister organizations. A second trip in 1/25 with a dozen Arc members revealed that much more than birds connect us. Up close and personal connections with the plants, critters and people on the land reveal some surprises in this small Caribbean country that some of our neighbors in Cincinnati come from. If you are a fan of bird watching, wilderness hiking, caving or growing and eating good food, you’ll enjoy this look into how these things influence another culture.