Day 7 - Costa Rica Ecology Project

We were up at 3:30am to take a bus to the airport to catch our early flight. We said good-bye to some members of our group as they had separate flights that would take them home. We had a long layover in Atlanta and we were able to pass the time by playing UNO and Phase 10. 

A game of UNO to waste time at the airport. 

We finally got into Boston around 8:30pm. As a few of us drove back to NHS campus, I was able to reflect on our amazing time together. This group was able to connect positively, and I believe partly because we were not able to use any technology during the week. We were able to talk and interact together. It was sad to leave Costa Rica, but even harder to say good-bye to each other as we went on our separate ways for spring break. This trip truly opened our eyes about conservation and sustainability. We connected with the environment and the culture of Costa Rica. Thanks to EPI and our guides, Stanley and Marin, as well as the researchers at LAST who taught us so many research skills.

Day 6 - Costa Rica Ecology Project

We packed our bus and drove 30 minutes to zip line. Our last full day in Costa Rica was a day to have fun. We took a beautiful out-door tram ride through the jungle to the top of the mountain. Unfortunately, we don't have any pictures during our zip line adventure because we didn't want to lose our cameras. 

Group picture before we go zip-lining.

 After our adventure, we boarded the bus again because we had another 1.5 hours to reach San Jose. We stopped along the way to walk over a bridge and check out the amazing crocodiles. We learned from Stanley that the crocodiles have been attracted to this specific area because tourists drop food from bridge. It is against the law in Costa Rica to feed wild animals.

Crocodiles!

Ollie checks out the crocodiles hanging out below the bridge.

These crocodiles have been attracted to this area because tourists drop food from the bridge.

We made another stop at a local fruit stand to try some of the native fruit that we can not find back in the United States. 

Ms Moreau enjoying some fruit. 

 When we reached our hotel in San Jose, we gathered one final time to share reflections of the week. Stanley and Marin handed EPI diplomas to each of us. However, we received another person's diploma, and each of us had to get up and speak about this person then handed that person their diploma. Our diplomas from EPI represent everything we have learned this week about conservation and ecology.

Francesca gives a shout out as she presents an EPI diploma to a member of our group.

We received our diplomas from EPI for successfully completing their curriculum. 

Day 5 - Costa Rica Ecology Project

The group left Osa Peninsula by bus and traveled for about 3.5 hours to Esterillos Este, Costa Rica. We stopped for lunch along the way. When we got to our hotel, we took some time to swim before we met to work on our research projects. 

A game of Marco Polo during our free time. 

The groups had 2 hours to work together to analyze their data, then write out their investigation on a poster that would be presented to the larger group later that night.

Working on our research projects. 

Marin discusses with the boys how to analyze their data. 

Organizing their research project. 

Phoebe writes out the research project onto a poster that will be shared later.

Vadim, Ollie and JP work well together on their project.

Carla, Manuel, Nikki, Jae Bin and Yutang process their data and write it out on their poster.

Each group got 10 minutes to present their research projects. This was followed by questions from the group. The following are the research questions each group designed:

Vadim, Ollie, and JP: Is there a larger population of hermit crabs located closer to the mangroves or further from the mangroves? 

Phoebe, Francesca and Subhana: Is there a correlation between the number of snorkel roots of red mangroves and the distance to the ocean? 

Jae Bin, Nikki, Yutang, Manuel and Carla: Is there a correlation between the ration of the carps and the ratio of the plastron of a black sea turtle and a hawksbill sea turtle? 

Vadim, Ollie and JP pose for a picture after presenting their investigation.

Phoebe, Francesca and Subhana presented their research project to the group.

Yutang, Jae Bin, Nikki, Manuel and Carla presented their project.

After the group presentations, Stanley and Marin led a sustainability activity that got the group to think about how to incorporate different stakeholders into an agreed upon use of land that would sustain the community. The students got involved in a healthy debate.

A late night lesson activity about sustainability. 

Day 4 - Costa Rica Ecology Project

Our groups swapped jobs today at LAST organization. Ms Moreau's group worked on the mangrove restoration project, while my group worked with sea turtles. We started by loading our boat and taking it out into the bay. The boat stopped in the middle of the bay, and we had to jump out into the water to help set up the very long net that would catch the sea turtles. Once we finished, the boat took us to a deserted beach, while Mag went back out into the boat and waited to see if a turtle was caught in the net. We waited patiently on the beach. When the boat approached us, we were ready to help bring the turtle to land and take measurements. We took turns holding the fins, taking measurements, and writing the data down. We were very lucky and got to see 2 Hawksbill turtles, 1 black sea turtle and 1 green sea turtle. While we were waiting on the beach, we had a lesson about the different types of sea turtles, and conservation issues related to them. We also had some free time where we collected coconuts. At the end of the day, one of the turtles we caught had to be brought back to LAST campus because it was sick. It was not a fun job, but we helped with putting the net away properly, which took us about 45 minutes. We were rewarded with ice cream. This was our last night on the Osa Peninsula. The next day would be a travel day for us. 

Group waiting on the beach for the boat to bring in sea turtles.

Group brings to shore our first sea turtle. 

Francesca and Ollie hold the flippers of a black sea turtle. 

JP collects data of the black sea turtle. 

When we weren't collecting data, we had some free time to open coconuts. 

Francesca enjoying her coconut. 

Vadim and Phoebe hold the Hawksbill sea turtle off the ground so we can find its weight.

Ollie helps collect data of this sea turtle. 

The group collects data on our third sea turtle of the day. 

Releasing the sea turtle back to the ocean. 

Group picture after our last day at LAST campus. 

Day 3 in Costa Rica

Our day was spent at the LAST (Latin America Sea Turtle) organization. Our group got split in half. Half of us would work with mangroves, and the other half worked with sea turtles. Then tomorrow the groups would swap jobs. My group got to work with the mangroves today.

Group learns about this sick black sea turtle who will be transported to another facility to receive care.

 We made the journey to the mangrove nursery where we had to start by watering all the mangroves. 

Collecting sea water to water the mangroves in the nursery.

JP and Vadim watering the red mangroves.

Francesca watering the mangroves.

 We had to wait for the tide to recede so we could cross the river and carry young mangroves to a protected spot where they could be planted. We learned a lot about mangroves and their importance to the environment. Many of us had no idea their significance for so many different organisms. Joe, our LAST research assistant, showed us how to plant the mangroves, and then how to collect data so we could help LAST with their data analysis.

Ollie digging a hole so we can plant mangroves.

Phoebe, Francesca, and Subhana planting a red mangrove.

Francesca listening to Vadim as he takes measurements of the newly planted mangrove.

Ollie learning from LAST research assistant, Joe, as Phoebe writes down the data.

Subhana and JP collecting data. 

 After lunch, our group worked on designing their research projects. After taking time to make some observations around the mangroves, two small groups were formed and they were able to create their research questions. Phoebe, Francesca and Subhana wanted to look at the population of red mangroves and compare the number of snorkel roots found near the ocean and away from the ocean. JP, Ollie and Vadim were interested in looking at the number of hermit crabs found in the open compared to being found near the mangroves. They had about an hour to collect data.

Francesca and Phoebe head out towards the mangroves with Joe as they start their research project.

Ollie's group work on their research project by creating quadrats and counting the number of hermit crabs.

Phoebe and Francesca's research project looked at snorkel roots of red mangroves.

We had about 20 minutes of free time after collecting data for our research projects. The girls decided to try out mud masks while the guys went swimming. We walked back to the LAST campus where we were lucky enough to meet with the rest of our group who had brought in a black sea turtle to the beach. We observed them take measurements and collect data of the turtle. The group shared with us that they were able to work with 4 sea turtles. The two groups excitedly shared their day and looked forward to swapping jobs tomorrow.

Free time means trying out mud masks. 

Carla, Yutang and Ms. Moreau help collect data on this black sea turtle. 

Nikki writes down the sea turtle data. 

Jae Bin stands near by to collect sea turtle data.

Nikki, Yutang and Manuel help the research assistants release the sea turtle. 

Day 1 and 2 in Costa Rica - Ecology Project

It was an early start as we departed campus at 5:45am on March 5. It was a long travel day for our group as we finally got into San Jose, Costa Rica around 9pm. Our guide instructor, Stanley met us at the airport and brought us to EPI's (Ecology Project International) campus about 30 minutes from the airport. We were finally about to get into bed around midnight, but only got a few hours of sleep as we had to be up by 5am the next morning.

7am departure for this group leaving Boston for Costa Rica

On our first full day in Costa Rica, we got up very early to head back to the airport and take a few small planes to Osa Peninsula, about a 50 minute ride by plane.

Another early morning start as we leave San Jose and head for Osa Peninsula. 

JP boarding the plane.

The group got split in half as we took 2 small planes to Osa Peninsula. 

Overlooking Costa Rica. 

We finally settled at our hotel, then met as a group to receive our first curriculum lesson. We were able to learn about the history of Costa Rica. We also worked on our observation skills by looking for a monkey (a fake monkey) that Stanley would hide on us. Marin, our other guide instructor, led us through a lesson on writing effective research questions. This would become helpful later as students would be working on designing research investigations. Later, Mag from LAST (Latin America Sea Turtles), visited us to provide a presentation about sea turtles. We needed preparation how to handle the sea turtles as we would start working with them tomorrow. After a delicious dinner, we were exhausted. We were in bed by 8pm. 

Our first curriculum lesson as we learn about general information about Costa Rica. 

JP drawing North America. 

Mag, from LAST, provided a lesson about sea turtles to prepare us for our visit tomorrow.