The last few days we left Turtle Trax and came to Chachagua. Meeting the new family and eating with them has been a great experience. Seeing the difference in the towns going from very rural to a bigger touristy town makes it feel like a different place. Being so close to people and animals in…
Leaving Turtle Trax reminded me of saying goodbye to my senior friends on the last day of school. It’s sad to part but it doesn’t over shadow the memories made and the people you have met. The most admirable quality that I have observed in the people at Turtle Trax is their perseverance. You are…
We boated out to an ecotone, where the mangroves meet the reef to form an interesting combined habitat. This was a short snorkeling trip where the main goal was for the Marine Lab instructors to find a pink algae which ended up being a habitat for tons of different invertebrate species. During the introduction of…
We started the day off with hearty breakfast of Bacon and Pancakes (very delicious) Following that we got on the Nari taking a trip on a survey of the keys. Seeing a hardbottom, patch reef, bank reef, artificial reef, and then the Deep Blue (over 250 feet deep!) Lunch was tacos with a delicious homemade…
I chose to reflect on compassion today because we have been with each other for a little over a week now and our compassion needs to grow as we progress. We have seen many leaders show compassion such as Jungle Mike when he started to care for and take interest in bugs. He took that…
Coral Reef Trip We boated out to the Banana Reef. The Banana Reef is one of many SPA (“no take, no touch”) zones. This protects the coral reefs from the effects of tourism in the area. Coral reefs are essential to the ocean ecosystem. Coral reefs house 32 of 34 total phylums of animals and…
Today we visited Jungle Mike who found success by dedicating his career to insects. We visited his local open air butterfly farm home to many different species of butterflies. We learned about butterflies eye-spots and how they use them to scare prey. We also learned about the special toxins in the plants some butterflies eat…
Today we focused on turning service into learning, instead of “what can I do to help” we thought about “what can I learn about the problems and solutions.” One thing that was meaningful to me was the Barracuda we saw while doing our swim test. Many of us, including myself, were afraid. We were…
Today is Friday the 25th and it was our day off. First we went to Oscar’s Farm, where we made our very own chorreada. They took us through the whole process including harvesting the corn, removing the husk, grinding the kernels, and frying it. Afterwards we headed to the beach to relax for a couple…
Today we started our day by visiting a local elementary school and watched the children perform traditional songs and dances of Guanacaste. The children and faculty welcomed our group, gave us traditional food, and taught us about the history of Guanacaste. When thinking about the way our group was welcomed by the community, I…
Today we helped clean out debris from a turtle hatchery. We spent a few hours working and a little while playing in the sand and ocean. We learned how important turtle watchers are so that animals and poachers don’t steal the eggs. Then we had lunch and went to the other hatchery where we collected…
99 turtle eggs hanging from a flimsy string bag down to my stomach. 99 chances. 99 hatchlings. 99 turtles. It only took 3 hours, a couple blisters, and a thousand steps. I lost hope 30 minutes in, walking in pitch black not really knowing what to look for. That’s when I started to think &…
Had our first night patrol last night. Incredible. First group came across a turtle coming up the beach. Stella helped to record all of the data in the Turtle Trax journal, and Cici was the one catching the 94 eggs and placing them in a bag held by Allison to take back to the hatchery….
After arriving in San Jose last night, our Turtles II group headed out earlier this morning to continue our journey to San Miguel and Turtle Trax. We had a nice pizza lunch by the water as we waited for our ferry to take us across to the Nicoya Peninsula. Following a 1.5 hour ferry ride,…
This trip has made me learn a lot and has made me feel comfortable feeling uncomfortable. I’ve learned lots about turtles from Turtle Trax, like how turtles lay eggs and how to best care for them.For example, we began making a hatchery to safely hatch the eggs without the risk of robbers. I have also…
We’ve received word that the group has arrived safely in Costa Rica and is now at the hotel after a long journey. Tune in here for more updates from the group!
One of the most valuable things I have learned on this trip is the power of passion. When we listen to the people at Turtle Trax, they have so much knowledge and compassion. There are many challenges when it comes to turtle conservation but that doesn’t stop them. It’s amazing to watch the amount of…
Another humbling moment for the turtles crew last night! On our night patrol, we came across some tracks and found a nesting turtle. Students were able to extract the eggs, helping to count them and gently place them in a bag for relocation! While eggs were still being extracted from the nest (92 total!!!), Josie…
I am here… Because I want to gain a new perspective of the world around me and learn more about the marine life, the culture, and the language of Costa Rica. I believe this trip is a once in a lifetime opportunity that will truly benefit me and help me to be more aware of…
When they are written here is where you will find the Travel Journal posts from the Summer Search Costa Rica Cloud Forest
The group is safe and all smiles in Costa Rica! Stay tuned here for more updates from the students.
Our day began at the break of dawn (aka 8 am). We prepared for a day full of impactful and meaningful events. We could hear Becca and Katrina yell from the heavens to wake up, prepare our meals, and bags for our packed day. We filled up our tummies with foods to fuel us for…
“We are all connected through life,” Mother says. “Mother nature lives within each one of us, child. She is our guide to life. She will never let you go. You are born with her and you shall die with her. From the beginning and to the end, Mother will always be there for you.” …
After our intention-setting circle with the Groundswell Community Project, the girls shared what resonated with them: Loving yourself and loving the ocean – being aware of your surroundings and appreciating them The connection with the amount of water in the world and the body (70%!) Learning how to be more in the…
First activities – group forming – have begun!
Today, we visited the local nonprofit Sustain the Nine and spent time with their team and interns over a BBQ. We loved connecting with one another, and the interns shared their research on the Mississippi River’s path toward their watershed. They discussed how pollution affects their water, and helped the students understand the impacts…
The group has had a wonderful first few days in New Orleans! So far, they have worked in the Common Ground Nursery, learned about the Lower Ninth Ward on a tour with Sustain the Nine, listened to Jazz at the famous Preservation Hall, and enjoyed some of the city’s famous cajun food!
Today I finally felt well enough to go on the hike. The two prior days, even though I was sick, I felt like I was cheating by constantly taking the car to get to the next destination. I didn’t realize the difficulty of what everyone else was dealing with until today, even though it was…
Today, everyone woke up eager hoping that we might get a view of Everest. I walked outside to eat breakfast, and I could not spot a single cloud in the sky. I could feel the excitement rising in our group as the boys rushed everyone to finish packing and get out onto the trail. Poor…
Here are student responses to the prompt: Our group dynamic has helped me understand the meaning of “the danger of a single story” by … Our group dynamic has helped me understand “the danger of a single story” by sharing unique opinions and experiences which illuminated concepts and ideas which were previously negligible or incomprehensible…