Costa Rica. Tropical Biology & Culture

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Program Description: Costa Rica Tropical Biology & Culture The Costa Rica Tropical Biology & Culture course provides students an extraordinary, multidisciplinary, foreign studies educational

1 Program Description: Costa Rica Tropical Biology & Culture The Costa Rica Tropical Biology & Culture course provides students an extraordinary, multidisciplinary, foreign studies educational experience at a very low cost and without disrupting the traditional academic calendar. Students will tour central and eastern coastal Costa Rica staying at numerous field stations and hotels. Room, food transportation and fees are all included in the regular 3 credit tuition cost with the addition of air travel cost. Costa Rican tropical wildlife will be examined within the cultural context of this beautiful and ecologically diverse Central American country. Nesting marine turtles, tropical cloud forests, cave ecology and the cultural contexts of religion, politics and art will be examined during this intensive 18 day foreign experience. Location Given its size, Costa Rica contains the most greatest ecological diversity of any tropical country on our planet. Costa Rica has adopted an economy based on sustainable ecotourism, making it perhaps the safest and most welcoming country in Central America. Roundtrip airfare from California costs approximately $600 - $700 and tends to be less from other U.S. departure locations. Housing & Meals The program includes living arrangements in hotels and field stations located throughout Costa Rica. All meals, including snacks, will be provided during the entire trip. Students in past years have consistently complimented both the type and amount of cuisine provided during the course. The cost for both lodging and food is contained within the regular 3 unit tuition. Subjects of Study The course is intended to be multidisciplinary including the obvious concentration on tropical biology but also the areas of political science, business, religion, media, art and music including the liberal arts. Students contract with the instructor to produce a final course project from within their area of academic interest. Course Curriculum

2 This course provides an ambitious, extensive tropical experience that includes guided tours, field presentations, night hikes, occasional lectures and a varied itinerary that often stretches from mornings until after dark. Interested students are encouraged to refer to the following detailed trip itinerary. Course Itinerary 2014 LOYOLA MARYMOUNT UNIVERSITY Tropical Science, Conservation, and Sustainable Development in Costa Rica 2 faculty: Dr. Peter Auger and MVI coodinator/instructor: Mark Wainwright; cel phone # Day 1. All day : Tuesday, July 22 nd : Arrival and welcome to Costa Rica. Flight arrivals to Juan Santamaría Airport; transfers to Hotel Rosa de America. (Lodging: Hotel Rosa de America; tel ) Day 2. Wednesday, July 23 rd : Visit a pre-columbian archeological site; Travel to Tortuguero. 6:30 am: Breakfast 7:15 am: Depart for Guayabo National Monument. 10:00-12:00 md: Explore and learn about Guayabo with local specialist Rosa Fernández. 12:00 md: Lunch at local restaurant. 1:00 pm: Continue to Tortuguero by bus to Pavona dock, then boat. 6:00 pm: Aprox. arrival in Tortuguero. 7:00 pm: Dinner at lodge. Lodging: Tortuguero Day 3. Thursday, July 24 th : Intro to tropical rainforest by day and night; History of Costa Rica. 7:00 am: Breakfast 8:00-12:00 md: Introduction to tropical rainforests hike. 12:30 pm: Lunch at lodge. 1:30-3:00 pm: Free time. 3:00-5:30 pm: Presentation by Mark: "History of Costa Rica". 6:30 pm: Dinner at lodge 7:30-9:30 pm: Introduction to tropical rainforests by night with Mark. Lodging: Tortuguero Day 4. Friday, July 25 th : Canals by boat; Turtle conservation; Economic exercise; Beach turtle walk.

3 7:00 am: Breakfast. 8:00-11:00 am: Explore Tortuguero canals by boat. 12:00 pm: Lunch in town. 1:30-3:00 pm: Visit CCC; presentation on turtle conservation by CCC representative. 3:15-4:45 pm: Observation / economic scavenger exercise in town. 5:00 pm: Boat back to hotel. 5:30-6:30 pm: Group discussion of scavenger hunt results. 6:30 pm: Dinner at lodge. After dinner: Turtle hikes along beach with guides (times allotted by local lottery system). Lodging: Tortuguero Day 5. Saturday, July 26 th : Travel to Rancho Margot; Earth bananas. 6:30 am: Breakfast. 7:30 am: Depart for Earth University, by boat to Pavona, then bus. 10:00 am: Short film about university, then visit and learn about banana plantation with Earth specialist. 12:30 md: Lunch on campus. 1:30 pm: Continue to R. Margot; stop on way at Iguana Bridge to admire iguanas and sample ice cream. 5:30 pm: Approx. arrival at Rancho Margot. 7:00 pm: Dinner at Rancho Margot. Lodging: Rancho Margot; tel Day 6. Sunday, July 27 th : Rancho Margot. (Pre-breakfast options of yoga or milking cows) 8:30 am: Breakfast. 9:30-12:00 am: Tour and learn about model farm and hotel Rancho Margot, an experiment in sustainability. 12:30 pm: Lunch at Rancho Margot. 1:30-4:00 pm: Participate in work projects on farm. 4:00-6:30 pm: Free time to relax in compost-heated pool, do yoga, play soccer etc.. 6:30 pm: Dinner at Rancho Margot. After dinner: Group discussion. Lodging: Rancho Margot; tel Day 7. Monday, July 28 th : Venado caves; travel to Monteverde. 7:00 am: Breakfast. 8:00 am: Depart for Venado caves. 10:30-12:30 am: Explore and learn about caves (a fossilized seabed) with Mark and local specialist.

4 12:30 pm: Lunch at caves. 1:30 pm: Depart for Monteverde. 3:30-4:30 pm: Stop at La Tejona wind farm and learn about details of wind energy production with Costa Rican Institute of Electricity technician. 6:30 pm: Approx. arrival at La Calandria. 7:00 pm: Dinner at La Calandria. Day 8. Tuesday, July 29 th : Hummingbirds; Cloud forest; Forest exercise; Bats. 7:00 am: Breakfast at La Calandria; collect bag lunch. 8:00 am: Depart for Monteverde Cloud Forest Preserve. 8:30-9:30 am: Introduction to hummingbird ecology at the Hummingbird Gallery 9:30-12:30: Hike through and learn about the magical cloud forest. 12:30 pm: Bag lunch on the continental divide. 1:00-3:00 pm: Hike back to entrance independently; complete forest scavenger hunt and reflective exercise en route. 3:15 pm: Return to La Calandria. 4:00-5:00 pm: Share results of forest treasure hunt. 5:45 pm: Dinner at La Calandria. 6:15-8:15 pm: Bat mist-netting at La Calandria (weather-permitting) with Dr. Richard Laval and Vino. Hummers; Cloud forest, Reflection. Bats Day 9. Wednesday, July 30 th : MVI; Stream-monitoring; Dance class; Home cooking. 7:00 am: Breakfast at La Calandria. 8:00 am: Depart for MVI. 8:30-9:30 am: Introduction to MVI presentation (MVI director, Debra Hamilton). 10:00 am-12:00 md: Participate in MVI stream-monitoring research. 12:00 pm: Lunch at MVI. 1:00-2:00 pm: Continue stream-monitoring work. 2:00-3:00 pm: Independent time to use library / internet at MVI. 3:00-4:00 pm: Latin dance class at MVI with Evelyn Rockwell. 4:15 pm: Drive to local home to prepare and eat a traditional Costa Rican dinner (Maricela Solís). 7:30 pm: Return to station. Day 10. Thursday, July 31 st : Bellbird corridor and reforestation study; Hike into San G; Children's Eternal Rainforest.

5 7:00 am: Breakfast at Calandria. 8:00-9:15 am: Presentation on the Three-wattled Bellbird, wildlife corridor project, and the Fundación de Conservación Costarricense. 9:30-12:30 am: Participate in FCC reforestation project. 12:30 pm: Lunch at La Calandria. 2:00 pm: Depart for San Gerardo trailhead. 3:00-5:30 pm: Hike in to San Gerardo. 6:00 pm: Dinner at station. After dinner: Presentation: "The Children's Eternal Rainforest: past, present, and future" Lodging: San Gerardo Biological Station; no phone Day 11. Friday, August 1 st : Intro to SG forest; independent project prep.; amphibian declines; night walk. 7:00 am: Breakfast at station. 8:00-10:30 am: Orientation walk. 10:30-12:00 md: Preparation for independent project (in field or one-on-one discussion w/ faculty). 12:00 md: Lunch at station. 1:00-2:30 pm: Preparation for independent project (in field or one-on-one discussion w/ faculty). 3:00-5:30 pm: Presentation: "Amphibian declines and partial recovery". 6:00 pm: Dinner at station. 7:15-9:15 pm: Night walk. Lodging: San Gerardo Biological Station; no phone Day 12. Saturday, August 2 nd : Independent project day. Morning: Collect data. Afternoon: Analyze, prepare data and presentation. Late afternoon/evening: Student presentations. Lodging: San Gerardo Biological Station, (1); no phone Day 13. Sunday, August 3 rd : Hike out of San Gerardo; Canopy ziplines option; Free evening. 7:00 am: Breakfast at station. 8:00 am: Hike out of San Gerardo; pick up bag lunch. 11:00-1:30 pm: Canopy ziplines at Selvatura (or other independent activity if preferred). 1:30 pm: Return to La Calandria. Rest of afternoon and evening free for independent activities

6 Day 14. Monday, August 4 th : Travel to La Ensenada; Tropical dry forest by day and night. 7:30 am: Breakfast at station. 8:30 am: Depart for La Ensenada 12:30 pm: Lunch at La Ensenada 1:30-4:30 pm: Introduction to Tropical Dry Forest hike. 4:30-6:30 pm: Open time to journal and/or use pool. 6:30 pm: Dinner at La Ensenada. 7:30-9:30 pm: Night walk: Introduction to the frogs and other nocturnal animals of the Tropical Dry Forest. Lodging: La Ensenada; tel Day 15. Tuesday, August 5 th : Birds of the tropical dry forest; Travel to Manuel Antonio; Mangrove presentation. birds of dry forest; travel to MA 7:00 am: Breakfast at La Ensenada. 8:00-10:30 am: Birds of the Dry Forest - walk around grounds and wader observation at salt marsh. 11:00 am: Depart for Manuel Antonio; stop on way for lunch, and to observe crocodiles at Tárcoles bridge. 3:00 pm: Approx. arrival at Mono Azul. 5:00-6:00 pm: Group discussion. 6:00 pm: Dinner at Mono Azul. 7:00-8:30 pm: Introduction to mangroves presentation. Lodging: Hotel Mono Azul; tel Day 16. Wednesday, August 6 th : Snorkelling trip; Mangroves by kayak; Dinner out. snorkel; mangroves; dinner out 7:00 am: Breakfast at Mono Azul. 8:30 am - 1:00 pm: Snorkelling boat trip; lunch on boat. 1:00 pm: Drive from Quepos harbor to Damas Island mangrove put-in. 2:00-4:00 pm: Explore mangroves of Damas Island in kayaks. 4:30 pm: Return to hotel. 7:00 pm: Dinner out at El Avión. Lodging: Hotel Mono Azul; tel Day 17. Thursday, August 7 th : Manuel Antonio National Park; Return to Central Valley. 7:00 am: Breakfast at Mono Azul. 8:00 am: Depart for Manuel Antonio National Park. 8:30-10:30 pm: Instructed hike through Manuel Antonio National Park. 10:30 am - 3:00 pm: Independent time to enjoy park, beach, and/or shops at entrance.

7 3:00 pm: Depart for Central Valley. 7:00 pm: Dinner at Rosa de America; closing thoughts from all participants. (Lodging: Hotel Rosa de America; tel ) Day 18. Friday, August 8 th : Flights home. 7:00 am: Breakfast at Rosa de America. Flights home. Internship areas: Accounting Arts Business Communications Cultural exchange Education Environment Federal agencies Foreign policy Information technology International commerce Law and criminal justice Lobbying National security Nonprofit Politics Public administration Science and health

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