Tropical Ecology in Costa Rica: Writing Nature

When was the last time you stopped and smelled the roses–and yes, I do mean the cliche. I mean, when was the the last time you literally stopped to smell the earth? When was the last time you sat in a garden, as the scents of nearby basil leaves consumed your nostrils? As we become […]

This adventure to Costa Rica has been littered with contrasting viewpoints. From emotional take-aways, to the travel locations of the trip itself, we have all come across many distinct but complementary ideas. This was perhaps highlighted best by Professor Heithaus today during the local Quaker Meeting when he spoke of opposites connecting. In the post […]

As the sun climbed over the horizon, a few curious travelers decided to part ways from the majority of the group of students who were heading to learn about sustainability at a nearby coffee farm. They chose to accompany Professor Heithaus to the Monteverde Friends Meeting, a Quaker meeting. We felt this experience would be […]

Today we experienced something rare. Today, each of us spent two hours alone in the rainforest. Can you remember the last time you were alone in a forest? Before today’s solitary hike, we probably couldn’t either. Setting off alone into the green, damp universe of the Children’s Eternal Rainforest (Bosque Eterno de los Niños or […]

Predators lurk in Costa Rica, sprouting from the forest floors and slithering through branches, waiting to smother their prey. Strangler figs are living husks, ribs of heartless chests, as their roots and branches entangle their host tree. Simultaneously, lying below in the litter of leaves, boa constrictors suffocate game and squeeze out their last gasps […]

“Who knew that ecology would be so diverse in the tropics!” one young would-be scientist exclaimed after witnessing a troupe of white-faced capuchin monkeys swinging above her head. Curious nondescript black fish also nibbled at her thighs in the natural pool where she and the others took turns measuring the distance from a tall rock […]

“What a rebellion to leap into it and hold on, connecting everything.” — Mary Oliver, The Hermit It can be said that we began this excursion as a group of detached individuals.  Most of us knew very little about one another.  Most of us could not specifically articulate how the experience would prove most educational […]

Today I climbed a Ficus tree, also called a Strangler Fig.  When I saw the curling vines and leaves growing on the vines, I thought the tree looked old and mysterious. It felt smooth on some parts and rough on other parts.  The first thing I did was go through a hole in the side […]

“Why are you here?” Frank Joyce asked our group as we wrapped up our eighth full day in Costa Rica. Most of us answered along the lines of, “I’m a biology major” or “I want to learn what I can do to protect the earth.” My answer was much lamer. I signed up for this […]

Positioned high above the dry forest, white petals blow rhythmically with the push of the wind. What was once small from a distance has been growing in size over a series of days, towering over the landscape, rivaling the height of the trees. Today we basked in the glory of these great white structures and […]