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Classroom Prepares Students for the "Tropical Ecology" Study in Costa Rica

Posted on Tuesday, February 15, 2005

Twenty-three Westminster College students spent a semester studying in a New Wilmington, Pa., classroom about the ecology, natural history, geology, and culture of Costa Rica and then 17 days experiencing their knowledge first-hand.

"Costa Rica is the perfect place to visit for this course because it's such a diverse country," said Christopher Castillo, a junior elementary education major from Austintown, Ohio.  "It has a tropical rain forests, rivers, cloud forests, dry forests, and mangrove forests, where the ocean salt water meets the freshwater to create a different eco system.  There's nothing to dislike except maybe too many bugs."

"Our class was prepared for this trip," said Justin Egley, a junior media art major from Evans City.  "We learned about the ecology, weather, climate, and types of forests in class, and it helped us once we got there because we knew what things were, what to look for, and why it is the way it is."

"This was my first time in Costa Rica, and it was a great learning experience," said Natalie Krivonik, a senior Spanish and intercultural studies major from Greensburg. "The ecology course helped me prepare for this trip.  I'm not biology major, but I was still able to apply what I learned in class."

Each student had a fond memory of their most special place or event of the trip. 

"My favorite spot was Luna Lodge, where I woke up to the sound of howler monkeys and saw a scarlet macaw," said Castillo.  "The ocean was so blue there, but it took an hour to hike from the beach to where we stayed.  The canopy trip was one of my most favorite adventures, though.  I was strapped in a harness and rode a cable, called a zip line, right through the middle of the rain forest above the canopy.  I wore leather gloves, so I could stop on the cable to look down."

"The monkeys were so cute," Krivonik said.  "One monkey in the Las Pumas preserve reached out, stole my journal, ripped it up, and took it with him.  The monkeys are protective of their own.  In the rainforest some would throw sticks at us, while others were friendly and curious.  The curious ones would get close to take a look at us."

"Savegre Lodge and the hike to see the 40-foot water falls was my most favorite spot," Egley said.  "There was always a mist there, but it was warm."
 
The trip to Costa Rico was not what everyone expected.

"We did a lot of hiking, 12 or 15 miles a day," Egley said.  "We didn't always hike on a trail either, sometimes we climbed rocks or used vines to pull us up.  It was very challenging."

"I never imagined getting up early and hiking 13 miles," Krivonik said.  "I also never imagined sleeping with a bat in my room."

"We had a national state of emergency while we were there," Castillo said.  "It rained heavy and places were flooded quickly.  The river rose over six feet in a half day.  There were animals on porches, and trees floating in the river."

In the end, all agreed that the trip made an impact on them.

"I'm going back after graduation to become more fluent in Spanish," Castillo said.  "I have family there, so I have a place to stay.  The tour guide that we had for the entire trip opened me up to thinking about being a bilingual teacher."

"I was exhausted by the end of the trip, but I got to see more than I could have ever imagined," Krivonik said.  "I knew four people in the group when I left, but before we got home, I had made friends with everyone.  This trip changed and surprised me.  I only got one chance to wash my clothes, and everything I owed was smelly and dirty, but I didn't care.  I worked hard, walked on swinging bridges, made friends and I don't kill bugs anymore."

"Everyone should take this trip," Egley said.  "It's surprising what you can learn when you compare the cultures.  We are lucky here to have what we do here.  I am lucky that I saw first hand what I was taught in class at Westminster."

For more information, contact Dr. Ann Throckmorton, chair and professor of biology at Westminster College, at (724) 946-7209 or e-mail athrock@westminster.edu.

Costra Rica Class
Joe Thomas, Justin Egley, Alex White, and Kevin Houseman
Tricia Burich, Amanda Hauger, Natalie Krivonik, and Alana Schuring
Abigail Weber, Amy Schroder
Christopher Castillo, Dain Frantz, and Adam Pollick