Costa Rica: Tropical Ecology – La Selva, Monteverde, and Palo Verde, Costa Rica
Program Details
- Open to students currently enrolled in Grades 10-12
- July 7-21, 2008
- $3,400 (Airfare and books not included)
- Gateway Airport: Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International (ATL)
What participants are saying…
"It was a great program and I think the team of instructors working together really helped this course go above and beyond my expectations."
—2007 participant
Why is Costa Rica a haven for scientists and tourists alike? The incredible diversity of tropical habitats in this small country fascinates many and makes Costa Rica an ideal place for research and leisure. Duke University’s partnership with the Organization for Tropical Studies (OTS) allows our students a special opportunity to discover the unique ecological treasures of this Central American paradise.
Notable Attractions and Excursions:
- Visit unique ecosystems such as tropical wet forests, tropical dry forests, and cloud forests
- Learn from experts and current researchers in the field of Tropical Ecology
- Experience and observe local wildlife first-hand
- Become immersed in the culture of Costa Rica
The Site
After a brief stay in Costa Rica’s capital city of San José, the group will travel to the La Selva Biological Station, a world famous research station in the heart of the rainforest. La Selva is a wonderful example of Costa Rica’s diversity—it has over 5,000 species of plants and over 400 species of birds. From here, the group travels to Monteverde, a beautiful cloud forest ecosystem. The final stop of the trip brings the group to the incredible ecosystems at the Palo Verde Biological Station. In this national park, habitats include salt and fresh water lakes and swamps, grasslands, mangrove swamps, pastures, wooded savannas, and evergreen forests. Throughout this course, students will experience firsthand the vast diversity of the Costa Rican landscape—surely an unforgettable experience.
The Course
Bordered by both the Caribbean Sea and the Pacific Ocean, Costa Rica provides the perfect opportunity for students to conduct research in a variety of locations. Students will study a number of habitats including tropical rainforests, tropical dry forests, beaches, rivers, and volcanoes. Recognizing that it is impossible to truly study ecology in a lab, students will spend most of their time observing and researching in the field. In addition to this firsthand fieldwork, students will learn techniques for conducting ecological investigations from start to finish. Like college students, Duke TIP students in Costa Rica will be responsible for designing, conducting, and evaluating their own group and individual experiments. The dedication and enthusiasm of the Duke TIP faculty and visiting scientists are sure to make this an educationally stimulating and challenging experience for all students. Students who possess a deep interest in biology, a love of the outdoors, and embrace working with other cultures are encouraged to apply. Students should be prepared to spend a large amount of time hiking to various locations on uneven terrain at each site. Duke TIP reserves the right to alter the itinerary as necessary.
A Typical Day
Students will rise early and begin each day with a typical “tico” breakfast. A morning session may find students in class with a visiting scientist or hiking through the rainforest to investigate plant species in the Caribbean lowland area where La Selva is located. After lunch, students may return to the lab to analyze samples collected in the field earlier that day or continue to work on an individual research project. Evenings are a time for students to enjoy social activities or continue work on course projects.