PERSONAL BIO.
 

NAME:  Marsha Colvin

OCCUPATION:  Ninth Grade Science Teacher
                     Johnson Central High School
                     Box 257 North Mayo Trail
                     Paintsville, KY 41240
 

I am a 1996 graduate of Morehead State University, in Kentucky, with a BA in Middle School Education.  I teach Ninth grade Earth/Space and Physical Science.  The school in which I teach is in a rural community in Eastern Kentucky.  I, along with two other teachers from the high school in which I teach, applied for the opportunity to come to Costa Rica through the Woodrow Wilson National Fellowship Foundation.

CRATER AT  VOLCANO POAS.

La Selva was a fascinating place.  While there I saw  three -Fer De  Lances, one -indigo snake, one -false coral, and one -snail eating snake.  WoW!!  The number and variety of animals we saw during our stay are just too numerous to describe.

While at La Selva, my group choose to work with  bromeliads, which are a type of epiphyte , or air plant.  Our question was whether there would be more bromeliads in tree gap areas or in canopied areas of the same forest. Bromeliads

Palo Verde was an experience.   I actually enjoyed it the best of all the sites.  The atmosphere  reminded me of a family ranch.   While at Palo Verde we went on a boat ride and horse back riding.  Iguanas run around in the yard just like dogs and cats.  The  temperature  runs in the upper nineties during the day.  The nights are also extremely warm.  Sleeping under mosquito nets didn't help much either. But over all I really enjoyed it.

While at Palo Verde, my group choose to work with nuclear trees.  We sought to discover if there would be more plant species diversity beneath the canopy of a nuclear tree than outside of the canopy.   The diversity of plant species and number underneath  the  tree is brought on by the dispersal of seeds by birds who sit on the tree limbs. Nuclear Tree

Las Cruces as been great.  We actually have our own bathroom and clean cloths.  Amazing how the little things in life can make your day brighter.  Las Cruces has been a pleasant change in temperature.  The days and nights are much cooler than Palo Verde.

Walking through the botanical gardens has been a very spiritually soothing venture.  Listening to the quite movements of the birds rustling through the trees and watching the mist slowly role in during the evenings has certainly been an experience.

During our stay, my group has chosen to work with Andrea Wetterer, a bat expert.  Our group project is centered around the formation of bat tents.  Our group researched the formation of bat tents in primary forest, secondary forest, and the botanical garden.  We sought to discover which area had the most tents. Bat Tents

    I would like  to offer a special thanks to OTS , WWNFF, and the NSF for offering me , and all teachers, this incredible  opportunity.  This experience has truly changed my outlook on inquiry based teaching and the environment in which I live.