My name is Carol Richlin and I teach Environmental Studies and Physical Science at Westchester High School in Los Angeles.  My college degrees are in elementary education, geology, and environmental studies.  I have 13 years of experience teaching  elementary school and three years with high school science.  I would like to thank WWNFF for giving me this wonderful experience and OTSfor their facilities and expert assistance. I would also like to thank NSF for providing the funds for this adventure.   I look forward to sharing this experience with other educators.
 

La Selva
Arriving at La Selva was like walking out of a textbook into a true rainforest.  The sounds of the forest are as wonderous as the sights, especially during our night walk.  I felt like an intruder as I walked along the path, listening, and occasionally disturbing a frog or a spider as I walked along the swamps at night.  During the day I heard the sounds of birds, insects, and howler monkeys and saw many wonders of the forest, including a jaguarundi.  Let me share some of my experiences with you!

Kermit Simmons braves the dangers of field work.

Bridal Vail Mushroom

Coati having breakfast.

Volcano Poas

After traveling past Volcan Arenal, I arrived at Palo Verde, a tropical dry forest.  The overall area reminded me of parts of Southern California. but the differences quickly made themselves known.  In the morning I was greated by iguanas, and visited the wetlands.  Many questions about managing land renewal were brought to mind during the walk.

I examined the differences in species variation and biomass between a wetland that received runoff from a forest to that which received runoff from the rice fields. The fieldwork was interesting and the other members of my group were fantastic. I also enjoyed the boat ride along the River Tempisque where I saw howler monkeys, crocodiles, and birds.

Iguanas after breakfast.	Crocodile in the Tempisque River.
Howler monkeys next to the Tempisque River.	Group enjoying Guanacasta Days.

After traveling through most of the west coast of Costa Rica I arrived at Las Cruces.  I was greated with a beautiful garden and very nice living conditions, but there was much more to see.  The next morning I saw the gardens with the many varieties of species and their fruit and flowers, but what I enjoyed most was the walk to the river, even though it was physically challenging.

I chose to work with bats for my project.  I compared the number of tents found in the garden with the number found in a secondary forest and the number found in a primary forest.  I discovered that bats are amazing and beautiful creatures.

Wild bananas open up by themselves .	Shampoo Ginger.
Bat, Artibeus watonsi, found in the palm garden.	Butterfly found in the palm garden.