In the spring of 2011 a group from the Middle School had the opportunity to travel to Costa Rica, a country known for its unrivaled biodiversity and variety of ecosystems. Encompassing only 0.03% of the earth’s surface the country ranks among the top 20 richest countries in terms of species density. In fact, one can find more species in 1,000 square kilometers in Costa Rica than in the same area in countries like Brazil or Colombia.

A group of intrepid Middle School students spent eight days exploring Costa Rica’s rain and cloud forests, volcanoes, and waterways, making some spectacular wildlife sightings along the way.

Their first stop was the province of Alajuela where they saw the Arenal Volcano, (one of the most active volcanoes in the world) as well as the hot spring surrounding its base. They then traveled north by boat to Caño Negro, along the Río Frío. Comprised of swamp and marshlands, Caño Negro covers about 1,977 acres in the wet season. Guided by a skilled naturalist, the students saw two- and three-toed sloths, three kinds of monkeys (cappucin, spider and howler), alligators and iguanas. “Perhaps one of the most unusual sights was the basilisk,” according to trip leader and Foreign Language Department Chair Sarah Garcia-Mata. “It is sometimes known at the ‘Jesus Christ Lizard’ for its ability to walk on water” (Click here to see a clip on the PCD YouTube channel). The next day it was off on horseback to the cloud forest of Monteverde. The group toured the canopy via an extensive network of 13 zip-lines, two of which extended a full 2 kilometers! Garcia-Mata was struck by the richness of the canopy, where the largest amount of the forest’s biodiversity is found, and by how much one could learn experiencing the rainforest's ecosystem from above. “The scarlet macaws were beautiful to see up close; the view was spectacular,” she said, “but it was surprising how little you could see below the canopy.”

Garcia-Mata was delighted with the trip from start to finish. “Many of the students had a strong interest in wildlife, so it was exciting for them to see so much. It was also a great opportunity for the middlers to be away from home and be adventurous about trying new experiences and new foods!” Oftentimes it is not the specific travel itinerary that opens minds and doors so much as the experience of being somewhere new, trying new things, meeting new people and becoming a part of the larger world in which we live. Our travelers to Costa Rica certainly embraced this true spirit of their spring break adventures.