Fifteen Westfield State University students took part in a two-week study abroad course to Costa Rica in January. The group was led by Biology Professor Tim Parshall, Ph.D., accompanied by Environmental Science Professor Michael Vorwerk, Ph.D.
“Each year I like to mix it up and visit different locations,” said Parshall of his seventh trip abroad. “In the morning we might be in the hot and humid lowlands getting drenched in a rainstorm, but by nighttime we could be up in the mountains putting on long pants and a warm sweater, getting blown away by cool winds. In those two places, we are unlikely to see any of the same species.”
The trip corresponds with an Environmental Biology course, in which students have the opportunity to uncover the diversity of ecosystems in a tropical country and learn about how people connect with their environment. The varying ecosystems vistited were wet and dry tropical forests, cloud forests, rivers, mangroves, and marine.
Their journey began on the east Caribbean side of Costa Rica, then up through the cloud forest, and down the west side to the Pacific coast. Throughout the course of the trip, students were housed at biological field stations, such as La Selva and La Calandria biological stations.
Other aspects of the trip included: observing and learning about tropical organisms such as sloths, monkeys, frogs, birds, fish, spiders, scorpions, bats, ants, and more; becoming more aware of conservation issues such as tropical reforestation, biodiversity loss, habitat conservation, scientific research; and investigating food production.
“Working with our guides, Deb Hamilton and Mark Wainwright, was amazing and they were incredibly helpful,” said Katherine McCarthy, a senior from Marshfield. “ We learned about different wildlife, about zip lining, paddle boarding, and made numerous trips to the beach, but most of all I enjoyed meeting new people and getting away from technology for a little while.”
For more info and photos from the trip, visit http://www.wanderingenvironmentalist.com/