Live in a scientific research station in a cloud forest teeming with wildlife Our Home Base for this expedition is a scientific research station nestled on the side of an inactive volcano in the Guanacaste Conservation Area. This area is home to 140 species of mammals, 300 species of birds, 100 species of amphibians and reptiles, and over 10,000 species of insects. Blaze your own trails and learn directly from biologists doing work in this national park. We end the experience with a whitewater rafting trip through a forest, and a day at the beach to unwind and reflect on the experience.
Community Service The volunteer project is up in a cloud forest in the Guanacaste Conservation Area. In the mornings, we will clear trails through the wild cloud forest to prevent degradation by hikers and other visitors. We may also clear debris, make trail signs and help out with other general maintenance work. A couple of afternoons we’ll go out with biologists to collect species as part of a larger research project going on in the national park.
Hands-on Learning 10-DAY PROGRAM June 25 - July 4 July 7 - July 16 July 19 - July 28 July 31 - August 9 Tuition: $1,995 Service hours: 20
You will experience five distinct ecosystems and be able to compare and contrast each one. While living up in the forest, we’ll examine issues related to water, public health, and ecological conservation. Working firsthand in a watershed area is the perfect setting to discuss the global water crisis and its affect on impoverished communities. Along the way, you’ll also learn about taxonomy and learn to identify flora and fauna of the region.
Adventure
The GLA Home Base will be a biological research station located deep in the park, accessible only by 4x4 vehicles. We’ll be based 2,100 feet above sea level, tucked on the side of the inactive Orosi volcano. We’ll live in a bunkhouse, with four bunk beds per room and shared bathrooms. For safety purposes, there will always be a 4x4 vehicle on standby in case of an emergency.
Schedule Live in a biological research station deep in a cloud forest for six days, then spend a couple of days living in a rural community on the coast. Download a day-by-day schedule at experienceGLA.com/info
COSTA RICA
The huge range of ecosystems concentrated in a relatively small geographic area provides a vast array of exciting outdoor adventures. We’ll explore the forests by hiking, bird watching and checking out some ancient rock carvings. After living up in cloud forest, we’ll also spend a day down at the beach interacting with children from the community. On our last full day in Costa Rica, we’ll go whitewater rafting down the roaring Tenorio River!
Lodging
+ 1 858 771 0645 47 www.experienceGLA.com
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