Monkeys and a Magical Sunset

It was an early morning after our experience with the turtle last night!

After a ride in a trailer pulled by tractor, we took a hike along the river in the dry forest and saw a number of native trees, plants, and vines with help from our guide Freddy.  Plants included acacia trees and leaves that smelled like licorice. Most notable was our sighting of White Faced Monkeys.

Following our hike we had time for a little siesta before leaving for our second visit to the beach.  This time in daylight!  We enjoyed time in the water and a delicious meal prepared for us on sight.

As the sun settled in for the night we headed back to Horizonte for our final sleep in Costa Rica. Tomorrow morning we put on our matching traveling shirts and make our way back to Minnesota.



With thanks to Sra. Cutter Sullivan, we share the following quote by Oliver Wendall Holmes. " A mind that is stretched by a new experience can never go back to its old dimensions."

Charlotte and Ann

Sweaty Bettys and Tracking Sea Turtles

Good morning to those running on average amounts of sleep! 

Yesterday was yet another well-packed day. We started out the day with our final (but as usual, delicious) meal at Finca la Anita. We then hopped on the bus to head to Horizontes with visions of remote beaches and warm sun in mind. Along our journey we stopped in Liberia for a little souvenir shopping...perhaps some of you lucky readers will be receiving some of our purchases. We then continued in the bus for two more hours before arriving at Horizontes. 

We were greeted by a major heat wave as we explored our new destination. Under the guidance of John Doleman, we set out to observe the mutualistic relationship between pseudomyrmex ants and acacia trees. We then broke for dinner in which we enjoyed pasta and vegetables. 

At eight we set out for in hopes of finding a sea turtle preparing to lay her eggs. We traveled to a remote beach that has been barely developed by human beings and set up "base camp". Groups were sent out to the north and the south in search of turtle tracks. About an hour after our first patrol Pablo spotted a turtle track not far from where we were located. Our excitement due to this rarity overflowed although we had to stay silent in order to not spook the nesting turtle. 

After about forty minutes we began to watch the 250 pound creature form her nest. During this process we watched her move about 2,000 pounds of sand before laying 115-120 eggs. It was a highlight for everyone to be just ten feet away from her as she laid her eggs. After about twenty exhausting minutes, she began to cover her eggs with sand. An hour later she began the grueling journey from the nest back to the ocean. Due to the drought, she struggled to climb out of the nest and return to the ocean. During this time we all helped guide her towards her destination. As she finally entered the ocean we all felt relief and pride that she has finally completed her quest. 

When we finally arrived back at Horizontes around twelve thirty, there was nothing we wanted more than a good night's rest. We all woke up this morning in awe of our experience at the beach. 

Signing off, 

Julia Sullivan and Lauren Debertin

Hello Horizonte!

There will be no time for the students to blog tonight.

Today we boarded the bus and drove from La Anita Rainforest Ranch to the Horizonte research station. A quick stop at the mall in Liberia was a welcome treat for all.

We have just finished dinner and will soon board a bus for an evening excursion to the beach. While there we hope to encounter an East Pacific Green Turtle laying eggs.

Teams of students will take turns patrolling the beach while others sleep. Although July is not a typical time to see such activity, recent Seeds of Change student groups have had great luck on this beach. We are crossing all our fingers and toes that we are fortunate as well!

Cabuyal Sea Turtle Project

SOC Turtle Research

The girls received much praise again today for the wonderful job they did with their presentations last night. We are so very proud of these fine young women. They bring great credit upon themselves, their families, and their school.

Charlotte

A Day of SciANTS ExperimANTS

Hola, buenas noches from Finca La Anita!

Today marked our last full day at the Finca La Anita Rainforest Ranch, and what a day it was. After a wonderful breakfast of omelets, rice and beans, tortillas, fresh fruit, and a papaya-watermelon fruit juice, we all prepared ourselves for a full day of science. We gathered our research notebooks, slipped on our trusty rain boots, and hit the lab. Our morning consisted of wrapping up data collections and preparing immaculate presentations to share with the group later in the evening. With sweat on our brows and blisters on our feet, we worked tirelessly to perfect the projects we have diligently researched for the past week. In order to feed both our brains and our stomachs, we broke away from the lab to enjoy a delicious lunch of hamburgers, taro root chips, and fresh squeezed lemonade. We then headed back to the lab to polish up our beautifully crafted presentations. 

**side note: we just finished holding a rare Walking Stick insect** :)

By the time five o'clock rolled around, the most anticipated moment of our trip arrived--it was time to share our scientific discoveries with the group. Team Ants Before Pants, Team $marty Ants, Team KFC^2 w/ Antz, and Team Antz that JJIG gathered with mentors and visitors alike, eagerly awaiting our turn to reveal our intriguing results. Each groups' question of study is as follows:

Ants Before Pants - How will Atta cephalotes forager ants react to dump solution while collecting leaves?

$marty Ants - Can ants claim food sources using pheromones?

KFC^2 w/ Antz - Does an Escovopsis solution on vegetation cause leaf cutter ants to reject that vegetation?

Antz that JJIG - Will secondary metabolites (citronella and taro) defer ants from eating a favored food source? 

Each of these research projects focused on eco-friendly ways of preventing the leaf cutter ants from devastating crops from farms around the country.

**side note: we just finished playing "Uno, Dos, Tres, Queso," a Costa Rican version of "Red Light, Green Light" with Pablo, our awesome host** :)

Our mentors, guests, and fellow students were all impressed with each presentation; our Vis education has served us well even across international borders. We then headed off to a celebratory dinner of homemade tortillas and taco fixings with home-grown cacao hot chocolate and brownies for dessert. What a fantastic way to end our stay at Finca La Anita. As sad as it is to leave this beautiful rainforest property, we look forward to see the beach at Horizontes tomorrow. 

Signing off,

Christine Kane, Mary Mullen, and Annie Ferraro

Our farewell photo with Andy and Pablo

Over 4 inches long!