Twenty-four Dawson students travelled to Costa Rica on Dec. 30 to take a complementary course entitled Ecology & Culture. Accompanied by biology teachers Brian Mader and Tonia De Bellis, the students explored several different ecosystems, including the rare and threatened tropical dry forest.

“This experience will be with these students for the rest of their lives,” Brian said in an interview with Dawson’s Communications Office after he returned Jan. 13. He added that each student has a different answer about what they appreciated best.

Environmental Science student Jacob Davies said that “each day was saturated with activities that continued to be as educational as they were intriguing. I can confidently say that one day in Costa Rica was filled with more experiences than entire trips I’ve been on in the past. In a given day, we might have visited a farm, hiked through a forest, gone on a boat, taken a night tour, and seen enough wildlife to write a whole book.”

Student Sahana Dunkley described what she learned: “Our world is gorgeous in all of its natural glory, which is something that I have always enjoyed but this trip was next level. I learned to appreciate every living organism, whether it be a tiny little ant or a massive 600-year-old tree, a venomous snake or even cockroaches (which are actually clean bugs!). I learned so much about countless organisms and environments on this trip, as well as the history and customs of this incredible country. I also learned how to navigate the difficulties of being away from home, bonding with people and stepping out of my comfort zone.”

Jacob learned “how unbelievably important it is to absorb the cultural and ecological essence of an environment by just being there. Just walking through a forest opened my eyes to the web of species interactions and extensive topography that forms an ecosystem. Staying in the local towns upgraded my Spanish ability from non-existent to conversational within a week.”

Students and teachers stayed with local families for one week in Cuajiniquil, a small town near the northern Pacific coast. From there, students went on excursions to explore the forest and intertidal ecosystems, conducting biodiversity surveys and learning the history of the area.

A personal highlight for Environmental Science student Danika Belzile “was the day we did a boat tour in Cuajiniquil with local fishermen. The water was a bright beautiful blue, and the mountains surrounding the bay were completely covered in forests. I caught a fish, pelicans were following our boats from very close waiting for fish, and we snorkeled for an hour! We had so much fun together!”

Their second stop was Tamarindo, a tourist town on the beach. Here, students were able to enjoy some free time but also learn about the impacts of such tourist destinations on wildlife and habitat. This included a night excursion to the beach to find female green sea turtles nesting.

The last stop was Bijagua, a town nestled at the base of two volcanoes (Miravailles and Tenorio). “This was where students got to explore the tropical wet forest (or rain forest), and marvel in all of its wonderful plants, mammals, birds, amphibians and insects. The biodiversity is truly something spectacular to behold,” Brian said.

Enriched Pure & Applied student Cassiana Silva Young described the impact of the experience: “It’s difficult to describe how significant this experience was for me. Generally, I would say that it truly puts into perspective what I consider important in my life. As a student, I find myself often worrying about things (often academically related) which, on the broader scale, are trivial. During the trip, I felt as though I was finally able to live each moment to its fullest. I developed an appreciation for life to a greater extent than I ever had before. What I was experiencing felt meaningful and fulfilling, and I’m very grateful for that.”

Students are very grateful they had this out-of-the-classroom experience. Environmental Science student Aislinn Costa wanted to thank her teachers: “A big thank you to Tonia and Brian for organizing this trip. They are amazing teachers and if anyone gets the opportunity to sit in their class, they should be grateful!”

Fellow traveler and student Sahana said: “The work they are doing by inspiring youth to work towards a sustainable future in one way or another holds immeasurable value. It is a privilege to have gotten to learn from them and they have truly helped me appreciate the natural world on a whole other level, something that will stay with me for the rest of my life.”

Group shot in Costa Rica by Aislinn Costa

Photo credit: Danika Belzile

Making local connections was a big part of the experience as well (Photo credit: Jacob Davies)

Photo credit: Jacob Davies

Photo credit: Jacob Davies