Costa Rica 20128 days, 7 nights, Tamarindo destination

Destinations

Ignacio (Nacho)Ignacio (Nacho) EscorriolaDirector of Education

Nacho (short for Ignacio) is a born and raised Costa Rican who has been interested and involved in the natural sciences since he was a child. Even though he grew up in San Jose, (the capital city located in the Central Valley), his access to two oceans provided the perfect inspiration to become the marine biologist he is today. Nacho comes to Scholastic Expeditions with a vast and varied background in outdoor science education. He has worked for over 20 years as an Environmental Consultant and Environmental Educator. He has performed numerous services in both tourism and with rural communities doing Community Development Projects. Nacho has led and continues to lead students on programs throughout his country’s many ecosystems. He loves his job as it unites his duel passions for teaching ecology and his beloved Costa Rica!

Nacho creates and develops all Scholastic Expeditions hands-on curriculum and trains our guides on any necessary methodologies.

In his spare time, he enjoys photography and being outdoors with his family hiking, mountain biking, and participating in waters sports. Education:

• 1982-1988 – Bachelor of Science - Marine Biology from Universidad Nacional, Heredia, Cost Rica• 1987-1988 – Student Exchange Program with East Carolina University• 1988-1991 – Masters of Science -Marine Biology from University of North Carolina • 1991-1992 – International Development Policies Graduate Program, Duke University North Carolina• 1999-2001 – Masters of Science - Interdisciplinary Ecology from University of Florida through a Fulbright Scholarship• 2001-current – Ph. D in progress “Freshwater Wetlands”

Cielo Azul Bus

Ride into Costa Rica!

• Begin your adventure...

Arenal Volcano National Park

• Hike through lava flows

• Become a volcanologist for the day

Volcanic Hot Springs

• Spend the evening relaxing in Arenal’s natural volcanic hot springs

White Water RaftingOn Rio Sarapiqui

Water Testing

• Test for water quality at various locations in Costa Rica

Wildlife in Monteverde

Gray Fox

Quetzal

Monteverde Canopy Tour

• Zipline through the cloud forest!

Rainforest Hike• Explore the tropical

rainforest

Rio Tempisque

Las Pumas Animal Rescue

Butterfly Gardens

• Examine caterpillars, pupae, walking sticks and butterflies

Palo Verde

Palo Verde

Community Service

• Helping out at a Costa Rican school

Community Service

• Harvesting medicinal plants

Community Service

• Bagging bananas

Eco-farm• Learn about sustainable farming

El Establo Hotel

Volcano Lodge Hotel

View of Arenal Volcano

Costa Rican Food

Costa Rican Culture

• Traditional dance parade at San Jose

Fauna

Flora

ItineraryDAY ONE

• Group met by Scholastic Expeditions upon arrival in Costa Rica.• Drive to Arenal…Orientation Dinner & Hotel Check-In• **Optional red-eye flight which will allow for tour of Poas

Volcano & La Paz Waterfall GardensDAY TWO

• Breakfast• Arenal Volcano National Park

Students will hike through the lava flows of this active volcano and participate in activities that allow them to become volcanologists for the day!

• Lunch• Community Service or Eco-Farm

Visit with Costa Rican students at a local school. Learn about their culture and their day to day living and learning environments. Alternatively, students will work on an eco-farm and learn about sustainable farming.

• Dinner• Arenal Volcanic Hot Springs

Spend the evening relaxing in the natural hot springs.• Nighttime volcanic observation

DAY THREE• Breakfast & Hotel Check-Out• White Water Rafting

This is an amazing experience that allows them to traverse through several different ecosystems while viewing Costa Rican wildlife along the banks of the river.

• Lunch in TilaranEnjoy an opportunity to spend time with local Costa Ricans in a quaint town on the banks of Lake Arenal.

• Depart for Monteverde Boat ride across Lake Arenal• Frog Pond

Students will view famous species of frogs and learn about the adaptations each has made to thrive in their specific environment.

• Dinner & Hotel Check-InDAY FOUR

• Breakfast• Monteverde Canopy Tour

Students will zip line through the cloud forest for an exhilarating once in a lifetime experience!

• Lunch• Butterfly Garden

Students spend the afternoon learning about all of the different species of butterflies and the adaptations each has made.

• Leisure time in beautiful Santa Elana• Dinner

DAY FIVE• Breakfast & Hotel Check-Out• ECMAR

Student participant in a mangrove tour along the Tempiske River.• Lunch• Las Pumas

An animal rescue and rehabilitation center. This non-profit center will show the different stages of rehabilitation animals go through to be reintroduced back to the wild.

• Dinner & Hotel Check-InDAY SIX

• Breakfast & Hotel Check-Out• Palo Verde National Park

Students will participate in on-going scientific activities being run by university students and biologists at the Palo Verde ranger station. It’s a bird watcher’s paradise!

• Lunch• Depart for Tamarindo• Dinner & Hotel Check-In

DAY SEVEN• Breakfast• Marine Biology Activity

Itinerary• Students collect specimens and data on the beach and then

analyze and present their findings to their peers.• Lunch• Surf Lessons

Students get to take surf lessons in this surfer’s paradise and learn how to "hang 10"

• Farewell DinnerDAY EIGHT

• Breakfast & Hotel Check-Out• Depart for home

Academic PointsWater and Soil Testing at 5 locations throughout the country. Five sites in 5 different ecological zones (i.e. tropical forest, dry tropical forest, brackish waters, etc.). Comparison and analysis of the data and presentation of findings at the end of the trip.

Monteverde Butterfly Gardens ProgramsOffers lab where students get to work with a variety of insects and arachnids. Typical lab is where students will divide into groups and each group will get either a group of ants, butterflies, cockroaches or spiders. Depending on level of group and preparation, students give each other presentations that cover roles of bugs in their eco-system and the potential for human interference.

Monteverde Forest Research Possibilities

Tree Measurement Project: comparison of tree density between a cloud forest and other regions visited. Contrast forested areas with protected and hypothesize reasons for any variances discovered.

Discussions on Golden Frog extinction. Numerous research or suggested topics students can participate in, i.e. role of biological adaptations, habitat loss, conservation measures, etc.

Freshwater Organisms Survey (aquatic insects) of small streams in Monteverde and perhaps other water bodies visited.

Los Pumas Rescue Center

Learn about Threatened and Endangered Wildlife Species such as : Gray Fox, White-faced Monkey, Scarlet Macaw, and 5 of the 6 Costa Rican Feline Species: Ocelot, Jaguarondi, Margay, Puma and Jaguar, all of which are present at the Los Pumas Rescue Center. Learn also

about how a Wildlife Rescue Center works and what socio-economic and political realities affect habitat destruction.

Community Service

Numerous projects available. Here is some options of what students do: reforestation, painting School Grounds, Community Centers, building infrastructure, working in children’s or elderly centers, assisting in various groups, i.e. Women groups that need help harvesting medicinal plants and packing them, Tilapia farms, preparing vegetables at school grounds etc.

Manuel Antonio National Park

Beach/Rocky Shore Organisms Survey: with equipment perform a scientific survey of small aquatic organisms here. Possible comparison to Monteverde results.

Discussion of Biological Corridors Project, National Park History and its role in the Costa Rican Conservation Efforts, discussion of CR’s Conservation Area System, ER’s Environmental Education Efforts and Results, how Scarlet Macaw and /or Squirrel Monkey Studies are conducted in a Protected Area and Buffer zones, how dolphin and whale research is conducted in CR, and marine and shore bird studies are done. Depending on season, Turtle walk may be possible or Turtle Night Patrol in Playa Rey with Local Ministry of the Environment and other NGO officials.

Sunsets

• Just another great reason to come to Costa Rica!

Make it Happen!

• Contact your supervising teacher or Susan Schai at (831) 440-1041

• The adventure of a lifetime awaits you!

How to Register• Two part process:

1. Sign up online at scholasticexpeditions.org

2. Send deposit of $250 to:

• 5601 Scotts Valley Dr. Ste. 313

Scotts Valley, CA 95066

• And you’re all set!