Day One at Tirimbina (Josh Cronmiller),

Our first day at Tirimbina was an eventful one to say the least. Carolyn, Katie and myself, the mighty “Bushmasters” as we call ourselves, were fortunate enough to have the day off, with us being the first evening reptile and amphibian survey. Our first excursion into the rainforest was last night as we were taken into a forest rich with life and teeming with diverse creatures flying, crawling and slithering about. It’s amazing to see the variety of species, even as I type this a large catydid crawls across the monitor. Our day consisted of a long hike (2.5 hours) to the main building where most of the tourists stay at Tirimbina. During this hike we found ourselves surrounded by wild boars, followed by leaf cutter ants and exposed to even more species of insects and amphibians. Our first contact with the internet and some other essentials was a nice way to start our stay as the main building has a few of these luxuries. We then hiked back to the research station sighting several snakes, one being the infamous hog-nosed viper. This has been the third highly venomous snake I’ve seen in the last 24 hours, I don’t think many others can say this… and be proud of it. Tonight we are out for yet another evening survey, I hope the beasts are as excited as I am.

An Excursion (Carolyn Knapper)

Its our second day now here at the Tirimbina centre, and it is beautiful to say the very least. It took a little while for the girls (Katie, Andi and myself) to get over our fear of being eaten alive by cockroaches in the night that were creeping around our beds, but we slept soundly. Last night we went for an amazing night hike that revealed so many new things. Josh climbed a tree to retrieve a small red-eyed tree frog, and ever so gently coaxed a tarantula from another tree for pictures. There were soooo many spiders! But luckily I am still alive and well. Today we (team “Bushmaster” consisting of Katie, myself and Josh C.) ventured out to the main centre, and what should have been an hour hike took more than twice as long. We traveled alongside a river and found an amazing little waterfall, and at one point found ourselves surrounded by Peccaries- wild boars. First we spotted their tracks, and later stared them in the eye from about 20m away. Katie and I went for a swim in a large nearby river, which was a great feeling after such a long sweaty hike. After scoring a free meal at the centre we ventured back, coming across a Hog nosed viper on the side of the trail. Definitely thought it was a Cat-eyed snake, something a lot less harmful, but after showing Josh our pics we realized how easily it is to come across dangerous creatures without even realizing it! Tonight we head out for our first Amphibian and Reptile survey, at 8pm with Josh. Im super excited to see what we find lurking in the dark…

Encounters of All Kinds (Katie Bigras)

Wow, so much already, where do I start!? Ok, the beginning: When we landed we got a cab to our hotel (Hotel Cacts). We were all SOO pumped and so very VERY excited to be in COSTA RICA. The second we got into the room Andrea said ‘check everything guys’… what a bad idea, I saw the biggest cockroach in the world and the three of us lost it, half due to adrenaline, half due to creepy bugs. But let me tell you, we sure had to get over that quickly. Here at Tirimbina they are quite abundant, throughout the night hike, no matter where you look in the forest, chances are: roaches…. Everywhere. BUT that’s not as cool as the Red eyed tree frog that Josh climbed the tree to get, or the Strawberry dart frog, or the Tarantula, the Fer-de-lance snake, the stick bugs, or the Great Owl butterfly to name a small few. But today was by FARRRR the coolest thing yet. As many readers may be aware, we are split into groups, Josh Cronmiller, Carolyn Knapper and myself are the Bushmasters…, we are on night surveys tonight through until the 18^th, on the Ficus tree the 19^th through until the 21^st, and on AM reptile survey the 22^nd and 23^rd. So today we went exploring, went for an 8 km hike to the other side of Tirimbina, and on our way…. Ready for it??... Pigs… surrounded by them, known as Peccary, it was AWESOME, and we were in the midst of looking at the leaf cutter ants when we heard the bushes ahead of us rustle. And as we walked up quietly we saw the first one, then the second… third… etc. It was absolutely amazing. When we arrive to the other side of Tirimbina, Carolyn and I went swimming in the rapids, it was so refreshing, considering we had just sweat about a litre of water each! On the trip home we tried to go a bit faster in order to beat the rain, as we were walking Josh saw a Hognose viper and pointed it out! We were literally inches away before it was spotted! So there it is, the first couple days folks… I cannot wait to fill you in on what’s next! STAY TUNED!!

First Impressions

Greetings from Costa Rica (Brian Shipp),

Well, here I am sitting in the dining room at Tarimbina Research Station.  What a trip it’s been so far.  Since leaving London, Ontario yesterday, it’s been a non-stop trek to get here.  The thirteen hour trip to get to Costa Rica was well worth it.  We stayed at Hotel Cacts last night and it was beautiful.  The view from the rooftop was just amazing and kind of surreal.  When we left the hotel this morning we had a very scenic drive to the research centre.  Everything I have seen so far has been new and exciting.  We hiked down to the river today and went for a swim to cool off from the heat and humidity.  I’ve already seen some cool lizards, birds, fish, insects, and we haven’t even explored that much yet!  Tonight we are heading out for a night hike to see what kind of creatures we can find; I expect to see some pretty awesome stuff.  Tomorrow my research team and I are heading out at 7:30am to conduct reptile/amphibian surveys for the research centre.  I can’t even describe how amazing this place is.  The natural beauty hear is just indescribable and our accommodations here at the came have far exceeded my expectations.  I am having the time of my life and I haven’t even been here more than a day!  I am not going to want to leave.  That’s it for now, puar vida!

Buenas Noches (Radek Odolczyk),

So we have just finished another fabulously delicious meal courtesy our lovely and friendly chef Laura. I got to say that I love rice and beans, served with a side of fresh salad. Oh, I forgot to mention that we are here in Tirimbina Rainforest Center in La Virgen, Costa Rica, N, NE of the capital San Jose. We arrived in San Jose last night around 9 pm after a long but rewarding day of travel. The realization that I was coming here had not sunk in until I stepped out of the airport and was hit by the warm air of the tropics. We then ventured to Hotel Cacts via taxi (glad I sat in the back and could not see the road) where we spent our first night and got some well-deserved rest. There is nothing in the world that tastes as sweet as tropical fruits that have been ripened in their natural conditions as opposed to a shipping crate, and this is how today began. After breaking the fast with the fruit of the gods, we continued the adventure to get here on a little bus that took us through a beautiful national park where we took in views of rainforested mountains, beautiful rivers and streams and overall breathtaking views. We also got to see some of the agricultural region where I discovered how pineapples are grown, in the ground. Once we got here at last I was blown away by our accomodations. This place is paradise and I began to regret that I had not forked over a few hundrew dollars to get a camera for this trip. Oh well, the memories will live on in my mind I guess, until I begin losing it. We have had a great time here since, going swimming in the river near-by and checking out some neat critters such as: 2 types of praying mantis’, some sort of camouflaged leaf grasshpper type thing (don’’t remember the name), and too many types of plants to keep track of. The highlight so far has been the amount of flowers I have seen varying in colours from gold, greenish yellow, purple and orange and the list goes on. I gotta run so make it in time for our reptile and amphibian night hike!  As they say in Costa Rica, Pura Vida!

HOT DIGGITY (Andrea Follett),

I’m in Costa Rica! And emphasize the hot, but I love it. There is a large and mysterious bug flying around my head as I’m writing this. . . I must confess I have a great fear of a tropical bug laying its eggs in my dreads *quivers* - but it’s worth the adventure! We arrived in Costa Rica yesterday evening and a few of us (myself included) hadn’t slept in 48 hours - today I am still recovering. We arrived in at the Tirimbina biological research centre today in the late morning and it has blown my mind – the sights, smells and sounds are indescribable! Following lunch, an introduction was given to us by Melki, who described the goal of Tirimbina: to promote scientific research and conservation, while educating the local and broader global community (that’s us!). FACT: Tirimbina hosts 25% of amphibians, 24% of reptiles, 40% of mammals, 35% of birds and 13% of plants native to Costa Rica. This is impressive for an area of 345 hectares (ya, it’s big – but that’s A LOT of biodiversity). Tomorrow, I begin research on reptiles and amphibians in the region with my fab team – Radek and Brian. We will be collecting data regarding the habitat preferences of reptiles and amphibians at three separate locations over the next three days. It’s a big job but I am SO ready for it! Must get back to the huge bugs and the wide unknown. Pura Vida!!!

Who are we?

Here's some information about each member of our team.  The profiles of each member will give a you a little flavour of our personality and what you can expect to hear from us in the upcoming weeks.  Enjoy.


Katie Bigras

I am 23 years old and am in my third year at Sir Sandford Fleming College. Last April I graduated from the Forestry course, and I chose to come back for this year to earn a dual diploma for Ecosystem Management. When I first heard about the Costa Rica field placement I was beyond excited. I could feel my hair standing on edge learning more and more about the field placement! During the application process, I would at times get so overwhelmed and excited that I would just need to get up and run to release the build up I had. It is finally starting to sink in that I am going to get to undergo this amazing opportunity with 7 of my awesome peers and 2 great mentors. When I am done at Fleming College, I look forward to ongoing learning. Fleming College has really helped me determine a lot of my future goals. I love ecological restoration, and I also love ecological monitoring and assesment, I want to work in both fields! Every opportunity that has been offered has brought me one step forward in the right direction. This placement, I know will have a major impact on my life. I am looking forward to every moment of it. I know the experience is going to be unreal and I CAN’T WAIT!

Joshua Cronmiller

As a future graduate of Fleming College’s Ecosystem Management Program, I have fortunately been able to recognize, interpret, and respect our planet with an understanding of how connected the natural world really is. Weekly field trips in all weather conditions have taught my colleagues and I, to be as patient and liberal as possible (emphasis on liberal). However, the program was far from just fun outdoor field trips every week; assignments, projects and presentations kept us on our toes for the most part, making the entire program an active yet diligent experience. As a student with international hopes, this placement is the first step to, optimistically, a fulfilling career of travel and study. It will be a useful learning experience in biodiversity documentation, human relations and understanding a little more about international employment. The Canadian wilderness provides us with an incredible range of biodiversity, not to mention awe-inspiring landscapes that leave adventure seekers breathless. It is part of the world that is unique and accomplished, yet seemingly endless. However, to be able to apply our wealth of knowledge in a completely different climate and eco-region is the opportunity of a lifetime. Going from Canada to Costa Rica for a labour intensive field placement will undoubtedly leave us with an experience that we’ll never forget.

David Dunn

I have spent most of my life on a small horse farm north of Barrie. It was there that I first developed my love and respect for nature, and inspired me to travel down my current educational path. My hope is that the Ecosystem Management Program will lead me to a fulfilling career where I can make a positive contribution to the natural world and take enjoyment in my occupation. I believe the upcoming expedition to Costa Rica will be a tremendous opportunity for personal growth and development, both spiritually and mentally, and will assist me in constructing life plans and objectives. As well, I expect the experience and knowledge attained during the trip will help me advance within the environmental field.

Andrea Follett

Andrea is enrolled in the Ecosystem Management Joint Program between York University and Sir Sandford Fleming College. Having already completed three years at York she is currently in her first year at SSFC. Her interests include studying the structure and function of aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems, restoration ecology, resource management and global issues. Andrea feels that the opportunity to study ecosystems within Costa Rica will provide her with insight into the complex relationship between flora and fauna within biologically diverse Neotropical environments. She expects to learn to collect field data and obtain unbiased information about organisms to further the study of the role that Ficus trees place in tropical ecosystems. Most importantly, she expects to gain hands-on experience about the intricate relationships within rainforest communities.

Carolyn Knapper

Carolyn is in her second year at Frost. She happily rides her motorcycle from the small town of Hillsburgh, located in Southern Ontario, each fall to live in Lindsay. Previous to Fleming she attended McMaster University for Nursing before returning to Hillsburgh to work with thoroughbred racehorses at Woodlands Farm. As an avid hunter, fisher and explorer, Carolyn has always been passionate about the environment. She currently holds the position of President of the Frost Initiative, a volunteer group on campus that promotes sustainability. She plans to take Fish and Wildlife in coming semesters and eventually would like to obtain her degree as a Biologist. In making the Costa Rica Team for 2010, Carolyn hopes to gain some international experience with wildlife studies that will aid her in landing future jobs as a research technician throughout the world. Her initial reaction was of sheer excitement, which tilted slightly as the she subdued her arachnophobia to allow a tarantula to crawl across her hand in a field trip in preparation for the placement. Carolyn hopes to avoid the spiders, but plans to make the trip an experience of a lifetime.

Radoslaw Odolczyk

I am Radoslaw (Radek) Odolczyk, and I have been dubbed as many things, but deep down I am a tree hugger who is fascinated with the natural world. I am a mature student and it had taken a bit of time for me to decide which direction I wanted to go in life, and have finally found my path thanks to the Ecosystem Management Program. I am an adventurous lad by nature, and have done a fair bit of backpacking in the past which has helped me to develop as a person. Now that I have been accepted to partake in the Costa Rica Field Placement (which I am totally stoked about!), I have the opportunity to advance my career development. Our team is packed with some good friends, and we are going to ROCK Costa Rica’s socks off, and learn so much while we’re at it. My expectations are very high, and I know that this will be the most fun educational experience ever! I just hope the Dukerol works…

Brian Shipp

Hey guys, here’s a little about me. Right out of high school I attended Brock University. I have a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology but I realized that it was not something that I wanted to pursue a career in. So after I graduated in 2008, I decided I wanted a career in the environmental field. I enrolled in the Ecosystem Management program at Fleming College’s Frost Campus and 2 years later, here I am. I feel extremely fortunate to have been given the opportunity to go to Costa Rica. It was a goal of mine to be chosen and it is very rewarding to have been selected to go. I’m very excited to be going and I’m getting a little more excited every day. I haven’t done much travelling so I am really looking forward to be going somewhere new. I also expect to get a lot out of this trip. I want to take full advantage of the time I’m there and learn as much as I can. I wouldn’t be surprised if this trip gives me a new outlook on life and makes me want to see more of the world. It’s going to be awesome!

Jesse Van Allen

I was born and raised in Lakefield ON and obtained an Honours Degree in Geography from Carleton University prior to enrolling in Fleming College’s Ecosystem Management program. I’ve always been interested in the natural environment and have planned on turning this interest into a future career. The opportunity to participate in an international field placement is what attracted me to the college and the Ecosystem Management program in particular. When I learned of the chance to conduct research in Costa Rica, I immediately became interested and took part in the selection process. From this experience I hope to be able to apply the knowledge I have already gained in a new and unfamiliar setting. By participating in an international field placement, I hope the experience will put me in a position to work internationally following my graduation from Fleming.

Anticipation

We are a team of students enrolled in the Ecosystem Management Program at Fleming College's School of Environmental and Natural Resource Sciences. Our program has a two week field placement at the end of our two year program that each student must participate in. We will be completing the "mandatory" requirement in Costa Rica! Our group will travel to Tirimibina Rainforest Centre to study Ficus Phenology and conduct a Reptile and Amphibian biodiversity survey. We'll spend the final four days of our experience at a remote camp in a region known as Guayacan. Check in for our first personal posts soon.