Costa Rica

Course Description

Plants—what can they do for us and what can we do for them? In our lifetimes, we see, eat, smell, and touch more plants than any other kingdom or organism. These same plants sustain critical ecosystem services such as climate and carbon regulation and water quality and quantity. They are also the primary producers that maintain our diverse vertebrate and invertebrate wildlife communities treasured throughout the world. How plants produce the things we need is deceptively simple—carbon dioxide and water get zapped by solar energy and viola! the sugars and oxygen we need to survive. Something really interesting happens when you increase the amount of solar energy, as occurs in the tropics…evolution creates incredibly rich and diverse plant and animal ecosystems. Although only 6% of the Earth’s surface, tropical forests contain an estimated 2/3 of the worlds biodiversity. In this course, we will explore the diverse world of plants and what they mean to us as a global society, to specific cultures in the tropics, and to the policies and programs people have developed to conserve these critical resources. This will be contrasted with some of the native ecosystems we may be more familiar with in East Tennessee. Additionally, we will consider the impact these plants and ecosystems have on our lives across many different spectrums.

Costa Rica, a landmass encompassing only .03% of the earth’s surface, contains a whopping 5% of earth’s biodiversity- a density that is unmatched anywhere else in the world. Join Dr. Andy Pulte and Dr.Adam Willcox and escape the cold gray days of winter for a very special garden adventure to sun soaked Costa Rica. On this eight night tropical garden adventure, you will discover a jungle paradise unlike any other. Despite its diminutive size, Costa Rica boasts greater biodiversity than all of Europe or North America! Over 850 species of birds have been identified here, far more than have been seen in Europe or Australia and more butterflies thrive here than on the entire continent of Africa. Join Andy and Adam and explore lush jungles and view an abundance of exotic wildlife from a bridge that gently suspends you in the mist of the Cloud Forest canopy. Sultry breezes, tropical gardens and colorful birds await you.

Program Highlights

• Discovering the colorful gardens and national parks of Costa Rica
• Towering Arenal Volcano
• Monteverde Cloud Forest
• Coffee farm
• Hummingbird Garden
• Butterfly Garden
• Monteverde Orchid Garden
• Morning and evening bird walks
• Sightings of toucans, quetzals, monkeys, iguanas, sloths and more!