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Activity note: Today’s session will start at 12:45 Eastern Time and end at 4:05 p.m.
Afternoon: 12:45 p.m. Welcome, Orientation, Introductions. The Group Leader will greet everyone and review the program theme, the up-to-date daily schedule and any changes, Zoom meeting protocols, roles and responsibilities, and answer any questions. We will then say hello to our fellow Road Scholars. 1:15 p.m. Lecture. The uniqueness of the Costa Rica we have today is the result of a series of cultural, political, economic and environmental variables. We will learn about the contributions by indigenous peoples—the first Costa Ricans—before moving on through colonial times and various waves of immigration. We will also address the impact of global events and trends on the Costa Rican way of life. 2:15 p.m. Break. 2:30 p.m. Virtual field trip. In this introduction to San José, we will “visit” the capital’s historic Central Market (1882) to examine its produce and medicinal goods and identify popular local dishes sold on site. Next, we’ll walk down Avenida Central to reach the Plaza de la Cultura, located across from the National Theater of Costa Rica. We’ll stop to people-watch and discuss local demographics and socio-economic distribution before ending our “walk” at the Pre-Columbian Gold Museum for an overview of its impressive collection of artifacts. Followed by Q&A. 3:15 p.m. Lecture. We'll learn about the history of coffee production in Costa Rica and its impact on local culture and the economy. Our local expert will walk us through how coffee cherries are picked, processed, and roasted. Before we wrap up with a question and answer session and review tomorrow’s agenda, we’ll learn about the different roast types and the traditional way Costa Ricans brew coffee. 4:00 p.m. Wrap-up and notes for tomorrow. 4:05 p.m. Today’s session will end.
Activity note: Today’s session will start at 1:00 p.m. Eastern Time and end at 4:05 p.m. Road Scholars are invited to join at 12:45 p.m. for an opportunity to chat informally with the Group Leader and fellow participants.
Afternoon: 12:45 p.m. Social time. We will have an opportunity to chat informally among Road Scholars and our Group Leader. 1:00 p.m. Review of the day with our Group Leader. 1:05 p.m. Lecture. Tortuguero village on Costa Rica’s northern Caribbean coast is only accessible by boat or small plane. Among the first settlers were explorers, traders, and fishermen from San Andres Island and other parts and of the Caribbean who would sporadically anchor their boats here to rest. They were then drawn by the qualities of this rich land when it came to fishing and hunting. This was more so during one of the greatest of nature’s events: the nesting season of the giant green sea turtles. Over time, temporary and improvised shacks gave way to a permanent village. The region became more noticed in the country’s map upon the arrival of the lumber companies and the jobs they generated through the extracting of valuable timber mostly caobilla and kativo trees. Our session will end with an interactive Q&A. 2:05 p.m. Break. 2:10 p.m. Virtual field trip. We’ll accompany our Group Leader on a “walk” through Tortuguero to observe how members of this remote community live and to learn about the Sea Turtle Conservancy’s role in establishing the Tortuguero National Park in 1970 and protecting endangered green sea turtles. Our virtual field trip will continue with nature explorations on forest trails and along park canals in search of endemic and migrant birds, howler monkeys, caimans, bats, turtles, and more. We’ll end our field trip with an interactive Q&A session. 3:10 p.m. Break. 3:15 p.m. Lecture. We’ll learn about the history and culture of Afro-Costa Ricans. Lecture concludes with a Q&A session. 4:00 p.m. Wrap- up and notes for tomorrow. 4:05 p.m. Today’s session will end.
Activity note: Today’s session will start at 1:00 p.m. Eastern Time and end at 4:05 p.m. Road Scholars are invited to join at 12:45 p.m. for an opportunity to chat informally with the Group Leader and fellow participants.
Afternoon: 12:45 p.m. Social time. 1:00 p.m. Review of the day with our Group Leader. 1:05 p.m. Lecture. We will learn about Costa Rica’s ecosystems and impressive biological diversity. Then we will focus on the characteristics of tropical rainforests—the “lungs of the world”—including stratification, soil structures, climate patterns, and other factors that contribute to the wealth of lifeforms found in this environment. Followed by Q&A. 2:05 p.m. Break. 2:15 p.m. Virtual field trip. We will accompany our Group Leader on a rainforest “walk,” starting at a secondary forest to search for resident frog species. Then we will cross the Sarapiquí River via a suspended bridge and hike on forest trails to the heart of the primary rainforest at the Selva Verde Rainforest Reserve. Our explorations will take us to El Ganador (The Winner), a giant almond tree that is over 500 years old and towers above the canopy (117 feet tall, 46 feet in diameter). We will learn how almond trees (Dipteryx oleifera), such as El Ganador, impact the survival of the critically endangered Great Green Macaw. The life span for this award-winning tree is estimated to be another one or two centuries. 3:05 p.m. Break. 3:10 p.m. Virtual field trip. We’ll accompany our Group Leader on a visit to a local home in Sarapiqui to learn about small-scale farming and effects of tourism. As a contrast, we’ll examine large-scale farming in the area and learn about organic pineapple production. Next, we’ll visit the Sarapiqui Conservation Learning Center (SCLC) to hear about its mission before learning how to prepare a typical Tico dish during a cooking demonstration by a member of the local community. Interactive Q&A. 4:00 p.m. Wrap-up and notes for tomorrow. 4:05 p.m. Today’s session will end.
Activity note: Today’s session will start at 1:00 p.m. Eastern Time and end at 4:05 p.m. Road Scholars are invited to join at 12:45 p.m. for an opportunity to chat informally with the Group Leader and fellow participants.
Afternoon: 12:45 p.m. Social time. 1:00 p.m. Review of the day with our Group Leader. 1:05 p.m. Lecture. A member of Monteverde’s original Quaker families will introduce us to the history of Monteverde and the development of its community. During this presentation we will learn about history of the families that left the U.S. and settled in Monteverde, their part in establishing the first dairy farms in the area, as well as their efforts to protect the land they love and depend on to live. Followed by Q&A. 2:00 p.m. Break. 2:10 p.m. Virtual field trip. Using the surrounding cloud forest as an open classroom, our Group Leader will discuss Monteverde as the largest private forest reserve in the country with implications for its importance; characteristics of the cloud forest, the water generator for both slopes; the water that feeds into Arenal Lake is captured here; research and tourism; pollination and seed propagation by wildlife. The edges of this rich forest system, often cloaked in clouds and blowing mist, are home to more than 2,500 plant species alone including 300 individual orchid species and 200+ species of ferns, more than 350 avian species, and a myriad of other creatures and critters. Followed by Q&A. 2:55 p.m. Break. 3:00 p.m. Lecture. We will explore the lives of the most diverse group of living things on the planet: insects. Bugs do a lot for the world, from pollinating to pest control. We need them, and will consider how to overcome our fear of insects and make a better future by living with them. Once we learn about the role of insects in helping maintain a healthy ecosystem, we’ll take a look at environmental changes that threaten their existence. Followed by Q&A. 4:00 p.m. Wrap-up and notes for tomorrow. 4:05 p.m. Today’s session will end.
Activity note: Today’s session will start at 1:00 p.m. Eastern Time and end at 4:05 p.m. Road Scholars are invited to join at 12:45 p.m. for an opportunity to chat informally with the Group Leader and fellow participants.
Afternoon: 12:45 p.m. Social time. 1:00 p.m. Review of the day with our Group Leader. 1:05 p.m. Lecture. As we examine conservation and climate change in Monteverde, we’ll learn about the history of land use, from the first colonizers and gold fever through the arrival of the Quakers and the later development of the area in tourism. We will consider community efforts to curb the effects of climate change by farming more sustainably, as well as organically, while recognizing the importance of food production to the local and national economy. Followed by Q&A. 2:05 p.m. Break. 2:15 p.m. Virtual field trip. We will visit the privately owned Ensenada Wildlife Refuge located in Costa Rica’s Gulf of Nicoya region. During a visit with the owners, we’ll learn about their work protecting the native tropical dry forest, lagoons, and estuarine habitats while simultaneously running an 800-acre farm. As a result of its reforestation program, more than 30% of the farm is now covered by forests, helping to maintain one of the last remaining primary and secondary forests of the northern Puntarenas province. A walk and boat ride in the reserve will introduce some of the wildlife and flora of the area. Followed by Q&A. 3:00 p.m. Break. 3:10 p.m. Trivia! Who among us isn’t a geography or wildlife trivia buff? In a fun, entertaining, quiz-show webinar, we will use the popular “Kahoot” app, with two panelists participating. (No experience necessary to play.) The game will follow the format of the popular, award-winning NPR quiz show “Wait, Wait…Don’t Tell Me!” We will each test our travel knowledge of nature, history, and culture against our panel and have a laugh while figuring out what’s real and what they’ve made up. 4:00 p.m. Wrap-up and farewells. 4:05 p.m. This concludes our program.