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Costa Rica RPCV Nancy Aitken, Director of Proyecto Campanario, announces tropical ecology camps and courses
Costa Rica RPCV Nancy Aitken, Director of Proyecto Campanario, announces tropical ecology camps and courses
Rainforest Camp Offers Teachers the Ultimate Field Trip
Tuesday March 2, 7:02 am ET
SAN JOSE, Costa Rica, March 2 /PRNewswire/ -- This summer teachers will have the opportunity to take part in the ultimate field trip. Tropical rainforests, tide pools, and sea water so clear you can see the floor beneath are just a few of the attractions they will observe during this unique summer camp in a remote corner of Costa Rica.
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Proyecto Campanario has been offering tropical ecology camps and courses for nearly a decade. This year, Campanario is adapting its programs to teachers. "This is a trip for all teachers," says Proyecto Campanario Director Nancy Aitken. "Our courses are not just for biology or science teachers. History and literature teachers can break out of their usual curricular activities and art and music teachers can experience a new world of sights and sounds," said Aitken, a 1971 graduate of Cornell University who first came to Costa Rica in 1973 with The Peace Corps.
The Rainforest Conservation Camp offers one to three weeks of adventure, but it's not for the faint-hearted and teachers should plan on getting wet, dirty, and tired. Perhaps the biggest adventure is getting to Campanario. "Once you get to San Jose, a chartered bus will take you over the mountains, through paramo and montane forests, then down through banana and oil palm plantations to the river village of Sierpe where you board a boat for the final leg of the trip to Campanario. Sorry, but there are no roads in this corner of the world!" said Aitken.
Teachers will stay at the rustic, but comfortable, field station with all the basic necessities: large kitchen and dining hall, tiled bathrooms, screened in bunkrooms and a library. But, there are no phones or televisions in the rooms and no daily mail service. Living far from the accustomed creature comforts such as ice cubes and air conditioners can be a shock for some, but Aitken says it teaches a more eco-friendly and sustainable lifestyle.
Proyecto Campanario attracts teachers and students from all over the world. The Rainforest Conservation Camp is scheduled for June 20-26, July 4-10, and August 8-14 2004. Two and three week courses for academic and professional development credit are scheduled for June 20-July 3 and July 4-24. Space is limited. Contact: Nancy Aitken: Phone, in Costa Rica 506-258-5778, E-mail: campanario@racsa.co.cr, www.campanario.org.
Source: Proyecto Campanario