Curu, A Walk in the Rainforest
We have worked hard all week fine-tuning our observational skills with the expert guidance of our Naturalists and the help of our daily scavenger hunt lists. Today, amongst multiple groans at breakfast, we received “The Graduate Scavenger Hunt List.” It seemed intimidating at first. A nine point list including items such as: “Finding a place within twenty steps that you can demonstrate three temperature readings that vary by more than five degrees from each other.” But as we stepped out of our Zodiacs, into the warm waters, and walked up the sunny dry beach to step into the shade of the rainforest canopy, it became amazingly easy. Our ears had become fine-tuned as well, with several of us stopping suddenly on the trail to the not-so-distant howls from monkeys. Falling coconuts, singing birds, tapping woodpeckers, flashes of color, the scent of mangrove, lemon…our senses were bombarded with a dazzling variety and we were ready for it.
This week has been special in many different ways. This has been a “Family Departure” with the experience of exploring Costa Rica being shared by children and adults. We all have a different perspective in what we observe and some of those perspectives and inspirations are shared here in the poems written by our younger guests.
Whales!
Looking eyes wander over the horizon
Instantly, a finger points!
Never before had we seen whales!
Dove down, now it’s back up!
Blowholes are all spouting,
Little fish swim quickly to safety.
As they do, the whale breaches!
Dorsal fins nearly visible, then it swims away.
Elise Hudson, Age 13
Many volcanos
Are not active.
Gases, ashes and lava
Make a volcano active
And very dangerous.
Mclean Hudson, Age 8
Shining bolts of joy
Dolphin’s jumping to the sky
Leaping like sunshine.
Grace Johnson, Age 12
Fire
Fierce and daring
Impatient to strike
Really, really hot
Enormously grows.
Joseph Burkholder, Age 8
Do you like an adventure in sailing the seas?
Or are marine mammals your fancy?
Leaping in and out of the water gracefully
Pleasing the children who watch excitedly
Having fun as they race along
In the Zodiac listening to the dolphins song
Never ending voyage on the sea.
Ross Davison, Age 13; Chad Cole, Age 10
Graceful through the trees
Like soft moss in the skyline
A sloth creeps along.
Grace Johnson, Age 12
We have worked hard all week fine-tuning our observational skills with the expert guidance of our Naturalists and the help of our daily scavenger hunt lists. Today, amongst multiple groans at breakfast, we received “The Graduate Scavenger Hunt List.” It seemed intimidating at first. A nine point list including items such as: “Finding a place within twenty steps that you can demonstrate three temperature readings that vary by more than five degrees from each other.” But as we stepped out of our Zodiacs, into the warm waters, and walked up the sunny dry beach to step into the shade of the rainforest canopy, it became amazingly easy. Our ears had become fine-tuned as well, with several of us stopping suddenly on the trail to the not-so-distant howls from monkeys. Falling coconuts, singing birds, tapping woodpeckers, flashes of color, the scent of mangrove, lemon…our senses were bombarded with a dazzling variety and we were ready for it.
This week has been special in many different ways. This has been a “Family Departure” with the experience of exploring Costa Rica being shared by children and adults. We all have a different perspective in what we observe and some of those perspectives and inspirations are shared here in the poems written by our younger guests.
Whales!
Looking eyes wander over the horizon
Instantly, a finger points!
Never before had we seen whales!
Dove down, now it’s back up!
Blowholes are all spouting,
Little fish swim quickly to safety.
As they do, the whale breaches!
Dorsal fins nearly visible, then it swims away.
Elise Hudson, Age 13
Many volcanos
Are not active.
Gases, ashes and lava
Make a volcano active
And very dangerous.
Mclean Hudson, Age 8
Shining bolts of joy
Dolphin’s jumping to the sky
Leaping like sunshine.
Grace Johnson, Age 12
Fire
Fierce and daring
Impatient to strike
Really, really hot
Enormously grows.
Joseph Burkholder, Age 8
Do you like an adventure in sailing the seas?
Or are marine mammals your fancy?
Leaping in and out of the water gracefully
Pleasing the children who watch excitedly
Having fun as they race along
In the Zodiac listening to the dolphins song
Never ending voyage on the sea.
Ross Davison, Age 13; Chad Cole, Age 10
Graceful through the trees
Like soft moss in the skyline
A sloth creeps along.
Grace Johnson, Age 12
