Seaford students explore another ecosystem

Three dozen Seaford High School students had an experience like never before when they packed their bags and visited Costa Rica. Over seven days, they were able to explore the country’s natural habitats and have a few adventures of their own.

Students from the Advanced Placement biology and environmental science classes took part in the trip under the direction of teaches Keri Degnan and Janine Cupo. Together, the group traveled through approximately 70 percent of the country.

The trip was held from March 19-25. The students left from Newark Airport and arrived at Juan Santamaria Airport near San Jose, in the Central Valley region of the Central American nation.

Degnan said it was the first time the science department has hosted an overnight trip to Costa Rica. “It was an amazing experience for the kids,” she said. “I think they all came home with great memories.”

Cupo said the purpose of the trip was to expose students to the biodiversity and ecology of the nation, which has more than 600 species of birds and about one-fifth of the world’s bat population. The students collected and analyzed bat excrement, or guano, and studied it to learn about seed dispersal. They went to a stream to learn about the organisms living in it and to study water quality.

“The water quality was really, really good in Costa Rica,” junior Sam Demott said. “They care about keeping their environment clean.”

Christina Pace said she learned that 98 percent of energy in Costa Rica is generated by either wind, water or the sun. She said wind-generated power is much easier simply because it’s windier there than in the United States. “It’s all natural, so it’s not hurting the environment,” Pace said. “It’s the natural surroundings that’s powering the country. I think it’s great.”

Among other activities, the students visited hot springs and a volcano, saw exotic animals such as sloths, armadillos, frogs, toucans and iguanas, and went ziplining in a cloud forest. “It was a lot of fun,” senior Kaelin King of the latter activity. “It was the adrenaline. It got your heart pumping.”

They also took part in a community service project in which the students spent an hour cleaning a trail at the Monteverde Cloud Forest nature preserve.