Traveling With The SSHS
AP Biology Students In Costa Rica

 

by: Bobby McDonald

 

For Chrystal Reneau's Advanced Placement Biology students, Thursday, June 22, 2006 was the culmination of hard work, dedication, and the chance of a lifetime to travel to Costa Rica, while learning about another culture, expanding their biological knowledge, and having a great time. The group returned to Sulphur Springs on Sunday night, July 2nd, tired but full of memories to last forever.

Besides their teacher, the group was accompanied by Dr. and Mrs. Hank Hayes,  as sponsors, on the spectacular voyage. Follow the students in the following pictures, as you see just some of the sights that they experienced during their trip.

This is a photo of the beach on the Caribbean Sea. The group stayed at Estacion Las Tortugas.


Sea turtle eggs were harvested on the beach, in an effort to hatch them and make certain they survived and hatched.



Newly hatched sea turtles were brought to the beach and released.

 

 

These SSHS students had to "brush-up" on their Spanish to read all the signs.



Students stayed with host families, and here, SSHS student, Katie Hettich, far left, is shown with
her host family Esperanza and her fourteen year old daughter, at right is SSHS students Melissa Hayes,
and Kayla Morgan.


Students learned that soccer (football) is the favorite pasttime of the youth in Costa Rica. "Everybody stopped
what they were doing to go and play football at the end of the day," expressed the students.


Roman Catholicism is the major religion and beautiful churches
were in every area of Costa Rica.

 

Finding that the students were from an agricultural area, they were treated to a visit to the farm of
Don Juan, who is a retired third grade teacher and grows fruits, vegetables,  and milks cows on his
organic farm. He makes cheese, sour cream, and whole milk from milking his cattle and even uses
the methane gas for fuel.


Local veterinarian and trip sponsor, Dr. Hank Hayes, felt right at home at this small dairy farm
in Costa Rica, as he gave the cattle a "once over."


A butterfly farm and hatchery was another interesting stop on the tour.

SSHS student, Landon McCaig, inspects the larvae of the butterflies, before they hatch, at the
butterfly farm.

 

Beautiful rivers were everywhere, as Costa Rica reveives much annual rainfall.


Beautiful waterfalls..............


And, gorgeous sunsets were the norm!

 

A quick lesson in learning to make tortillas.......


And, learning about the local culture.......

And, some different local soft drinks to try!


Meals that reflected the local traditions.

 

And, new experiences everywhere.

Exploring the rivers...........


Inspecting the native habitat.......


And, getting close to the native wildlife.........

  

  

 

 

And, having fun at every turn.........


And, you'll have to ask the "boys" about this beauty contest!!!!!

 

Combing the beaches........


Even building a sand castle by the sea........

 

The students left their "mark" in the sands of Costa Rica!!!!!

Words like "When is next year's trip?" and "I want to take another advanced course, so I can go back next year." were being bantered around by the group of students who experienced the trip, while some of the sponsors were trying to "catch-up" on their sleep and looking forward to a few days of rest and relaxation, before their next "project." However, all agreed that the trip was a wonderful experience and an educational endeavor that benefited all of the students on the trip!

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A very special thanks to Katie Hettich and Kari Hayes for sharing their
pictures with us, from this most memorable trip, taken by the SSHS AP Biology Class.

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