Costa Rica Reflections

    On our last night of our ten day program in Costa Rica, we went out on an evening walk around the Bri Bri indigenous village. Stepping carefully and quietly over the worn path and under curling vines, we came across incredible animals big and small- a Kinkajou slinking along the elevated highway of interwoven tree branches above us, varied spiders of all shapes, sizes and colors I'd never imagined, and even a strange tiny blue insect with yellow spots, apparently ejecting tiny spheres from it's body in a ceaseless barrage. I was completely absorbed and amazed by these mysterious creatures that seemed to be around every twist and turn and yet were nowhere to be found in the light of day. These impromptu night walks were some of my favorite experiences in Costa Rica. It gave me a child-like sense of discovery and joy when my eyes alighted upon an owl, a sleeping anole, or a camouflaged moth, renewing my sense of wonder about the world. 

    Upon my return to Washington, I found myself practicing the same instinctive searching I did in Costa Rica, constantly looking under leaves, up in trees and in any unexpected place to see what kind of wild creature I might stumble upon. While there are certainly many amazing flora and fauna here, the amount of biodiversity simply can't compare to the rainforests of Costa Rica. While finding the same old conifers and chickadees may not feel as exciting, I am reminded that each piece of the ecosystem has an important role to play and is inextricably connected to every other piece in one way or another. In my job as an informal educator, it's my goal to inspire curiosity in critical thinking in our young program participants, and my time in Costa Rica helped remind me of the powerful learning and sense of connection that can be brought on by that unbridled feeling of wonder.

Nature nerding in Costa Rica (left) and back in the states (right).

    I was not only amazed by the natural elements in Costa Rica, but also by the human element. The people of Tortuga Station who spend months tirelessly patrolling the beaches each night and digging nests in the sand were a testament of the ability of a small group of people to make a big difference. I often feel there are too many environmental problems for me to make any difference, especially coming back from my trip to the dire news of the IPCC report touting irreversible impacts of climate change, but thinking of the steadfast commitment at Tortuga Station reminds me to focus on the things I can influence to make lasting change. No one single person can fix it all, but collectively we can create a sustainable world, just as Tortuga Station tends a mere 3km section of beach, but is part of a network that together protects nearly the entire nesting coast.

    Looking back on my time in Costa Rica, it feels like ages ago and yet at the same time, all I have to do is close my eyes and imagine the sounds of the crashing ocean waves and the chirps, squawks and buzzes radiating from all directions, and I feel like I am there once again.