Exploring the Natural World with Holbrook’s Field-Based Learning Seminar Part Three

The final day of FBLS starts with a steady rain. After breakfast and one more chance to photograph the flycatchers and aracaris outside the Selva Verde dining room, the group sets off toward Poás Volcano and ultimately San José. Along the way, they stop to view the 121-foot La Paz Waterfall, and at a small roadside cafe overlooking a valley, the owners have put out hummingbird feeders. Dozens of the diminutive birds, like Violet Sabrewing and Brown Violetear, zoom through the air, landing within arm’s reach before zipping off again in a chorus of high-pitched chirps. Below the open-air wooden walkway, a coati sniffs along the ground. Continuing on, religious pilgrims can be seen in their reflective yellow vests, trekking on foot toward the city of Cartago as part of an annual ritual to honor the country’s patron saint, the Virgen de los Ángeles. At Poás Volcano, fog and mist make it impossible to see the expansive volcanic crater beyond the guardrail, but a stop at the grocery store for Costa Rican coffee and other goodies offers some consolation. In San José the educators gather for one last meeting, reflecting on what they’ve learned and how to share the experience with their students. For information about upcoming FBLS programs, visit holbrooktravel.com/fbls << Previous