Like Hamp in 2021 and Sam in 2023, Sam was excited again this summer to enroll in Ecology Project International's student trip for ecological, biological, and cultural studies. This trip included 20 students, 4 chaperones, and 8 days in Cost Rica to study turtle population and habitat.
There are hundreds of photos between everyone that went, and tons of stories... but the trip is best summed up in the words of my friend Ann, Meeker's EPI co-ordinator and lead chaperone (and one of my favorite people!):
Meeker kids always get huge compliments while we are on our ecology trips. They are respectful, kind, inquisitive and inclusive. We had the chance to interact with local high school students and tour their high school. It was one of the highlights of the trip, for sure. We walked over 30 miles and helped with 4 hour turtle censuses for three nights. We were able to witness a leatherback sea turtle covering her eggs and measured her neck circumference and the length and width of her shell. After she camouflaged her nest and returned to the sea, we dug up her eggs (they lay an average of 80-100 eggs) and carried them to the hatchery. We weighed and measured 3 different hatches of baby sea turtles and released them into the ocean. We saw the elusive Agami herons on their nests…a rare sighting, for sure. Even though the students were exhausted, they all had positive attitudes and kept immersing themselves in all the activities and were able to see many unique plant and animal species. We went zip lining through the rainforest and rafted on the Sarapiqui River. The students returned home with life-changing memories and an appreciation for other cultures as well as our own. My chaperones are always the best and the students really enjoyed them. All in all it was another amazing trip and I am already looking forward to the next one!
