23 Jun A Visit from La Paz Community School

Written by: David Parreno Duque

Translated by: Florencia Franzini

Students receive a “creek talk” about the local Osa Ecosystem.

From June 12 to June 17 we had the pleasure of being able to work with a group of students from the La Paz Community School of Guanacaste, Costa Rica.

The main on-going project that the alumni focused on was comparing water quality assessments of the Piro River and the Coyunda River – students examined and related the chemical composition of these two rivers, while also examining the different macroinvertebrates between the two rivers as an indicator of water quality.

After the general water quality assessment comparisons, alumni formed independent groups in order to carry out different projects: biodiversity analysis of a still-water ecosystem (local lagoon), studies of flora biodiversity on local trails, and also in-depth water quality analysis spanning several different parameters at different points of the local rivers.

Students work in groups with Kick-Nets in order to collect macroinvertebrates that can later be used as water quality assessors.

During their short but intense stay the La Paz students truly demonstrated their passion for the Osa wildlife and a great capacity to work amongst each other in groups – something that can result for many as a challenge. Clearly these students are a example that should be followed, and we hope that they will visit us again soon!