ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE INTERNSHIP
SUMMER 2002
EV483
Alisha Gammon in Costa Rica
ENVIRONMENTAL
SCIENCE INTERNSHIP
SUMMER 2002
EV483
Alisha Gammon in Costa Rica
During Summer
2002 Alisha Gammon worked as an Intern in Lodge Los Inocentes, near La Cruz,
Guanacaste, Costa Rica.
Her internship goals were:
1) to improve her Spanish language skills, and
2) to gain an appreciation for and understanding of the management of an
ecotourist hotel in tropical Central America.
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Lodge Los Inocentes, northwestern Guanacaste, Costa Rica, between La Cruz and Santa Cecilia is a tourist hotel and wildlife tour center. Visitors are mainly patrons and day-trippers interested in exploring the wildlife (monkeys, sloths, toucans, parrots etc.) of the tropical moist forest. (Photo: Alan Journet 2002) | |||
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The re-modeled ranch house serves as the Hotel center. Much of the refinishing was undertaken with local tropical woods (mahogany etc.) from fallen trees. (Photos: Alan Journet 2002) | ||
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The view from the dining area (seen above) is
spectacular. Volcan Orosí rises to 1487m. (Photo: Alan Journet 2002)
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Alisha's primary assignment was to assist in office management, which included dealing with tourists, billing, and inventorying hotel supplies. (Photos: Alan Journet 2002) | ||
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Included among Alisha's duties was working with visitors. This required taking horse-back tours of the forest to see the array of tropical animals and birds at the private wildlife refuge which is Lodge Los Inocentes. Here, Alisha is seen with friend 'Jeta.' (Photos: Alan Journet 2002) | ||
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In addition to Alisha's hotel clerical and managerial functions, she helped with the tropical forest restoration project being conducted on site by Drs. Alan Journet and Kathy Conway of Southeast Missouri State University. Field sites were reached by horseback, so again Alisha and Jeta enjoyed one another's company. (Photos: Alan Journet 2002) | ||
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Alisha and Kathy are marking the location where a fig seedling has been planted and recording data from the planted seedling. (Photo: Alan Journet 2002) | |||
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Here
Alisha and Alan (left) collect data. Alisha also managed to plant
her very own fig as part of the project (right, below). (Photo: Kathy Conway 2002) |
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The internship provided abundant opportunities to work in tropical forest restoration (left) and Hotel management (right). (Photos: Alan Journet 2002) |
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A nearby canopy tour offered a playtime opportunity. |
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Is it a bird? |
Is it a plane? |
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| After seeing the guide fly upside down - 'cabeza abaho,' Alisha asked if she could do the same. (Photo: Alan Journet 2002) | With a little ingenuity and daring, this presented no problem. (Photos: Alan Journet 2002) | |||
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There is the
preferred, more normal, approach to flying.
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A little light libation following the aerial excursion was enjoyed by all! (Photo: unknown salonero 2002) | |||
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The tour guides seemed to enjoy it as much as the passengers. (Photo: Alan Journet 2002) |
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Alisha with Los Inocentes Guide and Naturalist Dennis Ortiz O. (left). (Photo: Alan Journet 2002) | |
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With the local hosts, it is impossible not to become part of the family. |
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Alisha
with Los Inocentes owners/managers: Patricia Murillo Castrillo, Jaime Viquez
Ramirez, and Karina Viquez Murillo. (Photo: Alan Journet 2002) |
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Patricia, Karina, and Jaime, were perfect hosts for the Internship. (Photo: Alan Journet 2002) |
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Journet Homepage
Los Inocentes
Homepage
Southeast
Missouri State University Homepage
Department
of Biology Homepage
