Countdown to Paradise (at least in Ms. Doss' eyes!)
Thursday, January 21, 2010
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Posted by: Blythe Everett
In just nine days, 14 students, Ms. Doss, Mr. Augusta and alumnus Sean Graesser ‘08 will be leaving the comfort of Marvelwood to conduct scientific research and participate in community service projects with Dr. Roy and CREA (Conservation through Research, Education and Action) in eastern Panama.
Students have been busy on Tuesday nights learning about both the beauty and dangers of this tropical paradise called Cocobolo Nature Reserve. Ms. Doss has been busy not only trying to make sure everyone in the group has the required supplies for the trip, but also trying to navigate through the permit application
process in an attempt to secure permission to  collect insects as part of a systematic research project for the Academy of Natural Sciences in Philadelphia.(By the way....Ms. Doss strongly encourages students to learn a foreign language! She is heavily reliant and deeply appreciative of the Spanish translation help provided by Mick Barens and Amanda DeMaria!)
Locating and packing equipment for the entomological and mammalian studies has also been challenging. Rumor has it that animals, especially wild cats, will be attracted to our camera traps if we use Obsession for Men cologne, so we will be trying this technique this year! Michael Esposito ‘11 and Luke O'Malley ‘11
have been invaluable assistants with respect to packing  scientific equipment as well as spraying field clothes
with insecticide. Asa Sapse ‘10 has aided the group's
efforts by creating Excel data sheets for the various ornithological, entomological and mammalian studies. In fact, the entire Marvelwood community (including parents) has lent a hand in raising money to purchase educational textbooks and materials, athletic equipment and medical supplies to transport to the village.
While the students are admittedly nervous, they are looking forward to the adventure. Returning participants Brian D'Iorio ‘10, Jeanna Bracchitta 10, Connor Bachmann ‘11 and Mike Esposito are looking forward to reconnecting with old friends in the village of La Zahina, including the CREA interns and the girls for whom Marvelwood provides educational scholarships.
Stay tuned for a travel journal!
photos from top to bottom: Cocobolo Field Station; trekking through the rainforest; last year's group
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