JWU Costa Rica Study Abroad 2014- Program Overview

JWU Costa Rica Study Abroad 2014- Program Overview

Academic Focus: Eco, Nature-based, Adventure, and Sustainable Tourism
Satisfactory completion of the Costa Rica program fulfills all requirements for a concentration in Adventure, Sport and Nature Based Tourism. This is a physically active and comprehensive program. Satisfactory completion of the Costa Rica program fulfills all requirements for a concentration in Adventure, Sport and Nature Based Tourism. This is a physically active and comprehensive program. 

Satisfactory completion of the Costa Rica program fulfills all requirements for a concentration in Adventure, Sport and Nature Based Tourism. This is a physically active and comprehensive program. 

Areas of the Country we will visit: San Antonio de Belen Heredia, Tortuguero Limón, La Virgen de Sarapiqui Heredia, Arenal Volcano/La Fortuna, Jaco, Puntarenas

Program Educational Components:

• Learn about the natural history of sea turtles
• Experience the rain forest and spot wildlife.
• Introduction Lecture Sustainability in Costa Rica, a development model
• Students to choose field work project assignment as outlined by TBR and students will conduct guided research throughout the two weeks and compile for presentation at end of TBR program
• Principles of Eco-Tourism Costa Rica
• Introduction Lecture Sustainability in Costa Rica, a development model
• Students to choose field work project assignment, students will conduct guided research
• Sustainable Tourism Certificate  
• Other certification programs: Best Practices from Rainforest Alliance, Blue Flag Awards.
• Agro-tourism - Corsicana Organic Pineapple Farm, Coffee Plantation & Black Pepper Plantation
  Visit 3 different farms. Compare small scale to large scale operations
• Principles of Sales and Marketing related to tourism, Different perspectives on ecotourism marketing in Sarapiqui region.  
• Protected Areas Management Plans.
• Limits of Acceptable Change, Charge Capacity
• Protected areas and Tourism: Costa Rica history.  Tourism in National Parks. 
• Study eco-system of butterflies and tropical insects

Excursions: 

• Adventure Horseback Riding Tour -On this ride you will explore rivers, mountain slopes, pasture fields and primary and secondary forest. 

• Ecotermales La Fortuna Hot Springs-This family owned and operated natural hot springs, allows only a limited number of guests each day; providing a private and relaxing oasis for visitors. There are four pools, one of which features a cascading waterfall, which reach up to 105 degrees Fahrenheit. There is no better way to unwind after a long day than by visiting the hot springs and treating your body to its naturally replenishing effects. We will dine in the authentic, home-style Costa Rican restaurant

• Eco Farm- We’ll visit retired school principal Don Juan at his Farm for a special Costa Rican agricultural and culinary experience. Learn about this ecological farm's organic and sustainable production techniques as you help to harvest and plant native fruits and vegetables, meet his cows, visit the biodigester, flex your muscle in the manual processing of sugar cane and sample the fruits of your labor and enjoy a traditional Costa Rican lunch.

• Hanging Bridges / Nature walk in the Cloud Forest- The treetop walkway tour consists on 1.9 miles of trails in which visitors will encounter eight bridges of various lengths which range between 170 feet and 560feet. Each bridge features 5 foot width and capacity of 80 people per bridge which makes the treetop walkways at Selvatura Park not only the longest bridge system in Costa Rica but also the safest and strongest.

• Hummingbird Garden- Imagine yourself in a beautiful garden. Now imagine over 100 beautiful hummingbirds flying cheerfully around you! That is what the incredible Hummingbird Garden has to offer you. More than 10 species of hummingbirds will amaze you with their incredible aerial maneuvers and bright lively colors.   Definitively a photography fan's treat! No matter what mood you are in these small daredevils will cheer you up and give you an unforgettable air show.

• Butterfly Garden & Nature Center - The Monteverde Butterfly Garden, or Mariposario, is one of the area’s original and most visited attractions. The Mariposario offers a biodiversity center, medicinal plant garden, live leaf cutter ant colony, in addition to four climate-controlled butterfly gardens where visitors can observe some of the most beautiful and fascinating insects in the Tropics

• Crocodile Safari – Mangrove Adventure – boat trip -The adventure takes place on the Tarcoles River, home to one of the world’s largest crocodile populations in the wild with individuals up to fifteen feet long. In addition to the crocodiles, over fifty different kinds of birds can be seen on site, including the very rare scarlet macaw and a great variety of resident and migrant waterfowl. Iguanas and Jesus Cristo lizards are very common as well.

• Manuel Antonio National Park-Scenic Manuel Antonio National Park is a perfect combination of warm Pacific waters and rainforest that grows right down to the three white sand beaches. Nature trails take you along the beach strand and over a forested, rocky promontory. This park, in the humid tropical zone, protects several habitats, including primary relative isolation and secondary forest, mangroves, beach vegetation and marine resources. Because of its relative isolation and small size it is probably one of the easiest places in Costa Rica to see wildlife, particularly sloths, coatis, agoutis, White-faced Monkeys and the tiny Squirrel Monkey.

• Sarchi Ox-cart Factory- The artisan town in Costa Rica, Sarchi is best known for the vibrant and pretty oxcarts that are handcrafted here and sold all over the country. Available for a reasonable price, these oxcarts are a must buy for any visitor. A national symbol of Costa Rica, the oxcart plays a key role in the country’s history, as they were used to transport coffee beans to nearby and faraway markets. Highly ornate, these oxcarts are elegantly craved and are usually painted with bright colors. The largest and oldest oxcart factories are in Sarchi, and are considered to be the birthplace of oxcart handicrafts in Costa Rica

I had the honor of witnessing first hand immersed int the Costa Rican Culture as The best story in the World Cup will continue as  Costa Rica survived fatigue and penalty kicks to beat Greece and advance to the quarterfinals for the first time in its history.

Eco Farm Natural Beauty - Traveler Photo Contest 2014 - National Geographic

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Eco Farm Natural Beauty - Traveler Photo Contest 2014 - National Geographic

Raising Welsh Harlequin Ducklings- Week 15 Adolescence

DOUG'S DUCKS

Raising Welsh Harlequin Ducklings- Week 15- The Adolescence Weeks

Raising Welsh Harlequin Ducklings

On March 3, 2014 my Welsh Harlequin Ducklings hatched at Metzer Farms and arrived at my house on March 5, 2014. To view the Raising Welsh Harlequin Ducklings from the start- Arrival Day Click Here

The ducks are currently in their adolescence as you can see by the photos below the males and females have taken on a totally different appearance.  I should expect the first egg to be laid within two months.

Here are some updated photos of the ducks

& the chickens

The Drakes

The Ducks

The Barn

Tonight when it was time to come home the ducks and the chickens were a bit confused by the new look of their home.

The Chickens & Their Green Eggs

White Hen

Green Eggs (no ham)

Red Hen

Speckled Hen 

The Rooster (added a few weeks ago from a Craigslist Ad)

He just started to crow last week

This is a repost from FSNE

A New England Food Vision sets bold “50 by 60” goal: Collaborative report imagines that region can produce at least 50 percent of clean, just, fair and accessible food for all New Englanders by 2060.r all  Food Solutions New England (FSNE) is thrilled to announced the release of A New England Food Vision, a collaborative report and bold vision outlining how New England can locally produce at least of 50 percent of clean, fair, just and accessible food for all citizens by 2060. Incorporating more than three years of collaborative research and input from hundreds of voices throughout New England, A New England Food Vision imagines a future that is possible if our region were to commit to supporting sustainable food systems for all New Englanders. “Today it takes an estimated 16 million acres to feed New England’s 14.5 million residents, but the region has just two million acres of active farmland,” states Brian Donahue, Associate Professor of American Environmental Studies at Brandeis University and one of A New England Food Vision authors. “Business as usual will no longer suffice. As a region, we must rethink how we can support more of our own population – and grow local economies – through local, sustainable food production.” A New England Food Vision is bold in aspiration — healthy food for all, sustainable farming and fishing amidst thriving communities; and bold in scope — a tripling of land in food production, vibrant working water fronts and healthy ecosystems. A New England Food Vision does not offer a plan, but it does challenge us to design and engage in actions that will transform our food system. “We believe that A New England Food Vision will create new conversations, new collaborations and new, actionable plans,” states Tom Kelly, Chief Sustainability Officer at the University of New Hampshire and another A New England Food Vision author. “To achieve this bold goal of '50 by 60,' we will need diverse voices to imagine a future in which food nourishes a social, economic and environmental landscape that supports a high quality of life for everyone in our region, for generations to come.”   Download the collaborative report Funding was provided by the Baker Foundation, Tides Foundation, Henry P. Kendall Foundation, John Merck Fund, 1772 Foundation, and the Claneil Foundation.

Copyright © 2014 Sustainability Institute at UNH, All rights reserved. You are receiving this email because you are participating in the 2014 New England Food Summit. Our mailing address is: Sustainability Institute at UNH 107 Nesmith Hall 131 Main Street Durham, New Hampshire 03824 Add us to your address book

Fourth Annual New England Food Summit!- Day 2

I was elected as a state delegate to represent Rhode Island at the Fourth Annual Food Solutions New England Summit in Pawtucket Rhode Island on June 12 & 13, 2014.

Food Solutions New England or FSNE is a regional food systems learning-action network dedicated to advancing a sustainable New England food system. The UNH Sustainability Institute serves as the backbone organization for FSNE.

To read my post on Food Solutions New England click here

To read my post on Day one of the New England Food Summit click here

DAY 2-

Day two started bright and early with a continuation of our discussion on racial equity and food justice.

We then met as individual states to discuss next steps by state and as by a region.

The Rhode Island delegation made it clear that supported the Living Wage movement was one of its top priorities.

Rhode Island Food Policy Council 

http://www.foodsolutionsne.org/new-england-food-vision

http://action.clf.org/site/Survey?

Fourth Annual New England Food Summit!- Day 1

DAY 1-

We started today's conference with a conversation about Racial Equality and Food Justice  and the following are just a few take aways from our presenters and small group table discussions. (this is a very brief snapshot that I will update once I receive the information presented)

• 97% of all farms are owned by whites 

• Food system change is not a luxury it is a necessity

• Local food is not intrinsically good... It's only good if it delivers on social and environmental values

• There's a lot to be said about the healing power of growing your own food.

• Sustainability can't happen without racial justice

• New England Food Vision: Healthy food is a fundamental human right

• Local food is only good if it delivers on social and environmental values.

• The new paradigm begins as soon as you're ready to perceive it.

• Not just about individual behavior and consumer actions, it's about a systemic change in our society

After lunch (see the menu below) we discussed the 50 by 60 Food Vision

The New England Food calls for our region to build the capacity to produce at least 50% of food in an environmentally and socially sustainable manner, that promotes health and is accessible by all New Englanders by 2060.

 To read the New England Food Vision (to read the complete document click here). 

Highlights

The Four Core Values:

1. Rights to Food: Access to adequate healthy, culturally appropriate foods at all times is a basic human right for all.
2. Healthy Eating: New Englanders will move towards healthier eating patterns, including eating more fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grains and both plant and animal sources of protein.
3. Sustainability: Regional food production, procurement and access will be advanced embracing environmentally respective practices, economically just principles and social responsible behaviors.
4. Community Stability: Strong local and regional agricultural and sustainable fisheries will help New England communities thrive by providing a decent livelihood  to farmers and fisherman, while creating and maintaining attractive communities  for people to live in, work in and visit.  

KEEPING WITH THE URBAN THEME

A FOOD TRUCK LUNCH

Fourth Annual New England Food Summit!- Background

I was elected as a state delegate to represent Rhode Island at the Fourth Annual Food Solutions New England Summit in Pawtucket Rhode Island on June 12 & 13, 2014.

Food Solutions New England or FSNE is a regional food systems learning-action network dedicated to advancing a sustainable New England food system. The UNH Sustainability Institute serves as the backbone organization for FSNE.

The New England Food Summit is an action-oreinted working summit geared towards strengthen the regional food system sustainability. This year's summit includes a focus on urban and metropolitan food system issues, as well as the central place of food justice and racial equity in food system sustainability.

As part of our pre-work we were asked to read the New England Food Vision (to read the complete document click here). 

The New England Food calls for our region to build the capacity to produce at least 50% of food in an environmentally and socially sustainable manner, that promotes health and is accessible by all New Englanders by 2060.

A New England Food Vision imagines a new future that is possible if society were to commit to supporting a sustainable food production in New England. We hope this report will compel people to act by creating new conversations, new collaborations and new, actionable plans. We seek to engage diverse voices and create new inspiration that will lead to healthy food and thriving communities.
. 

Additionally we were asked to read or watch the following that revolve around this years theme of Racial Equality and Food Justice. 

Over the next few days I will share with you my experiences from the summit.

Why do you see people in commercials eating less than healthy foods?

Why do you see people in commercials eating less than healthy foods?

While watching one 30 minute episode of the Big Bang Theory on the CW28 Providence I noticed that over 50% of all the commercials aired showed the actors eating less than healthy nutritious foods. Foods that in fact contributing to the weight problem in the U.S

The following were aired:

• Medicine for some disorder - they were sitting around a camp fire eating smores

• Dunkin Donuts Coolatta

• Reese's Peanut Butter Cups- enough said 

• Tyson Grilled & Ready Chicken - Sodium, GMO feed chickens, preservatives etc.....

• Domino's- Large two topping pizza's for $5.99 each

• Ford Escape- discussion about eating Thanksgiving dinner

• Häagen-Dazs ice cream

Is there evidence that showing actors eating healthy(ire) foods lessens the product sales?

According to: Why it matters: Junk Food Ads Tips-The fastest way to a kid's brain? Through his stomach. Help kids see through junk food ads.

Research, including a 2010 study from UCLA, finds a strong connection between ads and eating habits. One out of every three kids in this country is at risk for becoming obese. American kids consume more than one-third of their daily calories from soft drinks, sweets, salty snacks, and fast food. As kids associate pleasure with junk food, they develop lifelong, unhealthy habits that are difficult to break.

I don't think everyone needs to be eating raw broccoli, but can we come to a happy medium that helps promote a shift in eating behaviors?  Or is that to much to ask for profit driven food companies?

Join the Discussion