STRI Panama Tuesday, June 11

Tommy DiBona '15 and Hollis Jennings '15 enjoy the view from the Canopy Tower high above the rainforest, while a sloth enjoys viewing our group.

Emerging from the dawn mists, on top of a 32 meter observation tower, 16 CHC STRI students and their chaperones were treated to a panoramic view of the Panamanian rainforest as they took in the sounds of hundreds of birds and insects and the distant growls of Howler monkeys. Soon, the student's bird-watching eyes adjusted and they began to spot, with the help of our expert guides, a huge variety of birds including Toucans, Hawks, Hummingbirds, Parrots, and Kites. As the hour progressed, scene after scene of canopy forest brillance unfolded for us, inspiring Ethan Crawley '14 to finally say, "I feel like I'm in Heaven" to which one of his peers responded, "No, Ethan, we are in Panama; it is the same thing".

This was the second trip to the Canopy Tower in two days as the other members of the trip went up the first day we were all here. The first trip was highlighted by the spotting of a Three-Toed Sloth perched on a branch high above the canopy, the second trip by the sighting of a rare and beautiful Orchid Bee at the base camp below the tower.

But we've jumped ahead of ourselves.  Let's start at the beginning.  After arriving at our house, with our bags (Yeah!) in Gamboa past midnight very early Tuesday morning we launched into a busy day with a trip to visit Curtis Kirby '14 at the Amphibian rescue center to learn about his work with endangered Panamanian frogs. While there, we went through three work stations to view the research technique of Angie Estrada and her team. After that we we treated to an impromptu session with a local animal rescue expert, who introduced us to baby otters and a remarkable baby anteater.

Clockwise from upper left: A happy bird enjoys a snack of an unhappy lizard; Maddie Spear '14 is mesmerized by her new friend John Lennon the Beatle, soon to be frog chow; a neighbor watches us eat breakfast; Students stand in "aww" of the rescued baby otter.

Mitch Kucy '14 gets up close and personal with Samba, a rescued baby anteater.

Later in the afternoon we were joined by our Brader School friends Raul and Isabelle who have rapidly integrated with our happy band of now 28 students. We also went out for a walk to view the town of Gamboa, but were driven back a torrential tropical downpour with vivid lightning which lasted well into the evening. After drying out we were treated to a wonderful dinner by our host Guido and his staff and all went to bed full of great food and happily fatigued.  More to come!

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Students hike in a bamboo forest; Collin Smith '14 is ready for action; Students enjoy breakfast surrounded by monkeys, agoutis and hummingbirds; John Napolitano '14 enjoys bug juice while showing his Team Willis pride.