WHAT PAST FIELD COURSE PARTICIPANTS HAVE HAD TO SAY

I had wonderful experiences on all three trips I was able to take with Rainforest and Reef and your wonderful partners in Belize, Costa Rica and Panama.

Your Friend,

Sister Alice

Sister Alice Wittenbach, O.P., Ph.D.
Biology Department
Coordinator of Alumni Reunions
Aquinas College
Grand Rapids, MI USA

I have nothing but high praise to offer regarding Rainforest and Reef and their partner organization in Belize, the Belize Zoo and Tropical Education Center. Have just returned from a 10 day trip to Belize with 15 of my students and it was terrific. We studied tropical moist forest and coral reef ecology, sustainability, community-based conservation and ecotourism. Peter Herrera did a great job as our Naturalist Guide again. He is first-rate in every way. Our stay at Programme for Belize was terrific as always. We had the good fortune of seeing a jaguar along the side of the road as we left PFB our last morning there. The Community Baboon Sanctuary was also great. Tony Garel gave a great talk on the Cahillo Dam Project, which a couple of my students were doing research papers on for the course. South Water Caye worked out very well during the marine component of our trip. The food was terrific, the accommodations pleasant (cool breezes from the reef side) and the presentations on mangrove ecology and turtle/manatee grass ecology were great. Our snorkel trips were the best ever….we saw so much and had one very calm afternoon when we were able to go off the "wall" of the main barrier reef before the waves picked up. All in all, a great trip, and I really appreciate all you did to put it together. I will be all set for another trip next year.

Cheers,

Tom

Tom Hudspeth, Ph.D.
Professor
University of Vermont
Environmental Program and Rubenstein School of Environment and Natural Resources
Burlington, VT USA

I traveled to Hawaii with a group of my students. Rainforest and Reef was amazing in helping arrange all aspects of our trip. Everything went very smoothly. They were wonderful to work with and created an itinerary that really fitted our needs. All the places we visited provided all of our “research groups” a chance to gather data. We had plenty of opportunities to meet, observe and talk with "locals". My students came home saying that it was "the best thing they've ever done" or that it "changed their lives". It is important to Rainforest and Reef to work with local people and resources. You'll be with people who really know the area. Accommodations were great.

I brought 20 high school students to Hawaii through Rainforest and Reef. The students spent a year designing their own research projects to be conducted in Hawaii. Mike Nolan and R and R’s Hawaiian partner were awesome at adapting the itinerary to fit our needs. Rainforest and Reef, along with their Hawaiian partners get my highest recommendation!

Kelly Lange
Northport Public Schools
Long Island, NY

Dear Suyapa,

Every expectation that I had for Honduras was greatly surpassed. I am amazed at the variety and depth of experiences that were offered. Your positive energy level, organizational skills and attention to detail was surpassed only by your amazing knowledge. Thank you for sharing your beautiful country with us. It is an experience I will never forget.

Susan Cohen
Elementary School Instructor
Petaluma, CA USA

Note: The quote above is an excerpt from a message sent to Suyapa Dominguez, Rainforest and Reef Field Course Director, San Pedro Sula, Honduras.

Hello Mike:

The 3 Weeks in Belize were great. A beautiful country with wildlife as we cannot find anything similar in Switzerland. I will certainly go back to Belize as soon as possible. Thanks also to you for your support and organization. That really was a lot of good work you offered. Also the participants were all well educated and very interesting.

With best regards,

Richard Haldemann
Zurich, Switzerland

Our Biodiversity Course to Costa Rica was fantastic we all enjoyed the trip and plan to return. I would like to sincerely thank Juan Pablo Bello and his Staff for all they did to make our visit to Costa Rica so enjoyable and meaningful. I don’t have any suggestions for improving of our trip

Stam

Stam M. Zervanos, Ph.D.
Professor
Department of Biology
Penn State University/Berks
Reading, PA USA

I can't tell you how great my trip to Panama was. The events, activities and people were wonderful!!! Guido Berguido and his Staff did an outstanding job in every way. I also enjoyed Alonzo, Christian and Helen. I will sing your praises to my colleagues.

Regards,

Cheryl

Cheryl L. Mason, Ph.D.
Program Director
Elementary, Secondary and Informal Education
National Science Foundation
4201 Wilson Blvd., Suite 885
Arlington, VA USA

Dear Mike,

All have returned safely, exhausted, and happy having had a wonder experience thanks to your planning. Again, I cannot thank you enough for all the detail work that went on to this end. Each of the experiences, Galápagos, Otavalo and the Rainforest were all outstanding.

Charles Graber, M.D.
Kansas City, MO USA

*I had a great time in the Peruvian jungle. The Guides at the Tahuayo Lodge were wonderful. Cuzco and Machu Picchu were spectacular. Edda and her husband were wonderful and helpful in Lima. Thanks again for ALL your help and information over the past many months and please keep me up to date with new Field Courses for the future for next year. Thanks again!

Catherine McDonald

Catherine Courtney McDonald
4th Grade Elementary School Instructor
Hong Kong International School
Hong Kong, China

Our trip to Costa Rica was incredible. It exceeded my expectations in every way. My students feel the same way. They are already talking about next year. I just wanted to let you know that it was an awesome experience and I am looking forward to doing it again.

Thanks,

Joan Warner
Enloe High School
Raleigh, North Carolina USA

The trip was FABULOUS!!! I can't begin to tell you what a great job you did putting everything together. It was all that I expected and much more. As always, Luis Torres did an incredible job along with Ramon. Everyone had a great time with them. Thanks again for everything. I'm thinking about what I want the itinerary to be for next year.

Nanci

Nanci Bankier
Biology Instructor
Von Stueben High School
Chicago, IL USA

Guido:

It was a GREAT TRIP! Thank you again. Your knowledge, enthusiasm and connections made it so! I am looking forward to planning a trip next June with my students.

Jean

Jean Cumings
Biology Instructor
Coe-Brown Northwood Academy
Deerfield, NH USA

Note: The quote above is an excerpt from a message sent to Guido Berguido, Rainforest and Reef Field Course Director, Panama City, Panama.

Trip evaluation….A++++++++. Our Guides in Peru and Galápagos were wonderful. All the Staff members in the Amazon were very impressive. I was able to visit four village schools during the Field Course. I doubt that I will have an experience to match it for a long, long time.

Elleen Hutcheson
Biology Instructor
Lincoln High School
Lincoln, AR USA

The Field Course was incredible! It went above and beyond any of my expectations. I was very impressed with both the program and our guides….Allan Cruz and Luis Torres. You are making a big difference in the lives of many people.

Bridget Lewin, Ph.D.,
Science Education Professor
University of California Santa Barbara
Goleta, CA USA

We have been very fortunate to work with Guido Berguido on our Study Abroad program in Panama. Guido is an AMAZING naturalist and knows the science of tropical biology incredibly well. His years of scientific and conservation work with the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute show through in the quality of his guiding and teaching. He is the finest naturalist guide I know in Central America. His English is flawless as well.

Gerald R. Urquhart Ph.D.
Assistant Professor
Lyman Briggs School
Michigan State University
East Lansing, MI USA

We had a fantastic time in Peru and are most grateful for all your arrangements. Our fellow Lodge guests were equally impressed. Thanks for everything.

Caroline Usher
Administrator
King’s College
London, England

Mike….

Belize was just great as always. Everything was perfect.

Take care.

Pati,

Patricia Medici
Conservation Biologist
IPE - Ecological Research Institute
Conservation Biology of the Lowland Tapir Project
Black-Lion-Tamarin Metapopulation Project
Teodoro Sampaio, Sao Paulo, Brazil South America

Mike,

Thank you so much for all your good work on our trip to Ecuador and Galápagos. We had a wonderful time! It greatly surpassed all of my expectations!!!!!! I am amazed at how professional the naturalists and boat crew were in Galápagos. They were also kind and patient. We developed some great friendships on this trip and can't thank you enough. Was that a Rainforest & Reef person who met us at the Quito airport the morning after staying in Panama City? She was wonderful! She whisked us through the airport and took care of things so efficiently, allowing us to make it to the later AeroGal flight to Galápagos. The snorkeling in Galápagos was breathtaking! The hikes on the islands were awesome. This has been the best summer biology teacher in-service ever. I'm telling all of my biology teacher friends about you guys! With much appreciation to you, Rainforest & Reef and your friends in Ecuador for a superb experience!

Joe & Gail Ruhl

Joe and Gail Ruhl
Biology Instructor
Jefferson High School
Lafayette, IN USA

Australia was wonderful. I marvel at how smoothly things go with all of the coordination that must take place. Your Guides on Lizard Island and in the Daintree Rainforest were great.

Bill Moyer
Delaware Department of Natural Resources
Dover, DE USA

My experience in Costa Rica exceeded all expectations. Our Guide, Allan Cruz, was excellent in every way. From working with such people in Australia, I can only say that he ranks among the best. The choice of destinations was excellent. Trip of a lifetime!

Linda Bradburn
Melbourne, Australia

I have never encountered such a wonderful group of people, than those that operate the Tahuayo Lodgein Perú! All of the Guides were wonderful with our children! and us! We felt like a huge family! All of the experiences that I bring home with me will remain close to my heart….the children in the local villages, drinking water from a vine, watching Rudy catch a Caiman from the front of the boat, using the zip-line to observe canopy life. Don't let me forget to mention the food...the meals were fabulous. You have a wonderful piece of heaven...I hope that it can remain as beautiful as it is today! Thanks for having us!

Dale and Melanie Burrell
Richmond, VA USA

Our trip was a success by any measure. We met all of our educational goals and had a good time doing it. Laura, our Guide, was the perfect person to introduce us to Costa Rica and we quickly came to think of her as a friend and companion. We appreciate all of your efforts to help make this a successful project.

Dennis

Dennis Burnette, Professor
Guilford Technical Community College
Jamestown, NC USA

I have been very pleased in all my dealings with Rainforest and Reef. They really know the players and venues in Latin America, have excellent contacts, bend over backwards to accommodate my special needs and have been a delight to deal with. They have made arrangements for at least 6 travel-study courses over extended spring break to Belize and are arranging this summer's trip to Amazon rainforest and Galapagos Islands. They put together an inspection trip for me over January break so I could look things over in Ecuador before taking a group of students there. Also, they are very highly regarded by the vendors in Belize, Ecuador, etc. with whom they interact. Their prices are more than reasonable. The accommodations I've had have been great. In summary, I highly recommend them and think you'll have a hard time coming up with somebody better to work with.

Cheers,

Tom Hudspeth

Tom Hudspeth, Ph.D.
Professor
University of Vermont
Environmental Program and Rubenstein School of Environment and Natural Resources
Burlington, VT USA

The Field Course was a GREAT SUCCESS! Organization was excellent. Andy Lewis is an EXCELLENT teacher and a PROFESSIONAL. Our marine experience on the Great Barrier Reef was awesome! The Daintree rainforest and Undara were also great experiences. The last two days in Undara and Cairns were a perfect way to conclude the Field Course. The lava tubes of Undara were spectacular and the sunset hike, bush breakfast memorable. Thank you again for all you are doing for us.

Father Maurus Nemeth
Biology Instructor
Woodside Priory School
Portola Valley, CA

We had a wonderful time on your Ecuador Field Course and I'm sure it will take some time to assimilate all that we experienced.

John and Leah Vucetich
Graduate Students
Michigan Technological University
Hougton, Michigan USA

Greetings Mike,

Mary Lee and I think of you and our trip to Ecuador often and just this weekend gave a powerpoint show to visiting relatives. We have only positive opinions about Sacha Lodge and the arrangements you made for us in Galápagos. Our day-trip to the cloudforest near Bellavista Lodge was also excellent. We stopped at a small orchid park en route and saw many more flowering orchids than in the rainforest. We stopped at the hummingbird preserve about 1 km from Bellavista and with help, identified 18 species of hummers in an hour. We loved everything and would be delighted to return. I know now why you have visited Ecuador and Galápagos often.

Drew

Drew Noden, Ph.D.
Professor of Embryology and Animal Development
College of Veterinary Medicine
Cornell University
Ithaca, NY USA

I think you run a wonderful organization. I actually just returned from 16 days in Hawaii. My days there certainly reminded me of the unforgettable experiences in Belize! I have only a year and a half of school left before I begin my career as a biology teacher, so you should be expecting an e-mail from me in a couple of years concerning a trip for my students! Please keep me up to date.

Take Care,

Heather

Heather Vereb
Westminster College Biology Student
New Wilmington, PA USA

Costa Rica was wonderful. Carla was an excellent guide and we had phenomenal luck seeing incredible wildlife. Alvaro, our driver was very adept at spotting all sorts of creatures! Our accommodations were very nice, it was an authentic experience. Very good food! I went to Costa Rica last May to check things out, then decided to use Rainforest and Reef and it exceeded all of our expectations on lodging, food, transportation, flexibility, opportunities for seeing wildlife, best use of time. I highly recommend Rainforest and Reef and hope to use you again.

Denise

Denise G. Mills, Ph.D.
Chair, Foreign Language Department
Director of Study Abroad
Daemen College
4380 Main Street
Amherst, NY USA

I had a FABULOUS trip to Alaska!! Can't believe the number of things that were packed into the time frame for the price. I have passed the word on to others about your organization and hope to attend another Field Course in the near future!

Anne Geraghty, Ph.D.
Biology Professor
University of Wisconsin Eau Claire
Eau Claire, Wisconsin USA

I loved this trip. Great settings!!! Nights in Cairns, time at Undara, Lizard Island.....!!!! Andy Lewis and his Staff are remarkable. VERY well run and organized. Excellent educational content and delivery. GREAT TRIP!

Fred Spera
Liberty Mutual Insurance Co.
North Wales, PA USA

I cannot tell you what a wonderful trip you gave us. We all learned so much about your delightful country, its history, natural beauty and culture. You should be very proud of your work and the country you represent! As I travel the world, every now and then I experience an “angel”….one who cares genuinely about people and causes that lift us all upward. Suyapa, you are one of those people.

Note: The quote above is an excerpt from a message sent to Suyapa Dominguez, Rainforest and Reef Field Course Director, San Pedro Sula, Honduras.

Connie Calaway
Denver, CO USA

*Our students had a wonderful time. Lizard Island was fantastic. Presentations by Andy Lewis were interesting and our students wanted more. Greg and Leoni, our Rainforest Guides were very knowledgeable, enthusiastic and related well to our students. The canopy crane was a great experience….the highlight of our rainforest experience.

Ed Eberle
Biology Instructor
Dobson High School
Mesa, Arizona

Note: Comments above are about Andy Lewis, Ph.D., Rainforest and Reef Field Course Director, Cairns, Australia.

Our Field Course in Belize was fantastic. Tony and Joe Garel were outstanding Guides and Luz Hunter, our Guide on South Water Caye, also did an excellent job.

Kim Dickerson
Biologist
United States Fish and Wildlife Service
Cheyenne, WY USA

I have just returned from an incredible 13 day stay at the Tahuayo Lodge in Peru. I was with a group of 26 from the University of Maine's Tropical Rainforest Ecology Class. I cannot say enough good things about the facility, the staff and guides, the food and of course the location!!! My project for the class involved gathering hydrological data on the Tahuayo River (much thanks to my boat handler Josias).

Mary Bowers
Student
University of Maine
Orono, ME USA

*We are still assimilating the wonders of your Field Course in Costa Rica. It was a life altering experience.

Sheila Wang, Ph.D.
Research Scientist
National Institute of Health
Washington, D.C. USA

Our Field Course in Belize was outstanding and very well received by our students. Personnel involved were superb. Joe Garel is the best Guide I've dealt with in any of the Field Courses I've led to Latin America.

Bill Glanz, Ph.D.
Biology Instructor
University of Maine
Orono, ME USA

Mike,

Thank you for the feedback. It is comforting to hear they were taken such good care of. I'm looking forward to hugs tonight.

Thanks,

Diane Klose
Parent of student traveler to Ecuador
Mackinaw City High School Spanish Club
Mackinaw City, MI USA

*THANK YOU! We had a great time and learned so much about Central America. Costa Rica and Belize were WONDERFUL and the people conducting both Field Courses were great. We could not have wanted more.

Miriam Verbeek and Family
New South Wales, Australia

We had an excellent trip to Costa Rica in all respects. Evaluations from our students were outstanding. The services provided by Juan Pablo, Jonathan and Marco were excellent. All three were excellent hosts, very professional, personable and quite attentive to our needs. The stay and activities at Cabañas Chacón were exceptional. Again, thank you for your time, expertise and patience in making this trip possible.

Ken Spencer
Biology Instructor
Tidewater Community College
Chesapeake, Virginia

Lori had an amazing experience in Ecuador. She came home bright (brighter) eyed and oozing with confidence. She now feels certain of her chosen major and also assured that she can go anywhere and be successful. What a blessing for a parent to hear something like that! Best of continued success on what you are doing through your work for the planet.

Susan Hanson (Mother of Lori Hanson, Student, University of Montana)
Granger, Indiana

Your Belize Field Course was outstanding! Our guides were wonderful and extremely knowledgeable.

Pam Erickson, P.H., Ph.D.
Anthropology Professon
University of Connecticut
Storrs, CT USA

The Field Course in Peru was FABULOUS. Have recommended your organization to my environmentally aware friends as a very low impact method of visiting and learning about some of these special places.

Peggy Cole
Biologist
Museum of Victoria
Victoria, Australia

I loved everything about the Galápagos and was so happy to see how well my Geology course would fit in with the order that we visited the islands. The boat was amazing and the staff in general were great.

Thanks for everything,

Marcy E. Vozzella, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor and Chair
Department of Natural Sciences
Northern Essex Community College
Haverhill, MA USA

The trip was outstanding! Our students flourished and bonded with the community of Las Juntas. There were many special touches including the planting of the "Muhlenberg" forest, meeting Susan Perry from UCLA (primate researcher) and all of the attention given to our students’ projects. Thank you for everything.

Richard Niesenbaum, Ph.D.
Biology Professon
Muhlenberg College
Allentown, PA USA

Hi Mike,

Thank you so much for putting together such a fantastic trip! Yes, Ginny and I loved every minute of it. Couldn't have been improved in any way. We were fortunate to see Galápagos tortoises mating in the highlands of Santa Cruz Island, which our Guide (who was terrific) said was unusual to witness, especially in January.....on top of all the other fantastic wildlife in the islands. Again, I really appreciate your great advice, contacts and arrangement-making abilities.

Cheers, Tom

Tom Hudspeth, Ph.D.
Professor, University of Vermont
Environmental Program and Rubenstein School of Environment and Natural Resources
Burlington, VT USA

Note: These were comments sent to us following an inspection trip Tom Hudspeth, Ph.D. and his wife did through Rainforest and Reef prior to bringing several groups of his own students to Galápagos and mainland Ecuador. His comments following his third trip to Galápagos and mainland Ecuador can be found below.

Mike,

Thank you again for all your excellent work in organizing the trip for my students. Everybody learned so much and had a great time. For the evaluations they completed for the university, your logistical support, travel, food, accommodations and guiding were all rated extremely highly. One of the days in the Rainforest we went to 2 parrot clay-licks down-river in Yasuni National Park, then went to the home of one of the indigenous guides (Donaldo, in the community of Pilchi), where we interacted with his family and met the village schoolteacher and saw the school, infirmary, common building, etc. We then took a 3 hour hike back to Sacha Lodge. Jose was an excellent guide at Sacha. In Galápagos, Efrain Zambrano, a class III naturalist guide from the highlands of Santa Cruz was terrific. I was really glad to see much more of Isabela Island than I had in the past (paddling in the mangroves at Bahia Elizabeth and seeing beautiful hawksbill turtles, along with large groups of spotted eagle rays was especially memorable), as well as Floreana Island, which was new to me. While we were on Isabela, several land iguanas got into a fight and came up within inches of me and let me get some close-ups. The M/Y San José fit the bill for us very well. A great trip and I am very appreciative to you all for your terrific work in setting everything up.

Cheers,

Tom

Thomas R. Hudspeth, Ph.D.
Professor, University of Vermont
Environmental Program and Rubenstein School of Environment and Natural Resources
Burlington, VT USA

My students loved Belize and are already talking about going back. Joe Garel was fantastic as a Guide. Snorkeling and diving off Turneffe Reef was the best.
Ellen Holtman
Biology Professor
Virginia Western Community College
Roanoke, VA USA

Our Australia Field Course was a GREAT SUCCESS! Organization was excellent. Andy Lewis is an EXCELLENT teacher and a PROFESSIONAL. Our marine experience on the Great Barrier Reef was awesome! The Daintree rainforest and Undara were also great experiences. The last two days in Undara and Cairns were a perfect way to conclude the Field Course. The lava tubes of Undara were spectacular and the sunset hike, bush breakfast memorable. Thank you again for all you are doing for us.

Father Maurus Nemeth
Biology Instructor
Woodside Priory School
Portola Valley, CA

Your Field Course in Belize far exceeded similar programs I have attended with the wealth of learning opportunities made available. Our Guides were extremely knowledgeable. The diversity of sea life seen first-hand in a variety of tropical marine habitats was astounding. It was a wonderfully enriching experience.

Ann McInnis
Biology Instructor
Cranbrook Schools
Bloomfield Hills, MI USA