This slideshow summarizes the Summer 2014 "Tropical Ecology" class (BIOL 4504 BIOL 5504) travel-study class offered by NSU. We will go to Costa Rica for two weeks. Photos by Oklahoma Study Abroad, which is coordinating travel for us.

1. Costa Rica:
Tropical Ecology
Travel-Study in Summer, 2014

2. Outline
 Why Costa Rica?
 What will we do?
 What is the course?
 What will this cost?
 Who is the course for?
 Who teaches the course?
 Who is going?
 What do I need to do to prepare?
 Is it safe?
 How can I learn more?

3. Costa Rica is in Mesoamerica

4. Very diverse!

5. Broad itinerary:
Caribbean, Mountains, Pacific

6. Caribbean snorkeling!

7. Jungle hiking

8. Rainforest exploration

9. Wildlife

10. Waterfalls

11. River paddling

12. Volcano!

13. Rainforest ziplining!

14. Rainforest canopy bridges

15. Riverine wildlife

16. Pacific beaches

17. Pacific sunsets!

18. Is it safe?
 NSU, Dr. Terdal and Mr.
Alyea will make
reasonable precautions in
trip planning
 However, Costa Rica is a
developing country, and
safety standards are lower
than in the U.S.
 Costa Rica is a tropical
country and disease risks
are higher than in the U.S.
 Ultimately, you and your
physician must decide
what is safe for you.

19. Who is going?
 Dr. Terdal, faculty
 Mr. Alyea, owner of Oklahoma Study Abroad
 About a dozen biology students at NSU

20. Erik Terdal, Ph.D.

21. BIOL 4504/5504
 Tropical Ecology
 Offered since 1999 as a Travel-Study course
 >100 NSU students have gone with Dr. Terdal to Central
America
 Elective for biology majors and minors
 Science Education majors
 Prerequisite: permission of instructor; generally limited
to juniors and above

22. Textbook

23. What does this cost?
 Trip fee is estimated at US$2,000
 Includes airfare; if airfare goes up before we buy
tickets, this will go up.
 Includes most breakfasts with lodging
 Does NOT include:
 Other meals, snacks, drinks
 Souvenirs
 Tuition, textbook (yes, this is a class!)
 Passport

24. How do I prepare?
 First, let Dr. Terdal and Mr. Alyea know you are interested!
 Pay deposits
 Check to make sure you have a passport and that is is
current
 Check with U.S. State Department website on travel advisories
 See your physician about any health issues you may
have, make sure you are current on immunizations, etc.
 Check with CDC.gov on health advisories about Costa Rica
 Get/stay in shape:
 hike a few miles regularly on rough ground
 swim when you can to increase endurance
 Stay in touch with Dr. Terdal and Mr. Alyea regularly

25. How can I learn more?
 Ask Dr. Terdal and Mr. Alyea and questions! We are on
email daily: terdal@nsuok.edu
 We can meet with you in person, talk by Skype or
telephone, chat on Facebook.