Education

EDUCATION

Look deep into nature, and then, you will understand everything better.” – Albert Einstein

Mission

Educate an international and local student audience of students, visitors and volunteers on environmental and biological topics through student focused programs, lectures, displays, and tours.

High_School_Students_Study_Abroad_Mountains
High school students on a study abroad field course program at Cloudbridge.

 

How It’s Done

Tourists, volunteers, research interns, independent researchers and locals have been coming to Cloudbridge since its opening in 2002. Once here they are greeted by Cloudbridge’s knowledgeable, hardworking and passionate staff who help them get the most from their visit. The cloud forest provides the perfect backdrop for education on the environment, conservation and other topics. While experiencing the wonders surrounding them, learning about the cloud forest’s place in the ecosystem, and its importance to the health of the environment and humanity can really sink in. We feel it’s our duty to not just help people experience nature, but help them understand its place in the world, and why it is important to us all.

Research Intern releasing butterfly from a live trap after identification.
Research Intern releasing butterfly from a live trap after identification.

 

School and Educational Groups

In 2012, Cloudbridge started to offer opportunities to high schools, universities and other educational groups. Our programs provide the next generation the chance to experience first hand the stunning flora and fauna of the Costa Rican highlands, while being practically engaged on a wide variety of subjects from wildlife monitoring, to floral diversity, to leaf litter invertebrates, to stream analysis. Graduates and current university students have also added to their resume and/or gained college or university credits by taking part in our research internship program or working as an independent researcher.  By providing the youth of today the chance to learn the value of the forest, we play an important part in educating tomorrow’s leaders.

Cloudbridge interpretive tours are a great way for visitors to learn about the local animal and plant life, reforestation, and the reserve in general. Accompanied by a naturalist, visitors see the hidden secrets of the reserve, and are able to enter parts of the reserve shut off to the general public.  Knowledgeable about the reserve’s history and biodiversity they are passionate about its conservation, our naturalists are able to educate tourists on a variety of relevant topics such as deforestation, climate change and current and past scientific research carried out on the reserve. Knowledgeable about the reserve’s history and biodiversity, our naturalists are able to educate tourists on a variety of relevant topics such as deforestation, climate change, and current and past scientific research carried out on the reserve.  At the same time, we also give people tools to help them actively participate in the protection of our planet and its rainforests. See the Tours page for more information.

Visit the Education page to see the various educational programs we have available for groups, and our Volunteer/Research page for individual education opportunities.

Reserve Manager teaching children from the local community how to use a spotting scope to look for birds.
Reserve Manager teaching children from the local community how to use a spotting scope to look for birds.

 

Educational Achievements

  • Given/taken part in many environmental educational talks/activities at various local schools.
  • Thousands of hours spent on educational programs with international students.
  • National and international tourists visiting the reserve, receiving a small introduction to the reserve at our Welcome Center.

Find out more

Email manager@cloudbridge.org with any questions, or to discuss program activities and dates.

Please visit our blog site for monthly updates and photos on our volunteers and researchers, their projects, and other activities at Cloudbridge Nature Reserve.