Hi! My name is Nico Guilfoile, and I'm a sophomore at UC Santa Cruz majoring in Earth Science/Anthropology. I've always loved primates and hope to pursue a career in the realm of primatology.

This winter, I've been accepted to attend a primate field school at the Camaquiri Conservation Initiative in Costa Rica's lowland Caribbean rainforest. Here, I'll be able to study the behavior of primates, including spider monkeys and capuchins, and gain hands-on field experience in primatology. This course is taught by Dr. Kaelyn Dobson, a postdoctoral fellow at the UT MD Anderson Michale E. Keeling Center for Comparative Medicine and Research, who has experience in the field with primates.

The course is designed to be similar to a typical college class, despite being in the field. I'll perform oral presentations and complete a report on my chosen field project. A large part of my time will be spent researching and observing the primates in the area and learning all that I can while there.

The money raised will be used to pay for tuition and housing over the course of the two weeks I'll be attending, along with flight costs, required texts and workbooks, and items needed such as binoculars and suitable clothing.