Costa Rica Sea Turtle Research

Hello, it's me, fundraising again. This time, I am getting ambitious! This is for a research trip with Ecology Project International to the Osa Peninsula of Costa Rica and I am taking my little sister, Mackenzie! After a tough summer full of change, I believe this trip/class will act as a "reset" for us. It will allow us to learn how to be better advocates for the environment. It will also give us the opportunity to grow closer before she goes to college (I don't want to talk about it). :)

As some of you know, I am in the middle of getting my Masters in Secondary Biology Teaching. I am also working towards an Environmental Education Endorsement. This endorsement provides teachers with the skills to be a leader in environmental education in the classroom. This is something I care very deeply about and I hope to pass my love for the environment on to my students. I believe it is so important to teach our children to love our Earth (it's the only one we have)! By the time this trip rolls around, I will (hopefully) already have my Masters degree and endorsement, but I fully consider this to be more continuing education! We are hoping this class will count as college credit for Mack as well! 5% of the world's biodiversity can be found within the tiny confines of Costa Rica.

This will be a 9-day trip over our public school spring break.
Here is a list of the amazing things we will get to do and learn about:
Sea turtle nesting and biology
Ecology of mangrove ecosystems (restoring mangroves-very important to the ecosystem!)
Field research investigation (camera trapping)
Rainforest ecology
Biodiversity studies
Reforestation
Costa Rican culture

The total cost of the trip for BOTH of us (Mack and me) is $7,304. This includes everything! Airfare, food, tuition for 3 credit hours, research equipment, lodging, transportation, etc. EVERYTHING!

Keep in mind, these figures are for TWO of us...

$500 deposit is due by October 31st, 2018.
$1,500 airfare cost is due November 30th, 2018.
$5,304 final payment is due January 29th, 2019.
Depart for Costa Rica on March 30th, 2019!

I know many of you care about the environment and environmental education but are unable to go and do. This is your opportunity to contribute! We will be doing some fundraising as a group but it won't be quite enough to cover everything. Please help me reach my goal to better my education, Your donations support Mack and me, but they also benefit my students' education!
Any amount helps and is appreciated, even if it's just $1!

There are other ways to give!
Paypal at [email redacted].
View our Amazon list of needed items for the trip. 
http://a.co/622bcjQ
Donate directly to my fundraising page with EPI, the company we are going with here:
https://www.ecologyproject.org/support/a0E1W00001oSW7lUAG
Or simply share our posts!


Thank you in advance! You are helping educate young people about conservation of our Earth! 



Please watch the video about this trip here:

https://www.ecologyproject.org/programs/student-travel/all-courses/costa-rica-osa-peninsula#content

View the course overview here:

https://ecologyproject.secure.force.com/courses/servlet/servlet.FileDownload?file=00P1W00001D5aJgUAJ 

The course itinerary here:

https://ecologyproject.secure.force.com/courses/servlet/servlet.FileDownload?file=00P1W00001CMBo4UAH