PANAMA!

This course involves an extended January field trip to study the natural history (including tropical rainforests and coral reefs) along with the indigenous cultures of the Embera and Kuna Indians of Panama. Students are required to attend regular classes before and after the trip. A research project and field book are required. The class is open to all disciplines and majors. Annually. Capacity limited to 14 students. Application form and interview necessary.

FIELD TRIP FEATURES

• Experience the classroom that nature designed
• Explore Central America's most unspoiled and mysterious rainforest, the Darien, home to the Embera Indians
• Investigate the mist-shrouded cloud forest of the Nusagandi Reserve
• Snorkel the colorful coral reefs of the turquoise Caribbean
• Visit the Panama Canal and Colonial Panama
• Discover the Kuna culture of the San Blas Islands
• Observe the teeming birdlife on quiet jungle rivers
• Design and conduct exciting research projects

Panama has to be considered as one of the leading destinations for students interested in tropical biology and rainforest preservation . As a land bridge between the two continents, Panama is a meeting place of over 900 species of birds from both North and South America. Its tremendous biodiversity and the accessibility of its tropical forests make Panama a paradise for nature and ecological studies. Panama itself is a flower garden with more than 1500 species of trees and 10,000 species of plants. With two oceans washing its shores, Panama is rich in marine life. In the rainforests are monkeys, sloths, pumas, ocelots, armadillos, peccary, anteaters, jaguars and other native animals of the American Tropic. Panama is home to an incredible variety of insects, three times as many as found in Canada, the U.S. and Europe combined. Additionally, there are three major Indian groups in Panama: the Kunas on the San Blas Islands off the Caribbean coast, the Embera in the provinces of Darien, and the Guaymies in Chiriqui, Bocas del Toro, and Veraguas provinces.

Treking the rainforest of Metropolitan Park	Birding along Plantation Road

The 16 day in-country experience is the field trip portion of the course. It is lead by Dr. James Hodgson, Professor of Biology and Environmental Science, and former Chair of the Division of Natural Sciences; his spouse and biologist, Carol Hodgson; and two English-speaking Panamanian guides. This trip will expose students to the natural wonders of lowland tropical forest, cloud forest, and coral reef ecosystems. Culturally, students will have the opportunity to interact with and learn about two indigenous groups, the Embera and the Kuna Indians, and to experience city life in the developing world.

Spanish ruins, Old Panama City	Miraflores Locks--Panama Canal

In Panama City, the group will discover the three cities in one: Old Panama, Colonial Panama, and Modern Panama. Day trips to national parks for birding and wildlife observations will help everyone acclimate to the heat and humidity. Metropolitan Park, a site where the Smithsonian Institution does research on the ecology of the rainforest canopy, is the only rainforest in Latin America located within a major city. Students will also visit the Canal and one of the three sets of locks.

Embera Indians An Embera Tambo--our hotel

The region of vast tropical rainforest, the Darien, declared a World Heritage Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO, will serve as a major area of contact with the Embera. This sparsely populated wilderness is inaccessible by road, and the group will travel up the Marea River in dugout canoe to the village of La Marea. Here the students will see how the Indians live, and they will sleep at night in "tambos" (thatched Indian huts built on stilts). In addition to experiencing traditional dances, native foods and body tattooing with the sacred "jagua" (a black vegetable dye), the group will search the waterway and forests for caiman, sloths, iguanas, and the colorful birds such as parrots and toucans that are found here. This park is home to the harpy eagle and is one of the least explored regions on earth. This isolation, the abundant flora and fauna, and the important indigenous groups found here, make it the ideal destination for the serious natural history student.

Traveling the Nusagandi Road	Our cloud forest lodge, Nusagandi

Everyone will experience a total rainforest immersion during the four days at Nusagandi in the private PEMASKY forest preserve of the Kuna Indians located at 1500 ft. on the Continental Divide. This preserve was established by the Kunas with financial assistance from the MacArthur Foundation and the World Wildlife Funds to protect the rainforest of the Atlantic watershed of the "Kuna Yala", the Kuna country. While living in a rustic dormitory-like lodge without electricity or running water, this stay affords students the opportunity to study, both day and night, the flora and fauna in this pre-montaine rainforest area, which is vital to the Kuna shamans. The major portion of the science research projects will be conducted here.

Red Snapper Island, San Blas Young Kuna women in native dress

The field trip concludes on the islands of the San Blas Archipelago in the Caribbean, home to the colorful and creative Kuna people. Home base is Nalunega (Red Snapper) Island and students stay in thatched cabanas built of bamboo. The students snorkel the scenic coral reef, studying reef ecology and the marine landscape, and explore the isolated islets lying on the reef and their palm- fringed beaches for marine life. They will also learn about the Kunas who govern themselves in a virtually autonomous society, and who keep their ancient lifestyle and traditions.

Meeting one day a week during the first semester, the students will study tropical nature and design the research projects they will conduct while on the field trip. Extensive briefings and handouts prepare all students for travel in the developing world. In addition to collaborative research projects, the students will keep a daily field book of their natural history and cultural observations. During the second semester, the group will work up the data collected and submit their project reports or manuscripts for review and for possible presentation at various professional conferences. Click on research projects for information on past student presentations

FIELD TRIP LEADERS AND GUIDES

Dr. James Hodgson	Carol Hodgson	Gilberto and Luis

Dr. Jim Hodgson is a biology and environmental science professor who has been on the St. Norbert faculty since 1970 and chaired the Natural Science Division for 13 years. Dr. Hodgson is the recipient of the Teacher of the Year Award and also the Donald B. King Distinguished Scholar Award. He has received numerous grants from the National Science Foundation to study lake ecology and bass populations and has published extensively in his field. Dr. Hodgson has served on several advisory boards relating to Great Lakes water quality and is active locally in his community. Carol Hodgson has a degree in biology and works as the research technician, data manager and archivist of the extensive material generated by Jim's research. She served on the board of directors for the Clean Water Action Council and is a member of a multitude of environmental organizations. Both are seasoned travelers, having explored tropical ecosystems in Asia, Central and South America. For over ten years they have guided student field trips taught by Jim to the Central American rainforests in Belize, Mexico, Guatemala, Costa Rica and Panama, and they are the tour leaders of the Ultimate Peru! Ecotour sponsored annually by the Bemis International Center (click on "Ultimate Peru" to get more information about this tour). Gilberto is a Kuna Indian and the main guide who has led all field trips beginning in 1993. He is responsible for all in-country logistics. Gilberto speaks three languages: Spanish, Kuna and English. He received special training in bird identification. Luis has guided the expeditions since 1995 and is the chief cook. He speaks Spanish and English. His special training is in frog taxonomy.

1993 1995

1996 1997

1998

Return to: Dr. Hodgson's web page - Biology - Natural Science Division

The person responsible for this page is: