Three weeks gone in the blink of an eye! I cannot believe that this trip is already over, as it feels like just yesterday I got the email confirming my place on the 2025 Planetary health and Climate Change in Costa Rica Hutton Honors study abroad course. The only way I can describe my time in Costa Rica is life changing. Through the lectures we had, people we met, wildlife we saw, and experiences we shared, I learned so much about myself, Costa Rica’s amazing culture, and the dangers our world, especially these biodiversity hotspots, face due to climate change. The lessons I learned during this trip will stick with me forever as I navigate my life, influencing my decisions, and informing me as I go throughout my career.
Our last week in Costa Rica began in the Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve. This cozy cabin-like environment was a great example of how to integrate human spaces in nature. Sitting high up the mountain, the main campus of this reserve consisted of only a few buildings and a small parking lot, leaving forest on all sides. The forest was so thick that it was only in select areas of the trails where fallen trees gave way to breathtaking views of the valley. Throughout the multiple hikes we went on during our stay, we were able to see beautiful animals such as the Quetzal, a sacred bird in the area, and incredible geological features, such as the continental divide.
After our time at the Monteverde Cloud Forest we crossed town to volunteer some of our time to a local coffee farm. Across three days at Cafe Monteverde we were able to learn about the process of growing and harvesting coffee, paint benches for the company, and, my favorite, pack hundreds of bags of compost. We learned how this coffee farm does as much as it can to limit its carbon and chemical footprints. They produce their own fungicides, their own organic compost, and integrate sustainable farming practices. This was one of my favorite parts of our trip, as we were able to work and learn alongside people from all over the world.
Another thing that made this part of the trip so special was the homestays. I stayed with a single mother named Elizabeth. Her house was so warm and inviting, with everything we needed, and nothing that we didn’t. Elizabeth’s generosity to take in strangers, house them, and cook for them every day is something I will never forget. It takes such a great heart to open your door in that way, and I will forever be grateful to her. Experiencing the local culture in such a unique way while learning about the life of someone who has lived there so long opened my eyes to how important it is to appreciate what I have and share it with others. When I asked Elizabeth why she started volunteering to be a host-mom, she told me that she gets fulfillment sharing what she has with people and showing them what it is like to live in Costa Rica. I hope to learn from this experience and be more generous myself.
Our final stop on this trip was to Valle Escondido. This beautiful hotel is home to some of the absolute best views I have ever seen. Nestled up in the mountains, this hotel incorporates sustainability into everything from its gardens for meals, to the trail systems it has protecting the nature around it from being deforested. This stay was a wake up call to me, as it showed me that in order to be sustainable I don’t need to give up comfort. Instead, I can be in one of the nicest places I’ve ever been, eating great food, and laying in a hammock overlooking the ocean, all while having what was likely my lowest carbon footprint of my life.
The standard set by the places we spent our trip exploring is a standard that I feel should be integrated to not only the United States, but to the rest of the world as well. In the Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve, careful planning allowed for the vital forest ecosystem surrounding it to continue thriving, supporting the wildlife whose niches evolved to be suited for the cloud forest. At the coffee farm, we were able to get our hands dirty as we learned about how a farm goes about minimizing their chemical footprint by producing their own organic fertilizer and fungicides. While some chemicals must be used in industries such as coffee farms, only using what you absolutely need is essential to protect your environment. During our homestays, we saw how each family in Monteverde does their best to keep their carbon footprint as low as possible. Some families who own dryers make the conscious decision to hang dry their clothes in order to save energy. At Valle Escondido, we saw how luxury doesn’t have to come at the cost of nature. Instead, by using smart business and sustainability practices, a beautiful hotel with mountain and ocean views and nice, comfortable rooms is able to maintain a carbon footprint near zero.
The main theme I noticed while observing human interaction with nature while on this trip is the dedication to cutting out waste. After each meal we ate, the leftover scraps went either to animals or compost. Each hotel or restaurant we visited had signs in the bathrooms telling you to be considerate of how much water you use while showering and washing your hands. Lights were often automatic, shutting off on their own to save energy. I take it for granted here in the United States that I have access to as much water, energy, and food I could ever need. I am guilty of wasting resources in many ways. While throughout my life my financial situation will fluctuate, determining what green solutions I have access to, but the principles in my heart will stay the same. Eliminate waste, be conscious of my carbon footprint, and whenever possible, make the decision that is best for the earth. This is our home, and without a healthy environment, there would be no us. It is up to us to be the change we want to see in the world.
I want to end this final blog with a quote that I’m sure most of us have heard at some point in our life: “Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better. It’s not.” This line from Doctor Seuss’ The Lorax is a warning to us all. We must all care if we want to save our forests, our animals, our oceans, and especially ourselves.
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