Costa Rica Trip

<--On the look out for crocodiles

Crocodile Boat Ride
Aaron Fisher

 One of the many exiting adventures was a riverboat ride in search of crocodiles.  We started off by getting on the big boat.  We saw many birds within minutes like the Snowy egret, the Great egret, Blue heron, Amazon kingfisher, and scarlet macaws.  We saw over thirty different kinds of birds the whole boat trip.  Then our boat driver stopped and jumped out on shore with a raw piece of chicken in his hand.  He started slapping the chicken on the ground and on the water.  The crocodile heard the chicken and came for it.  The crocodile jumped straight out of the water and grabbed the chicken right out of or boat driver’s hand.  When our boat driver tried to get back in the boat the crocodile would not let him.  Finally, our boat driver jumped back in the boat over the crocodile.  On our way back to the dock, we saw more birds and some iguanas.  We also saw a Jesus Christ Lizard that could walk on water, but it did not for us.  When we got back to the boat launch, we all went to the gift shop.  Over all I thought this crocodile ride was a great adventure. 

I think Mrs. Warman has spotted a croc!

Yes, there it is.

Anna and Robyn are impressed with the variety of birds

White Water Adventures
By Anna Veverica

          One minute you could be riding down the calm river and… BAM! The next you could be thrown against rocks. That’s how it was for us white water rafting.

          On our fifth day in Costa Rica we went white water rafting on the Sarapiqui River. We went on class II and III rapids. The class III rapids were really exciting! Some of the rapids had names like Aye Caramba and Washing Machine. In a calm part of the river we got to get out and float alongside the raft. It was kind of hard getting back in though.

           I was in a raft with Robyn, Sarina, Brenna, Mr. Ramsey, and Mrs. Ramsey. We also had a guide who instructed us and steered. When we were in some class III rapids our raft got stuck on some rocks so Mr. Ramsey and our guide got out to push us. After the guide got back in the raft Mr. Ramsey went to jump back in the raft but got his foot caught between two rocks. Our raft got pulled down the river and we had to wait until the end of the rapids to stop. Mr. Ramsey came walking down the strip of rocks in the middle of the river and it turned out that he wasn’t hurt. We were all really glad.

          About halfway through our white water rafting trip we all pulled up on the riverbank. Then we had a snack of pineapple and melon. All of us had worked up an appetite so we ate a lot. Then we walked along the bank a little to where there was a small cliff. Most of us jumped down into the river. The cold water felt really refreshing after all the “hard” work we did.

          After resting we got back in our rafts and started back down the river. At the end of our trip we ended up right next to Selva Verde Lodge. We arrived tired, soaking, and happy. It had been a great adventure and none of us wanted it to end. I’m really glad that we got to go on that white water rafting trip. 

Butterflies

One Croc moves in

One more crock

Maeve gets up close to the rainforest vegetation