Danta :: Association for Conservation of the Tropics :: Guestbook

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Suzette Alcantar Date: 2008-08-31 23:27:24
• My time in Costa Rica was unforgettable. I met and work with THE most amazing people. It was a tremendous learning experience and it I feel so very fortunate to have the privilege to experience. I recommend it to anybody who is even slightly interested in this field. This is something i will never forget.

Deborah Steele

Date: 2008-08-26 02:39:08

• Great staff, quality teaching, stunning forest, stimulating lectures, fantastic night hikes. I rate the Tropical Biology and Conservation course, it supplemented my degree course nicely (Ecology and Conservation). I want to go back to El Zota immediately. The highlights for me were flocks of parrots, enthusiastic researchers, mantises, owl butterflies and trips to the primary forest.

Christyna Solhan

Date: 2008-08-25 19:04:38

• I recommend highly the Primate Behavior and Conservation course offered at the El Zota field station. The experience of conducting primatological field work is indescribable unless one has participated in the activity firsthand. DANTA's courses offer students the invaluable opportunity to explore this type of work for themselves in an ethusiastic and inviting setting. You learn a lot about yourself after living and working in the rainforest for the duration of the course, and you experience an incredibly valuable, beautiful, and fascinating forest ecosystem in the process of this self-exploration. A must-do for any student who is seriously considering pursuing research and/or graduate school in the field of primatology!

Ali Lanning

Date: 2008-08-24 17:17:53

• I had a great time during the Primate Behavior and Conservation course. I am a biology master's student, and I have gained tremendous experience in the field thanks to this course. Learning how to create activity budgets for the primates, I have even decided to do my master's thesis on the behavior of black bear. Without the experiences that I had in Costa Rica, I would not have even thought of doing this for my thesis. I had a great time and made some even better friends!

Rebecca S.A. Brittain

Date: 2008-08-22 16:08:42

• I attended the Primate Behavior and Conservation course and it was absolutely incredible. I would highly recommend this course to anyone looking for field experience, even if you're not into Anthro, we had students from many different disciplines. The staff at El Zota was very friendly and of course Kimberly, Michelle, Stacy, Israel, and all of the guest lecturers were AMAZING and very helpul. I also had the opportunity to network with peers of the same interests. It was a great experience and gave me the foundation I needed for my next field experience. I agree with Shannon, I was not ready to leave...

Shannon Epler

Date: 2008-08-22 15:14:46

• I am delighted I stayed on for the Eco Travel. Nothing quite compared with being awakened by a volcano at 3 am and sitting on my balcony watching the lava at Arenal. Eco Travel took the guess work out of touring Costa Rica. Kim was an amazing tour guide as we visited waterfall gardens, two active volcanos, a river full of crocodiles, Manuel Antonio national park, took a catamaran into the Pacific to watch dolphins and snorkel... and the food and lodgings were wonderfull as well. Considering all of the activities, transportation, amenities I feel it was an exceptional value and I really wasn't ready to leave Costa Rica after the Primate Course so it kept me in the country a little longer. I can hardly put into words my feelings about El Zota and the Danta staff who contribute such authenticity and heart to their teaching. Having never taken a primatology or anthropology course before- I learned so much in just a few weeks... and then there were the monkeys. I miss my howler wake up calls and tromping through the forest after them and encourage anyone to experience such things first hand.

Theresa Greiner

Date: 2008-08-15 19:13:24

• The Primate class was like nothing I have ever or will ever experience. I had a great time in Costa Rica and I recommend this class to everyone who has a love of primates and conservation.

Kelly Reina

Date: 2008-08-09 13:08:15

• I had the most amazing time of my life at El Zota. You get to learn firsthand and make friends in the process. I highly recommend it and plan to go back to Costa Rica myself someday.

Patricia Zagallo

Date: 2008-08-03 07:48:40

• I absolutely loved the Primate and Conservation course. I have never taken a class in primatology or traveled to Costa Rica so the experience was new and rewarding and went over and beyond my expectations. I met amazing people, learned so much raw information and developed research skills while having fun in the rain forest. I gained a new perspective in the field of biology and the world that I will never forget.

Jenny Pfaff

Date: 2008-07-14 19:23:30

• The Primate course in Costa Rica was incredible. It enabled me to have a realistic research experience while still in undergrad to see what I was getting myself into with primate research. It was really great to learn techniques that I may be expected to know later. Meeting a bunch of new people was also really fun. I know I will never forget this experience and the people I met along the way.

Aaron Payne

Date: 2008-02-18 20:53:48

• My experiences in Costa Rica with DANTA were nothing short of amazing. The course provides an excellent opportunity to learn necessary techniques key to any field study (all while having loads of fun). In addition to learning all about Costa Rican natural history, culture and ecology, I was able to see some of the country’s most charismatic creatures and meet some amazing people. The course by far surpassed any expectation I had. I would highly recommend the primate behavior and conservation course, or any other DANTA field course to any one weighing a future in research biology as well as to those looking to have an excellent time.

Lucinda Taylor

Date: 2008-02-08 07:20:15

• I highly recommend taking a field course through DANTA. I attended the winter primate behavior course in Costa Rica and had a wonderful time. I learned so much about the rain forest and its many inhabitants. I had a lot of fun hiking through the rain forest and observing the various primate species as well as all the other wonderful creatures. Another wonderful aspect of the program was all the wonderful people - instructors, students, and staff. All of the instructors were very knowledgable, friendly, and helpful. The staff were very friendly and helpful too. I felt comfortable from the beginning. The students were great - we all got along so well and had such an amazing time together. The course also included a field trip to Puerto Viejo which was a lovely place. The canopy zipline was so much fun as well as the soccer game we played against the local Costa Ricans! We even had many opportunities to show off our dance moves which was hilarious! I will never forget this experience or the people that I met. "Thank you" to everyone that was a part of this awesome trip! I miss you all so much!

Lauren Slubowski

Date: 2008-02-06 16:09:09

• DANTA's winter primate behavior course was the most incredible experience I've ever had. Costa Rica is absolutely beautiful, and it is truly inspiring to see the efforts made toward conservation there. I am forever grateful to Heiner and his family for everything they've done to both preserve precious rainforest and to ensure that it remains protected in the years to come. The course itself was very comprehensive and informative, and as a future graduate student of anthropology, the field experience I gained from the trip will be invaluable. But I believe the true benefit of the program reaches far beyond what I learned in the classroom. My experience with DANTA gave me the chance to appreciate an entirely different life experience. The lifestyle in Costa Rica was refreshingly different from the way I've always lived in America, and it has changed my perspective on so many things. Moreso than anything else, though, the people I met through the program made the difference. Getting to know and love my fellow students and instructors was undoubtedly the most valuable aspect of the trip. I will never forget the friends I've made; every person has had a significant impact upon my life. I would do it all over again in a hearbeat!

John Tyree

Date: 2008-02-06 15:25:38

• The winter primate course was easily the most fun adventure I've ever been on. It's most certainly worth looking into even if you don't see yourself as a field biologist. The exposure to new and exciting things is enough for anyone to have a good time. It's hard to explain how much the family at the station, the local people, and the group of friends I made have affected my character and outlook on life! You guys are all great. All of you.

Brea	Date: 2008-01-31 23:07:50

• i hope that this summer down in Costa Rica is going to fun

Sara Frank

Date: 2008-01-21 16:33:19

• The primate course was one of the best experiences of my entire life. You not only learn many necessary skills for field research, but you also get the oppurtunity to meet some truly amazing people. An awesome experience all around and I would fully recommend it to anyone considering some sort of field biology as a career.

Lauren Meyer

Date: 2008-01-20 15:33:38

• I just completed the winter primate behavior and conservation and had a wonderful time! I highly recommend it for all interested.

Michelle Rodrigues

Date: 2007-12-25 11:33:27

• It is impossible to fully describe the beauty of the forest at El Zota. I conducted my Master's research on the spider monkeys at El Zota and found it to be an amazing place. The forest extends right behind the field station, and is filled with an incredible diversity of plants and animals. The station is an great place for primatological research. All three primate species come right up to the station, and many days I was able to encounter all three species at the station or in the forest. Every day in the forest was a new adventure, and during my stay at El Zota I encountered an incredible array of birds, snakes, frogs, lizards, insects and mammals. While it was common to see toucans and blue morpho butterflies and poison dart frogs and monkeys, I was also fortunate to see some of the more elusive animals...great green macaws, amazing snakes, armadillos, coati, basilisks, tayra, a two-toed sloth, agouti, and even an a tapir. In addition, I have also met wonderful people there that have introduced me to their research interests and broadened my knowledge and appreciation of the forest's inhabitants. El Zota is a wonderful place, and I am fortunate in that I will be going back there to continue doing research.

Emily Johnston

Date: 2007-11-20 11:30:45

• My Danta experience this summer was absolutely incredible. I took the Primate Behavior and Conservation course and had an amazing time learning about primates and experiencing all that El Zota had to offer. The rainforest there is wonderful, and we saw so many amazing animals. Lots of cool snakes (my favorites were the fer-de-lance and the coral snake) and birds (great green macaws, scarlet macaws, toucans, lots of hummingbirds, etc.), coati, agouti, caimens, peccary, lizards, frogs and so much more. I enjoyed all the lectures which were interactive and interesting thanks to Kim, Bruno, Stacy and Dr. Hunt. I had a great time at the field trip to Puerto Viejo- looking for monkey feces with the Poo Crew and Brune-Brune, and going out dancing with the class. I think my favorite part, though, was my classmates. We had such a great time living and working together. I made some really great friends who I love and miss. Costa Rica is a wonderful place and I had the pleasure of touring it a little more during the Eco-travel experience. If you have the opportunity to do the eco-travel this summer, I highly recommend it! We saw Volcan Poas, and Manuel Antonio National Park, both of which are incredible. But more important, it allows you to spend a few extra days with the great people you will meet during the class, and will give you a fun experience that you will never forget. My experience with field study and Danta was so great that I am now applying to graduate schools to do field research on primates and parasites. Thanks again Kim, Bruno, Stacy, Dr. Hunt, and all others invloved with the class!! I hope to see all of you again.

Web Developer

Date: 2007-10-28 09:22:14

• Danta has been one of my best clients in my years of developing web sites. Working with Kim has been a great experiance and reading about Danta's organization and viewing all of the exciting photos has been a real treat. Best of luck to all the students and professors that take a journey into Danta's exciting adventures. I hope that this site brings all the information that you need to learn and understand Danta's true goal here. To spread the knowledge and show students a world they have only dreamed of. Best of luck to everyone!

Emma Duckworth

Date: 2007-09-18 11:55:17

• I really enjoyed my month at El Zota and I am so glad I got the opportunity to go and study there. Before I went I was not sure what to expect but I was excited to go back to somewhere I love- Costa Rica and to do what I have always wanted to try- field research. Although I found the work hard at times, in the end I learnt so much more than I could ever have imagined and had such an amazing time. It was great to properly experience the animals and forest rather than reading about it and being lectured to about it. Actually being there and seeing it for yourself in action is invaluable and makes you appreciate the wonder and beauty of it so much more. El Zota truely is a beautiful place filled with so many amazing things- the plants, animals, the people(and sadly mosquitos!)...every time you step into the forest you encounter something new and amazing about nature you have never seen before. It was a great place to learn about field research methods and to get a chance to see if life on the field is really for you. A unique and great experience for anyone interested in field work.

Kevin Hunt

Date: 2007-09-06 19:52:42

• I had a wonderful experience giving my guest lectures at El Zota. It's a privilege teaching such bright, motivated and fun students. Good luck to you all--I enjoyed meeting you!

Melissa Rose

Date: 2007-09-06 19:52:14

• It's really cool at El Zota!

Bruno Levecke

Date: 2006-12-23 06:03:13

• It is hard to put my experiences at El Zota biological field station into words, because every walk in the forest was like discovering a new world! Just a few things that drew my attention: blue butterflies, colourful small frogs, hummingbirds hovering around, palms walking to the sun, ants protecting trees, huge green leaves in different shapes which unexpectedly become of use when the rain was pouring down and even secret meetings with the local tapir. At the fieldtrips I discovered the Costa Rican rhythms, the beaches and of course the well known “Pura Vida”. Thanks to this course I gained new insights in both primate behaviour and conservation in a field setting. And yet there is so much more to learn about the forest, the animals, the plants, the trees and their relations. At El Zota, you get the opportunity to get to know all of these a little bit better. However, you realise there is so much more you don’t know yet and you just want to return…

Bryan Bernal

Date: 2006-12-05 19:38:44

• Costa Rica was absolutely awesome. I have always had a fascination with animals and the environments they live in. So the rain forest was defiantly the best place to be. During my time at El Zota I saw some of the most amazing things I have ever seen. Snakes, frogs, insects the size of my hand, monkeys outside my window each morning, and so much more. Every time I would go on a hike I saw something new. I also visited Volcan Poas which was an amazing Volcano to see and the beautiful city of Manual Antonio on the Pacific side of Costa Rica. There I saw more remarkable things, including the great ocean view. My whole trip to Costa Rica was so much more than an educational trip; it was a real life adventure.

Stacy Lindshield

Date: 2006-11-16 20:33:58

• El Zota Biological Field Station is an excellent place to research primates in a mosaic landscape. In addition to abundant spider, howler, and capuchin monkeys, these species-rich lowland tropical wet and swamp forests are wonderful for observing plants, insects, birds, herps, and more, in both primary and secondary forest. The field station is a rustic but comfortable place to stay, where the forest is literally in your backyard. Moreover, all three primate species frequently “hang around” the station and I grew particularly fond of the howler monkey wake up call! While I came to El Zota to collect data on spider monkeys, I left with a new appreciation for the complexities of tropical forest ecosystems and their diversity.

Emily Boeving (Ebo)

Date: 2006-11-16 12:21:23

• My experience at El Zota Biological Field Startion has yet to be matched by any other. For me it was much more than a trip to Costa Rica. It was my first opportunity to meet other people interested in the same subject as myself-primatology and conservation. Everyday at El Zota is a new experience. There is no better way to learn than to simply immerse yourself in the culture. The passion and enthusiasm the people have for the subjects taught at El Zota is contagious. After returning from Costa Rica, I was no longer satisfied with learning about species and research in different parts of the world by reading or looking at pictures in a book. I wanted to be there, to actually see it and study it first hand as I was able to do at El Zota. El Zota is wonderful whether you are just wanting to take a field course because it sounds neat or if you think you might be interested in becoming a primatologist, ecologist, etc. If you think you might be interested—this is a great way to find out! Above all,what I treasure most about my experience at El Zota are the friendships made that I am certain will last a lifetime.

Melissa Rose

Date: 2006-11-13 20:48:36

• My experience at El Zota Bio Field Station could never be matched by any another trip to Costa Rica. We were learning about the rain forest in the rain forest. Towering trees, brightly-colored frogs, noisy birds, and even noisier monkeys were all around us every time we ventured onto the muddy trails smelling like insect repellant and with rainproof notebooks in hand. I was always on the lookout for sloths and snakes. Two weeks at the field station, then a visit to the impressive Volcan Poas, and an end at the Pacific Ocean. I had an opportunity to jump off a 50ft catamaran into the blue Pacific, followed by experiencing true Costa Rican culture though dance. Costa Rica should only be experienced like this, learning about the creatures and plants that live there, and taking every moment in the rain as one to be forever remembered.