Trip Description Words and pictures say it all
El Yunque Forest
Welcome to El Yunque Forest, the only rain forest in the United States Forest System! Imagine, 100 billion gallons of rain fall in the Forest every year. When you arrive you will find yourself surrounded by 28,000 acres of a beautiful tropical wonderland in the northeast corner of Puerto Rico. This rain forest has continuous mild temperatures and a variety of plants and animal species, some found nowhere else in the world. You can walk along hiking trails to reach magical peaks over 1,000 meters high, swim under cooling waterfalls and walk in watersheds experiencing the sparkling waters of the Forest. Come join us for a 8 days and call this Forest "Home"! Want to learn more? Find your topic and click: History of El Yunque Forest Location, Size and Elevation Temperature Precipitation and Wind Sun and Clouds Abiotic and Biotic Factors Four types of Forest Eco-challenges Despite its beauty and rare species, El Yunque Forest faces ecological challenges that stand in the way of its preservation. Human impacts inside the Forest are the result of a growing number of tourists each year, and cause water pollution. Outside the Forest, urbanization in the "buffer zone" around the Forest creates climate and invasive species problems that extend into the Forest. Intentionally invasive species, such as the mongoose, and accidental ones, pose a threat to the endangered Puerto Rican parrot, to other species and to Forest visitors. Fortunately, the active Forest Service management and research scientists are working on all of these issues, and you have an opportunity to help them. Want to learn more? Find your topic and click: Water Pollution Invasive Species Land Development The Endangered Puerto Rican Parrot Your Helping Hands You will be involved in many important activities that address all of these eco-challenges. Everyday you will collaborate with your American peers, with Puerto Rican high school students and local experts to create "tangible" and lasting solutions to these challenges. You will help scientists in the endangered parrot aviary and set mongoose trips, while on another day you will make a YouTube and video for El Portal Visitors Center about the litter problem, its impact on the Forest's animals, and the results of your negotiations and plans for using recyclable packaging in the Forest's food concessions. Other activities include designing a third grade science curriculum with hands-on activities relating to the Forest and its challenges, building user-friendly biodegradable outhouses, and working with communities to clean up the "buffer zone" and build community gardens. And more! Want to learn more? Find your topic and click: Day 1: Water Pollution: You Bring it, You Take it Day 2: Water Pollution: Build Better Biodegradable Bathrooms Day 3: Invasive Species: Get Dem Dang Pests Day 4: Invasive Species: Project Weed-Whacker Day 5: Land Development: Go Green Day 6: Land Development: Clean up the Belt Day 7: Endangered Species; Help the Endangered Day 8: Endangered Species: Classroom Nature Discovery Let's Have Some More Fun! While those activites will be be creative, challenging and have a lasting impact on the Forest, you'll also have opportunities to take part in totally fun rainforest and cultural experiences. Have you ever ziplined through a rainforest canopy, had lessons from the Audubon Society in bird photography, stood in waterfalls looking at rainbows, hiked to peaks that overlook forests thousands of feet below? You will share the true Puerto Rican culture when you head out of the Forest on two evenings to enjoy Hispanic music and dancing and dinner at the homes of some of your new Puerto Rican high school friends. Who is in your travel group? You will join a group of 14 - 16 teens who share your objectives: to explore a rainforest with immense biodiversity, but which faces eco-challenges, many of which are the result of human impacts. You will work in teams on a wide range of activities requiring your collaboration, creativity, and different skills... which is why teamwork is the best. But, don't forget that you will be working side by side with a group of Puerto Rican teens who also are keenly interested in spending their energy working with you in the Forest. Together, you will share ideas, languages, customs, and achieve more than you can imagine, while zipping through the air, skipping over stones, and climbing to new peaks. |
Past Participants Say.....
Didn't just learn, but made things to help the Forest forever. I really feel like what I did made a difference! Waterfalls sparkled... Saw a rainbow...Felt like heaven, I think!
Loved working with the scientists monitoring parrots.. saw them up close! What a green color!!!!
Raced to the top of El Yunque Peak... didn't find ice cream but what a view!
Danced and sang until 2 a.m. in Spanish! Now that's better than learning in school!
Oh my gosh.. so much fun... never got bored... even time to just have fun!!!
Love gardening when I know it makes a difference. Planted 3 community gardens!
I actually built things from wood.. didn't hit my finger with a hammer!
I actually created a video and YouTube that will be used to raise money for the Forest's endangered species. I worked with a professional videographer... and to think I never took a picture before!!!
Dinner at my Puerto Rican Friend's home was really great... the meat was... different!!!?!?
Zipline in the Clouds! That's the top!!!
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