Day 7: Pura Vida & Pollinators From Strangers to Lifelong Friends

Seven days. One forest. Countless bees.

From winding mountain roads to cloud forest trails, our journey through Costa Rica has been a whirlwind of discovery, laughter, and dirt, so much dirt. What began as a trip focused on pollinators quickly became something more: a story of community, resilience, and the power of joyful science.

Day 1: Reunions & Road Trips

We arrived in San José, eventually finding each other (and the right café) before embarking on our ascent to Monteverde. The landscape shifted as we climbed lush, green, and teeming with life. By the time we reached the CCT Biological Reserve, we were welcomed with warm meals, fresh air, and the sounds of the forest all around us.

Day 2: Pollinators & Agroforestry

Bee monitoring kicked off with field data collection and an important reminder: sometimes, “no bees” is still meaningful data. Our visit to Café Bella Tica deepened our understanding of agroforestry as Oldemar shared the story of his coffee farm, where biodiversity and sustainability go hand in hand. We ended the day reflecting with Dr. Fabricio Camacho on the deeper ecological impact of our work.

Day 3: Wildlife Encounters & Big Wins

Despite a stormy start, the sun emerged, and so did the wildlife: monkeys, coatis, guans, frogs, and more. We trekked through forest trails, netted bees, and supported each other’s research goals. Some caught record numbers (Cesar!), while others celebrated the beauty of just being present in nature.

                       

Day 4: Bees, Hikes & Epic Showdowns

The day began with a rogue coati raiding the honey mixtures and ended with us standing at the Continental Divide. In between, there was friendly competition (Diana A vs. “Beezar” Cesar), a hike led by Sergio through epiphyte-covered trees, and unforgettable sightings of tarantulas, millipedes, and a sleepy green pit viper. We capped it off with Frannie’s incredible research talk, full of insight and inspiration.

Day 5: Buzz, Beans, & Dirtbags Unite

JoAnn’s poetic recap said it best: Day 5 buzzed with joy. From orchid bee catches to surprise monkey skulls, from motorbike photo ops to dirt-bagging contests, this day overflowed with personality and play. Each group had its own adventure, some chased bees in flower fields, others trekked up hills with sweat and determination (and a little muttering).

We ended at the Arguedas family's regenerative farm, where Ivannia showed us how plants can heal both people and the planet. We listened, we learned, and yes, we shopped. The night concluded with a story of young citizen scientists from NYC and Tulsa making a global impact through pen pal partnerships and environmental stewardship. It was the perfect full-circle moment, reminding us why this work matters.

Day 6: Discovery, Tradition, and One Last Adventure

Our final full day began like the others with laughter, warm mugs in hand, and quiet appreciation for the time we’d shared. We returned to Finca Bella Tica for one last morning of bee research, where Evie, Frannie, and Sergio made an exciting discovery: a ground bee nest, or so they thought. Just as predicted, bees emerged right on time, giving us a final moment of scientific wonder.

Afterward, we visited the Bee Outreach Center and Ivannia Natural Products for one last stroll, a few more bees, and just a bit more shopping, fresh jam, fragrant spices, and handmade gifts. In the afternoon, we toured Finca Don Simón’s sugar cane and coffee fields, even trying our hands at the traditional trapiche press for a literal taste of Costa Rican culture.

That evening, we ventured into the Monteverde Cloud Forest one last time for a night walk. Under headlamps, we spotted a stick bug, a green pit viper, and bioluminescent mushrooms glowing on the forest floor, a quiet, magical send-off to a week we’ll never forget.

                                                     

Day 7: A Final Reflection from Costa Rica 

When we arrived in Costa Rica just a few days ago, we were strangers, teachers from different cities, backgrounds, and experiences. But as we moved through the misty cloud forest, chased bees across sunlit clearings, shared morning coffee, and laughed over shared mishaps, something remarkable happened: we became a team. Each personality, big, quiet, quirky, reflective, adventurous, fits together like a puzzle. By the end of our journey, we weren’t just colleagues, we were lifelong friends.

Day 7 marked our travel day, a transition back to our own communities. Some teachers stayed behind to soak up a few more days of Costa Rican sunshine and serenity. Others boarded the van for the journey home, taking one last look at the lush countryside. Alex, our ever-dependable driver, and his son, Travis, treated us to a scenic route, including a beautiful moment passing a peaceful body of water that made us pause and breathe it all in one last time.

In a small but meaningful gesture, the kitchen staff was able to arrange an earlier breakfast for everyone, a nice surprise we hadn’t expected before our long travel day. It was a perfect reflection of the care and collaboration that had defined our week.

We’re incredibly grateful to Frannie and Evie, two extraordinary scientists. Women in STEM, whose passion for science, education, and field research shaped every part of this experience. Their leadership was a powerful reminder that joyful, rigorous science is for everyone. They not only taught us about pollinators and ecosystems, but also modeled what it looks like to lead with curiosity, kindness, and purpose.

Susan quietly smuggled a jar of passionfruit jam through customs for Diana D. It may have been a small act, but it said everything about the friendships formed and the care that carried us through.

We leave Costa Rica full, full of gratitude, memories, laughter, and inspiration. We return to our communities with renewed purpose and a deeper love for our students and for this work we’re privileged to do. The lessons of the cloud forest will stay with us in our teaching, in our stories, and in the way we encourage our students to wonder, question, and care for the world around them.

Gracias, Costa Rica. You reminded us why we teach. Pura Vida!