Canopy Access Field Course in Panama

[Melanie Colón]

2017 WINTER COURSE ANNOUNCEMENT (Dec. 20-Jan. 9)

TROPICAL RAINFOREST CANOPY ACCESS TECHNIQUES (CAT W-17)

COURSE LOCATION: Bocas del Toro Biological Station, Boca del Drago, Isla
Colon, Republic of Panama. The biological station is located on a hill
facing the Caribbean Sea. Coral reef and seagrass ecosystems lie out in
front of the station and lowland tropical rain forests lie directly behind.
This juxtaposition of the two most biologically diverse ecosystems provides
tremendous opportunities for education and research. See:
http://www.itec-edu.org/ for details.

INSTRUCTOR: Bill Maher, Tree Climber Coalition, 251 Oak Grove Road,
Dawsonville, GA 30534. Telephone (Home) 706-216-2402, (Cell) 706-974-1630,
email: billmaher251@windstream.net, Specialty: Tropical forest canopy access
for research.

COURSE DESCRIPTION: This course is designed to provide students with the
methodology and expertise necessary to explore and conduct research in the
tropical forest canopy. The course involves a hands-on approach to the
techniques necessary for accessing the canopy as well as lectures on various
topics relating to climbing techniques, safety while climbing, facilitation
of climbing activities, and combining scientific research with climbing.
This course is the equivalent of the Basic Canopy Climbing Course, the
Canopy Access Technicians Course, and the Facilitators Course, all done
back-to-back over the length of the session. Certification confirming
participation in the course will be awarded to those completing the course
satisfactorily. For more information, contact Bill Maher or go to:
http://www.itec-edu.org/forest-canopy-access-techniques/.

Individual Research Projects. Working closely with faculty and students in
other courses, climbers will be responsible for designing and completing an
original in-canopy research project of their choosing. These projects will
be carried out during the second half of the course (after Boquete) and
students will have about 10 days for data collection. A few days before the
end of the course students will analyze their data, write a technical
report, prepare a presentation of their work and orally present their
findings at a station-wide symposium on the last day of the course.

BOQUETE CLOUD FOREST FIELD TRIP: This three-day field trip will take place
midway through the course and will allow students the opportunity to
experience tropical cloud and seasonal forests. We travel in ITEC boats to
the mainland and then by private bus to the town of Boquete which lies at
the base of 11,000 ft Volcan Baru. The bus trip will take us up and over
the central mountain range and through remote Palo Seco National Park.
Several stops will be made in route.

COURSE LENGTH: ITEC Winter field courses are about three weeks in length.
The CAT W-17 will run from Dec. 20, 2017 through Jan. 10, 2018.

TUITION: $2150 USD. Tuition fee includes all lodging, meals and airport
transfers in Bocas del Toro. The tuition also covers transportation and
lodging during the 3-day cloud forest field trip to Boquete.

REGISTRATION DEADLINE: Nov. 20, 2017. The course is limited to 10 students
and applications will be evaluated as they arrive. If you believe that your
application may arrive late, notify ITEC.

APPLICATIONS can be found at:
http://itec-edu.org/education-programs/application/.

CONTACT: Institute for Tropical Ecology and Conservation, 2911 NW 40th PL,
Gainesville, FL 32605, tel:352-367-9128, email:itec@itec-edu.org, web:
http://www.itec-edu.org/ ITEC is a 501©(3) non-profit organization
founded in 1996.



Peter N. Lahanas, Ph.D
Executive Director
Institute for Tropical Ecology
and Conservation
2911 NW 40th Place
Gainesville, FL 32605
(352) 367-9128
www.itec-edu.org
Phone in Panama: (507)6853-2134