Student Orientation Handbook: Short Courses
Other opportunities at the Institute
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- Monteverde Institute community initiatives
- II. ABOUT THE MONTEVERDE ZONE
- Life in Monteverde: What to Expect
- Clinics, Banks, Shopping and Other Facilities
- Activities in Monteverde
Other opportunities at the InstituteMany students leave wanting to come back, and some do. You can check out our website: www.monteverde-institute.org or email us at: info@mvinstitute.org for more information on the open courses we offer, research opportunities, and internship and volunteer opportunities. You will also find that we offer Spanish Immersion courses including home stays. For example, if you sign up for a course run in partnership with another university, you may be able to obtain credit through them that can be transferred to your home institution, of course beforehand, we recommend you check with your University to make sure credits will be acceptable, as MVI cannot guarantee transferability. Monteverde Institute community initiativesIn addition to hosting study abroad courses, other activities are going on at MVI. Water research is one area of focus. At the Institute we continue a long tradition of collecting rain water information. Working with local organizations and groups, we are creating an inventory of all the water information and research on Monteverde. In partnership with researchers from Smith College, we collect weather data from a weather station located on the Institute roof. We also run an Adopt-a-Stream project, which involves local high school students in ongoing monitoring of stream health in the Monteverde zone. The library is another on-going project. There is an open source digital library of Monteverde research and information as well as a strong physical collection, both in Spanish and English. Other projects at the MVI campus include sustainable land use development. We are exploring ways to create housing, interactive green space, trails, and other land uses that both respect and protect the natural environment. II. ABOUT THE MONTEVERDE ZONEGeneral BackgroundMonteverde is located in the highlands of northwestern Costa Rica, and is reached by 35 kilometers (22 miles) of winding dirt road off the Pan-American Highway. To the west are Pacific-facing slopes and the Nicoya Peninsula, which are seasonally dry. The crest of the mountainous ridge just above Monteverde, known as the continental divide, is blanketed by a cool, wet cloud forest. Verdant wet forest extends from this crest down to the Atlantic lowlands, providing a striking contrast to the drier Pacific slope. East of the crest is the Peñas Blancas Valley, a relatively unexplored expanse of tropical rain forest. This unique situation of contrasting wet and dry forest presents an extraordinary opportunity to study plant-animal interactions, ecology and natural history. Monteverde is world-famous for its role in creating the Monteverde Reserve complex, a collection of private preserves protecting more than 100,000 acres of endangered tropical forest. Monteverde is not a national park; the large protected area is the result of grassroots efforts by local residents, biologists, and concerned groups and citizens throughout the world. The largest reserves are the Bosque Eterno de los Niños (Children’s Rainforest), managed by the Monteverde Conservation League, and the Monteverde Cloud Forest Preserve, managed by the Tropical Science Center. Many private landowners, businesses, and local institutions also have forest set aside for conservation, making Monteverde home to the largest private cloud forest reserve system in Central America. Depending on the context, the name Monteverde can mean different things. In general it refers to the Monteverde Zone, a rough geographical area that encompasses approximately 14 communities. Historically these communities produced milk for the Monteverde Cheese Factory; thus this area was popularly known as the “milk shed.” As ecotourism has replaced dairy farming and agriculture as the economic driver, the Monteverde Zone now refers to the area of tourism. The population of the Zone is approximately 7,000, with the greatest concentration of people in the village of Santa Elena, followed by the villages of Cerro Plano and Monteverde. Monteverde also refers to the original Monteverde village founded by 14 Quaker families in 1951. These Quakers, also known as the Society of Friends, came to Costa Rica in search of a place where they could live out their pacifist beliefs without persecution, after four of their men were convicted, jailed, and eventually released for refusing to sign up for the U.S. draft. Today the village of Monteverde has several hundred residents, and still maintains a strong Quaker/USA influence. The Monteverde Friends School and Meeting House is an important center for this community. Finally, Monte Verde (two words) refers to Municipal District 9 of the Province of Puntarenas, a relatively new distinction. The first municipal government of Monte Verde was elected in 2003; prior to this Monteverde was largely self-governed. The district itself encompasses 11 communities, including the larger villages of Santa Elena, Cerro Plano and Monteverde. The political boundaries of Monte Verde do not completely encompass the zone of economic influence; for example, several of the aerial bridge and zip line attractions are in a different province. Because of its natural beauty and unique history, Monteverde is a prime eco-tourist destination, drawing approximately 250,000 visitors a year. This represents almost a quarter of all the tourists who visit Costa Rica. Much of this growth has occurred in the last fifteen years, and Monteverde is grappling with the rapid, dramatic shift from a sleepy, dairy zone to one dependent on and bustling with tourism. This has brought tremendous economic growth and development; at the same, Monteverde must figure out how to make ecotourism and development co-exist with fragile, primary cloud forest. Life in Monteverde: What to ExpectFor visitors to Monteverde, life here can be a joy as well as a challenge. If you arrive well prepared, both mentally and physically, you will gain the most from the Monteverde experience. First, the road up to Monteverde from San José is paved for only 16km of the 32km, the rest being unpaved. In town, there are only 2km of paved road, with few sidewalks, so be prepared to walk on stony dirt roads and trails. What would be a short two mile (3.5 km) drive on well-paved road can take up to 20 minutes on a dirt road. The roads are shared by people, vehicles and horses. During the dry season vehicles can kick up dust; during the rainy season be prepared to be splashed by mud! There are three seasons in Monteverde. The dry season, from February to May, is characterized by light wind, sunny days and cool, misty evenings. The rainy or “green” season, from May to October, can be very wet and muddy, especially in the afternoons, while the mornings are generally clear and sunny. The transitional season (October to February) is marked by strong winds, and light rains and mist. Nights get very cool during the rainy and windy seasons and the daytime temperature is moderate all year round. If you are coming in the rainy season, be sure to bring wet weather gear (water-proof jackets and pants, umbrellas, and if you can, rubber boots. Or be prepared to buy some here). Also, bring a pair of flip-flops or slippers to wear indoors, as most people do not wear their shoes inside their homes due to the mud or dust. During the rainy season it is hard to dry clothes, and things tend to get moldy quickly. Bring cases and covers for any valuable equipment such as cameras and computers. Clothes that dry quickly such as synthetic fabrics, silk and wool are better than cotton. As you travel down the mountain to other parts of the country, it is much hotter and more tropical, so if you are planning to go to the beach, you will also need clothes for hot, humid weather. The insects in Monteverde take some getting used to. We suggest you be mentally prepared for the fact that insects will be part of your life while in Monteverde. Consequently, you may consider bringing a mosquito net to hang over your bed at night, not so much for mosquitoes (though there are a few, though more abundant in the hotter parts of Costa Rica) but for moths and bugs that tend to fly around. In addition to moths, beetles, small ticks and occasional mosquitoes, you are also very likely to see scorpions and spiders in your home or hotel. They are not dangerous; a scorpion sting in Monteverde is little worse than an ordinary wasp sting. Monteverde ticks are not known to carry diseases and are more common in the dry season, as are scorpions. Clinics, Banks, Shopping and Other FacilitiesSanta Elena (3 kilometers from MVI) has a public health clinic (known as the Clínica), which provides basic treatments and minor surgery but is mainly focused on preventative care. There are also several private doctors who practice in the zone. All are within a 15 minute drive of the Monteverde Institute. The nearest hospital is in Puntarenas, which is a 2-hour drive from Monteverde. Other hospitals that are fully equipped for emergencies are located in San José (3-4 hours by car from Monteverde) and Liberia (3 hours by car from Monteverde). The Monteverde zone has three full service banks: the Banco Nacional (BN) and Banco Popular (BP) in Santa Elena and the Banco de Costa Rica (BCR) in Cerro Plano. All have ATM machines. There is also a 24-hour Banco Nacional ATM machine in Cerro Plano, across from the Hotel El Establo. Banks can change traveler’s checks (for a fee) and dollars, and can also provide you with a cash advance on a Visa or MasterCard. You can also use an ATM card to withdraw colones, the Costa Rican currency. You must bring your passport to the bank, and be prepared for a long wait. Most stores and restaurants in Monteverde accept US dollars and credit cards. Expect to get your change back in colones – an easy way to change money. We suggest that you bring some cash with you, preferably small bills (fives and tens). $40 in small bills should get you through your first days. Aside from the many souvenir shops, Monteverde has several grocery stores that cater to locals and visitors. The largest are in Santa Elena. There are several pharmacies, hardware stores, and general merchandise stores that cater more to locals. Because of the volume of tourist and the number of foreigners living in the zone, you can now purchase a lot of things in Monteverde, including bug spray, sunscreen, batteries, cameras, etc., as well as specialty groceries such as balsamic vinegar and Cheerios! Note that these items may be more expensive than you would pay in the US or other countries. The police station is located in downtown Santa Elena, across the street from the Super Compro supermarket. The post office is located near Coopemex. Our city hall (la municipalidad) is in the xenter of Santa Elena. Hours are from 8:00 am to 4:30 pm, closing for an hour at lunchtime. There are many good restaurants in Monteverde offering typical Costa Rican food as well as pizza, nuevo latino cuisine, sandwiches and fried chicken. Many cater to tourists so check the prices before you order – they can be expensive. You might also want to try the ice cream and cheese from the famous Monteverde Cheese Factory, next to MVI, as well as fair trade coffee from the Santa Elena Coffee Cooperative.
Finally, one of the best activities is to take a hike – it’s the beauty of Monteverde that put it on the map. Be sure to visit at least one of the reserves while you are here. The Monteverde Cloud Forest Preserve is the most famous, and is located approximately three kilometers from MVI. The Santa Elena Reserve is run by the local public high school. The Children’s Rainforest (Bosque Eterno de los Niños) is run by the Monteverde Conservation League. In addition, there are several other small private reserves with their own trails and tours, including the MVI Reserve. Despite its isolation and small size, there are a lot of activities going on in Monteverde, a reflection of the dynamic multicultural population and active civic engagement. Many talented musicians live in Monteverde, and Costa Rican groups frequently come up the mountain to play in local clubs and community centers. Monteverde is home to many artists who draw their inspiration from the natural environment. You can see their works in the galleries located throughout the area. Directory: 2014 2014 -> For want of a nail 2014 -> The Global Warming that Wasn’t 2014 -> Assembly, No. 3901 state of new jersey 216th legislature 2014 -> Stop Militarizing Law Enforcement Act of 2014 2014 -> Ihbb asian Championships 2014 middle school bowl Round 4 First Quarter 2014 -> Unit: Automotive and Auto Body 2014 -> Ihbb european Championships 2014 Bowl Round 4 First Quarter 2014 -> International History Bee and Bowl 2013-14 Asian Division Question Set Bowl Round Six 2014 -> United states patent and trademark office 2014 -> Walnut creek, ca branch executive committee meeting minutes Download 0.65 Mb. Share with your friends:
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