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MOSI hosts educational ecotour of Costa Rica
A scientist joins travelers on the weeklong, $3,000 per person expedition, which begins May 28.
By LESLIE PAREDES
Published March 8, 2005
TAMPA - Montaverde Cloud Forest Reserve in Costa Rica is home to 400 species of birds, 100 species of mammals and thousands of plant species.
It's Ged Caddick's favorite place to take travelers on his tropical tours.
"Once you go up in the heights, it gets a little cooler, and it's bathed in clouds year round," said Caddick, the owner of Terra Incognita Ecotours Inc. "It's just a surreal environment, and life is everywhere."
Now Caddick's company is teaming up with the Museum of Science and Industry, offering adventurous travelers a chance to see Costa Rican nature with a scientist riding along.
Although Costa Rica may be a far cry from what locals may be used to - tropical birds, monkeys and sloths abound - it is nonetheless comfortable and friendly, Caddick said.
The weeklong tour's agenda includes an eco-friendly twist: $100 to $250 of each traveler's approximately $3,000 in fees will be donated to the Costa Rican Conservation Foundation. The money goes toward buying and creating habitats for endangered wildlife and migrating birds.
While expedition tours to Costa Rica and similar tropical destinations are not uncommon, MOSI says its collaboration with the ecotours company offers something other tours don't: an educator scientist touring with the travelers.
"What MOSI brings to the table is a rich cultural educational experience, as well as scientific knowledge," said Terrie Nolinske, MOSI's vice president of education. "Someone could say, "I wonder why that is,' and the scientist will say, "I can tell you why that is.' We're adding the wow and whoa of learning something new."
Ultimately, MOSI and Terra Incognita Ecotours hope the new travel program will expand.
"My hope is that we do three or four trips a year and not just to Costa Rica," Caddick said. The Costa Rica trip departs May 28 and returns June 5. For information or to reserve a space, call 1-877-463-9756 or visit www.terra-incognita-ecotours.com or www.mosi.org
[Last modified March 8, 2005, 16:52:55]
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