Peru – DeMatha’s Experience

Written by and photos courtesy of Vicki Landersman

We are from DeMatha Catholic High School, USA.  The boys learned how to conduct different survey methods, the type of information that is needed for each method, how to record the data, and do data entry.  They were totally immersed in field biology and its importance for the continuing conservation of the Amazon.  There is no other program available to high school students that has them fully engaged in field biology, working with biologists, and  part of an international conservation program.  The boys learned how to catch, identify, weigh, and measure piranha and carachama (armored catfish) ; identify, weigh, measure, and sex caimans; catch, measure,weigh, and identify different frogs. The boys also learned how to identify the 3 different types of macaws by flight pattern and their different vocalizations. This was an experience of a life time and several of my boys did not want to leave, but wanted to stay much longer. At least two of my students expressed the desire to be field biologists and return to the Amazon during college.