In addition to groundbreaking scientific research and day tours that introduce tourists to a complete Costa Rican rainforest experience, another specialty of Veragua Rainforest Eco-adventure are educational programs for high school and university students.

Recently, a group of University of Georgia students visited the Veragua Foundation for Rainforest Research along with Professor Emeritus Ron Carroll of the Odum School of Ecology at UGA. Professor Carroll has been leading UGA student groups to Veragua Rainforest every year since 2012. His specialty is conservation ecology. He is the former director of the UGA Institute of Ecology and former co-director of the River Basin Center.

“He has impacted so many students with his love and passion for nature,” said Rocio Lopez, Educational Program Coordinator for Veragua Rainforest. “It is always an honor for us to have Professor Carroll and the UGA students visit.”

Said Professor Carroll: “We loved our visit to Veragua. The opportunity to participate on some of the research projects was a great experience for our students. Thank you so much!”

Professor Carroll took a moment to tell us more about why he developed the UGA educational program with Veragua Rainforest.

What led you to begin the UGA educational program with Veragua in 2012?
We heard about Veragua from two colleagues: Jose Montero, a lepidopterist with UGA’s campus site in San Luis (Monteverde, Costa Rica), and Richard Hall, an ornithologist on the faculty of the University of Georgia.