Climbing Class In Costa Rica

I first learned about Monteverde twelve years ago when I showed a video in my Chicago classroom about a woman scientist who examined the variety of life high up in trees. The scientist was Nalini Nadkarni and she was conducting research in Monteverde, Costa Rica. She taught the show host, a young girl named Carla, how to ascend a rope high into the cloud forest canopy. Nalini found a perfectly camouflaged walking stick living amongst the epiphytes that hang on to this massive and predacious strangler fig tree and introduced us to the hooting growl of howler monkeys. I was very intrigued and learned about a Spanish language school in Monteverde from my friend Sharmilla, so I signed up for a Spanish class here. In the Cloud Forest Reserve, I met a tree scientist, Bob Laughton, who gave me Nalini’s email off the top of his head. The next month I joined Nalini in Washington state for a climb into a pacific coast tree canopy.

Over the years, I have vividly recalled the exhilaration of ascending the rope, the macabre life of the strangler fig, the crazy variety of insects and the thick green growth up on the ‘green mountain.’ I have also thought much about Monteverde’s integrated community, the Quaker story here and the simple way of life.

Well, as life often circles, I now find myself cheering on my 7/8 grade students as they ascend a rope high into a strangler fig tree. It is a moment to be cherished as they experience the exhilaration of the climb, the lush green of the canopy, the sheer wonderment of standing on a epiphyte laden tree limb 20 meters above the cloud forest floor, and the satisfaction of doing something exciting. Their CCVs (climbing curriculum vitaes) ranged from some experience to none. I am impressed by their maturity and confidence to attempt and tackle this physical and mental challenge with nary a word of fear. I am impressed by the flexibility and efforts of former MFS students and local residents that make this adventure possible.

I hope something about this experience will vividly remain in the minds of the kids. I wonder how calm Huayra would remain if a column of army ants marched up her leg as she was attaching a repelling device to her harness. Would Eric respond in like kind if a troop of territorial howlers threw their scat at him? In the unlikely encounter with a snake, would Ale casually escort it down with a flick of her rope? How loud would Esteisy laugh if we had a sudden afternoon downpour?

I think about the opportunities children here have to live with a high degree of interdependence and adventure. The outdoor hands-on lifestyle builds practical life skills and a keen awareness of the systems and cycles that make human living possible. I think about the welcoming and supportive community here and almost any gathering, like this one, involves all ages.
I now spend much of my time teaching science at the Monteverde Friends School. Two years ago my wife and I moved from Chicago with our two young boys because we desired to experience a more simple, natural and different way of living. Like many families here, we walk to school, climb trees together, and are continually thankful for life’s beauty.

Signed M