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Families and Friends¨husband¨ Does your family have an adventurous spirit? Have you been wondering if true adventure travel with a family is possible? The answers is a resounding ¨Yes! ¨ Rainforests The map below shows some of the most endangered rainforests in the world. The map shows what percent of the rainforest was left in these areas at the beginning of this decade. What is a rainforest? A tropical rainforest consists of three layers of life: the canopy, the under story and the forest floor. The Canopy is the treetops (160-220 feet tall!), which make up the rainforest's green ceiling. Most of the animals of the rainforest such as monkeys, birds, tree frogs and even snakes, live in the canopy. The under story is the young trees, ferns and shrubs that are under the canopy. Most plants in the under story never grow to adult size because the canopy blocks out most of the sunlight. The forest floor is the bottom layer of the rainforest. Except for rotting vegetation which nourishes the thin tropical soil, the forest floor is almost bare. Large mammals like jaguars and African gorillas live on the forest floor. Why are the rainforests so important? Rainforests help control the world's climate. In the rainforest, it rains a lot and is very hot. When it rains, the heat makes the rainwater evaporate back into the air - this means it's recycled.Rainwater in the Amazon can be recycled five to seven times. 50% of rain in some rainforests comes from evaporation. The clouds that cover the rainforests around the equator reflect the sun. This keeps the rainforest from getting too hot. Rainforest canopies also absorb carbon dioxide, which is a gas in the atmosphere. When the rainforests are burned and cleared, the carbon is released. This makes the weather much hotter and is called the greenhouse effect. What happens to a rainforest when the trees are chopped down? About 80% of the rainforests nutrients comes from trees and plants. That leaves 20% of the nutrients in the soil. The nutrients from the leaves that fall are instantly recycled back up into the plants and trees. When a rainforest is clear-cut, conditions change very quickly. The soil dries up in the sun. When it rains, it washes the soil away Many of the animals can only survive in the rainforests. If their homes are destroyed, they will become extinct - forever. Safe and Smart in the Rainforest! Wear bright colored clothes! You're easy to spot when there's a group of you on the trail. And if you should fall someplace where it's hard to see you, you'll be easier to find. Carry a pack with your survival kit. Look farther down this page for neat stuff to put in your kit. This is good for a day hike. Grab a big stick to carry with you. No, not to duel with your friends, but to use as a hiking stick. When you walk, let it hit the ground a little in front of you instead of beside or behind you. Then, if you do startle a snake or another animal, they'll go for the stick instead of your foot! Animals would rather get out of the way than get in a fight, and usually only bite or strike when they are startled or feel threatened - like they have no place to get away from you. The pounding of the stick helps let them know in time that something big is coming their way. (In bear country, people put bells on their hiking sticks to warn the bears that someone is coming.) Hiking sticks are also nice when you're tired. Besides, you'll look really cool. Watch where you step! Don't step over a log, or onto a pile of rocks or leaves, without seeing what's on the other side or underneath. These are places snakes like to hang out. This is where your hiking stick comes in handy, too. Helps you sneak a peak without getting too close. And remember to leave the snakes alone. They need a home, too. Look behind you! Things look different on the way home, and it's easy to get lost. Stop every now and then and look behind you. Then, when you're heading back, things will look familiar. Pick out something like an unusual tree or rock or hill to help you remember the way. Give it a funny name to help you remember. Looking around also helps if you have a wise guy behind you.... If you get lost, find a spot, hug a tree, whatever, but stay in one place! Walking around when someone is trying to find you like constantly walking away from them. Stay put and use your whistle. OUTDOOR SURVIVAL KIT Whistle - If you get lost or hurt, use your whistle. People will hear you from a long way away. This way, if you're hurt, or tired, or scared, and can't yell loud or for a long time, just blow into your whistle! People looking for you can whistle to you also -- 3 blows means "I'm looking for you," 2 blows means "I'm here!" Hat - One with a brim will keep the sun and rain off your face, your head warm when it gets cold, and bugs out of your hair! Sunscreen - You know why! Water - You can survive a pretty long time without food, but you really NEED clean, safe water. Snack - Hey, you're going to get hungry, and it's a great reward for a long hike. Compass - Learn how to use one. It's fun! Blaze Orange Bandana - It makes a great flag on the end of your stick if you have trouble. You can use it for all kinds of things, like first aid, or just make a really cool something to tie on to your pack, or use as a headband, or whatever! Somebody, an adult or an older kid, should carry these:(don't worry your guide has them) First Aid Kit - There are lots of good ones in the stores. Or follow their example and make your own. Put it in a plastic bag that zips shut. Hand wipes, washcloth or something to wipe hands. Discover the rainforest through thee eyes of your Child Costa Rica At Casa Corcovado, protecting and preserving the enviroment and all its wildlife is more than an interest it´s our Passion Do you like to play in or near Beaches or rivers? If so, please do the following: ooWear a life jacket. Learn to swim. Ask your parents for swimming lessons. oNever go near the water without your parents or someone else who can swim. oAlways swim in a safe area, a place that was made for swimming. oNever dive into any beach or river without supervision. Tree stumps, rocks and floating logs can cause serious injury or death. Don't push or jump on others. Never pretend that you are drowning. You can throw them anything that floats, such as a ball, milk jugs, ice chest, or inner tube. See if you can think of other items that will float in the water. In a boating accident, stay with your boat, climb onto it if you can, and wait for someone to help you. You should never depend on inflatable toys, rafts or inner tubes to keep yourself afloat. If they are punctured or you fall off, you are in danger of drowning Always wear a life jacket when you play near the water. There are many types you can wear. Make sure you have one that fits you. You can rescue someone without risking your life. Yell "Help!" You can reach someone in the water with a pole, branch, paddle, and many other things. Rescue bags with a rope for throwing are found at the hotel’s beach and your guide will have one on Caño Island and San Josecito beach. Boat Captains also carry one on each boat. Security Measures All of our boats carry life jackets for every passenger and a well stocked first Aid Kit. Additionally, the captain has a safety throw line, air horn, signal flares and flashlight. The hotel has a very complete kit and our guides carry one on the walking tours. We also have in case of emergency a stretcher board, head and neck braces, splints and other equipment. Our guides and other personnel have been trained in First Aid and to handle an emergency so we hope our guests will feel reassured, we are ready to lend a helping hand. |