So what is “YARP”?

Not so much a question of what but who!  YARP (The Youth Amazon Research Program) is made up of 10 motivated high school sophomores and juniors: Wynn Barnard, Katie Chevalier, Kara Dunn, Stephen Garfield, Steffan Iverson, Kelsey Kennedy, Alia Knight, Kevin O’Connor, Sunny Pascoe, and Theo Pratt embarking on a trip to the Peruvian Amazon for two weeks of science research.  Leading us on this Amazon adventure are 8th grade science teacher, Val Curtis, and UW Labs Assistant Coordinator for the K12 Outreach Program, Alana Hysert.  We’re seeking “Eureka” moments in one of the most diverse ecosystems of the world!

 

Our Research Trip Itinerary

A sample of our activities:

v   Riverboat trip to the Madre Selva Research Station

v   Full day of orientation to the tropical environment

v   A full day of focus on each of the following aspects of the Amazon environment: plants, insects/arthropods, aquatic ecosystems and fish, birds, mammals, and reptiles and amphibians 

v   Opportunity for independent science research

v   Visits to the Yagua Indian communities of Comandancia and Santa Ursula for  a chance to trade for local handicrafts and present schools supplies to the students of the community

v   Visit to the house of a local healer with considerable knowledge of Amazon medicinal plants

v   Home stay with a Yagua family, helping them install a rainwater collecting system in their home

v   Daily bird walks and night hikes to observe the nocturnal aspects of the rainforest

v   Afternoon in the river town of Iquitos to go shopping and sightseeing.

v   And a final day of sightseeing in Peru’s capitol, Lima, before returning home.

 

What are our Objectives?

The Amazon will be an amazing two-week experience.  But what specifically are we hoping to get out of it?  5 of our main goals are to:

1) Present our findings in community presentations showcasing our research and travel experiences.

 

2) Discover life long passions in the unique environment of the Amazon and push our boundaries through International travel and exposure to other cultures.

 

3) Have an opportunity to do independent scientific research in an immense variety of concentrations available to us at the Madre Selva Research Station.

 

4) Experience Peruvian culture and the Spanish language up close, presenting our experiences to the high school Spanish classes next year.

 

5) Learn important conservation skills and knowledge of environment destruction that can be applied to other environments, such as our own in the San Juan Islands.

 

    Want More Information?

    Check out these websites:

    Official YARP website: http://www.valcurtis.com/YARP.htm 

    Or email us at: SJIYARP@aol.com