In 2014-2015, I developed a field course that was based off of my decade-long workshop and designed to offer students an opportunity to learn and practice the process of field-based scientific inquiry at the ACTS Canopy Walkway in the Peruvian Amazon. The first course had 14 students from the New College of Florida in 2015, and there were subsequent courses in May 2017 and May 2018. A number of students from these courses have presented their research at scientific meetings. I have really been honored with outstanding students participating on this field course.

I first visited the Peruvian Amazon in June 1994 as part of a tour group, and then returned later that year as an environmental educator. Really, I was as much a learner from the warm and welcoming people of the area as I was an educator. This was a transformative experience, and I have returned to the Peruvian Amazon about once a year since that time. The incredible biological diversity of the forest is simply stunning. One of my great joys has been developing this field course that hopefully provides a similar transformation for participants.

As mentioned above, the first run of this course was developed as a group Independent Study Project for students at the New College of Florida (Awesome Student-Made 2015 Field Course Video). That course was modified from the workshop that I developed and continue to run as volunteer service for No Barriers Youth (see Outreach).