Build field readiness
Learn tropical forest safety, trail orientation, field-notebook practice, and the environmental conditions that shape amphibian and reptile activity.
Plan a program 
Tropical Herpetology · 2027
Find what the forest
does not reveal easily.
A field-intensive exploration of tropical amphibian and reptile biology that combines species identification, standardized survey methods, independent research, and hands-on conservation experience.
DatesJuly 14–August 3, 2027
Application deadlineJune 29, 202715 days before the course begins.
Duration21 days
Tuition$3,000International airfare is not included.
Field locationsCamaquiri · Tayra Pacific Research Site · Corcovado · Marino Ballena
Course experience
Observe carefully.
Think like a field scientist.
At Camaquiri, lectures, laboratories, trail orientation, and day and night surveys teach students where tropical amphibians and reptiles occur, how to identify them, and how forest structure and physical conditions shape their biology. The course then expands to the Tayra Pacific Research Site for applied sea turtle research and conservation learning across contrasting ecosystems.
- Identify frogs, salamanders, caecilians, turtles, crocodilians, lizards, and snakes using morphology, behavior, calls, and ecological context.
- Apply visual encounter surveys, natural-cover searches, leaf-litter plots, field notebooks, and standardized habitat observations.
- Interpret reproductive strategies, behavior, forest structure, and physical conditions that influence tropical herpetofauna.
- Develop an individual research project and connect field evidence with biogeography and conservation.
How the course works
From finding species
to explaining patterns.
The program combines natural history with repeatable scientific practice. Students learn to detect and identify animals, document observations consistently, compare habitats, and turn field experience into a focused research product.
Find and identify
Use day and night searches, laboratories, and guided practice to recognize major groups and understand where different species are most likely to occur.
Survey systematically
Apply visual encounter surveys, natural-cover searches, leaf-litter plots, and behavioral observations to collect comparable field data.
Research and conserve
Develop an individual project, contribute to sea turtle fieldwork, and interpret findings through the lenses of biogeography and tropical conservation.
Clear from the start
What your tuition
covers.
Course tuition is designed to cover the complete academic field experience in Costa Rica during the official program dates.
- All accommodations throughout the official course dates.
- All meals throughout the full course.
- All in-country transportation required by the itinerary, including ground and water transportation when applicable.
- All scheduled arrival, departure, and inter-site transfers within Costa Rica.
- All entrance fees and scheduled program activities.
- Academic instruction by the course faculty and instructors.
- Personal research and field equipment, including binoculars, course-specific personal materials, rubber boots, and notebooks.
- International airfare.
- Personal expenses.
- University credit or any fees charged by a participant’s home institution.
Meet Your Professor
Dr. Thomas C. LaDuke
- Academic affiliation
- East Stroudsburg University · Associate Professor of Biological Sciences
- Specialization
- Neotropical herpetology · Vertebrate morphology · Conservation
Dr. LaDuke is a broadly trained organismal biologist and Camaquiri partner. He teaches herpetology, field zoology, and tropical ecosystems, with research focused on amphibian and reptile morphology, systematics, and conservation.
2026–2027 field courses
Ready to learn
in the field?
Applications begin with fit, preparation, and academic interest. No payment is required to submit the form.
Start your application ↗