Mrs. Renz's 4th Grade Class JASON XV Expedition Panama Field Notes

Real Science. Real Time. Real Learning.

Mrs. Renz was selected to join the JASON XV Project expedition team, traveling with the scientists and production team to the remote locations of Panama including Barro Colorado Island and the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute in the middle of the Panama Canal Zone. This opportunity allowed the student and teacher Argonauts joining Dr. Robert Ballard, world class scientists, and guest researchers at the expedition site. Mrs. Renz was in Panama two weeks. Her fourth graders followed her journey each day as she updated her website with her daily journals and photos.

Mrs. Renz's Field Journal

After working hard as an Argonaut for the past 10 days, the rover crew was able to take a day off. We delighted at sleeping in until 7:00 a.m. and for once, ate a leisurely breakfast.

We took a ride in the only gondola in Panama at the Gamboa Rainforest Resort, high up through the rainforest canopy to a mountain top where we saw a beautiful view of Culebra Cut and the Panama Canal. Along the path at the top, a mother green hummingbird momentarily left her nest so we could peek into her nest and see two the tiny white eggs she was so carefully guarding. Upon our return from the top, we made a quick stop at the freshwater fish exhibit house which showed us some caimans and crocodiles up close as well as many species of fish. The butterfly house was filled with brilliant blue Morpho butterflies and I was excited to have an orange colored butterfly rest on my hand for a few moments.

We took a one-hour taxi ride into town where we shopped for treasures to take home along Avenida Central. Our team was thrilled to purchase nice shirts and jeans for $1.99 and $2.99 each, among many other bargains.

All year, my fourth graders back home in Redmond, Oregon have been writing letters to a class of Panamanian students at an English speaking school in Panama City. After their teacher, Anita, and I exchanged descriptions of ourselves on the cell phone, we embraced and smiled profusely as we met each other for the first time. It was such a special occasion and we were thrilled and honored to have her escort us to the best places to shop and eat in the city.

Our taxi ride back to the hotel took us down the road which paralleled the Panama Canal, past the Pedro Miguel Locks, back to Gamboa. We all had fun conversing with the driver practicing our Spanish skills. It was another incredible experience in this beautiful country of Panama and this trip of a lifetime.

Mrs. Renz's Photos from Panama

Our bus to the gondola ride

The gondola tram ride

View from the top of the gondola ride. The Chagres River (left of the picture) enters the Panama Canal. The Culebra Cut is in the background. A ship was traveling through the Canal.