FIELD TRIPS
All field trips will take place on Sunday May 18, 2025.
Field trips are an additional cost to meeting registration, and will be available to select and add during the annual meeting registration process. If you have already registered, you can add these to your registration as an add-on via you dashboard here.
Please click the + to see detailed information about each field trip. Minimum numbers are in effect for all field trips. Should a field trip not hit the minimum number of participants required, we will reach out directly prior to May 1st, 2025.
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Lead: Rebeca de Jesus Crespo
When: Sunday 18 May
Where: Las Curias, Cataño
Departure Time: 7:00 AM departure from Puerto Rico Convention Centre (PRCC)
Return Time: Return to PRCC at approximately 12:30pm
Duration: Tour is 4.5 hours, 30 minute drive each way
Difficulty Level: Medium difficulty level
Cost & Inclusions: $35/person. Includes transportation costs and activity costs. NO Catering included, so please bring your own snacks and bagged lunch and water bottles.
Description: The Latin America Chapter of the Society for Freshwater Science will lead this field trip, which will be conducted in Spanish. Our first goal is to visit freshwater environments within the San Juan Bay watershed and discuss environmental issues associated with these ecosystems that affect local communities. Our second goal is to gather participant feedback on how to create more engaging opportunities as part of the Latin America Chapter and expand its scope. Our field trip will start at Las Curias reservoir in the headwaters of the watershed. Originally designed to meet the consumption needs of San Juan residents, this reservoir is currently used for recreational opportunities. Currently, nutrient pollution has led to excessive aquatic plant growth (Salvinia spp.) affecting its use for this purpose. We will take a boat ride along this reservoir and learn about ongoing management initiatives using bio-control methods. We will then move to the coastal community of Cataño, which has been chronically affected by water pollution of nearby flood-prone canals. Recently, Salvinia growth on these canals has created mosquito problems of concern to residents. During our trip, we will be accompanied by Dr. Rodrigo Diaz and Dr. Jorge Ortiz, researchers who have directly worked on controlling Salvinia populations in these environments. We will be joined by community members who will share their perspectives. Through the day, we will share with participants electronic QR codes linking to a single survey question: What suggestion do you have to the SFS LAC for engaging with members and expanding its scope? The responses will be anonymous and participation will be voluntary. These responses will help guide the activities of SFS LAC in the next year. The field trip will provide an opportunity to learn about the health and well-being impacts of nutrient pollution in tropical urban settings, a topic of great interest to SFS –LAC Chapter members and beyond.
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When: Sunday 18 May
Where: Paseadora Espíritu Santo, Río Grande
Departure Time: 10:00 AM from Puerto Rico Convention Center (PRCC), return approximately 1:00 PM
Return Time: Return to PRCC at approximately 2:00pm
Duration: Tour is 2 hours, 40 minute drive each way
Difficulty Level: Easy difficulty level
Cost & Inclusions: $60/person. This includes transportation & boat rental/activity costs. NO Catering included, so please bring your own snacks and bagged lunch and water bottles.
Description: Enjoy a relaxing trip down the Río Espíritu Santo aboard a small pontoon and learn about local flora and fauna, myths and legends as well as views of the El Yunque National Forest from the Atlantic Ocean.
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When: Sunday 18 May
Where: Caño Martín Peña, San Juan
Departure Time: 12:30 PM departure from Puerto Rico Convention Center (PRCC)
Return Time: Return to PRCC at approximately 4:00pm
Duration: Tour is 2-2.5 hours, 10 minute drive each way
Difficulty Level: Medium difficulty level
Cost & Inclusions: $70/person. This includes transportation and bike rental. NO Catering included, so please bring your own snacks and bagged lunch and water bottles.
Description: Bike tour around the area of Caño Martín Peña (Martin Peña Channel and Nature Reserve) to learn about the community-led efforts (Projecto ENLACE) of ecosystem restoration and conservation, housing security and infrastructure improvements, and environmental justice.
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When: Sunday 18 May
Where: Cabezas de San Juan Tour, Fajardo
Departure Time: 7:30 AM departure from Puerto Rico Convention Center (PRCC)
Return Time: Return to PRCC at approximately 1:30PM
Duration: Tour is 2 hours, 1 hour 15 minute drive each way
Difficulty Level: Easy difficulty level
Cost & Inclusions: $70/person. This includes transportation, tour guide and entrance fees. NO Catering included, so please bring your own snacks and bagged lunch and water bottles.
Description: A guided walk by a history and nature specialist of the Cabezas de San Juan Nature Reserve. Discover different types of ecosystems within the small plot of land, a wide diversity of local fauna and flora, and breathtaking views of the northeast tip of Puerto Rico. Activity is all outdoors so dress accorsdingly and wear comfrotable shoes to walk on trails. Consider packing sun lotion, water, snacks and/or lunch.
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When: Sunday 18 May
Where: Hacienda Buena Vista, Ponce
Departure Time: 7:30AM departure from Puerto Rico Convention Center (PRCC)
Return Time: Return to PRCC at approximately 2:30PM
Duration: Tour is 1.5 - 2 hours, 1 hour and 40 minute drive each way
Difficulty Level: Easy difficulty level
Cost & Inclusions: $70/person. This includes transportation and tour costs. NO Catering included, so please bring your own snacks and bagged lunch and water bottles.
Description: Visit what was an important coffee and small fruit hacienda in south of Puerto Rico, Hacienda Buena Vista. Enjoy walking through a subtropical forest and accompany a history and nature expert to learn about the shade polyculture of oranges, cocoa, banana, coffee and other fruits. The hacienda contains a carefully restored historic site with structures more than a century old and a hydraulic turbine that powered machines of the time. The turbine is still powered by the waters of the Canas River. Come see them in operation and feel how the force of the river was transformed into movement to process food.
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When: Tuesday 20 May
Where: UPR Botanical Garden, San Juan
Departure Time: 6:30 AM departure from Puerto Rico Convention Center (PRCC)
Return Time: Return to PRCC at approximately 9:00AM
Duration: Tour is1.5 hours, 20 minute drive each way
Difficulty Level: Easy difficulty level
Cost & Inclusions: $30/person. This includes transportation, tour guide and binoculars. NO Catering included, so please bring your own snacks and water bottles.
Description: Visit the Botanical Garden from the University of Puerto Rico for a guided birdwatching tour. Learn about the San Juan Bay Estuary Watershed and the bird life found within, in the center of San Juan. Binoculars will be provided. This trip is in collaboration with Estuario de la Bahía de San Juan (NGO focusing on the San Juan Bay Estuary).
NOTE: This trip will be TUESDAY March 20; participants might miss the start of the Tuesday plenary.
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