Rainforest Live Extra! Extra!

Dec 1	Today part of our group is going into town to do some last minute Christmas shopping and to send their gifts home by airmail. Although we have 25 more days until Christmas, the gifts have to be sent soon in order for them to arrive on time. The rest of the group is staying back at the research center and working hard on their directed research projects. Life is very busy here now.
Dec 2	This morning a group of students went to Lake Barrine for an aboriginal story time presented by Sib, a woman who spoke at the Center earlier in the semester. A few students stayed behind to work on their research projects. In the afternoon, some students went to Lake Eacham to hike or swim while others stayed at the Center either napping, crocheting, working on their research papers, or playing in the ping-pong tournament. Two ambitious students made a volleyball net out of recycled flagging tape.
Dec 3	We have all been busy working on our Directed Research projects for the last week, and stress levels are starting to rise. Today we had a welcome break and went to the nearest town, Yungaburra, to play lawn bowling with the local team. We had a lot of fun interacting with the community and learning some good Australian lingo. The wet season seems to have started early so we were all drenched, but when you live in the wet tropics you can’t let a little rain stop you from having outdoor fun!
Dec 4	Today folks around the Center are working diligently on their Directed Research projects. Most groups have gathered their data and are analyzing it while a few groups are still waiting for the weather to break in order to do final data collection.
Dec 5	Today, all of the students worked on their Directed Research projects. The Lakes Corridor DR group set up transects so that the progress and growth of the saplings in the area could be monitored. We also decided where we wanted to set up photo points.We are taking pictures of the area as another way to monitor the growth of the saplings.
Dec 6	We spent yet another fun day writing and rewriting our Directed Research projects. Only one group went into the field while the rest of us sorted through samples we’ve collected and spent hours at the computer writing it all up.
Dec 7	Everyone is continuing to work on their Directed Research papers and trying not to stress out too much. The blue-faced finch DR group collected seeds this morning to examine the finch’s food resources. We had some special guests visiting the Center today from the CRS Research Reference committee. We discussed what we do here in order to gain support for our program.
Dec 8	Today was the final day for us to spend in the town of Atherton, making some of our last purchases before we leave the Center to head home in one week. Our Directed Research projects are keeping us busy all night tonight.
Dec 9	Today all of the students were busy working on their Directed Research projects. All of our projects are due by the end of the weekend so we are all putting our finishing touches on our papers and preparing for our oral presentations. To take a little break from all of the work, some of us went into Yungaburra, either to the café or to play sports. We played Frisbee and football in the rain and got nice and muddy.
Dec 10	Today most people finished up their Directed Research projects and are starting to get their presentations together. This afternoon we went on the “waterfall circuit” around the tablelands and saw three beautiful waterfalls including Milla Milla falls. Milla Milla means “wet wet” in the native language here so you can guess what the weather was like today!
Dec 11	Today students are presenting their Directed Research projects at the Center. Each student will give an individual presentation, and the best ones will be selected to present to the community tomorrow evening.
Dec 13	We had a busy day today. This morning we went out to Peterson's Creek to plant trees with the elementary school children. After we planted over 350 trees, we headed back to the school to perform skits and play games. Tonight we are taking the students out on the town. We are surprising them with a trip to hear a bush band play. Hopefully the students will have fun dancing and singing!!
Dec 14	Today is the student’s last day at the CRS. They are spending the whole day packing and cleaning. Tonight we are going for coffee and dessert at Nick’s restaurant in Yungaburra. It will be our last group activity and a great time to say our good-byes.
Dec 15	The students left at 2:00 a.m. (really!) from the Center for Rainforest Studies. It's been a great semester.