What to Bring
Required Field Clothes and Equipment
- Laptop: The Gamboa School House will have connections available for laptops and this will be your most important tool in summarizing the results of your studies, presenting your reports to an audience, analyzing your results, etc. Hence, your computer will be most useful if it is equipped with a USB port. A security cable will allow you to minimize the risk of leaving your computer unattended. We recommend you have the following Software on your laptop: PowerPoint, Word, Excel and a Statistical Analysis.
- Rubber Boots: These are the only boots that can stand up to the tropics. Leather/gore-tex boots are fme until you get really soaked and coated with mud. In addition, only the tall rubber boots provide good protection against snakebites (which, although incredibly rare, are best avoided in any manner possible).
- Raincoat: A good, waterproof raincoat. They provide good protection for most of your body and they allow air to circulate underneath so you don't get soaked trom sweat. Gore-tex and other breathable are good, but not necessary.
- Headlamp (preferable) or Flashlight: Mandatory items as some studies may occur at night.
- Money Belt or Pouch (optional).
- Sleeping Bag: In the highlands the temperature gets down into the 40s at night. An inexpensive fleece sleeping bag which packs very small is usually plenty warm enough.
- Backpack / Day Pack: You want to have a small backpack you can use to carry your lunch, water, bug spray, sunscreen, and field equipment in. A large backpack for long trips is NOT necessary although you may wish to have one (rather than a suitcase) to transport your gear to Panama and among stations in Panama.
- Pack cover to protect backpack against rain
- Long-sleeved, lightweight shirts: You use long sleeves in the tropics for sun and bug protection.
- T-shirts: T-shirts are the old standby. The work well when it's not too buggy or too sunny.
- Pants and Shorts: Quick-drying nylon is the best, the lighter weight the better. Heavy cotton and jeans are a no-no; they are hot, uncomfortable, and constantly wet in the tropics. Lightweight cotton is OK. NOTE: Blue is the favorite color of mosquitoes, just for advice.
- Underwear: We may be 5-6 days between washing periods some places (or even more), so bring a few pair and you may have to hand wash them.
- Socks: Thicker hiking socks can be good with the rubber boots. Athletic socks will also work, but look for ones that don't have a ton of cotton (it gets wet and your feet get uncomfortable).
- Fleece Jacket / Sweatshirt / Sweater: In the highlands, it gets cool at night (into the 40s at high elevations). A fleece jacket is best (and it makes a great pillow). Sweatshirts are the least practical because they have a lot of cotton that holds water.
- Sunglasses
- Watch
- Bandana
- Tennis/Running/Gym Shoes: Real shoes are much safer than sandals. The only place sandals should be worn is on the beach or inside buildings, because of the (rare) possibility of snakebite.
- Wide-brimmed Hat or Baseball Hat: Your hat is very important for sun and rain protection. Baseball hats are OK but they don’t protect the ears, sides, and back of neck. Wide-brimmed hats are better. If you are sun-sensitive, bring a very wide-brimmed had, not a baseball hat.
- Water Bottles: You should be able to carry 2 liters of water into the field. The Gamboa Facility will have some bottled water.
- First Aid Kit: Band aids and first aid cream, Bacitracin or Neosporin cream, Hydrocortisone 1 % Cream (for soothing insect bites), Anti-fungal cream, Tylenol, Advil, Aspirin, tweezers and your personal medicines.
- WATERPROOF Sunscreen: Minimum SPF 15, stronger is better. In most places we will be in the shade, but in the coastal areas we will be in the sun and it is INTENSE. (Available in Panama).
- Bug Spray: DEET based insect repellents work best, but are bad for your skin. They are what we use most of the time. Citronella and other alternative types are not as effective or long lasting, but they smell a lot better and are not harmful for your skin. Whichever you choose, bring some!
- Camera: Long after the trip, this will be the most important item you brought with you. Film based cameras are best because you can keep getting more film. Digital cameras are OK but a little moody in the humid tropics. A regular point-and-shoot camera will cover most situations, but if you are really into photography, bring an SLR or digital camera.
- Film: Film is available in Panama, but it is best to bring several rolls with you. Keep them packed in the outside of your carry on luggage and don't let it go through any X-ray system (they'll tell you it doesn't hurt film, but trust me, IT DOES). Depending on how much you like to shoot, you may take anywhere from 2-20 rolls of film during the trip.
- Compass and whistle are useful if you get lost (unlikely)
- Field Journal: Write-in-Rain spiral notebooks to keep your data/notes/journal. Work great with pencils (bring some!) or "Space Pens."
- Personal Hygiene Supplies: Bring your own soap, shampoo, deodorant, etc. (Available in Panama).
- Extra Batteries: Bring several sets for key items (like headlamps).
- Zip-Loc Bags: Bring a variety to keep your things dry.
- Power Bars or some sort of snack: There will be times when we are out in the field and you need an energy boost. Power bars are nice because they don't melt in the heat. Packages of nuts are also good.
Optional Equipment
- Binoculars: Full-size binoculars are much better than the compact ones. Binoculars and compass are strongly recommended for the landscape ecology/vertebrate ecology course.
- Swiss Army Knife or Leather man-type Tool: Very useful. Lock-blade models are best: Adventurer, Trail master, Picnicker, and Rucksack. After this, the Tinker is a great model. If you have glasses, get one with a corkscrew and buy the optional glasses screwdriver that fits the corkscrew.
- Hiking Boots: This is getting to be a lot of footwear, but in reality all you need is a pair of tennis shoes and the rubber boots.
- Music: Bring your favorite music. CD’s are OK. We will be in the vehicles quite a bit, and it sure helps to have a little background music.
- Sandals: These should be worn only indoors and on the beach. Anywhere else, they expose too much of your foot to some often "nasties" found in the tropics.
- Compact umbrella
- Swimsuit
For any additional questions please contact us