Concordia Center for Environmental Stewardship (CCES)

04/28/2024

Congratulations to Justin Speck who organized & hosted the Milwaukee Undergraduate Biological Reseach Conference (MUBRC) at the CCES this weekend. It was a huge success with a great turnout by CUW students!!

Thanks for the pictures Bretta Speck

03/10/2024

The final day of our trip was History Day as our guide, Papa Lion, lead us on a walking tour of Old San Juan, Puerto Rico. This was the 1st major island with fresh water, shelter, and supplies that ships came to en route to the Americas from Europe via Africa's west coast. It was seen as the doorway to the riches of the New World and coveted by many countries. We toured Castillo San Cristobal, the largest European fortification in the Americas built from 1634-1783 that helped Spain secure the key to the riches of the New World - San Juan, Puerto Rico.

Praise God for this amazing opportunity and safe travels back to the U.S.!

03/09/2024

After seeing a stunning sunrise over the Caribbean Sea, we embarked on a catamaran and snokeling adventure in St. Maarten. It is world famous for the Princess Juliana International airport - with its spectacular landing and take-off, which has made it popular for plane-spotters. We dove on a submarine and helicopter and saw many seargent majors, yellowtail snappers and ballyhoo.

03/08/2024

Ecology of the Tropics students got an incredible rainforest experience while ziplining in St. Lucia. Ziplining platforms were perched high in emergent trees above the rainforest canopy. Most of these trees were American Ficus. We saw the diversity of rainforest plants including the mapou tree, the lobster claw heliconia and hummingbird tree. Next stop... St. Maarten!

03/07/2024

Ecology of the Tropics students visited Scarborough, Tobago today. They hiked through the oldest rainforest in the Western hemisphere while learning about indigenous birds and foliage. The hike ended at Argyle Waterfalls - the tallest in Tobago at 175 feet. A rufus tailed jacamar is pictured along with a hummingbird nest. Next stop... St. Lucia!

03/06/2024

Caroni Bird Sanctuary is the largest mangrove wetland in Trinidad. This 12,000 acre preserve is protected under the Ramsar Convention as a wetland of international importance. While kayaking through the preserve, Ecology of the Tropics students witnessed red and black mangroves along with Scarlet Ibis, Flamingos and blue herons. Next stop... Tabago!

03/05/2024

Ecology of the Tropics students enjoyed an amazing snorkeling experience in Barbados today! They dove on three separate shipwrecks and saw sea turtles and an abundance of marine fish including seargent majors, trumpetfish and flying gurnard.

03/03/2024

Ecology of the Tropics students visited El Yunke National Forest in Puerto Rico. This 29,000 acre rainforest is a United Nations Biosphere Reserve and the largest tropical rainforest in the U.S. national forest system. Next stop... Barbados!

02/06/2024

Check out the sea urchin research that the Ecology of the Tropics class conducted in one of their labs! They compared the respiration rates of different marine organisms, such as the sea urchin shown, using optical dissolved oxygen probes. Just one of the cool labs this class experienced before traveling to Barbados and the Southern Caribbean over Spring Break!

12/26/2023

Merry Christmas from all of us at the CCES!

11/23/2023

10/23/2023

CUW students recently partnered with Ozaukee County and Brian Morrison, a CUW alumnus, to remove buckthorn at Virmond Park.