El Zota Packing Hints
What to Bring:
Field Work Clothing
2 - 3 pairs of quick-dry nylon travel pants, full length.  These can be bought on line from:
www.campmor.com, www.rei.com and many other companies. 
rubber boots, calf high (can buy them there for field work)
4 - 5 light weight t-shirts 2 pairs of shorts (not short-shorts)
nylon webbing belt for hanging gear, water bottles at your waist
5 -6 pairs of cotton crew socks 5 -6 pairs underware
2 long sleeved shirts, cotton or nylon, but thin.  Cambray cotton is good.  These are a must for working in the field - see pictures of students doing field studies. 1 pair cotton gardening gloves for working the litter
sandals: I like my TEVAs, but there are several others out there.  These are worn around the station proper, not in the field. rain coat or anorack that folds into a small space (for the volcano tour where it can get to be cold) - I have one that folds into its own pocket.
bill hat to keep your eyes out of the rain / sun
Other Gear
flashlight head light
small back pack for the field 2 - 1 liter water bottles
personal first-aid kit for field bug spray - DEET works best
1 set single bed sheets 2 -3 thin cotton bath towels (thin dries faster)
alarm clock Rite-in-rain notebook, pencils: can buy at the station, but bring at least one of each.

What NOT to Bring:
electric hair dryer electric curling iron portable TV
boom box tie, business suit more than 1 pair of jeans (they don't dry fast enought to be used in the field)
leather shoes or purses (they mold quickly) anything in a spray can perfume / after shave

What you might wish you'd brought after you get there:
jungle boots gals - sport bras or tank tops for under your long-sleeved shirts shower sandals
mosquito bed net personal CD player  lap top computer
camera binoculars x-tra rechargeable batteries
small travel pillow swim suit for the hotels clothes line  and cup hooks for hanging stuff in your cabin
playing cards frisbee harmonica
small stash of your favorite candy in a bug proof container (1 liter nalgene bottles work great for this and can be used as water bottles when empty) loud Hawaiian shirt to impress everyone with your sartorial savy 1 nice outfit for eating out: should be wrinkle proof and easy to wash
drink mix packets - Gator aid or equivalent for re-hydration after a long sweaty day 2 -3 bandanas for sweat bands and bad hair days 2 paperback novels for when you have had enough science 
Dr. Bonners pepermint soap:  great biodegradable soap for washing and it drives away ants and some other bugs

Keep checking this page for further suggestions.
Last updated on April 24, 2003
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