Costa Rica Explorations

  Costa Rica

• North Western Region: 
Arenal,  La Fortuna
• Central Pacific Coast: 
Turrialba,  Cartago,  Osa Peninsula,  Uvita
• Eastern Lowlands: 
Bribri,  Talamanca,  Puerto Viejo
• Monteverde: 
Monteverde

Durations of Program: 1-2 weeks, 2-4 weeks and 5-8 weeks
Typical Duration of Program: 1-2 weeks
Dates: Year round

Description: Within every Costa Rica Exploration program we make sure to incorporate our three key phases. In order to be completely effective, all programs must possess a gradual and informal graduation from one phase to the next. Our skilled instructors and staff ensure this through teaching techniques, group discussions and reflective moments.

Orientation Phase: Students will get acquainted with the beautiful country and culture of Costa Rica, while forming relationships with their group and guides. Students will participate in daily adventure excursions in the Turrialba area, which could include: white-water river rafting down the Pacuare River, hiking a volcano, horseback riding, touring the rainforest, swinging like a monkey through the jungle on a canopy tour and/or learning how an organic coffee farm is run.

Homestay & Service Project Phase: Students will then begin the service project and family homestay experience in a chosen community. Students will become a part of a genuine "tico" family. As "sisters and brothers," they learn to speak Spanish, eat typical Costa Rican food and work side-by-side with community members on their service projects. Students will form lifelong bonds with their "tico" families and share many special moments. The lifestyle of a typical Costa Rican family is quite simple in comparison to families in the United States and Canada. This "no frills" lifestyle can come as shock to participants; however, this is an essential part of learning about and appreciating diverse cultures. Understanding these points beforehand is a necessity for each student. This phase takes place in one of various rural villages throughout the country.

Adventure and Travel Phase: After hard work in the community, students will take a trip to the beach to celebrate, reflect and relax for a few days. They will explore the area by taking a snorkel on the reef, swimming with the dolphins or just observing the monkeys, sloths and other wildlife that exists in this exquisitely beautiful and unique country.

Highlights:
Principal Service Projects:
* Create a working greenhouse for the local school
* Plant a flower, vegetable and/or herb garden on community or school property
* Paint the school's gym, repair and replace equipment and school's electrical system
* Build a playground
* Implement a community trash awareness program
* Buy and repair desks, chairs and other school equipment
* Create and paint murals on walls with local children
* Help to construct kitchen and bathrooms for the community center
* Teach English to children and/or adults in community

Adventure Excursions:
* Pass through some of the most beautiful and pristine jungles on a high-energy white-water rafting trip.
* Explore and descend steep waterfalls on a canyoning and rappelling trip
* Swing with the monkeys high in the tree tops on an authentic zip-line canopy tour
* Snorkel and swim with the dolphins in the coral reef off the Caribbean coast
* Hike to and swim in the water below one of the many beautiful waterfalls in the area
* Horseback or hike through a section of a virgin tropical rain forest
* Test your endurance and hike to the top of an active volcano

Educational Field Trips:
* Learn about and work on an organic farm
* Tour a local coffee farm and learn about the process of coffee production
* Tour a dairy farm and learn about production of milk, cheese and yogurt
* Take a Serpentarium (Reptile and Amphibian Museum) tour
* Visit and learn about a working hydro-electric dam
* Learn how chocolate is processed and made from a fruit called cacao
* Tour a Sugar cane factory
* Learn about the ancient aqueduct system and tour ruins of the largest national indigenous monument and civilization in Costa Rica
* Tour local botanical gardens, a seed bank, and fruit plantations
* Explore, with local biologists, a virgin tropical rain forest and learn about its millions of different species of flora and fauna
* Learn how investigative biogenetic centers are working to improve coffee and banana production in Costa Rica
* Visit a sloth farm
* Tour gardens that take you through a sampling of the variety of ecosystems that make up the lands and waters of Costa Rica
* Hike a volcano while learning about the geological history of the area along with the importance of tropical cloud forests
* Spend a day in a local middle school or high school

Qualifications: A volunteer must be 14 years or older and in good physical and mental health.

Cost in US$: programs start at $1800.00 /student

Experience Required: no

Typical Volunteer: In order to successfully integrate into a completely new culture one must travel with an open mind and good attitude. On a daily basis volunteers must remember to try new things, challenge themselves and most importantly keep a smile and have fun. The Costa Rican way of life, in which the group will divulge, is quite different than home. The environment is tropical. There is quite a bit of rain as well as sunshine. Spanish will be the primary language spoken in the homestays. In each homestay there are always at least two volunteers. It is a truly unique and special opportunity to experience another culture in this manner. It requires flexibility, maturity, and above all a desire to help others as well as yourself.

Age Range: 13-25

This Program is open to American, Australian, Canadian, European, Kiwi, South African and World Wide Participants. This Program is also open to Families, Couples and Individuals

Participants Travel to Costa Rica Independently Or in Groups

Typically Participants Work in Groups of 10-16

Application Process Involves:

• Letters of Reference
• Other
• Physical Exam/Health Records
• Written Application

Post Services Include:

• Alumni Network

Costa Rica Explorations's Mission Statement: Costa Rica Explorations provides students of all ages with a cross-cultural experience in which they can gain a more compassionate perspective of the diverse cultures of the world. Using an experiential hands-on approach, through community service projects, homestays, & adventure travel, participants are able to develop greater self- confidence, leadership techniques, independence, and team-building skills. We strive to open students' eyes to their own capabilities of being able to make a positive difference in the world. We believe that education is knowledge and that knowledge is acquired through real-life experiences.

Year Founded: 2005