Costa Rica Cultural Exchange Service Program | Costa Rica Travel Camp

High School Students

Cultural Exchange &
Service Programs

Language Immersion,
Cultural Exchange &
Service Programs

(For High School Students)

La Pura Vida - Cloud Forest to Beach

Cultural Exchange & Service Program

Session 1 : June 25th - July 15th (21 days)
Session 2 : July 9th - July 29th (21 days)
Average size of group : 18 - 20 students
Grades for session 1 : 9 - 12
Grades for session 2 : 9 - 12
Tuition for 21 day program : $4295 (plus RT airfare, group flight from Newark)

* This Program Offers Staff Escorted Group Flights

Costa Rica has amazing geographic and biological diversity unmatched by any country its size. From the 12,000-foot mountains in the Talamancan Range to the pristine beaches and rainforests of the Pacific coast, Costa Rica teems with natural beauty. Global Works has been traveling to this amazing country since 1994, experiencing both the diversity of ecological life and the friendliness of the “Ticos,” (the native Costa Ricans!).

Service Projects*

Earn 40-50 community services hours
Work on small construction and erosion prevention projects with the Monteverde Conservation League
Help build a community center or school classroom
Assist park rangers with local ecotourism projects
Teach English and lead “Día de Actividades” for local children

Adventure and Cultural Activities

Raft Costa Rica’s best white water
Surf world class Pacific waves
Take canopy walks and night hikes in one of Costa Rica’s pristine cloud forest preserves
Experience a homestay in a small Costa Rican village
Enjoy Latin dance classes

This language exposure program is designed for students of any Spanish language level. While no prior Spanish study is required, we ask that students come with a willingness to learn basic phrases. It includes an eight day group homestay experience that places two students per home.

*Please note that some of the projects and activities will change from year to year, however, they will be similar to those listed. A final itinerary will be printed prior to each trip.

SAMPLE ITINERARY

Orientation and Rafting (4 days) - Our experience begins in the San Jose Central Valley B&B, where students get to know one another and establish goals for the weeks ahead. Here we will learn more about Costa Rica, take a Latin dance class, and loosen our muscles with an overnight rafting trip on one of the spectacular scenic rivers. We will also participate in some basic Spanish lessons so please come ready to learn some key words and phrases!

Monteverde Conservation League (3 days) - After settling in, we travel to work with local park rangers in one of Costa Rica’s pristine tropical cloud forests. A rigorous hike will bring us to a comfortable eco-lodge, our home for the next several days. Time will be spent on a combination of environmental projects, night hikes to view wildlife, discussions, and day hikes to water holes and waterfalls. The work projects consist of trail maintenance, small bridge construction, and painting. The work is physically demanding but critical to the upkeep of this special land. If the weather cooperates, we may have a spectacular view of the active volcano, Arenal, and adjacent Lake Arenal. It is very common to spot monkeys, anteaters, parrots, coatimundis and dart frogs in the cloud forest!

The work projects consist of trail maintenance, small bridge construction, and painting. The work is physically demanding but critical to the upkeep of this special land. If the weather cooperates, we will have a s ctacular view of the active volcano, Arenal, and adjacent Lake Arenal. It is very common to spot monkeys, anteaters, parrots, coatimundis and dart frogs in the cloud forest!

Community Stay (8 days) - After our stay in the cloud forest, we head south for our community service projects in a small rural village. While staying in a paired homestay (with two students per home), we will work on projects chosen by the community itself. Typical service projects include: pouring the foundation for a community center, painting and tiling a community kitchen, constructing a plant nursery, completing a sidewalk around the town square, and building a school library. We’ll have many opportunities for interaction with the local children. In addition to our daily informal interaction with los niños who inevitably become integral members of our group, Global Works participants plan and teach English lessons, and organize and lead a “Día de Actividades”—an event for the community that includes field day competitions, art workshops, music, games and more! We also take time to relax in the afternoons and weekends as we play soccer with locals, prepare special dinners, participate in a traditi al game and dance night, or go for excursions with families to nearby swimming holes.

Pasific Eco-Resort and Surf Camp (3 days) - Time to hit the beach! We depart from our homestay community, promising to stay in touch with our new families and friends. We travel to the Pacific Coast, famous for its unique combination of rainforest and ocean settings. We spend two days boogieboarding, enjoying zip-line canopy tours, and viewing wildlife. For two days we challenge ourselves with surf lessons taught by professional surf instructors. The wave conditions on this beach provide the perfect opportunity for all levels to hang ten!

Central Valley and Travel Home (3 days) - Leaving paradise is always sad, but our trip back to the Central Valley gives us time to share our memories before we fly home. At a celebratory dinner in a nice restaurant we have an ‘awards ceremony’ to reflect upon our last three weeks together. We realize that Costa Rica and the friends we have made will always be with us!