Program Overview
Program Description
Costa Rica has over 160 parks and wildlife refuges, which are habitats for many endangered species. Within the country has expanded in recent years making protected conservation areas critically important for species preservation. Alongside this priority is ensuring that local communities have environmentally friendly and secure access to food. Organization partners in the Pacuare community on the Caribbean coast are developing systems to support greenhouses in the community. This community is located on a sandy coastline which has a unique set of agriculture conditions which impacts the variety of food produces locally. This summer the community organization is investing in the development of some technologies, including a biodigestor for fertilizer. Students will be involved in the redesign of an existing biodigester and community education (specifically with school children) on greenhouse technologies.
Our community partner in Costa Rica is Quelonios del Caribe. Students will work on an ecological service project alongside Roberto Solano Cordero. Roberto is the lead biologist overseeing the project. Roberto is a biologist by profession although he also carries titles as an educator among other things. Roberto oversees projects in sea turtle, and other species conservation as well as training and education in the area of sea turtle ecology and biological management. Roberto has also worked for the National Maritime Patrol, the National Coast Guard Service, the Ministry of Education, as well as different associations and non-governmental organizations dedicated to conservation. Roberto has been a teacher, naturalist guide for tourism, environmental consultant, project manager, volunteer coordinator, and youth leader. He strongly believes in experiential learning as it is the best way to gain fulfilling work experience that will help shape future career paths.
Accommodations
You will be staying in the organization’s hostel accommodation.
Program Dates
| Date | Activity |
|---|---|
| Mar – Apr 2017 | Orientation and pre-departure learning sessions (all successful applicants will be expected to be in attendance at all sessions) |
| Late June – Aug 2017 | 8 weeks of fieldwork in an International Service Learning placement |
| Sep/Oct 2017 | Re-entry debrief and public engagement presentation on campus |
**Please note these dates may be adjusted but will be confirmed prior to offer.
Program Costs
The costs below are per student and are yet to be fully determined, but will be within the following ranges.
| Location | Program Fee |
|---|---|
| Costa Rica | $2,900 – $3,100* |