Overview
Language & Service Costa Rica
for 8th-12th graders
Language & Service Costa Rica offers an unbeatable combination of native-speaker, classroom-based language instruction, additional hours of structured language immersion, unlimited opportunities for daily conversation and meaningful service projects to help disadvantaged Costa Rican communities and preserve the country's natural beauty. In a small, spirited group (no more than 12 students or fewer than 2 leaders), we will explore many parts of this wonderful country, practice and strengthen language skills, experience a week-long homestay and raft the exciting Pacuare River. Accommodations are indoors, with one night of comfortable camping.
"Superb leaders, excellent organization… we love Overland!" Karen Cohen, Dobbs Ferry, New York
Language & Service Costa Rica: Three Weeks for 8th & 9th Graders (a minimum of one year of Spanish is required)
L&S Costa Rica: Three Weeks is based in the small town of San Isidro de El General, a typical Costa Rican town away from the touristy hubs of the country. It is surrounded by lush mountainsides and nature preserves; we'll have a great view from our classroom windows as we spend four hours every afternoon studying with experienced, native-speaker teachers. We'll learn in small classes of no more than four students; outside of class, our Overland leaders will organize activities in Spanish to reinforce our learning in the classroom. During our mornings, we'll volunteer with local organizations such as schools and community centers, and we'll work with the environment in nearby nature reserves.
In addition, each L&S Costa Rica student will have the oppotunity to experience a week-long homestay with a local family in our small community. Our homestay families are carefully chosen and Overland students will be paired with each other for this week. We'll share dinner and evenings with our homestay families after our afternoon classes, improving our Spanish and learning more about Costa Rican culture, forging strong friendships in the process. On the weekends, we'll travel as a group to some of the most beautiful places in the country, including the Pacific coast beaches for which Costa Rica is famous, and we'll spend a week living with a local family.
At program’s end, we’ll look back on three weeks of intensive language study, meaningful service and the opportunity to experience the best of Costa Rica--the land of Pura Vida. It's a life experience with value and resonance that extends far beyond the boundaries of a single summer.
Language & Service Costa Rica: Four Weeks for 9th-12th Graders (a minimum of one year of high school Spanish is required)
On L&S Costa Rica: Four Weeks, we’ll explore San Joaquin de las Flores, a quaint town on the periphery of the nation’s capital, San José; Monteverde, a small town surrounded by nature reserves in the heart of Costa Rica’s lush cloud forest; and Flamingo Beach on the beautiful Pacific coast.
We’ll attend afternoon classes at the Centro Panamericano de Idiomas (CPI), Costa Rica’s leading Spanish language school. We’ll study for four hours every day with native-speaking teachers in classes of four or five students, grouped by ability. Outside of class, our involvement in the community and activities in Spanish organized by Overland’s leaders will reinforce our learning in the classroom. During our mornings, we’ll volunteer with the Costa Rican Humanitarian Foundation, where we’ll reach out to the people of disadvantaged communities and put our developing language skills to work.
In Monteverde, we’ll see a different side of Costa Rica. Here, we’ll work with kids, help build and maintain affordable housing and participate in a reforestation project. We’ll also have time to enjoy the beautiful, pristine beaches of the Pacific coast. At Flamingo Beach, we’ll help keep the beaches clean and we’ll maintain and beautify a local school and community plaza.
In addition, each L&S Costa Rica student will have the opportunity to experience Costa Rican life through a week-long homestay in a small Monteverde community. We’ll share dinner and evenings with our homestay families, improving our Spanish, learning about Costa Rica’s culture and forging strong friendships. On weekends, we’ll travel as a group to some of the most scenic regions of Costa Rica. We’ll spend time swimming in the ocean and walking the trails in Manuel Antonio National Park. We’ll also raft the Pacuare River, an exciting trip through lush gorges and past impressive waterfalls.
At program’s end, we’ll look back on four weeks of intensive language study, meaningful service and the opportunity to experience the best of Costa Rica--the land of Pura Vida. It's a life experience with value and resonance that extends far beyond the boundaries of a single summer..
"My kids do Overland trips because of the design, organization and implementation of the programs. I always know that my kids are safe, and the leaders are great role models." Adrienne Southworth, Steamboat Springs, Colorado
HIGHLIGHTS
- Explore the area outside of San José, the cloud forest and the Pacific Coast
- Volunteer in disadvantaged communities
- One-week homestay
- Rafting on the Pacuare River
- Excellent support & supervision
GRADE
Costa Rica Language & Service: Three Weeks For 8th-9th Graders: For students who will finish grades 8 & 9 in June 2008. A minimum of one year of Spanish is required. This summer we will have 2 groups. Call us (800.458.0588) to check on current availability.
Costa Rica Language & Service: Four Weeks For 9th-12th Graders: For students who will finish grades 9-12 in June 2008. A minimum of one year of high school Spanish is required. This summer we will have 2 groups. Call us (800.458.0588) to check on current availability.
START & END LOCATION
All Costa Rica Language & Service program start and end in San José, Costa Rica
LANGUAGE & SERVICE HOURS
Costa Rica Language & Service Three Weeks:
40 hours of service
56 hours of native-speaking classroom based instruction
30 hours of structured language immersion
Costa Rica Language & Service Four Weeks:
60 hours of service
60 hours of native-speaking classroom based instruction
40 hours of structured language immersion
2008 DATES & FEES
Costa Rica Language & Service Three Weeks:
Sunday, June 22 to Friday, July 11
Sunday, July 13 to Friday, August 1
$5395
(airfare not included)
Costa Rica Language & Service Four Weeks:
Sunday, June 22 to Saturday, July 19
Sunday, July 6 to Friday, August 2
$6395
(airfare not included)
PARENTS & STUDENTS PLEASE NOTE
Unlike most Overland programs, Costa Rica Language & Service spends a good deal of time in cities. As with every Overland program, our high expectations and basic rules apply at all times. There are no late night activities and drinking alcohol is forbidden.
APPLY TODAY
Most groups fill in January & February. To download an application, click here.
“The quality of Overland’s leaders is what makes Overland great!” Judi Bohn, Arlington, Massachusetts
Students: Is This Trip Right For You?
Language & Service Costa Rica requires a positive attitude and a willingness to work hard as volunteers. Participants should be eager to take part in a variety of service projects and be ready for both the challenges and rewards that service work in Costa Rica offers.
Please note that a minimum of one year of Spanish is required for Language & Service Costa Rica 3-Weeks, and a minimum of one year of high school Spanish is required for Language & Service Costa Rica 4-Weeks.
Keep in mind that your enjoyment of this trip will hinge on certain factors:
- Your motivation. Service work is not always easy—you must be motivated!
- Your understanding that life in Costa Rica is simple and rustic.
- Your commitment to teamwork. Overland trips require compromise, patience and selflessness. Support your trip leaders and your trip mates, and you’ll find that you'll have a great experience!
“Lanuage & Service Costa Rica was beyond amazing... the most rewarding and fantastic trip I have ever taken.” Rivka Feinberg, St. Louis, Missouri
Program Start
L & S Costa Rica starts in the country's capital, San José, where Overland leaders will be on-hand to meet arriving students.
Morning Group Activities
Each morning we'll work on various service projects such as volunteering in a daycare center in Heredia or San Isidro de El General, doing trail maintenance and reforestation in Monteverde or helping with a beach cleanup at Flamingo.
Language Classes
On L & S Costa Rica, we'll spend four hours every afternoon studying with experienced, native-speaker language intructors in small classes of three to five. Each student will take a placement test on their first day and will be grouped according to ability. We'll work on improving our grammar, vocabulary and conversational skills, and there will be a small amount of nightly homework. Improving our Spanish will help us to interact more closely with the Costa Rican people with whom we will work and serve during our mornings of volunteer work.
Homestay Families
Overland students will be placed in pairs with carefully selected, friendly Costa Rican families during the week that we spend in homestays. This week has been a trip highlight in the past, as it provides students with the opportunity to experience authentic Costa Rican life. Students will eat breakfast and dinner with their families. The one-week homestay will be an invaluable addition to our language learning.
Weekend Excursions
During our weekends in Costa Rica, we will raft the exciting Pacuare River with friendly and experienced guides. We'll hike to beautiful waterfalls and enjoy delicious meals prepared for us at our riverside camp site. We will have have the opportunity to visit one of Costa Rica's smallest and most beautiful national parks, Manuel Antonio, where we'll enjoy scenic beaches, trails and abundant wildlife.
Program End
At the end of our time in Costa Rica, we will have improved our Spanish and contributed to meaningful projects to benefit the people and land of this gorgeous and exciting country!
Supervision & Safety
On an
Our L&S Costa Rica students can count on us to create a family-like environment that is active, positive, inclusive and healthy (there is never any drinking, smoking or drug use). Our days are full of learning and exploration, and our evenings are spent together as a group. We set high expectations for each student’s behavior: we expect respect and consideration for others, a positive attitude, and an eagerness to help make the trip a success in every way possible.
In every decision we make, safety comes first. We plan our L&S Costa Rica program carefully, choosing the best available language schools, service projects, accommodations, activities, outings and travel. Since our first trips in 1985 our safety record has been superlative; it's no wonder, then, that Overland is one of the few organizations of its kind to earn accreditation by the American Camp Association.
For nearly 25 years our caring and competent leaders, our superlative supervision, our high expectations, and our commonsense approach to safety have made Overland the number one choice for summer programs.
Overland Leaders
In a world where strong leadership skills make the difference between the average and the exceptional, Overland recruits and trains only the best to be our leaders. Not only do these remarkable people capably lead our groups, they also offer our students the kind of role modeling for which Overland has long been recognized. Bright, charismatic and accomplished, our leaders ensure the safety and well-being of every Overland student, and then they provide much, much more, inspiring our students to reach for their potential in every way.
You won’t find a more dynamic and talented group of people than Overland’s leaders. Most Overland leaders have played varsity sports and many have captained their teams; they have served as student government officers, volunteered as peer counselors and directed campus organizations. They are high achievers who come to Overland with a lifetime of leadership experience—but just as importantly, they are warm, wonderful people who are eager to work with Overland’s students.
Overland’s leaders prepare carefully for the summer. We know of no other program that requires certification in First Aid, CPR and lifesaving—every Overland leader has all of these plus our own 10-day training program that focuses on safety, supervision and leadership. All of our efforts prepare Overland’s caring and committed leaders to create safe, supportive and valuable programs where each of our students can flourish.
Meet some of our spectacular returning leaders.
How We Put Our Groups Together
We have a number of important criteria for every group:
Size: Every
Gender: Most Language & Service groups are coed; the male/female ratio is always carefully balanced (6:6, 7:5, 8:4 or 9:3). We will occasionally offer a single-sex group.
Getting To & From The Program
Families are responsible for making travel arrangements to and from Costa Rica's Santamaria International Airport in San José. Overland’s leaders will be on hand at the airport to provide supervision and assistance at program start and end.
Additional Costs
Transportation to and from program start and end locations, spending money and personal gear are not included in the program fee.
“Katie had a wonderful time with Overland in Costa Rica.” Darcy Whittemore, Readfield, Maine
