Overview
Costa Rica Service
for 9th-12th graders
Costa Rica combines all that we look for in a community service program abroad: a safe, stable country with great physical beauty, warm and welcoming people and service opportunities where our efforts can make a real difference. Volunteering with local organizations will give us the chance to interact with the people and land of Costa Rica. In a small, spirited group (no more than 12 students or fewer than 2 leaders), we’ll serve and explore in one of the world’s most beautiful settings.
After meeting in San José, we’ll head to San Isidro de Coronado, a small community just northeast of San José. We’ll begin with two intensive afternoons of Spanish instruction in one of Costa Rica’s leading language schools to refresh our skills and increase our cultural awareness. Once we’re settled in, we’ll work with a number of local organizations to better the lives of the disadvantaged population in Coronado. We’ll have the chance to really get to know this typical, little Costa Rican town as we serve its people. Here, our work will include volunteering at an orphanage, an after-school program, a retirement home and a Down Syndrome center. We will also do more physically demanding work at an organic farm and other sites. During the late afternoons, we’ll do some exploring in Coronado and relax after a long day’s work. In the evenings, we’ll cook dinner together and reflect on our day’s achievements.
We’ll also venture out from San Isidro de Coronado to volunteer and to explore other parts of Costa Rica’s countryside and cultures. In past summers, we have visited indigenous communities, helped to construct a small public library and served the hungry at a soup kitchen. When our work is done, we’ll travel to the spectacular Volcán Arenal, where we’ll see lava flowing in the distance and relax in natural hot springs. While visiting the gorgeous beaches of the Caribbean Coast, we'll enjoy swimming in the clear, blue water and exploring small town Caribbean life. On the Pacuare River, we’ll join up with our experienced and friendly Costa Rican guides for an exciting two-day rafting trip. At the end of our time in Costa Rica, we’ll celebrate all that we’ve accomplished together during our three weeks of service and know that we have made a difference in this special Central American country on Costa Rica Service; it's a life experience with value and resonance that extends far beyond the boundaries of a single summer.
Please Note: A minimum of one year of high school Spanish is required.
“My leaders taught me to never give up, to always help others and to follow my dreams.” Hannah Braunstein, Wayland, Massachusetts
HIGHLIGHTS
- Serve the semi-rural community of San Isidro de Coronado
- Volunteer at an orphanage, an after-school program & a Down Syndrome center
- Explore Costa Rica’s culture & language
- See flowing lava & relax in natural hot springs at the Volcan Arenal
- Travel to the Caribbean coast
- Raft the Pacuare River
GRADE
For students who will finish grades 9-12 in June 2008. We plan on 2 groups at each departure with 9th & 10th graders and 2 groups at each departure with 10th-12th graders. Call us (800.458.0588) to check on current availability.
START & END LOCATION
Starts and ends in San José, Costa Rica
2008 SERVICE CREDIT, DATES & FEES
3 Weeks
80 hours of community service credit
Sunday, June 22 to Friday, July 11
Sunday, July 13 to Friday, August 1
$4395 (airfare not included)
APPLY TODAY
Most groups fill in January & February. To download an application, click here.
“Maja walked away with a love for the people, culture and language.” Calla Rodell, Spokane, Washington
Students: Is This Trip Right For You?
Costa Rica Service 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 high school Spanish is required for Costa Rica Service.
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!
“Erika had a wonderful time! She came home very excited and said it was the best thing that she had ever done!” Anne Lagotte, Armonk, New York
Trip Itinerary
Program Start
After meeting in San José, we’ll head to San Isidro de Coronado, a small semi-rural community just northeast of the capital. Here we’ll settle into our group accommodations, spend time getting to know one another and prepare for the start of our service work.
Group Accommodations
Our accommodations will be cabañas on the property of the Jaules Rec Center, just a short walk from downtown Coronado. Rooms will be shared among students of the same gender and cabañas will be separated by gender. Please bear in mind that accommodations in Costa Rica, while perfectly adequate, do tend to be simpler than in the United States. We’ll benefit from our proximity to downtown—living amidst the community in which we’ll work will further our understanding of the culture and enhance our ability to serve the area.
Language Learning
We’ll begin with two intensive afternoons of language immersion at the nearby Academia Tica, focusing on both Spanish language and the cultural knowledge necessary to communicate and interact with local Costa Ricans. We’ll spend the day studying in two classes of no more than six students each, grouped by ability.
Volunteering in Coronado
After our afternoons of language learning, we’ll dedicate our time and energy to projects allowing us to reach out directly to the people of Coronado; we'll make a real difference while practicing our language skills and learning about the local culture. At the Hospicio de Huérfanos de Vista de Mar, an understaffed orphanage, we’ll provide much needed individual attention, organize recreational activities, help students with schoolwork and assist with facility improvements. We’ll volunteer with the Centro Infantil Nacional de Asistencia Integral, working to provide school-aged children from low-income families with daily meals and education. We’ll also visit young adults with Down Syndrome at the Catholic Church in Coronado. Other possible projects include working on a community-supported organic farm and visiting with the elderly of Coronado.
Afternoons & Evenings
When we've completed our service for the day, we’ll explore Coronado, take a Costa Rican cooking class, taste the local exotic fruits and relax after a long day’s work. Each evening we’ll prepare and enjoy dinner together, and share the highs and lows of the day over dessert. In this way we'll gather each evening to look back over the rewarding day of service to the community and reenergize for the next day of outreach.
Volcán Arenal
After ten days in Coronado, we’ll bid goodbye to the local friends we’ve made and head off to explore more of this country’s unique natural wonders, traveling by private bus and staying in hotels or hostels. We'll visit Costa Rica's famous Volcán Arenal in the town of Fortuna, watching lava flow and exploring the countryside with its beautiful waterfalls and natural hot springs.
The Caribbean Coast
We'll also head to the Caribbean Coast to relax and spend a few days helping small, rural communities in need. We'll work in collaboration with the Costa Rican Humanitarian Foundation, focusing our efforts in and around an indigenous reserve, where we'll help to construct a medical clinic.
Rafting the Pacuare
Our last excursion will take us to the Pacuare River for two days of white water rafting with Coast to Coast Adventures (www.ctocadventures.com). A great way to end our adventures, we'll paddle with experienced guides through exciting rapids, enjoy hikes to secluded waterfalls and spend a night along the banks of the Pacuare.
Program End
From the Pacuare we'll return to San José for a final night together, celebrating all that we have learned and accomplished together in the land of Pura Vida!
“Costa Rica was amazing and Overland really knew what they were doing.” Louis Holbrook, St. Louis, Missouri
To give you an idea of what your three weeks in Costa Rica will be like, listed below is a typical Costa Rica Service itinerary. Please note that the service opportunities your group pursues and the order in which you do them will depend on the departure date of the program, the needs of the community and available service opportunities. We ask for students’ flexibility in the service projects we pursue in Costa Rica.
Day 1
Arrive in San José, Costa Rica. Stay in a hostel in San José.
Day 2
Transfer to group accommodations in Coronado. Orientation walk in Coronado. Afternoon of intensive language learning at Academia Tica.
Day 3
In the morning, half of the group will volunteer at the center for young adults with Down Syndrome; the other half will volunteer at the center for children of low-income families. In the afternoon, the whole group will resume their intensive language learning at Academia Tica.
Days 4-9
On most days in the morning, half of the group will volunteer at the center for young adults with Down Syndrome; the other half will volunteer at a center for children of low-income families. In the afternoon, the whole group will volunteer at the orphanage of Coronado. Some days, however, will be slightly different and may include working at a local organic farm, an excursion to visit the surrounding region or volunteering at a retirement home.
Days 10-13
After a final morning of community service in Coronado, the group will travel to Fortuna to visit Costa Rica's famous Volcán Arenal. Explore Fortuna, visit the area’s natural hot springs, hike to a view of the volcano, swim in a beautiful waterfall and stay at a hotel in town.
Days 14-17
Bus to the Caribbean Coast to volunteer with the Costa Rican Humanitarian Foundation in and around the town of Volio. Help to build a medical clinic in an indigenous school. Relax on the beach. Stay at a hotel just outside of town and enjoy traditional Costa Rican cooking.
Days 18-19
Raft the Pacuare River with Coast to Coast Adventures!
Day 20
Flights Home
“Katie had a wonderful time with Overland in Costa Rica.” Darcy Whittemore, Readfield, Maine
Supervision & Safety
On
Our Costa Rica Service 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 hard work on our service projects, and our evenings are spent together as a group as we prepare dinner and dessert and talk about the day's adventures. 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 programs carefully, choosing well-established organizations for whom we can provide meaningful service and the best accommodations and activities. 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
Grade: We generally group 9th & 10th together and 11th & 12th together.
Gender:
Friends: We allow two pairs of friends in a group (we never allow three or more friends to travel together). With a maximum of two pairs of friends there will always be space available for at least eight students to come on their own without a friend. Furthermore, if we enroll two pairs of friends in a group and both pairs are of one gender, we generally try to: (1) enroll three or four more students of that gender in that group, or (2) close the group to additional students of that gender.
Getting To & From The Program
Families are responsible for making travel arrangements to and from San José, Costa Rica. Overland’s leaders will be on hand at the airport to provide supervision and assistance at trip 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.
“I enjoyed Overland because of the people, challenges and the leaders. Every summer with Overland is awesome!” Jeannie Neaylon, Winnetka, Illinois
