Language & Service Costa Rica

3 or 4 weeks

open to grades 7-12

Overview

Language & Service Costa Rica offers an unbeatable combination of language learning, service, cultural engagement and active exploration in a country of great natural beauty.

For four hours every weekday, we’ll work with native-speaker instructors in small, private classes to improve our Spanish. Outside of class, students will have opportunities for Spanish conversation through our service work and daily interactions with Costa Ricans. A weeklong homestay offers a superb setting where students experience firsthand the culture and family life of Costa Rica.

Language & Service Costa Rica: Three Weeks (for grades 7-9) is based in picturesque San Isidro de el General. We’ll serve the community by assisting with trail work and wildlife conservation in the lush rainforests of the Fudebiol Reserve. We'll also connect with the community while working with children in local schools. On our weekend travel, we’ll raft the Pacuare River, explore the beautiful Marino Ballena National Park and visit an indigenous community.

On Language & Service Costa Rica: Four Weeks (for grades 9-12), students will live, learn and serve in the rural town of Heredia, the cloud forests of Monteverde, the unspoiled beaches of Playa Flamingo, and rainforests of Sarapiqui. We will partner with local organizations to address the needs of each community that we visit. On our weekends, we’ll explore Arenal, Costa Rica’s most active volcano, and raft the Pacuare River.

Highlights

Develop Spanish language skills & confidence
Volunteer in disadvantaged communities
Experience a one-week homestay
Raft the Pacuare River

Grade

L&S Costa Rica: Three Weeks

For students completing grades 7-9 in June 2012

L&S Costa Rica: Four Weeks

For students completing grades 9-12 in June 2012

Call us (413-458-9672) to check on current availability

Start and End Location

Starts and ends in San José, Costa Rica

Accommodations

We will stay mostly at indoor group accommodations with the exception of one night of comfortable camping. Our indoor accommodations will be youth hostels or hotels. These accommodations are carefully selected for their safety and location. Students will have their own bed but will likely share a room with 1-2 other group members. Rooms are always separated by gender.

Rafting

During our rafting trip, we'll spend one night at a riverside campground. We will stay in canvas tents on platforms; linens are provided. The campground has bathroom facilities with running water.

Dates and Fees

L&S Costa Rica: Three Weeks

Sunday, June 24 to Friday, July 13
Sunday, July 15 to Friday, August 3

$5695 (airfare not included)

L&S Costa Rica: Four Weeks

Sunday, June 24 to Saturday, July 21

$6695 (airfare not included)

Itinerary

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 projectsin the communities that we visit. L&S Costa Rica: 3 weeks is based in San Isidro de el General, which is three hours outside of San José. Our service projects will take place in this region and they are focused on serving the environment and ecosystems of Costa Rica.

Our L&S Costa Rica: 4 weeks program changes locations each week to visit a different campus of the CPI Language School. During the mornings, they will assist with various community efforts in each area, such as volunteering in a daycare center in Heredia, working on light construction projects in Monteverde, helping with a beach cleanup at Flamingo, or focusing on serving the environment in Puerto Viejo de Sarapiqui.

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. 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.

On both programs, each student will take a placement test when they arrive at the school on their first day. This is a brief exam that will contain an oral and written portion. Based on these results, we will break the Overland group up into smaller classes by ability.

Our 3-week program will study at SEPA Spanish School and our 4-week program will study at Centro Panamericano de Idiomas (CPI). SEPA is located in San Isidro de el General which is three hours south of San José. SEPA is an agency that functions both as a Spanish school and an environmental protection agency. CPI is a Spanish language school with 4 different campuses throughout the country. Both schools will help to organize our local service projects as well as language classes.

Homestay Families

Overland students will be placed in pairs with carefully pre-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 Costa Rica's most beautiful national parks where we'll enjoy scenic beaches, hiking 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!

“Language & Service Costa Rica was the best three weeks in one of the most beautiful places I have ever seen.” Charlie Card-Childers, Houston, Texas

Trip Details

PARENTS & STUDENTS PLEASE NOTE

Unlike most Overland programs, Language & Service Costa Rica 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.

LANGUAGE INSTRUCTION & SERVICE HOURS

L&S Costa Rica: Three Weeks

35 hours of service
48 hours of native-speaker, classroom-based instruction

L&S Costa Rica: Four Weeks

45 hours of service
60 hours of native-speaker, classroom-based instruction

LANGUAGE REQUIREMENT

Overland offers two L&S Costa Rica programs - each requires one year of Spanish

We prefer that students enrolling in L&S Costa Rica programs have at least one year of Spanish. However, there are several instances in which we can grant exceptions to this requirement. If your son or daughter has had comparable language practice in Spanish outside of formal class instruction, or if they have a background in another foreign language, for example Latin or French, that may be sufficient for this type of program. Since Overland groups are split into smaller language classes upon arrival, we can accommodate varying levels of language skills. The most important factors for success on this program are the student’s enthusiasm for learning the language and his/her dedication to practicing throughout the program. Please give our office a call to discuss your student’s suitability for our programs.

Overland's Language & Service programs require dedication to mastering a language and understanding a new culture. Although there is no language pledge, students will be expected to speak only Spanish while in class and during approximately two hours a day of structured language immersion outside of class. Students will be encouraged to speak Spanish amongst themselves outside of the classroom as much as possible.

L&S Costa Rica requires a positive attitude and a willingness to work hard as teen volunteers. Participants should be eager to take part in a variety of service projects and be ready for both the challenges and rewards that teen summer service work in Costa Rica offers.

“I can't choose a favorite part. This was the most amazing trip I've ever been on. Everything was great, but the best part was the camaraderie.” Jenn Fabian, Medina, Minnesota

Photos

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Enrollment Forms

Enrollment Forms 2012

Language Reference Form

3 Week Release Forms

4 Week Release Forms

Prepare & Pack

Preparing for Your Trip

Costa Rica offers a variety of service opportunities in a beautiful country that is fun to explore. The key to preparing for this program is to keep it simple; this information is designed to help you do just that. Don't hesitate to contact us if you have any questions.

Before Your Trip

Service, language learning and cultural understanding require dedication, selflessness and hard work.
Begin your preparations for a great summer now by organizing your luggage, clothing and gear.
As the summer nears, stay active and fit through sports and exercise. The more you prepare, the more you will enjoy your program.
Once your program starts, commit yourself wholeheartedly to your group and all of its activities.

Special Health Requirements

All Overland students must be current on their tetanus vaccinations.
Overland advises students traveling to Costa Rica to consult with their family physician for information about protection against Hepatitis A and Malaria. All of our Costa Rica programs spend some time in regions indicated by the Center for Disease Control (www.cdc.gov) as areas that are affected by Malaria. Please check with your physician for recommendations for Malaria prevention for your child.

Packing for Your Program

On Language & Service programs we travel light —we cannot emphasize this enough.
Please stick to the following guidelines when packing for your program; your group will have access to laundry on a weekly basis.
In many of the places we visit, it is culturally inappropriate for girls to wear short skirts, short shorts or spaghetti-strap tank tops; this clothing can bring unwanted and possibly unpleasant attention. Please pack accordingly.
Be sure to bring comfortable clothes that can get dirty, paint-splattered and worn while volunteering.
Be sure to tag all items with your name, address and phone number.
Please do not bring any type of knife or multi-tool (e.g., Swiss Army Knife, Leatherman).

Luggage

Duffel Bag
The dimensions of the duffel bag should not exceed 24"L x 13"W x 11"H. We recommend checking out duffel bags from EMS, REI and L.L. Bean as guidelines for size.

Day Pack
For weekend excursions and day hikes. The day pack should be a regular school backpack with two shoulder straps, large enough to fit a rain coat, water and snacks. It must be worn on both shoulders (satchels and one strap bags will not be appropriate for day hikes and weekend excursions). Use your day pack to carry essentials on the plane (but do not use this bag as additional luggage space).

Clothing

Tennis Shoes or Sneakers.
Comfortable shoes to wear all day while volunteering and on day hikes.

Sandals or Flip Flops.
Tevas, Crocs, Chacos or similar with a heel strap for rafting trip.

Waterproof Raincoat.
Must be waterproof- summer is rainy season!

Fleece Pullover or Sweatshirt.
One only.

Comfortable Shorts or Skirts.
Two; one pair of shorts must be suitable for day hikes.

Long Pants.
Two pairs; one sturdy pair for volunteer work, one for evenings.

Shirts.
Five short-sleeve shirts or tank tops. Two of the short-sleeve shirts should be synthetic. One long-sleeve shirt.

Underwear.
Seven pairs.

Socks.
Five pairs.

Pajamas.
One pair.

Bathing Suit.
One only.

Rubber Boots (3 week program ONLY).
Waterproof for working in areas with mud.

Gear & Miscellaneous

Valid Passport.
Also bring a photocopy of the inside front cover of your passport and leave another at home.

Student ID.
Current school identification (if you have one).

Spanish-English Dictionary. Small travel size.

Toiletries.
All travel size.

Beach Towel (medium size) & Quick-Dry Towel (optional- for rafting trip).

Water Bottle.
Any kind, to stay hydrated out in the sun.

Leather Work Gloves.
One pair.

Sunglasses & Hat.
With visor (e.g., baseball hat).

Sunscreen (SPF 30+), Chapstick (with SPF protection) & Insect Repellant.

Flashlight and/or headlamp.
Some accommodations do not have electricity and require flashlights to navigate at night (e.g. on our rafting trip).

Small Daypack.
A small pack to carry daily items in (it can also be used as a carry-on for the flight).

Camera/Batteries/Memory Card
Great for documenting the trip. Make sure you bring a large enough memory card (1 to 4 GB).

Spiral Notebook & Pen.
For class.

Journal.
Optional.

Pictures From Home & Small Gift for Your Homestay Family.
To share with your family: something unique to the U.S., your state or hometown (e.g., local t-shirt or maple syrup).

Community Donation Items.
A few items of second hand clothing (for children or adults), arts & crafts material (e.g., markers, paint brushes, construction paper), or your favorite children's book (in Spanish).

Spending Money.
$50/week is a suggested amount for souvenirs, gifts and necessities (like more sunscreen if you run out, or stamps and envelopes to mail letters).

Cell Phones, Electronics and Personal Property

Please note the following important policies:

Our programs offer the opportunity to strengthen independence and self-reliance. To maximize these benefits, we do not permit phone calls to or from our students (except in the case of emergency).

If it is important for your son or daughter to be able to call you while en route to Overland, we recommend that you purchase an inexpensive phone card that your son or daughter can use at any airport pay phone.

If you feel that it is necessary to send your son or daughter with a phone, please do not send an expensive smart phone like an iPhone or BlackBerry. Send an inexpensive prepaid cell phone instead. On arrival we will collect all phones but we have found that safeguarding these phones is problematic given that our programs move from place to place. Despite our best efforts over $25,000 in phones have been lost, damaged or stolen in the last two years alone. We regret that due to the expense involved in replacing these items, we take absolutely no responsibility whatsoever for phones, electronics or personal property brought by students and we will not make any reimbursements for lost, damaged or stolen phones, electronics or personal property.

Communications

To maximize independence and self-reliance, we do not permit phone calls, emails or text messages to or from our students (except in the case of an emergency).
Your child will call home with our phones and assistance on arrival and departure if he/she flies to his/her program.
In the case of an emergency, we will make sure you are in touch with your child as soon as possible.

Cell Phones

Cell phone use is prohibited on all Overland programs.
Any phone brought by a student will be collected by us on arrival and returned at departure.
If you decide to bring a phone, do not bring an expensive smartphone (e.g., iPhone or BlackBerry); instead bring an inexpensive prepaid cell phone (better yet, bring an inexpensive prepaid calling card).

Personal Electronics

We do not permit personal electronics (e.g., iPods, Kindles or iPads) except for digital cameras.
We do not permit emergency response or GPS tracking electronics.
Any electronics brought by a student will be collected by us on arrival and mailed home or returned at departure.

Personal Property

Overland is not responsible for any student’s personal property—including but not limited to: phones, electronics, cameras, equipment, bicycles and clothing. Please schedule all expensive items on your homeowners insurance policy to ensure that your child/ward’s personal property and equipment is covered against loss, damage or theft.

No Reimbursements for Lost, Damaged or Stolen Phone, Electronics and Personal Property

Despite taking precautions, some phones, electronics and personal property brought by students (and collected by us) have been lost, damaged or stolen. We regret that due to the expense involved in replacing these items, we take absolutely no responsibility whatsoever for phones, electronics or personal property brought by students and we will not make any reimbursements for lost, damaged or stolen phones, electronics or personal property.

Questions or concerns? Please call us. Your understanding and cooperation are appreciated.

Travel Information

Families are responsible for making travel arrangements to and from Juan Santamaría Internaional Airport in San José, Costa Rica. Overland’s leaders will be on hand at the airport to provide supervision and assistance at trip start and end.

Language & Service Costa Rica Three Weeks
DROP OFF: Juan Santamaria Intl Airport (SJO) outside of International Arrivals (outdoors) 12:00 noon Sunday
PICK UP: Juan Santamaria Intl Airport (SJO) Continental Check-In Area 8:00 a.m. Friday
FLIGHT ARRIVAL: Juan Santamaria Intl Airport (SJO) between 10:00 a.m. and 12:00 noon Sunday
FLIGHT DEPARTURE: Juan Santamaria Intl Airport (SJO) between 8:00 a.m. and 12:00 noon Friday

Language & Service Costa Rica Four Weeks
DROP OFF: Juan Santamaria Intl Airport (SJO) outside of International Arrivals (outdoors) 12:00 noon Sunday
PICK UP: Juan Santamaria Intl Airport (SJO) Continental Check-In Area 8:00 a.m. Saturday
FLIGHT ARRIVAL: Juan Santamaria Intl Airport (SJO) between 10:00 a.m. and 12:00 noon Sunday
FLIGHT DEPARTURE: Juan Santamaria Intl Airport (SJO) between 8:00 a.m. and 12:00 noon Saturday

Any other special cases, please call Overland to coordinate, if you have not done so already.

Flight & Travel Information 2012

Program Start & End Information 2012

Mail Stops

Mail & Care Packages

Please send Letters & Postcards (rather than care packages)

Since we’re on the move and prefer to travel light, we encourage you to send letters and postcards rather than care packages.
Packages or any items larger than letters tend to get held up in customs and rarely reach the group in time.

Specific Instructions For Letters

On all letters: Please write clearly, in bold print, “Please hold for Overland Group” on the front of the envelope. Please specify the student's specific group section.
To send mail to Costa Rica, please allow a minimum of 2 weeks for delivery.
Do not send express mail to Costa Rica. It will be held up in customs and will not reach the group in time.

Language & Service Costa Rica - 3 weeks

Students can receive mail throughout the program at SEPA School in San Isidro:

Student's Name
c/o SEPA School
Overland LSCR 3w__
P.O Box 907-8000
San Isidro de El General
Perez Zeledon, Costa Rica

Language & Service Costa Rica - 4 weeks

Mail Stop #1: Mail must arrive prior to July 7th to ensure delivery to the group

Student Name
Overland LSCR 4
c/o CPI Monteverde
P.O. Box 68
Monteverde, Puntarenas
Costa Rica

Mail Stop #2: Mail must arrive prior to July 12th to ensure delivery to the group

Student Name

Overland LSCR 4
c/o CPI Flamingo
Frente a la Marina Flamingo
Flamingo, Guanacaste
Costa Rica

Mail Stop #3: Mail must arrive prior to July 19th to ensure delivery to the group

Student Name
Overland LSCR 4

c/o CPI Heredia
P.O. Box 151-3007
San Joaquín de Flores
Heredia, Costa Rica

Helpful Reminders

Checklist and Reminders 2011

Apply Now

HOW TO APPLY

You have two choices. You can apply online with a credit card by clicking the link below.

Apply Online

Or you can download the 2012 Overland Application as a PDF (you will need Adobe Acrobat Reader).

Then mail your completed one-page application and $795 deposit check to:

Overland
P.O. Box 31
Williamstown, MA 01267

For overnight mail via UPS or FedEx, please use our street address:

Overland
63 Spring Street
Williamstown, MA 01267

Applications are reviewed in the order in which they arrive at our office and we cannot hold spots over the phone.

Learn about our admissions process.

Cara Gillespie

Hometown: Boise, Idaho
School: University of Puget Sound
Leadership: Language & Service Costa Rica
More about Cara »

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