INTERCULTURA OFHEREDIA AND SAMARA BEACH, COSTA RICA
Teen Program 2010

This nation of 3.8 million people has long been popular with Spanish students, thanks to its outstanding natural beauty and political stability. The friendliness of the Costa Rican people and the clarity of their accent make this lovely country a particularly good choice to explore a Spanish-speaking society. Politically, Costa Rica is one of the most stable nations in Latin America. Costa Rica is the ideal spot for students interested in outdoor adventure or conservation activities. You can explore beaches, cloud and rain forests, and volcanoes.

HEREDIA
A beautiful city of about 74,000 inhabitants, Heredia is characterized by historic buildings, some dating from the town’s colonial days, and is surrounded on nearly all sides by coffee plantations. The climate is mountainous, and it is never overly hot or humid. It has a small-town atmosphere, but is only 7 miles from the capital city of San José with its full range of museums, theaters and night life. Heredia's proximity to the airport, the capital, and Póas and Barva volcanoes makes it an ideal base for your stay. Also easily accessible from the city are Costa Rica's numerous beaches, rain forests and volcanic mountain chains -- all which provide the ideal opportunity not only for learning Spanish, but also for thoroughly enjoying the country's rich and varied ecosystem.

SÁMARA BEACH
Located in the beautiful northwest area of Southern Guanacaste, this town is known for its fishing village atmosphere (population 3,000). In a hidden basin that faces the gorgeous bay, Sámara’s waters are pushed inland by the enticing ocean breeze. It’s a perfect beach for swimming or surfing. There are a few small upscale development, but in general, the crowd is younger and not luxury travelers. The unspoiled beach is perfect for nature lovers, as the sand is cooled down by trees filled with rare birds and howler monkeys. Lonely Planet states that this beautiful, gentle, white-sand beach is one of Costa Rica’s safest and prettiest. See www.samarabeach.com.

PROGRAM
 

Teens will arrive on Sunday, July 25th at the San Jose Airport (SJO). They will be picked up by their hostmother and brought to the home where they will be staying for the first week, sharing breakfasts, dinners, and conversations with their new family. While in beautiful colonial Heredia, teens will attend Spanish classes in the mornings and participate in a variety of fun activities in the afternoons and evenings.

Latin dance classes, a city tour, dinner out on the town, and an afternoon at a country club swimming and participating in recreational activities will give the group an idea of city life in Costa Rica. Excursions to Poas volcano and hiking to Los Chorros waterfalls will introduce the natural beauty in and around the central valley, and visits to the colonial artisan town of Sarchi and the Café Britt Coffee Plantation will offer a deeper understanding of important Costa Rican traditions and products.
 

After classes on Friday, the group will head to the site of an almost perfectly symmetrical volcano, Arenal. After a hike around the volcano, the evening will be spent relaxing in luxurious and natural hot springs, where, weather permitting, they will see the fire orange spurts of lava against the night sky.

The next morning starts with a visit to a natural pool surrounded by lush tropical forest before departing (by boat!) to one of the most famous cloud forests in the world, Monteverde. In addition to the interesting history and present day ambience of the town itself, teens will experience the canopy of the forest through either a walk on suspended bridges or a zip-line tour. The group will depart on Sunday to arrive at their hotel in Samara Beach by late afternoon.
 

The second week will take place in Samara beach, a gorgeous horseshoe shaped bay ideal for swimming, surfing, and kayaking. Sunday evening, the group will be introduced to the small pueblo with a walking tour, and throughout the week, teens will experience a different type of Costa Rican life in this small fishing village. In Samara, classes will alternate between mornings and afternoons, and the rest of their time will be filled with fun activities such as surfing, horseback riding or bicycling on the beach, and cultural classes including dance, local arts and crafts, and traditional cuisine.

An ecological hike and beach clean-up will increase teens' awareness of personal agency for change as they both learn about ecological balance and make a difference themselves. Evenings will include dancing at an open-air restaurant right on the beach, a Costa Rican style barbeque (with karaoke!), a bonfire and soccer game, and a pizza party at the hotel pool.
 

After classes and graduation on Friday, the group will depart for Manuel Antonio National Park located on the central Pacific coast. In addition to a wealth of biodiversity, the national park also contains a tómbolo, which is the result of sedimentation rising up from the water, due to the rhythms and directions of the tides, to connect what was once an island to the mainland. This area offers a variety of beaches, both within and outside of the park, and white-faced monkeys, howler monkeys, sloths, multi-colored crabs, and dragon iguanas are just a few examples of the animals in the area. On Sunday the teens will return to their hostfamilies in Heredia for one last night. The will say good-bye to their newly-made friends, and on Monday, August 9th, their hostmothers will bring them back to the airport (SJO) for their return home, their heads filled with brand new memories

FACILITIES

Classes take place in Sámara at our tropical, beachfront campus (with air-conditioned or open-air classrooms), and in Heredia, at our beautiful colonial city campus. Intercultura's campuses provide free Internet, optional wireless (extra cost $5/week), tropical gardens, hammocks, study and social areas, language lab, fully-equipped classrooms, dance studio, stage, TV room, football and volleyball on the beach, outdoor showers to rinse off after a quick swim between classes, and our friendly multi-lingual support staff!
 

STAFF

Camp staff consists of two full-time chaperones (one is a native English-speaker and one is a Costa Rican), school administrative support staff, Teen Program Director, Latin dance and cooking teachers, experienced tour guides, and highly qualified Spanish teachers. All Spanish teachers have a Bachelor's degree in Education, Literature, and/or Linguistics (most hold a Post-Graduate Certificate in Teaching Spanish as a Second Language), and our senior staff also have their Master's degree in the same field. All Spanish teachers are native speakers with ample experience in teaching Spanish as a second language, and they all receive continuing education university seminars and conferences on language acquisition. Most importantly, our Teen Camp Spanish teachers are trained in adolescent pedagogical methods and utilize Intercultura's own course texts and materials which have been carefully developed for teen learners.

COMMUNITY SERVICE

Community service is an important part of the program. It is a chance to give something back to the communities that receive us while helping to instill a feeling of participation, consciousness, and responsibility in our common world. Students are expected to participate with a positive attitude in this opportunity for mutual benefit and exchange. Activities may include beach clean-up, turtle patrol, and non-profit child education programs, or similar. NOTE: Teens do not have the option to refuse to participate in these activities: this part of the program should be discussed and agreed upon with parents before signing up for the program.

TRAVEL & ARRIVAL

Students should arrange to fly into the San José, Costa Rica airport regardless of location choice.  Arrival should be arranged for the Sunday before the program begins and departure should be arranged for the Monday after the course ends. A valid passport is needed for entry into Costa Rica.

AGES ACCEPTED: 15 TO 17 YEARS
 

FEE and DATES

Intercultura's 2010 Summer Spanish & Adventure Camp lasts for two weeks, starting on Sunday, July 25th and ending on Monday, August 9th. The two week session costs $1995 all inclusive: airport pick-up and drop-off, chaperones and guides, Spanish classes, lodging, meals, activities, and tours (airfare to and from Costa Rica is not included). Multiple-student and need-based financial assistance is available.
Dates:
ARRIVE Sunday, July 25th at SJO airport. LEAVE Monday, August 9th from SJO airport.
The camp is divided into two parts: one week at the city campus in Heredia, and one week at the Sámara beach campus. Lodging is with a host family in the city, and in a hotel (chaperoned) at the beach.

REGISTRATION Please use the online registration form (secured server) to complete your registration. Indicate this school and Teen in the program choice. This is an all inclusive program, with one fee. The deposit required is $180 per program.

REFERENCES
Matthew DeButts, lostroff@otmpartners.com
Sarah Lewis, roger@emedharbor.edu
Joanna Lau, WI, joannahlau@hotmail.com
Nicole Wittlin, CA, nicolewit@sbcglobal.net

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