Description

AEC Spanish Institute is a world leader in Youth Spanish Immersion Programs. Over the past 10 years AEC has worked with thousands of students, parents, families and high school administrators to set up unique educational summer programs. Each of our Spanish Camps is designed to combine the learning of the language with fun, adventurous, educational and culturally significant activities.

Our signature Teen Spanish and Surf Camp, offered in Playa Dominical, Costa Rica, is still the only one of its type in Latin America. Our Teen Spanish and Volunteer Camp in Turrialba, Costa Rica, is a true immersion and service program. Our Teen Spanish and Adventure Camp in La Fortuna (Arenal), Costa Rica, combines immersion Spanish with exciting and adventurous activities just about every day of the week. For our younger students, we have the Spanish, Sports and Art Camp in Playa Tamarindo, Costa Rica.

Combine Camps!

All three of our Teen Camps in Costa Rica are designed for students to be able to mix and match. Now with our Weekly Student Blocks, students can attend each camp from one week up to five or they can attend two or three of them. Our start dates are conveniently scheduled for every Sunday for five weeks during the middle of the summer.

Highlights

* Teen Surf and Spanish Program (Ages 14- 17) - in Playa Domincal & Turrialba

This is our signature program and is what we believe to be the most unique Teen Summer Spanish Program in Central America. Students from ages 14 to 17 are eligible to participate in this exceptional camp. With interactive and intensive Spanish classes in the morning combined with afternoon surf lessons and weekend adventure tours, students will have a new and exciting experience.

This is the perfect program for high school students looking to have fun and adventure while learning Spanish in a tropical beach environment.

This Program Includes:
- 20 hours/week of Spanish classes
- 4 half-day surf lessons per week
- use of surfboards
- lodging in a three star resort
- three meals per day
- weekend 2-day adventure tours
- all in-country transportation
- health/travel insurance and bilingual guides

The Surf Camp takes place in Playa Dominical, Costa Rica, which is located on the Central Pacific coast. Dominical is a world famous surfing destination and is a safe, small beach community of 800 residents. Located in the rainforest and not overdeveloped, Dominical is an oasis of natural beauty. Secluded beaches, nearby waterfalls, natural preserves and abundant wildlife give students a truly unique tropical experience.
We try to help protect the beauty of the natural environment by having students participate in a beach clean up each Friday. Other volunteer and service hours are available for those students needing them.

* Teen Spanish Immersion and Adventure Camp (Ages 14- 17) in Playa Domincal & Turrialba

This camp combines Spanish immersion with afternoon and weekend adventure tours. Four afternoons a week, students will participate in different adventure activities in the famous Arenal area. Each session, the tours will be different, not one will be repeated. Then each weekend, students take part in an overnight adventure tour that showcases Costa Ricas natural beauty. This program is a great way to combine a serious Spanish program with fun and exciting outings. The Teen Spanish Immersion and Adventure Camp is for students who really want to learn Spanish, but also want to experience all the adventure that Costa Rica has to offer.

Students stay with local host families and will be able to practice their Spanish in everyday situations. They will share two meals each day with their family and interact socially with them. There are also evening activities designed to promote the culture of Costa Rica.

This Program Includes:
- 20 hours per week of Spanish classes
- 4 afternoons a week of tours and adventure activities
- lodging with a local Costa Rican family
- three meals per day (two with the family)
- study materials
- weekly 2 day adventure tours
- in country transportation
- health/travel insurance & bilingual guides

The famous Arenal region, and specifically the town of La Fortuna, is the adventure capital of Costa Rica. The town of 10,000 inhabitants sits near the base of the spectacular Arenal Volcano and is a short distance from the lake of the same name. Each year thousands of visitors flock to the area to see the nightly eruptions and experience the abundant adventure activities. Arenal is the second most active volcano in the Western Hemisphere and like Kilauea on the big island of Hawaii is one of the few places were you can safely view an eruption.

* Teen Extreme Adventure and Spanish Camp (Ages 14- 17) in Turrialba

AEC is pleased to introduce our newest teen camp in Costa Rica; Extreme Adventure and Spanish. This camp's emphasis is on adventure tours and activities. We do overnights in the rainforest, night hikes, two days of Spanish classes and homestays, two day rafting with overnight along the river and exciting day and afternoon tours. All of this is designed for students looking for a more intensive experience. This camp is only being offered the week of July 24th. Students can come in early and attend our Volunteer & Spanish or our Surf & Spanish and then transition into this camp. This is a good option for those that are looking for more Spanish classes.

The camps cost is USD 1395 for the week and is all inclusive. For further information contact AEC.

* Teen Spanish Immersion and Volunteer Camp (Ages 14- 17) in Turrialba

This is a true Spanish immersion program combined with intensive Spanish classes and volunteer service opportunities. Students are immersed in the language and culture through their Costa Rican host families. Four afternoons each week students will participate in volunteer activities in the local community. They will visit local orphanages and senior centers as well as participate in other area projects that are needed. This is the perfect program for those students who are very serious about learning the Spanish language.

Turrialba is a very safe and accessible town 1 1/2 hours away from the traffic and congestion of San Jose. Students stay with local families and share two meals each day with them, as well as interact in family life. In the evenings, there are activities designed to experience the Costa Rican culture. This program, the activities, volunteer opportunities and hostfamily, are designed to help the student to speak the language outside of class. Then each weekend, students take part in a unique overnight adventure tour that showcases Costa Ricas natural beauty.

This Program Includes:
- 20 hours per week of Spanish classes
- 4 afternoons a week of volunteer and service activities
- lodging with a local Costa Rican family
- three meals per day (two with the family)
- study materials
- weekend 2-day adventure tours
- all in-country transportation
- health/travel insurance and bilingual guides.

The town of Turrialba has 35,000 inhabitants and is located in a beautiful mountain valley. It is an extremely safe city, even by Costa Rican standards, with very low levels of crime. It is the major cultural and commercial center for the surrounding region. There is a main hospital, numerous banks, shops, stores, internet cafes and restaurants. Through our program of cultural and volunteer activities, as well as living with local families, students are immersed in the true culture of Costa Rica.

* Children's Spanish, Art, Sports & Adventure Camp (Ages 6- 12) in Playa Tamarindo

Our Children's Camp is the only one of its type in all of Latin America. It is designed for parents with young children who want them to get something special out of their family vacation to Costa Rica. This camp is an enjoyable and educational way to accomplish that. The purpose of our Childrens Camp is to combine a number of different age appropriate activities in an overall learning environment. This creates a less intensive and more enjoyable atmosphere for younger children to learn Spanish.

This is a 1 to 4 week long day camp for families traveling to Costa Rica with children between the ages of 6 & 12. Parents can take the adult Spanish lessons at our Spanish Immersion Center or they can relax all day while their children are having fun. The location on the beach is a true tropical, dry forest paradise with plenty of things to do for all ages of the family. It is a great swimming beach, as well as a popular surf spot.

The program hours are 9am to 3pm, Monday through Friday. Parents drop their children off in the morning at our Spanish Immersion Center and then pick them up in the afternoon. In the mornings are two hours of fun and interactive Spanish classes followed by lunch. Afternoons are filled with art lessons, surf lessons, soccer matches with local Costa Rican children, a zip lining tour, beach volleyball games, swimming at the beach, a visit to a Monkey Park, a boat tour of the nearby estuary and weekly Graduation ceremonies.

Playa Tamarindo is located on the northwest coast of Costa Rica in the Tropical dry forest. It is one of the most popular destinations in Costa Rica for families. The weather is the best in all of Costa Rica with the most days of sunshine. The beach is long, white sand and stretches over a mile in front of the town. There are lots of lodging options from inexpensive hostels to 4 star eco resorts. The infrastructure is some of the best in the country and the Liberia airport is only 45 minutes from Tamarindo. Put this together with the incredible diversity of wildlife, national parks and activities and you have a fantastic destination for the whole family.

Type of Programs

• Adventure Travel
• Cultural Exploration
• Language Immersion

Languages

• Spanish

Cost in US$:

Teen Spanish and Volunteer Camps is USD 1205/week. The Surf and Spanish Camp is USD 1505/week (for lodging and meals supplement). The Teen Spanish and Adventure Camp is USD 1555/week. The Teen Extreme Adventure and Spanish Camp is USD 1395/week. The weekly price for The Children's Spanish, Sports and Art Camp is USD 500.

This Program is open to

Worldwide Participants.

Participants Travel

Independently

Typically Participants Work

in Groups

Application Process Involves

• Other
• Written Application

Typically The Application Process Time is

one week

AEC Spanish Institute - Costa Rica's Mission Statement

AEC Spanish Institute seeks to offer quality Spanish programs to students of all ages, while providing a chance to see the beautiful country of Costa Rica. A combination of immersion Spanish classes, local host family placement, cultural experiences and adventure tours provides students the chance to learn a language and culture first hand. With programs including standard, medical, nursing, teen and family Spanish, AEC provides its students with the tools necessary to connect with people on a different level with deeper understanding and respect. AEC aims to break down the walls created by language barriers and allow people to learn from each other.

Year Founded

1998