Description

Experience the true spirit, welcoming culture, and natural beauty of Costa Rica through a variety of rewarding community service projects, cultural adventures, and lots of soccer. You'll be warmly welcomed into the hearts and homes of the people here as you become a part of a traditional Tico village.

The Warm and Welcoming Village
The peaceful, rural town of La Paz is surrounded by dramatic, verdant valleys and spectacular mountains. It is an ideal location to appreciate the natural beauty and friendly culture that define Costa Rica. You'll live with a local family and learn about the culture first hand as you cook traditional food, help out on the farm, take dance lessons, and join in soccer games. The home stay also offers an excellent opportunity to practice Spanish there is no better way to learn a language than to live with it, speak it, and listen to it every single day.

Fun and Rewarding Community Service
Each morning you'll join different cultural and community service projects in La Paz and the nearby villages. Tutoring English at a local elementary school, building drainage systems at a community soccer field, milking cows, and harvesting sugar cane are just a few of the service activities you might take part in while you're here. You will also head out to one of several soccer fields each day for scrimmages and practice with local youth and adult teams. Spend your evenings getting to know your home stay family, practicing Spanish, dancing, and learning about life in rural Costa Rica.

Costa Ricans are crazy about soccer, and their affection for the sport is infectious. You'll play with everyone from elementary school children to club teams and everywhere from dirt fields to an indoor arena.

Fantastic Futbol
Costa Ricans are crazy for the beautiful game, and their affection for the sport is infectious. This program is open to players of all levels and abilities. Whether you're an Olympic hopeful or simply enjoy kicking a ball around, you are perfectly suited for this program. You'll play soccer with everyone from elementary school children to club teams to seasoned adult players. And
you'll play everywhere from the dirt field at the elementary school, to La Paz's own beautiful grass field, to the indoor arena in the lower village.

An Adventure Lover's Paradise
You'll take a break from soccer every once in a while to take advantage of Costa Rica's many natural playgrounds on exciting optional adventure activities. Whether zip lining over the treetops or bungee jumping off a bridge, you'll embrace the adventure-loving spirit of this diverse country.

Come Have a Ball
This program is designed for students who love participating in rewarding community service projects, experiencing fascinating new cultures, and of course, playing soccer. It is open to players of all abilities. The only prerequisites are a willingness to learn and use Spanish, a love of soccer, and an interest in using the sport to create bridges of friendship across linguistic and cultural barriers.

Perfect Connection
After spending a week playing soccer and improving your language skills, consider joining the Traveling Soccer and Service Team to see a bit more of Costa Rica. If you want a break from soccer, consider the Maleku Culture and Service Experience and get to know one of Costa Rica's indigenous groups while taking part in service projects. This trip connects easily with our other programs in Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic, Peru, and Panama.

Highlights

LIVE in a rural village with a welcoming local family that will help you practice Spanish and introduce you to Tico culture.

PLAY soccer with village teams, local clubs, and excited children.

WORK in rural elementary schools and on traditional Costa Rican farms as you immerse yourself in this hospitable culture.

RIDE a horse through the beautiful La Paz cloud forest and discover the surrounding countryside and its wildlife.

LEARN how to grow and harvest Costa Rica's two most important crops, sugar cane and coffee beans, with your Tico family.

ENJOY thrilling optional activities as you zip line through the treetops or bungee jump off a bridge in a beautiful canyon.

Travel Types

• Horseback Riding
• Language Immersion
• Sports
• Volunteering

Qualifications

Students must be 14-years old and up to participate on the program. Additionally, participants must submit an application through the Rustic Pathways website and complete the appropriate documents before traveling on the program.

Type of Programs

• Adventure Travel
• Community Service / Volunteerism

Languages

• English
• Spanish

Cost in US$:

1,095 + International airfare

Cost Includes:

• Excursions
• Food
• Housing
• In-country orientation/Training
• In-country staff support
• Travel while in host country
• Written materials abroad
• Written materials pre-departure

Program Fees Include:

The above cost includes all ground transportation in-country, 3 meals a day, housing, staff through the duration of the program, all supplies for the volunteer projects and all excursions on the program itinerary not listed as optional.

Experience Required

no

Volunteer Types

Age Range

14 years old and up

This Program is open to

American, Asian, Australian, Canadian, European, Kiwi, South African and Worldwide Participants.

Typical Living Arrangements

• Home-stays

Scholarships are Available

Rustic Pathways is providing over 100 scholarships for the 2012 season based on a mix of both need and merit. Application deadline is every year in early Spring. Please contact us for more details on applying for a scholarship and other financial aid options.

Application Process Involves

• Online Application plus Application Assessment

Typically The Application Process Time is

1-2 business days

Rustic Pathways's Mission Statement

Rustic Pathways is a pioneer in providing superior quality travel and service programs for students and families in some of the world's most welcoming countries. Rustic Pathways demands professionalism and integrity across all of its operations, insists on quality in all aspects of its programs, and places the safety of its students above all other considerations. We enrich the lives of our students and our staff, benefit the parts of the world we serve, and build cultural bridges that lead to greater global understanding and cooperation.

Year Founded

1983