High School Study Abroad in Arenal, Costa Rica

Travel to Costa Rica for a program rich in community service and eco-adventure. Experience the traditional town of Atenas, surrounded by verdant mountains. Immerse fully in the Costa Rican culture by living with a local family and engaging in community service projects and afternoon cultural workshops. Travel for eco-adventure to the beautiful region of La Fortuna, at the base of the majestic Arenal Volcano. Trek through the rainforest to a breathtaking waterfall and go on a zipline canopy tour through the jungle. Perform trail work at a private reserve and see exotic wildlife such as sloths, howler monkeys, and toucans. Travel to Manuel Antonio beach on the Pacific coast for surf lessons, white water rafting, and hiking through the national park. Learn what sustainable tourism and eco-adventure are all about! A basic level of Spanish is recommended for this program.

This ultimate Costa Rican adventure packs in 21 days of pure adrenaline mixed with just the right amount of community service! Experience the country's natural beauty and excitement while giving back to the local community. In Sámara, we have partnered with a local association that has provided local youth who have limited resources with supplemental educational, recreational, and career opportunities for the past ten years. These young people live in the rural beach communities of the surrounding area. We help run one of their many programs that focus on academic and artistic education, environmental consciousness, health, and socio-cultural development. After a hard day of work, relax on pristine beaches, fly through the jungle canopy on a zipline, and catch some waves at some of the world’s most famous surfing destinations! This trip for teens (finishing grades 9 & 10) strikes a perfect balance between work and play. You will earn up to 20 service hours and, at the same time, try new adventure activities such as whitewater rafting, swimming in waterfalls, canyoning, and rappelling, among others. What are you waiting for? A perfect summer in Costa Rica awaits!

Travel to Costa Rica and make a difference in a subject area you are passionate about! Choose from program themes ranging from Public Health and Medicine to Animal and Wildlife Conservation to Language Immersion and everything in between. GLA's offerings include: - Animal Rescue & Veterinary Project - Beachside Service Adventure - Marine Conservation & Sea Turtle Expedition™ - The Ultimate Adventure - Medicine & Healthcare Discovery - Middle School Service Adventure - Ocean & Wildlife Conservation Adventure™ - Sea Turtle Initiative™ - Spanish Service Adventure - Surf, Sports & Sustainability ™ - The Initiative for Children ™ - Spring Break Service Adventure - Costa Rica Internship: Career Exploration In Environmental Stewardship Costa Rica is known for its serene tropical surroundings and leading ecological conservation efforts. It comprises five percent of the world's biodiversity, making it Central America’s "crown jewel" and an unbeatable location for natural and cultural exploration.

Dive into the perfect balance of meaningful service projects, cultural immersion, and unforgettable adventures in this teen summer program. Travel to Costa Rica and work alongside some of our long-standing partners on projects such as building infrastructure in the Central Valley and helping cook for and run a food bank for a disadvantaged community. This trip uses a service-learning framework tailored for high school students, wherein our staff provides guidance and reflection on the impact of our work and promotes the values of empathy and cultural sensitivity. When not volunteering, our participants go on adrenaline adventures like learning to surf, rappelling down a waterfall, and zip-lining over the rainforest canopy! It won’t be long until students fall in love with the Pura Vida lifestyle and all things Costa Rican in this 18-day program.

Choose any one of our four summer courses or combine them to craft your ideal two-week to eight-week summer adventure rainforest trekking, whitewater rafting, surfing, sea kayaking, scuba diving, volunteering, and more in Costa Rica and Panama! Our summer courses aren’t for vacationers. They’re for students who want to become more knowledgeable about themselves and the world around them – maybe even to build your résumé or material for your college essay application. All courses include opportunities to volunteer, build life and leadership skills, learn from local cultures, and gain a new level of self-awareness and appreciation for the world around you. Course Options: - Tropical Trek, Raft & Waves - Scuba, Sea Turtles, Spanish & Sloths - Pacific Surf & Saving Lives - Pacific Surf Extension * Please note that, for the health and safety of our participants, OBCR has made program adjustments to these courses. Please contact us to learn about our COVID-19 considerations.*