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Click Here for a Packing List for the Costa Rica Trip
The Costa Rica trip offers students a truly unique and hands-on learning experience. Although only about the size of West Virginia, Costa Rica has 12 distinct ecosystems and more biodiversity than North America or Europe!
Students (and their families!) explore rainforests, dry forests, mangroves, cloud forests, volcanoes and coastal beaches in a matter of days and learn how organisms adapt to their corresponding habitats. This program includes exciting adventures and a chance to experience a new culture: integrating fun and social studies with science to create an unforgettable learning experience. Detailed itinerary is below.
Day 1 - Fly to Costa Rica *Arrive in San José
Day 2 - San José • Arenal region *Visit INBioparque: Ecosystem exhibits and trails *Whitewater Rafting on the Sarapiqui River *Travel to Arenal region/Visit hot springs
Day 3 - Arenal region *Take a kayaking tour of Lake Arenal *Hike to La Fortuna Waterfall
Day 4 - Monteverde *Travel to Monteverde Reserve *Visit a local school
Day 5 - Monteverde *Visit the Santa Elena Cloud Forest *Plant a tree in the EF reserve in Monteverde *Participate in a canopy adventure
Day 6 - Carara • Central Pacific Coast *Visit Carara Biological Reserve *Travel to Central Pacific Coast/Crocodile Safari
Day 7 - Manuel Antonio National Park *Visit Manuel Antonio National Park
Day 8 - Sarchi • San José *Travel via Sarchi to San José *Folklore Evening
Day 9 *Depart for home
Check out: http://www.eftours.com/eLiterature/DBD/F/COB.pdf for a more detailed sample itinerary.
As is always the case for me, safety is the number one priority, followed by fun and learning. To that end, we travel with Education First (EF), a company which has exceeded my high expectations for safety, quality educational experiences, and value. EF has been around for over 40 years, and is one of the largest student travel companies in the world, with over 200,000 students a year traveling to one of their many international destinations.
Costa Rica is called the 'Switzerland of Central America'- they have no standing army and an economy focused on Eco-Tourism. The World Health Organization ranks Costa Rica's health care system above that of the United States, and the United Nations 7th annual Survey on Crime showed Costa Rica has a lower overall incidence of crime than Japan and the U.S. I have traveled to Costa Rica since 2000, both with family and with student travel groups, and have found the country to be one of the safest, friendliest, most captivating places on Earth.
Over the years, I've taken over 1000 students with me on various adventures (I also do an annual trip to Florida with 6th graders, have led trips to the Galapagos Islands and Cuba, and am planning trips to China), and I know what a wonderful experience it can be for them. I also have three little ones of my own, so I know how important the issue of safety is for you, and I take it very seriously. The reason I've chosen Costa Rica as the destination for this trip is the combination of its safety and the limitless opportunities it provides for unforgettable hands-on science experiences in an environment like no other on the planet!
Summer 2021: June 20 to June 28 (Nine days, eight nights)-
The trip is open to all students in grades 7 and up. Parents and siblings are welcome to sign up also, provided there is enough space available. Younger siblings, ages 6 and up, are welcome to join us if a parent will be coming along. I have had many families who have made this a family trip (including my own!), and have had a spectacular time!
Students from schools other than Ridgecrest are also welcome to sign up for the trip, so if you have a friend (or friends) at another school you'd love to travel with, let them know!
The price for the trip is currently $2,785 for students (Early Registration price until October 1, 2020). The price includes all airfare, transportation, hotels, meals, activities, entrance fees, etc., etc. The only money you would need to bring is for souvenirs! All-inclusive insurance can be added for an additional fee (see http://www.eftours.com/student-tours/educational-travel/ef-advantages/travel-insurance.aspx for details).
**The Early Registration pricing ends on October 1st, 2020. The price will go up by $100 after that!
Parents are welcome to come along on this trip as well, the cost for adults is currently approximately $500 more than the student cost.
ENROLLMENT ON OUR 2021 TRIP WILL BE LIMITED TO THE FIRST 45 PEOPLE TO REGISTER (one bus load). All of our trips since 2010 had more than that number of travelers sign up, so please register early to guarantee your spot!
There are three easy ways to register for the trip. When registering, be sure to reference TOUR NUMBER: 2327813HR
(remember, parents can sign up too!)
Online: go to http://www.eftours.com/2327813HR (FASTEST & EASIEST WAY TO REGISTER!!)
By Phone: Call EF Tours at 1-800-665-5364
By Mail: Fill out and mail in your registration form (which you can get from Dr. Oschman)
We travel to Costa Rica with EF (Education First), a company which has exceeded my high expectations for safety, quality and value. EF has been around for over 40 years, and is one of the largest student travel companies in the world, with over 200,000 students a year traveling to one of their many destinations. Learn more about the company at: http://www.eftours.com/aboutus/theworldofef/
More Information about the trip: Check out: http://www.eftours.com/eLiterature/DBD/F/COB.pdf for a detailed sample itinerary.
You can also contact Dr. Oschman at scotoschman@gmail.com with any questions you might have about the trip.