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American Academy

Grade 8 - STEM Costa Rica

**REGISTRATION and WAITLIST FOR FALL 2023 TRIP HAS CLOSED**

Eighth graders take on sea-turtle-saving, whale-watching, rainforest-hiking, conservation awesomeness!

On this trip of a lifetime, American Academy eighth grade students will travel to Costa Rica to learn about and participate in some of the on-going conservation efforts so important to preserving marine and rain forest ecology in Costa Rica. The goal of this STEM trip is to put students to work with real conservationists and researchers, and give them the experience of working “in the field.”


Itinerary

Below is a typical trip itinerary. Schedule and activities are subject to change based on local weather and water conditions.
 
Day 1 - Fly from Denver to San Jose, Costa Rica
 
Day 2 - Travel from Osa Peninsula to Playa Blanca - Arrive at the Latin American Sea Turtles Association (L.A.S.T.) conservation station
 
Day 3-4 - L.A.S.T. in Playa Blanca - hands-on participation with in-water sea turtle conservation and mangrove preservation efforts
 
Day 5 - Travel by land to the town of Sierpe, and take a boat transfer to the Campanario Biological Station - enjoy wildlife viewing on the Sierpe River, take an afternoon rainforest hike, and partake in an evening lecture
 
Day 6 - Campanario Biological Station - experience whale watching and learn to use photo identification methods for identifying individual whales in Drake Bay
 
Day 7 - Travel by boat from Campanario to Sierpe, and travel by land to San Jose - while travelling, enjoy wildlife viewing and use newly learned identification skills along the way
 
Day 8 - Fly to Denver
 

Estimated Cost

$2,975.00/student

The trip fee covers all student travel expenses including airfare, and is NON-REFUNDABLE. Trip fees may vary from year to year depending on the cost of transportation and lodging, programming, and student participation.
 

Estimated Dates of Travel

September
 

Contact

Chris Todd, STEM Trip Coordinator
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PARTICIPANT INFORMATION/MEDICAL FORMS (To be completed prior to a Forms Review Meeting)
 
Over the Counter (OTC) Med. Form
 
Permission to Self-Carry Form
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ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
Presentation
Timeline