10-DAY SCIENCE IMMERSION ITINERARY
Day 1 - WELCOME
Arrive in San Jose Airport. Spanish Immersion Costa Rica (SICR) staff will welcome and transport you to meet and stay with your homestay family in Atenas, Costa Rica.
Day 2 - ATENAS
Program overview, Spanish language assessment, and first Spanish class. Students will partake in a map orientation activity to get to know the town of Atenas and its seven “barrios” (neighborhoods). Visit 100 year-old goldmine with waterfalls and naturally sand carved water pools.
Days 3 and 4 - COFFEE FARMS
Investigation and comparison of local organic and conventional coffee farms. Learn the process of cultivation, maintenance, and harvesting at each farm. Identify tree and plant varieties, explore tilapia fish farm techniques, test water quality and sediment, and erosion control methods. Participate in hands-on laboratory of soil analysis and diversity count. Analyze current data of this organic farm verses conventional for water and soil conservation and carbon producing levels. Also explore nearby hydroponic lettuce farm.
Days 5 and 7 - LEATHERBACK SEA TURTLES
Leave for Estacion Las Tortugas (Sea Turtle Station) on the Caribbean Coast located at the mouth of the Pacuare River and take a ferry from the Mawamba dock. Patrol the beach on a night shift to find turtles nesting and transplant their eggs to a protected beach nursery. Engage in studies to plot beach location zone where Leatherback turtles come to shore. Record and analyze nightly posted data on turtles; size, location on beach, tags, number of eggs, weather, tide, etc. Monitor temperature of sand in beach nursery. Go to the education center on site and do research and a presentation on the reproductive cycle, species, threats, environmental changes, etc. Explore the canals during the day to see wildlife; sloths, howler and whiteface monkeys, tropical birds, etc.
Day 8 - VOLCANO POAS
Day trip to Volcano Poas, one of the most accessible volcanoes in the world for volcanologist/geologists to monitor volcanic activity and test equipment. Walk out on the rim of the volcano with a University of Costa Rican volcanologist/geologist to survey and make a scientific drawing of the different layers and components. Do tests on different flora to evaluate the evidence of acid rain from the combination of water vapor and the volcanic sulfur plumes as well as discover plant survival adaptations. Identify the history of different layers of soil from past eruptions. Explore a nearby sulfur lake and determine the different layers and pH levels.
Day 9 - CARARA BIOLOGICAL RESERVE
Visit Cararra Biological Reserve on the Pacific Coast to hike and see different flora and fauna (scarlett macaws, crocodiles, etc.) Spend afternoon on the beaches of Jaco and Estarillios Oeste (site of 2010 National Surf Championships). Farewell activity with typical Costa Rican light foods, Latin dancing, and student’s acceptance of certificates.
Day 10 - DEPARTURE
Departure from San Jose.