The Initiative for Children in Costa Rica

For a better future

Cr Tifc 2021 New Adventure

Course Description

It is a volunteering and community service program for teens to to make an impact on the next generation through community development or sports leadership.

Location

Costa Rica

What's Included

-Airport pick-up/drop-off

-In-country transportation

-Lodging

-3 meals per day

-Professional full-time staff and experts

-24/7 parent support hotline during the program

-Secondary medical and evacuation insurance

-Cultural activities, lectures and excursions

-Pre-departure materials and support

-Educational materials

Starting From

$4,099.00

Age Range 14-18 Years
Duration 2 Weeks
Weekly Course Hours 60 hours

Take time away from community service and experience the adventurous side of Costa Rica. Go hiking near the world-famous Arenal Volcano. Relax in amazing hot springs, and follow a local guide who will teach you about the cultural traditions, history and natural features of the area. Wind your way through the farms and enjoy the unhurried pace of life. Go kayaking on a nearby lake. Follow that up with an incredible ziplining expedition and take to the water on a fun river tubing excursion. You’ll even have a chance to spend the afternoon swimming in your very own private lake behind Home Base! On the 21-Day Flagship Program only, you’ll experience an epic whitewater rafting excursion in the Aguas Bravas river. Go to the beach for a catamaran ride and snorkeling expedition.

Cr Tifc 2021 New Feature C

Activities

This program is based in Alajuela province, in the town of Santa Teresa. Home Base is an all-wooden lodge surrounded by rural pineapple and sugarcane farms. There are three lakes near the property where students can swim, or kayak and enjoy their exclusive sprawling grounds.

Meals

The food at Home Base will reflect the traditional dietary staples of the people in Costa Rica. It will be simple, but fresh and healthy and include delicious, locally-grown fruits. Students will stay in gender-segregated rooms with roommates.

Cr Tifc 2021 New Lodging

Accommodations

Take time away from community service and experience the adventurous side of Costa Rica. Go hiking near the world-famous Arenal Volcano. Relax in amazing hot springs, and follow a local guide who will teach you about the cultural traditions, history and natural features of the area. Wind your way through the farms and enjoy the unhurried pace of life. Go kayaking on a nearby lake. Follow that up with an incredible ziplining expedition and take to the water on a fun river tubing excursion. You’ll even have a chance to spend the afternoon swimming in your very own private lake behind Home Base! On the 21-Day Flagship Program only, you’ll experience an epic whitewater rafting excursion in the Aguas Bravas river. Go to the beach for a catamaran ride and snorkeling expedition.

Cr Tifc June 18 2022 4 1152x1536

Excursions

You are welcome to purchase any flight that arrives in the destination country on the first day of the program within the arrival window provided to you by GLA staff post-enrollment. No matter what time you arrive – even if there is a flight delay – our staff will be there to pick you up at the airport. Once you enroll in a program, we will provide exact information about which airport to fly into and any restrictions in terms of arrival times.

yellow school bus

Transportation

Lesson Plan

On this program you will learn how development issues in rural Costa Rica — from education access to sustainable land use — are all related to the wellness of youth. You’ll be based in a very small town far from developed tourism hot spots. Bond with children and families from your neighborhood as you volunteer in their schools, help lead environmental education, and spend time working with grassroots organizations passionate about engaging the community in more sustainable practices. After service, experience Costa Rica’s lush landscapes and outdoor adventure activities like zip lining, river tubing, hiking, lake kayaking, and relaxing in volcanic hot springs. If you choose the 21-day Flagship experience, you’ll also explore the beaches on the Pacific coast by catamaran and go snorkeling, as well as whitewater rafting.

Community Service

Work at a school or community center, where local children spend extensive time every day. Improve the infrastructure and conditions of the site alongside students and members of the community; learn about the local challenges and opportunities available to the children who live there. Depending on the needs of the community when you arrive, you might maintain gardens, build a greenhouse where food can be grown, refurbish a classroom or work on repairs, or engage with youth in a variety of activities to enhance their English language skills.

Immersive Learning

While Costa Rica is well known for its environmental and educational efforts, see firsthand how persistent development issues affect the daily lives of its youth. Visit some of the farms that surround the town of Santa Teresa. Students in the schools you’ll volunteer at are from the families who work on these pineapple and livestock farms. While here, spend time learning what it’s like to grow up and live in Costa Rica. Cross-cultural interaction provides lasting memories for the students, opening up opportunities for language exchange, various lessons and mutual inspiration.

Adventure

Take time away from community service and experience the adventurous side of Costa Rica. Go hiking near the world-famous Arenal Volcano. Relax in amazing hot springs, and follow a local guide who will teach you about the cultural traditions, history and natural features of the area. Wind your way through the farms and enjoy the unhurried pace of life. Go kayaking on a nearby lake. Follow that up with an incredible ziplining expedition and take to the water on a fun river tubing excursion. You’ll even have a chance to spend the afternoon swimming in your very own private lake behind Home Base! On the 21-Day Flagship Program only, you’ll experience an epic whitewater rafting excursion in the Aguas Bravas river. Go to the beach for a catamaran ride and snorkeling expedition.

Program Highlights

  • Volunteer on infrastructure projects at rural schools and teach English to local schoolchildren
  • Discuss critical community issues
  • Experience Costa Rica’s rainforest canopy on a zipline and on a hike to a waterfall
  • Go river tubing on Rio Arenal near the volcano and relax in hot springs
  • Enjoy a whitewater rafting adventure, and go on an overnight excursion to the beach for a catamaran ride and snorkeling (21-Day Flagship Program only)

Extras

-Application fee 100 USD (Included in course fee)

Gallery

Video

Session Dates

Good news, more sessions will be available soon! Leave us your contact to stay informed about dates and prices.

Our Clients Speak

We have been working with parents and children around the world

They want to repeat

They were happy. They want to repeat, they have done friends from all over the world, good quality, opened their minds and enjoyed a lot. Thanks for helping me selecting these camps! I'm grateful!! 🙏🙏🙏

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Santiago

Father of 4 from Argentina

The kids are having such a great time

Hey Best Parents - The kids are having such a great time and I am resting well in beautiful St. Gallen. This has been excellent all around. Thanks again 🙏

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Lily

Mother of 2 from USA

Mindblowing Service

Yes my son enjoyed his program very much. We will definitely continue to work with Best Parents in the future. As my son gets closer to college we need your support in enrolling my son in programs that will enhance his changes of getting accepted into top universities.

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Hakim

Father from Egypt