Culture and Nature: Connections that Count
2008 Exploration Seminar in Costa Rica

**THIS PROGRAM IS FULL AND NO LONGER ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS**

Program Director: John Banks (UW Tacoma) & Tom McDonald
Dates of Instruction: August 28 - Sept 14 (and 4 meetings during Spring quarter, TBA)
 
This course allows students an interdisciplinary experience emphasizing global citizen awareness in the context of a travel abroad experience in the global ecology “hotspot” the Costa Rican rainforest. The course will meet four times during the Spring Quarter in Seattle (dates TBA) to lay the groundwork for the trip. It will then travel to Costa Rica for 18 days (August 28 - September 14).
 
The Costa Rica portion of the course will begin with a 10 day stay at an environmental learning center where students will explore concepts relating to the nature and culture of Costa Rica:  rural community structure, tropical ecology, medicinal plant use, Costa Rican education, rural justice systems, sustainable farming, reforestation, ecotourism, sustainable building techniques, etc.  A highlight of the experience is the opportunity to stay overnight in the home of a local resident, which, together with the other community activities we are involved with allows a connection with the community that students have described as “once in a lifetime.”
 
Next we travel to Playa Hermosa to experience lowland rainforest, beach, and mangrove ecosystems.  Besides guided hikes of these ecosystems, we will participate in a sea turtle conservation project.

To end, we will travel to Monteverde to the cloud forest ecosystem where we will take a night hike, tour a shade grown coffee plantation, and explore the forest canopy via ziplines or suspension bridge walks.

If we are lucky, along the way, we will be treated to sightings of many of the animals you have come to associate with Costa Rica.  Expect to see toucans, macaws, monkeys, sloths, nocturnal mammals, tarantulas, poison dart frogs, snakes and who knows what else.

To complete the course, you will write a term paper and present a slide show encompassing the entire experience.

Participants will earn 5 credits of H A&S 261 (NW) or CHID 472 – Latin America Study Abroad (I&S). Participants should also check with their academic advisors prior to enrolling to determine how these credits may apply to major requirements.

Student costs:  
$2,675 Program Fee
$200 IPE Fee
Additional costs include: Round trip airfare, some meals (6), immunizations, health insurance, and personal spending money.

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