ICDS and Universidad Latina de Costa Rica offer a 4 weeks service-learning program with strong Spanish language and cultural immersion components. This summer program is divided into two experiences.

Urban Experience:

Participants begin the program with three weeks in San José, the capital city and main hub of culture and travel in Costa Rica. There, they will have orientation, take Spanish classes, and do community service in urban locations with ICDS’ community work partners. During this time, students live with a local Spanish-speaking family and have an opportunity to immerse themselves into the language and culture before traveling to their Sustainable Practice site in rural Costa Rica.

Rural Experience:

After experiencing the cultural capital of San José, students will travel to an agroecological farm in rural Costa Rica to take the Sustainability Practices and Food Security course. Costa Rica is famous for its lush, fertile countryside and will be the backdrop to course offerings including recycling, forestry, medicinal plant gardening, permaculture, organic agriculture, forestry, clean energy and water management. Participants immerse themselves in the culture of rural Costa Rica by living on site. They also work alongside community members as part of the farm’s involvement in community’s development.