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High School Service Adventure Program in Costa Rica

Walking Tree Travel
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Walking Tree Travel
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About

Go on a service adventure, sea turtle expedition, or photography expedition in Cost Rica with the Walking Tree Travel!

For service adventures you'll stay in a host village with a local family, carefully selected to provide a welcoming and enriching experience for you. As you practice your Spanish and bond with your Cost Rican neighbors, you'll work on community-selected service projects, such as construction and conservation. When you aren't volunteering, you'll have the opportunity to explore cloud forest, go white water rafting, and have many other adventures. This blend of eye-opening volunteer work and fun will make your stay in Costa Rica truly special.

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Questions & Answers

Reviews

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Robyn
31
Female
10/10
Yes, I recommend this program

Trip Leader

May 4, 2017

As a group leader with Walking Tree Travel and the Smithsonian Student Adventure, I can see the immense reward the students get from participating in our Service Adventure trips. The challenges build character and leadership skills, the beautiful landscapes instill gratitude and stewardship and the friendships create joy and confidence. Vacation is one thing and a student travel program with Smithsonian Student Adventure is a completely different type of nourishment.

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Rachel
Female
10/10
Yes, I recommend this program

Costa Rica Conservation Expedition

Mar 28, 2017

I recently returned from leading a group of 25 students on a 10 day conservation service adventure in Costa Rica. The program itself was immaculately organized and had an adventure twist to almost every day's activities. The students enjoyed engaging with our natural surroundings, learning about Costa Rican culture and being involved in local enrichments. As a leader, I may sound bias, but Walking Tree Travel is one of the most authentic travel companies I have ever experienced.

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Playa Arco, Costa Rica- Walking Tree Travel
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Pura
28
Male
10/10
Yes, I recommend this program

Will NOT regret

Oct 25, 2013

I went to Costa Rica with Walking Tree and its founder Paul after my Sophomore summer. I met so many amazing people on the trip and learned so much. To this day (3 years later) I reminisce about the great times I had in Costa Rica. It was an awesome experience and I learned so much about myself and the world. I still stay in touch with my host family and hope to visit them again.

In all, best experience of my life. It sparked my desire to travel. Nowadays, traveling and learning about culture is my passion and it would have never happened if it weren't for Walking Tree.

What would you improve about this program?
Ummm, honestly can't think of anything. Its price was fair relative to other programs however it still is expensive.
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Staff Interviews

These are in-depth Q&A sessions with program leaders.

Paul Laurie

Program
High School Service Adventure Program in Costa Rica
Paul Laurie studied Marketing and International Business during his undergraduate career at Santa Clara University. During college, Paul spent a semester abroad in Madrid, Spain studying Spanish and European Commerce. After graduation, he embarked on a three-year journey that took him all over the world. He traveled from Times Square to Tierra del Fuego and from Siberia to Singapore, enjoying distinct cultures, great food and meeting lifelong friends every step of the way.

Interview with Paul Laurie, Co-founder of Walking Tree Travel

What position do you hold at Walking Tree Travel? What has been your career path so far?

Paul: I am a Director and Co-Founder at Walking Tree Travel. I started Walking Tree Travel in 2005 with two friends from high school, who shared similar values.

Did YOU study or volunteer abroad?! If so, where and what inspired you to go?

Paul: The summer of my Junior year of high school, I went on a two-week program to France, Italy, and Greece with a group of friends and our History teacher. Although we spent most of our time on tour busses and eating in fairly generic places, this trip helped open my eyes to how big the world is and helped propel me on the path that I have been on ever since. This first trip also helped clarify our vision for the type of organization we wanted Walking Tree Travel to become, contrasted with a typical tour to give young people the opportunity to have a unique, fun, and life-changing adventure.

In college, I studied abroad in Madrid, Spain for a semester. I have always loved exploring, whether it was the local park next to my childhood house or biking in the mountains, and I knew that I wanted to see and experience as much as possible. What better way to do so then get out there and see the world at a young age!

Interview with Paul Laurie, Co-founder of Walking Tree Travel

What does the future hold for Walking Tree Travel - any exciting new programs to share?

Paul: The horizon has never looked brighter! In 2014, we are expanding our offerings to include programs for college students to Uganda, Rwanda, Bolivia, Brazil, and through a unique partnership with two Stanford faculty, a hybrid high school-college program in China. We have developed a Global Leadership Curriculum that will be the focus of several new programs to Spain, Morocco, Mexico, and the USA. We also look forward to further expanding on our international outreach efforts, which will give students from around the world the opportunity to travel together on a program where they learn and grow together.

What about the future of the high school abroad industry? How do you think international education will change over the next 10 years?

Paul: I see the student travel industry thriving in the next ten years, building upon existing offering in more traditional destinations while expanding to locations that might seem remote or inaccessible today. Student programs to the Moon, perhaps?

Interview with Paul Laurie, Co-founder of Walking Tree Travel

Location

Location:
Costa Rica
Currency:
Costa Rican Colón
Weather:
Jan-Mar
83 F / 67 F
Apr-Jun
85 F / 69 F
Jul-Sep
85 F / 69 F
Oct-Dec
83 F / 67 F
Airports:
Juan Santamaría International Airport
( SJO )
Limón International Airport
( LIO )
Daniel Oduber Quirós International Airport
( LIR )

A pioneer of ecotourism, Costa Rica draws many tourists to its extensive series of national parks and other protected areas. Costa Rica began reversing deforestation in the 1990s, and they are moving towards using only renewable energy. Head to the cloud forest, relax on the beautiful beaches or visit a coffee farm.

About Walking Tree Travel

Walking Tree Travel aims to educate the next generation of globally conscious citizens by bringing them to explore the world around them. With unique programs that encourage students to take part in adventure travel, cultural immersion, conduct research, and provide community service support, Walking Tree Travel provides travelers with an...

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