Great environment, great learning experience!

This was an amazing experience! Almost as soon as I walked through the front gates I was greeted by very welcoming staff and other hesitant campers. But soon, because of the wonderful environment that the teachers/counselors fostered, we quickly became excited to ask questions and talk about our lives. Whether it was the different rest stops we passed in our states (i.e., wawa) what our dream vacation was (other than Costa Rica of course), or the state of the American economy. I not only learned Spanish in my classes but also the perspectives of kids my age across the United States.

In the afternoons we truly got to appreciate the beauty of Costa Rica and land and culture through various excursions. Although we may have fallen on our faces while at a roller skating rink or or gotten borderline sun poisoning while kayaking (PACK SUNSCREEN) there were still plenty of opportunities to practice Spanish and try new things.

Speaking of trying new things, there are so many chances to try amazing Costa Rican food. Both at homestays and during the lunch blocks in the afternoon, I’m vegetarian and I was very happy and surprised to try all the delicious non-meat options Costa Rica has to offer. All in all this was a fantastic 9/10 experience (10/10 if I had remembered to reapply sunscreen while kayaking) and I would definitely recommend it to teens who love exploring places and cultures as well as improving their Spanish.