Home • Costa Rica • Experiential Education and Sea Turtle Ecology

The Caribbean beach and tropical forests of Pacuare Nature Reserve will be your home for a week this summer while you collaborate with biologists and local Costa Rican communities on endangered sea turtles and other wildlife studies. You'll assist with authentic research and be active in international conservation efforts while experiencing abundant tropical wildlife -- sea turtles, howler monkeys, chestnut bellied herons, and many other colorful species.

This course also includes seminars and instruction in experiential education, inquiry based field science, and tropical field ecology. You will be introduced to Ecology Project International's experiential education format and find out how you can make hands on learning experiences accessible to your students.

Students may earn graduate credit for their work! Contact us for details.

How to Apply

Send in an EPI application and $250 deposit. Applications can be downloaded by clicking on the Application icon to the right.

• Day 1 : Arrival in San Jose, Costa Rica. You are met at the airport with a warm welcome from your Ecology Project International instructors.

• Days 2-6: Sea Turtles and Tropical Ecology. At Pacuare Nature Reserve, we will spend the days practicing field education techniques, exploring the forest in search of leaf cutter ants, toucans, tree frogs and monkeys, while discussing ways to enhance your classroom lessons with this experience. You'll also spend a day restoring nesting habitat. Each night we'll head onto the beach to patrol for sea turtles and each morning review the data you've helped collect.

• Day 7: Rafting the Pacuare River. Today is always a highlight: we're rafting the spectacular class III-IV rapids of the Pacuare River. The river cuts through vibrant jungle canyons and past beautiful waterfalls.

• Day 8: Morning Departure. After an evening in the mountains surrounding San Jose reflecting on our journey, we depart for the airport and look forward to the next adventure!

Course dates

Summer; contact us for specific dates.

Age

This program is specifically designed for high school educators who would like to learn experiential teaching techniques and gain authentic biological research experience.

Group Size

Our minimum group size is 10, maximum 20.

Accommodations

Each of the destinations you will be visiting was chosen for its quiet simplicity and sustainable design. At these private reserves, EPI participants and reserve staff are often the only visitors during your stay. You will sleep in dormitory style cabins and share a room with 2-3 other students. The lodges and hotels supply sheets, pillows, and other bedding. There is running water at each of the places we stay, but no electricity at the sea turtle reserve, where you'll enjoy candlelit dinners and spectacular starry nights.

Tuition

Contact us for pricing.