Costa Rica: Intro to Pre-Med And Public Health
A Summer Travel Program In Costa Rica
Experiential Pre-Med Learning For High School Students!
Be inspired and inspire others. On this service trip for teens, contribute to the efforts of improving public health through clean water projects and educational outreach. Learn from physicians and healthcare professionals and gain practical field experience in beautiful Costa Rica. Get your adrenaline pumping with a zipline canopy tour and connect with the Costa Rican people.
Itinerary
Students fly into the capital of San Jose, Costa Rica and drive via private bus to a lodge based on the outskirts of the city. We get started right away with orientation activities and excursions, including a visit to a sustainable coffee farm and an awesome one-day rafting adventure.
We head toward our San Jose Central Valley base to get started with initial education about the health care system in Costa Rica. We volunteer with our project partner which provides healthcare services to immigrant families in Costa Rica- they do not typically have access to the public health system. Volunteer activities are subject to the COVID-19 situation at the time of travel: If assisting with kids’ health education classes, observing doctors in the clinic, and supporting patient intake are not possible, we will instead work on facilities improvements and discussions with physicians.
Over the next few days we complete an instructor-led Wilderness First Aid (WFA) course. This course hones first aid and medical skills such as patient assessment, effective first aid treatment, and evacuation decision making in the outdoors. When we finish for the day we visit a nearby organic dairy farm and adventure into the cloud forest to spot a myriad of flora and fauna. We also have time for a thrilling zip-line canopy tour with Skytrek at the Arenal volcano.
Travel to the mountain town of Monteverde, known for its incredible access to the Monteverde Cloudforest Reserve. Home to many alternative health practitioners and artists, here we learn about reflexology, yoga, acupuncture, and plant therapy. We also participate in a pottery-making class with a representative from a local women’s cooperative.
Time to hit the beach! We travel to the Pacific Coast, famous for its unique combination of rainforest and ocean. We challenge ourselves with surf lessons taught by energetic local professional instructors. The wave conditions on this beach provide the perfect opportunity for all levels to hang ten! We will also adventure to a picturesque local beach and a beautiful waterfall.
Before saying goodbye to the beach, we have the unique opportunity to spot humpback whales as they congregate in the warm waters of the Pacific. We transfer back to San Jose for a celebratory dinner and closing reflection upon our time together in Costa Rica. We say our goodbyes as we fly home with new memories and friends!
The Global Works chaperoned Group Flight departs from Houston(IAH) for this program. Airfare is not included in the tuition. Please visit the Group Flight Portal to book your flight after enrollment and Flight & Travel Arrangements for more information about travel days.
Please note that this itinerary is subject to change.
Note: Covid-19 vaccine is required for participation in this program. Participants may be subject to additional expenses related to entry requirements to your destination and/or re-entry to your home country. Global Works does not cover these expenses. Additional costs may include, but are not limited to, COVID tests, insurance, or other. See our Covid-19 FAQ’s for more information. The most up to date requirements can be found via links on your login page on the Flight and Travel Day Instruction form after enrollment.
Community Service Projects
Public Education
Planning and implementation of public health and safe drinking water campaigns
Health Initiatives
Work with local health care non profit on various projects in support of their mission to provide health care access to immigrant families
Clinic and Physician Support
Meet and assist medical professionals
Adventure & Cultural Activities
Engage in education projects with school children
Zip-line through the rainforest canopy
Become familiar with medicinal plants and alternative health practices
Engage in Wilderness First Aid Course
Gallery
Accommodations
SAN JOSE
Global Works Costa Rica participants spend the first and final days of the program in a small, comfortable lodge located in the mountains surrounding the capital of San Jose. The lodge is locally owned and specializes in hosting student groups. It is dorm style with 4 to 6 students sleeping in bunk beds; each room has a private bathroom with hot water showers. Large group spaces located on the property are ideal for group orientation, dance lessons, and ice-breaker activities.
WILDERNESS FIRST AID COURSE
In the La Fortuna area, we stay in a comfortable lodge located in a mountain valley. The lodge is locally owned and specializes in hosting teens and student groups. Rooms are for 2 to 4 students; each room has a private bathroom with hot water showers. Large group spaces located on the property are ideal for group activities.
MONTEVERDE CLOUD FOREST
Our two cloud forest lodges are located within the boundary of the largest private ecological reserve in the country, The Children’s Eternal Rainforest (Bosque Eterno de los Niños). To reach the lodges, students complete an attainable hike through primary cloud forest and are rewarded with rustic yet comfortable eco-lodges built to exist in harmony with the natural surroundings. Both lodges offer large rooms with bunk-beds and private bathrooms. A large balcony affords expansive views of surrounding volcanoes and the hammocks provide an unbeatable spot to sip coffee and relax after a long day of service work.
PACIFIC COAST SURF-CAMP
Participants stay at an ecolodge in southern Costa Rica located just steps from the beaches of Marino Ballena National Park. Accommodations are traditional hotel-style rooms shared by two to four students. The lodge is styled with an onsite swimming pool, hammocks, and common areas.
