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***NEW ANNOUNCEMENT:  STRATEGIC DECISIONS & PARTNERSHIPS FOUNDATION UNDERTAKES U.S. $1 MILLION CAMPAIGN FOR PRE-CONSTRUCTION COSTS OF THE SCHOOLS FOR A SUSTAINABLE FUTURE PROJECT IN VILLAREAL, COSTA RICA        TAMARINDO, COSTA RICA CONFERENCE REGISTRATION: REMEMBER TO REGISTER BEFORE DECEMBER 31ST TO SAVE …JANUARY REGISTRATION FEE’S RISE TO $2,500 PER PERSON       JANUARY 3RD WE BEGIN OUR FIRST GREEN ZONE QUEST…A THREE WEEK LIVE INTERNET VIDEO FEED….REGISTER YOUR CLASS AND COME JOIN US ON DAY ONE AT ARENAL VOLCANO FOR THE BEGINNING OF A FANTASTIC LEARNING ADVENTURE CURRICULUM…EACH DAY WE WILL BE LEARNING FROM A NEW COSTA RICAN DESTINATION        COSTA RICA PROVIDES AN IDEAL OPPORTUNITY TO OPEN STUDENTS MINDS AND GET THEM EXCITED ABOUT LEARNING THROUGH ITS BIODIVERSITY, VAST ARRAY OF NATURAL WONDERS AND DIVERSITY OF CULTURES…INQUIRE WITHIN ABOUT OUR CLASS TRIPS TO VARIOUS LATIN AMERICAN DESTINATIONS       TEACHERS FROM BIOLOGY, ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE, SPANISH AND SOCIAL STUDIES DEPARTMENTS HAVE FOUND OUR SCHOOL TRIPS TO BE AN IDEAL COMPLIMENT TO THEIR CURRICULUM        WE HAVE WORKED WITH GROUPS FROM PUBLIC AND INDEPENDENT SCHOOLS…JUNIOR HIGH AGED TO UNIVERSITY PROFESSIONALS       OUR MISSION IS TO HELP GROW A NEW GENERATION OF ECO-CONSCIOUS WORLD CITIZENS        BECOME A UNIVERSITY OR CORPORATE SPONSOR OF OUR MISSION       ALL DONATIONS AND GIFTS ARE KINDLY ACCEPTED AND APPRECIATED        THE ENVIRONMENTALLY FOCUSED AND INTEGRATED SCHOOLS WILL BE DEDICATED TO ENVIRONMENTAL, ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL RESEARCH…AND THE ADVANCEMENT OF ECO-LITERACY, GLOBAL STEWARDSHIP, INNOVATION, CREATIVITY AND SCHOLARLY EXCELLENCE      

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COST INFORMATION:
The cost of each of our seven week programs illustrated below is $3800 per student. This includes all program fees, lodging, local transportation and any other expenses related to adventure excursions. 

SDPUS can create programs of varying lengths,  the seven week study abroad programs described below are just some of our most popular for visiting students.  Often we have entire university classes who visit for pre-programmed projects,  for as short as seven days duration.  Sometimes we have individual students who enroll in a program for an entire fifteen week semester in Costa Rica.  Now that's Pura Vida!!!                                                                                                                  WHAT IS INCLUDED IN THE PRICE?                                       Resident Director: Peter Fiorentino, Ed.D. Leadership & Administration         

Peter is responsible for the SDPUS Office Abroad and the over all operation of all SDPUS programs and coordination:

  • securing appropriate students housing
  • hiring outstanding faculty
  • organizing exciting tours and field trips
  • overseeing the students' well being

SDPUS is happy to provide and coordinate multiple opportunities for study abroad, internships and volunteering within Costa Rica. A variety of students have all found our programs exhilarating, rewarding and challenging. All of our instructors are academically qualified, and each have studied and worked abroad themselves.

WHAT KIND OF TOURS DOES SDPUS OFFER?
Each SDPUS Study Abroad Tour is designed to show you the best Costa Rica has to offer. You will do more in seven weeks than most people will do in a lifetime. You’ll do activities such as:
* Whitewater rafting
* Scuba diving                                                                                                     * Surf trips
* Horseback riding                                                                                                * Sea kayaking                                                                                                      * Canopy/ zip-line
* Sites of cultural significance


 SDPUS STUDENTS VISIT ARENAL VOLCANO

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#1  THE CUSTOM DESIGNED EXPERIENCE
Costa Rica is well known for its peaceful lifestyle, egalitarian society, stable government, excellent medical care facilities and an overall extraordinary natural  beauty. This program is ideal for those unable to participate on semester or year long programs. 

ACADEMIC PROGRAM:
Students study in an intensive, small-class, immersion  environment. Classes integrate social issues and are offered in an experiential setting.  Language classes are offered at beginner, intermediate and advanced levels. We provide multiple options for students to combine courses from each of the following subject areas:

  • Spanish Lessons
  • Ecological Studies
  • Latin American Studies

*all of our courses are open to visiting students from all majors

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#2   EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING: COSTA RICAN K-12 EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM                  

ACADEMIC PROGRAM:                                                                            Upon arrival in Costa Rica, visiting teachers will spend one week observing students and teachers at the Country Day School (private school), a current site for SDPUS's Student Teach Abroad Program. Students will  also observe a Public School in the area (Villareal).

In addition to their observations, participants will have the opportunity to explore some of Costa Rica's greatest attractions: such as excursions to Arenal Volcano and the Monteverde Cloud & Rainforest. Excursions will be custom designed by SDPUS's travel staff, who also will be accompanying the students and act as their residential guides in Costa Rica. Each aspect  of the program is carefully planned, to maximize the students' experience. 

Students will have the opportunity to become acquainted with the people, language and culture of Costa Rica firsthand!  Participants can also spend time in language and culture courses in Tamarindo before embarking on the two week journey, visiting various pre-planned destinations throughout Costa Rica.  A truly remarkable journey traveling to the best sites that Costa Rica has to offer! 

At the conclusion of the students visit, they will compose a reflective essay comparing and contrasting their CR School experiences with their own home based (USA/ Canada) schools, while also detailing their thoughts on the entire Costa Rican experience. 

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------                                                                                                                       #3  THE LANGUAGE & CULTURAL HOMESTAY STUDY ABROAD EXPERIENCE

SPANISH LESSONS/ HOMESTAYS WITH HOST FAMILIES:
Make Spanish lessons part of your SDPUS Study Abroad Program. Enroll in this program and take part in incredible Spanish Language and Salsa Dance courses. During this time you will have the option to stay with a local Costa Rican family (homestay). This is an incredible way to enhance your SDPUS experience, and totally immerse yourself in the amazing Costa Rican culture.

LIVING ACCOMMODATIONS:
Students will be housed in the Tamarindo area with a Tico Host Family, who reside in Costa Rica. Students will also be housed in high quality hotels during field excursions. 

The academic courses that we offer are only a part of the intended value of studying abroad. Students also have the cost saving option to participate in homestays with local families. They will get opportunities to travel on field trips to unique research and tourist sites, on both the Pacific and Caribbean sides. The  rain forests and the volcanoes are just the beginning of what Costa Rica offers. Visiting students will also experience folkloric events and village festivals, which always form an integral part of the academic program.

         

        COMMENTS FROM THOSE WHO HAVE PARTICIPATED

“A steadfast cornerstone of the adventure-ecotourism-education” 

“A completely new and amazing experience” 

“Challenging and fulfilling—essentials for growth”   

“A good way to learn about another country and learn new skills”  

“It was great to have such a different experience …it sets me apart” 

                                                                                                                WHAT KIND OF COMMUNITY PROJECTS DO WE OFFER?   SDPUS Volunteer Projects combine hands-on experience in conservation and social and community development, which are designed to broaden awareness of visiting students, on both the local and international levels.

Upcoming 2010 Projects include:
* Sea Turtle and Monkey Preservation
* Children’s Education Projects
* Habitat Restoration and Forest Regeneration
* Community Construction Projects
* Humpback Whale Research
* Orphanage Support and Education

2009 SDPUS Achievements in Costa Rica:
* Over 1,000 sea turtle eggs relocated                                                               * Over 300 baby turtle hatchlings released
* Community buildings, schools and playgrounds repaired and painted
* Built a recycling center in a sustainable fishing village
* 100's of dolphins, turtles, birds and monkeys records created 

                                                                                              THE MOST COMMONLY ASKED QUESTIONS:    

What makes the SDPUS Study Abroad Program different?

Unlike most academic programs who make their home base in  San Jose, SDPUS differs by being THE ONLY academically qualified program that centers their activities from a world class beach area.

 

Our accommodations in the beach areas are more upscale and provide all the beauty of CR beaches for all visiting students, most everyday while in CR.  We use Playa Tamarindo as our home base, coordinating all visits  from Tamarindo to our partnering universities research stations--such as in places like San Jose, Liberia, Arenal, Monteverde, Manual Antonio, Osa Peninsula, etcetera. 

 

Doesn't it just make good sense to stay in the beautiful beaches and then visit our research stations elsewhere?  This is just the opposite of how most other study abroad programs work in Costa Rica...most use San Jose as their base and then take short trips to the beach???       

                                       

For how many weeks, and what is the typical cost associated with a SDPUS program in Costa Rica? 

Our most popular CR program lasts seven weeks, and costs $3800 per student, and this includes all student accommodations and travel. SDPUS has many students who visit for as short a duration as just one week, for a volunteer program. Some others visit for an entire academic semester to gain intern credit.  Students who come for an entire semester typically can complete 500 practicum hours, which is often the necessary amount to gain enough academic contact hours to satisfy home universities requirements. 

 

When does SDPUS offer it's programming in Costa Rica? 

New programs begin every Monday during each week, from December through August annually. Please be sure to register early during the typical USA holiday breaks, because during those weeks we tend to book very early. So availability may be limited during those sessions.

 

How do I register to receive academic credit?

For those who wish to obtain academic credit by attending one of our programs, please be sure to have one of our qualified professors contact your home institutions academic advisor. Together they can collaborate to create a specific student tailored program, to ensure all academic needs   and requirements are met.

 

 WE HOPE TO SEE YOU VERY SOON IN COSTA RICA! OUR GUARANTEE IS THAT IT WILL BE AN EXPERIENCE THAT YOU WILL REMEMBER FOR A LIFETIME!

                                                    PURA VIDA!

 

       

  COURSES OFFERED

   

APPLICATION FORMS:   VOLUNTEER APPLICATION    CONTRACT AGREEMENT INTERN APPLICATION  INNOVATIVE SCHOOLS 

    

                                                                 Address:  Sunset Hill #7 Tamarindo, Costa Rica
                                                                                                  Phone/ Fax:  +011 (506) 2653-0765

                                                                                                     Email:  PFiorentino43@msn.com

                                                            Address:  3669 West Saddleback Road Canandaigua, New York 14424
                                                                      Phone/Fax:  (585) 393-1408        VOIP Phone:  (202) 719-0283