May 15–23, 2023

Program Description

There’s nothing quite like the rainforests of the “Rich Coast” to get the adrenaline pumping. At its heart, the Central American country boasts an epic landscape home to nearly five percent of the world’s biodiversity. Discover how fragile these endangered ecosystems are as you travel through different rainforest preserves and unearth dazzling displays of color and sound.

Academic Requirements

Students will be responsible for the following:

  • GPA of 2.5 or greater
  • Enrolling in INART 297 or SPAN 297A
    • Satisfactory completion of study abroad orientation, preparatory meetings, and travel in Colombia

Costs

Program $2974—Costs Include:

  • Airfare to/from Pittsburgh and San José
  • In-country transportation
  • Program Itinerary
    • San José
      • Walking tour of San José, Capital of Costa Rica
      • Visit Poás Volcano, the largest active volcano in Costa Rica
      • Visit Arenal hot springs, naturally heated pools
    • Los Chiles
      • Day trip to Los Chiles, a bustling community only a few miles from the Nicaraguan border
      • Boat tour of Caño Negro Wildlife Refuge, featuring rare and endangered animals
    • Monteverde
      • La Fortuna Waterfall, a spectacular 200-foot cascade surrounded by green cliffs
      • Visit Monteverde, a region consisting of flora and fauna across six ecological zones
      • Visit community-run Santa Elena Cloud Forest Reserve, and plant a tree!
      • Walk through the clouds on a canopy adventure.
      • Visit the Central Pacific Coast, an area popular with outdoor enthusiasts for its beautiful scenery and exotic wildlife.
      • Visit Rainforest Adventures and experience: Aerial tram ride, nature hike, butterfly garden, local plant, and animal life
    • Central Pacific Coast
      • Visit Manuel Antonio National Park, which boasts a diverse array of marine life and white sand beaches.
      • Enjoy a crocodile river tour for an up-close view of crocodiles and exotic birds.
    • Sarchí
      • Visit Sarchí, a craft center known for its brightly painted ox carts
      • Visit a coffee plantation, learn about beverages and how they are produced, and sip samples

Other Expenses

  • $165: Passport
  • $150: Immunizations
  • $150: Personal expenses

Program costs vary depending on the time of enrollment. See Education First website for details

Registration Process and Deadlines

Program Leaders

Kitty Mussett, Associate Teaching Professor of Spanish

[email protected] | 814-949-5211
Kitty Mussett received her AB in Spanish from Davidson College (1991) and her MA in Hispanic Language and Literature from the Pennsylvania State University in 1994. She serves as the Coordinator for World Languages at Penn State Altoona as well as the Liberal Arts College contact representative. She is the 2013 recipient of the Grace D. Long Award for Academic Excellence.

KT Huckabee, Teaching Professor of Integrative Arts and Dance

[email protected] | 814-949-5441
KT Huckabee holds a BFA in dance from East Carolina University and MFA in dance from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. She is a Certified Movement Analyst from the Laban/Bartenieff Institute of Movement Studies in New York. She teaches courses in dance technique and theory and serves as the Coordinator for Dance Studies and Performing Arts at Penn State Altoona. She is Artistic Director for Ivyside Dance Ensemble and Allied Motion Dance Company.