Central America

Check out the Central America Leadership 350 Class in 2009!

Testimonial: “On our trip, we met many different types of people within Costa Rica from native trail guides to business owners. The focus of our interactions was mainly about the environmental and leadership among the natural resources field, but I learned a great deal about the hardships of conserving nature without sacrificing growth. The complex interactions between the Costa Rican people and their land make it paramount for leadership within the environmental field to address demands from multiple sectors and with little resources. Also, I think I got a sense of the leadership which can be exhibited by any American traveller in a foreign country because they choose thoughtfully how they represent their country and their people to outsiders.

Advice: “Be ready to get up close and personal with nature everywhere you go. You will get to learn a lot, but if "roughing it" or getting dirty/wet is not your thing, this experience would not be for you. When you go bring lots of sunscreen and bug spray. Also, be conscious of how you spend your money there. The island is not commercially developed, so the people earn money on crafts like carving and basket making. Don't spend your money all in one place. Spread the wealth around the various places you go.”

Advice: “Be ready to get up close and personal with nature everywhere you go. You will get to learn a lot, but if "roughing it" or getting dirty/wet is not your thing, this experience would not be for you. When you go bring lots of sunscreen and bug spray. Also, be conscious of how you spend your money there. The island is not commercially developed, so the people earn money on crafts like carving and basket making. Don't spend your money all in one place. Spread the wealth around the various places you go.”

Diana Hackenburg, ‘09
Costa Rica

Description: She traveled to Costa Rica with the Biology Department for Biology 253: Field Studies. During this trip, she ventured across the country studying different ecosystems, conservation practices, and Costa Rican culture. Starting in the country's capital, they traveled first to the Atlantic coast and then made their way to the Pacific coast. In Costa Rica, they conducted several biological experiments, visited a pineapple plantation, snorkeled, zip lined, and hiked - a lot. On the hikes, they saw amazing biological diversity in both flora and fauna and learned interesting information from both the professors and trail guides. There were ample opportunities for great photography and exciting cultural interactions.

Advice: “Pack a lot of mosquito repellent, sunscreen, and socks. Also, take a chance and step outside of your comfort zone. Zip lining through rainforest is one of my favorite memories of the trip and definitely not something I would have done a year before I went.”

Grace O’Dell, ‘10
San Joaquín de Flores, Costa Rica 2009

Description: She lived with a family and took five classes.  She took trips to such places as San Jose, Cartago, Puerto Viejo, Tortuguero, and Manuel Antonio.  Her favorite trip has been Manuel Antonio because of the wonderful beaches and the enormous amounts of wildlife that can see there.  The most exciting parts were being able to watch a sloth move through the trees, having to keep an eye on the monkeys because they would steal from you, and running away from the iguanas that were chasing you for your bananas.  I would recommend Costa Rica as a place to study abroad because it’s beautiful and the weather is wonderful.  Costa Ricans are very friendly and, aside from the cold showers, it is not very difficult to adjust to the life here.

Anna Gill ‘12
Andros Island, Bahamas (Forfar Field Station)
Description: She went to learn about the marine and other ecosystems in the Bahamas.
She snorkeled most days, visited various cays, blue holes, coral reefs, and other geological formations. Also looked at plant life on the island, including a small rain forest environment. She visited with some of the native Bahamians, earning about life on the relatively undeveloped island. There were nightly classes to address the biology that we needed to know for the next day's excursions. 
Testimonial: “There is a lot of responsibility to balance human needs (such as urban development and providing jobs) with protecting the environment. Leaders in this situation would have to make some large judgement calls, and would also need to act on behalf of the people in the area who are not highly educated and may not understand the ways that their lifestyle is affecting the environment.”