International Education Centre

Costa Rica: Rainforest and Tropical Science Short-Term Program

Prerequisites and Eligibility
Costs and Program Inclusions
Accommodations
Course Credit
Pre-Departure and Orientation
Funding Conditions
What to Bring
FAQs

Broaden your perspective and worldview while developing skills and intercultural competencies that set you apart in today’s job market and global economy, all while earning credit toward your diploma or degree program.

Come spend a week in Costa Rica with us, where we’ll delve into the country’s diverse ecosystems and vibrant biological resources. Students will experience a landscape full of geological variety while investigating the factors threatening its preservation. You’ll learn to identify the essential features of rainforest habitats and explore sustainable agricultural practices.

Prerequisites and Eligibility

In order to be eligible for the Global Skills Opportunity Student Mobility Grant and this program students:

• Must have completed Level 1 of their program of studies, be currently registered or have a returning status for Spring 2025;
• Must have a minimum GPA of 2.0;
• Must not be financially or academically encumbered;
• Must be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident;
• Must meet visa-entry requirement for Costa Rica;
• Must be at least 18 years old.

If selected for the exchange abroad student agrees to complete the following items:

• Letter of Intent
• Academic Reference Letter
• Unofficial Transcript
• Attend mandatory pre-departure meeting(s) which will be scheduled in the months prior to the trip
• Follow and adhere to Algonquin College’s Travel Code of Conduct Agreement

Students selected for the Global Skills Opportunity Student Mobility Grant will be required to complete a pre-program and post-program questionnaire administered by Colleges and Institutes Canada (CICan), administering the program on behalf of the Government of Canada. Information collected shall be used by CICan for the purposes of program administration and evaluation. The information may be shared with Employment and Social Development Canada and their contracted third-party service providers, who may use students’ personal information to contact them in the future to make sure the program is meeting its goals.

Per Global Skills Opportunity guidelines, only students who identify as a student in financial need, a student with a disability, or an Indigenous student are eligible to participate in this funded opportunity. Priority will be given to students who identify as an Indigenous person, that is, First Nations, Métis or Inuk (Inuit).

Costs and Program Inclusions

Eligible students selected for participation in this program will have their participation in the program funded by the Global Skills Opportunity, the Government of Canada’s Outbound Mobility Program. Program inclusions include:

• Return airfare from the Ottawa MacDonald-Cartier International Airport
• Academic program and related program excursions
• Room and Board covered in the program
• Travel health insurance

Program costs and international travel is covered for approximately 10 participating students through the Global Skills Opportunity Mobility Grant (visit the FAQ page to see what is included in the program fees). There is a small fee to transfer the academic credit towards your academic studies however, the Global Skills Opportunity Mobility Grant, will also cover this cost. There are 10 partial-funded spots available for students who do not meet the requirements for a funded spot.

Passport and vaccination fees aside, students should budget $300-$400 USD but is dependent on the individual.

All students are responsible for their transportation to and from the Ottawa MacDonald-Cartier International Airport.

All participants must agree to the requirements of the Global Skills Opportunity Grant Program as defined in the application form.

Accommodations

Students will stay in clean, safe facilities located at various field stations. Meals are taken as a group in central dining facilities. Historically, accommodations have varied from hostel-type businesses to riverside cabins and tents. While rafting on the Pacuare River accommodations at the Rainforest Lodge will be dorm/hut style buildings nestled along the Pacuare River and surrounding creeks.

Course Credit

Upon completion of the program, students will earn an Algonquin College credit for the Rainforest and Tropical Science course. If this course is not part of your program, you will earn a General Education Elective Theme.

Pre-Departure and Arrival Orientation

All selected participants are expected to complete all of the pre-departure forms and requirements. Prior to departure, we provide virtual sessions on preparing to travel to Costa Rica, which include information on the packing lists, immunizations, program details, money, and setting expectations for lodging, food, transportation, activities, etc. This information will be covered in two one-hour sessions. An additional session on Costa Rican culture will also be provided.

Once you arrive in Costa Rica, you will have additional safety and health orientation. You will go through emergency response protocols, designated meeting points, an emergency contact list, recommendations for going out (in groups), and other relevant on-site information.

Funding Conditions

This program is funded through the Government of Canada’s Global Skills Opportunity Student Mobility Grant. All participants must agree to the requirements of the Global Skills Opportunity Grant Program as defined in the application form.

Students selected for the Global Skills Opportunity Student Mobility Grant will be required to complete a pre-program and post-program questionnaire administered by Colleges and Institutes Canada (CICan), administering the program on behalf of the Government of Canada. Information collected shall be used by CICan for the purposes of program administration and evaluation. The information may be shared with Employment and Social Development Canada and their contracted third-party service providers, who may use students’ personal information to contact them in the future to make sure the program is meeting its goals.

What to Bring

• Notepads and pencils (not pens…they don’t work in the rain)
• Cameras and small video equipment
• Bug spray (small plastic bottle of deep woods off with high concentration of deet is recommended; aerosol cans will not be allowed on the airplane)
• Hiking boots (these may get wet and stay wet during most of the trip…so bring a few plastic bags for wrapping them up)
• Teva-type sandals, sneakers or beach shoes for the rafting trip (you can’t wear your hiking boots in the raft)
• A pair of sneakers that you intend to keep dry, and will only use for when we are on dry walks or eating out
• A ‘headlamp’ or flashlight
• Quick-dry shorts and t-shirts for rafting (polyester/polypropylene, nylon)
• Hiking pants (shorts are not recommended for hiking as you will not want your skin accessible to some of the plants/animals in the rainforest)
• Casual clothes for when we are in town or out to eat, (please note that we will not have access to a laundry mat)
• Swimwear (conservative style)
• One set of clothes for the flight back that you do not plan on wearing all week (for the comfort of our fellow travelers)
• A rain jacket or nylon shell
• Lots of socks (many pairs are sure to get wet and dirty during our many treks through the rainforest.)
• A smaller backpack (a.k.a. daypack, 30 litres or less) to bring on the rafting trip (a secure place will be provided to leave your other luggage)
• A hat and sunscreen
• If you have allergies to bees or ants then bring your Epi-pens or whatever you tend to use
• Aspirin or other medicines that you might want must be in their original packaging to get through Customs

This project is funded by Global Skills Opportunity, the Government of Canada’s Outbound Mobility Program.