Students are invited to go on the Central America Study Tour
Travel for school credit and social experiences
The Central America study tour is happening in May 2024 and will consist of three weeks spent in Costa Rica. The tour provides an opportunity for students to receive credits in both general and upper-division Science, Art, and Literature courses. Students can experience zip lining, snorkeling, scuba diving, visiting an active volcano, white-water rafting, local cuisine and an overnight trip at a river sanctuary with a night hike through the jungle.
Reef Peckham, a student at Union Adventist University, said, “I remember one class [where] I was literally sitting in a swimming pool. For the whole class,” he recounted, “the trip felt almost cinematic. Every day it was like, what’s gonna happen next?” On outings during previous tours, students were led by tour guides. Some even showcased multiple skills. Reef said “We got out of the river to find our tour guides cooking a meal. It seemed like they were white-water rafting guides and also Michelin star chefs.”
Classes begin the Monday after graduation at Union and students receive 1 1/2 days of instruction locally before embarking on the six-hour flight to Costa Rica. Participants pay a $750 non-refundable deposit in addition to the summer tuition for six credits. These funds cover course tuition, airfare, a daily food allowance, lodging, ground transportation, and required group activities. Some costs that are not covered by the tuition and deposit are textbooks, course supplies, passport fees, vaccinations, optional activities, and baggage fees.
A meeting was held on September 18th at 5 p.m. in Krueger Center room 130. Free pizza was provided for students who wished to get more information about the study tour. Professor Lori Peckham, one of the trip’s organizers, said, “This is an amazing trip! It’s a great way to earn required credits while having adventures you’ll never forget. We visit exotic nature sanctuaries [that] you wouldn’t be able to experience on your own, and you’ll come back with awesome photos, journal entries, friendships, and memories.”
by Jenna Wilson