Dear Teacher/Trip Leader,
Thank you for your interest in traveling with Ecodestination to Costa Rica. You will not be disappointed. In truth there is no better program you could have chosen considering our years of experience, local support, and in-country staff.
Every trip is packed with authentic science, Spanish language exposure, heart-pounding adventure, and endless fun. Our guides are all native Costa Ricans and Ecuadorians who are trained naturalists with a lifetime of experience to share.
Ecodestination was founded on the principles of education and conservation. After many years of taking students and teachers on rainforest adventures to Costa Rica and Ecuador, we now offer trips to the Galapagos, Peru, and Panama.One teacher goes free with every ten sign ups!
We offer teacher credits through the University of the Pacific. Please call for details.
Don't forget to check out the teacher preview trips, a great way to get a taste of the adventure you will be on.What Are The Teachers' Responsibilities?
Ecodestination will do all the planning for your trip. The teachers organizing the trip are the link between us and the group, providing Ecodestination with information about the participants and coordinating any changes in itinerary. The teachers are responsible for seeing that all required paperwork is filled out properly and submitted on time and are responsible for collecting all the money from their group. To help you with this, a network of coordinators in the United States – people who have organized trips in the past – are an easy phone call away. Once in Costa Rica, you are the students' chaperones, but our guides will share the supervisory duties, allowing teachers to enjoy the trip alongside the students.
How Will We Know What To Expect From The Places We Will Visit?
For direct answers to any questions you might have, call Tim Fowler at 800-785-2977. We also have a DVD available upon request and post pictures, videos, and detailed information on this website. You can also arrange for an Ecodestination representative to come to your school to talk to students and parents about the trips. We are also happy to participate in Q&A meetings over Skype.
Will Ecodestination Help Us Prepare Presentations For Our Group?
For direct answers to any questions you might have, call Tim Fowler at 800-785-2977. We also have a DVD available upon request and post pictures, videos, and detailed information on this website. You can also arrange for an Ecodestination representative to come to your school to talk to students and parents about the trips. We are also happy to participate in Q&A meetings over Skype.
How Will This Trip Be Useful In The Classroom?
Classroom lectures vs. hands-on education are incomparable. Ecodestination boasts Authentic Science Adventures. The old proverb “Tell me, I forget. Show me, I remember. Involve me and I understand” is at the heart of our program. Saying that turtles are big or old or that they get tired dragging themselves up the beach has little effect. Seeing up close how big and how slow they move up the beach produces unforgettable images. There is no substitute for standing behind this amazing animal as she gives birth, touching her shell, listening to her breathing, holding her eggs in your hands and realizing that you helped extend the life of an animal that can’t survive without your help. Those are the moments when students are transformed! Formerly indifferent students are awestruck and suddenly full of questions stemming from their vital connection to raw nature -- something they could never feel sitting at a desk.
How Hard Is This Trip?
This is an adventure trip and not designed for those who don't like to get wet or dirty. For those who want to have an experience that will take them out of their daily grind, this trip is a peak experience. There will physically demanding times, but the itinerary is designed for all levels of ability. Long walks, hiking up and down mountains and swimming are all part of the experience.No one is required to do everything. The guides will always accompany students, so everyone in the group- including chaperones- has the option to pass on an activity in favor of something less strenuous. Our staff is very flexible and responsible about this. While the guides may take you to your limit, they will never force you to go beyond it. They want you to have an experience that you will enjoy and remember for the rest of your lives.
Will It Be Safe?
This is the number one question we get. The answer is a hearty, Yes! While there is risk in all travel, Ecodestination prides itself on a track record of fifteen years of safe and successful trips with students. Ecodestination has been endorsed by the risk management firm Adventure Management as an exceptionally well run and safety oriented tour operator. We carefully choose activities with companies (rafting, zip-lining, trekking, etc ...) that have a history of experience with children and proven track records.