Summer 2026 International Environmental Issues & Globalization

 

Diving into course themes while getting oriented to Costa Rica through exploratory 

visits around San Ramón (above) and discussions with University of

Costa Rica students at a local park (below) 

 

 

 

 Learning the history of a sustainable ecotourism business at one of our field sites in the 

La Fortuna (above), where we also participated in Deep Ecology activities (below)

 

  

Various tropical rain forest visits (above) and a water 

quality field activity in a private reserve (below) 

   

 

Field visits included a local water collection facility involved in conservation and 

environmental education (above) and a hydroelectric power plant (below)

 

 

 

 

 Volunteer work during the course: 

Planting and butterfly garden 

maintenance (above), mural 

artwork design (right), and 

planting 220 native trees for 

watershed restoration and 

to offset our carbon 

footprint (below)

 

  

Learning the ecological importance of mangroves and discussing possible 

climate change impacts and solutions in Puntarenas (above and below)

 

Highlights of the flora and fauna we encountered during the course (above and below).  
Note: All pictures taken by us!

 

Summer 2025: International Environmental Issues & Globalization

Testing river water quality in a private ecotourism reserve (above & below). 

An introduction
to the tropical
rainforest at the local university
demonstration
forest (above
& right).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Learning about Costa Rican culture
and history at different local museums
in the town of San Ramón
(above, right & below).

   

 

 

An organic farm in Grecia where we planted herbs, made aloe vera gel & visited a small-scale sustainable coffee processing facility (right).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Discussing sustainability in Costa Rica and beyond in a park overlooking the city (left).    

 

 

 

 

 

 



 

 

 A sample of the wildlife we saw during
the course that represents the high biological
diversity of the region (right & below).
Note: All pictures taken by us!

 

  

Volunteer service-learning work included reforestation at different locations (above)
and working in a butterfly garden (below).

  

The hydroelectric power plant we visited in Costa Rica's Northern Zone (above)
and field presentations at two private reserves in the area (below).

 

 

 Learning about mangrove ecology (right) and potential climate change impacts in the beach town of Puntarenas (below).

Summer 2022: International Environmental Issues & Globalization

 

Outdoor learning & volunteer work in La Fortuna:

Learning the history of the ecolodge we stayed at from the founder (left top),

a Deep Ecology field activity (left bottom),

and making wild bee traps to establish colonies for honey production (below).

 

 

 

The course included field visits to a premontane forest, cloud forest, and lowland rain forest (left & below).

Some of the wildlife we encountered along the way...

 

 

Learning about indicators of water quality in rivers and streams (right) before applying that knowledge in a stream (with a gorgeous waterfall) near San Ramon (below).

 

A reforestation activity with a community water administrator in Palmares
(left & below).

  

Learning about marine ecology of the Pacific Coast: Commercial fish and shrimp production research, and social-cultural impacts on marine ecosystems.

Summer 2019: International Environmental Issues & Globalization

A visit to Villa Blanca Private Cloud Forest Nature Reserve in the Tilarán Mountain Range (above & below).

Learning about Costa Rican history & biological diversity at the regional museum in San Ramón.

Hiking in the lowland rain forest of the Northern Zone (above), with a stunning view of Arenal Volcano (below)

Volunteer work on an organic farm near La Fortuna: Soil preparation and planting medicinal herbs & fruit trees.

A World Environment Day celebration in Palmares: Releasing morpho butterflies into a butterfy garden (above),
and learning about local environmental conservation efforts & tree planting to create a small park at a local high school (below).

Some of the local wildlife we were lucky enough to see during our outings!

Learning about marine ecology and sustainable
community development projects of the
Pacific Coast in Puntarenas.