Global Public Health Program to Costa Rica 2024

Professors Deborah Benes and Deborah Stone take their Global Public Health Program to Costa Rica over Spring Break 2024.

Spring Break - March 8 - 17, 2024

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PHS 2900: Global Public Health CRN: 37522

3 credits

Students should apply to the Global Ambassador Scholarship on Academic Works in October 2023. Qualified students can receive up to half of their program price in scholarship money. You will be informed if you received the Global Ambassador Scholarship BEFORE your first payment is due on November 15, 2023.

Total price of the program: $3,720 (subject to change)

First Payment: November 15, 2023 = $1,240
Second Payment: December 10, 2023 = $1,240
Third Payment: January 15, 2024 = $1,240

PAYMENTS ARE NON-REFUNDABLE.

This Global Public Health Program is a signature faculty-led study abroad course at Fitchburg State University. It has run multiple times to Costa Rica with Professors Benes and Stone and students from all majors are welcome. The program is designed to strengthen the student's understanding of the issues and factors constraining the achievement of public health goals around the world. The impacts of social, cultural, physical, political and economic determinants of health are analyzed in a global context. Emphasis is placed on how factors within these different determinants of health affect the provision of health services and health outcomes. Students will participate in community health fairs, explore the rainforest, go paddle boarding, shadow a nursing home, participate in a cacao ceremony, and much more.

Itinerary

Day 1 Arriving to Costa Rica, SJO Airport 
Departure to Sarapiquí (2.5 - 3 hour bus ride)
Check-In at Hotel Selva Verde in Chilamate, Sarapiquí
Welcome Meeting and Itinerary presentation
Welcome Dinner (included)
Day 2 Rainforest Walk (nature appreciation)
Breakfast included
AM Group Circle
Guest Presentation Glenn Benavides
Lunch 
Guest Presentation Glenn Benavides
Jaime Medicinal plants + workshop
Dinner
PM Group Circle and free time
Day 3 Breakfast included
AM Group Circle 
Departure to Horquetas community
Horquetas activities
Lunch included
Horquetas activities
Return to hotel
Dinner
PM Group Circle and free time
Day 4 Breakfast included
AM Group Circle 
Stand Up Paddle (SUP) Sarapiquí River class I - II
Lunch included
Cacao History and Ceremony
Dinner
PM Group Circle and free time
Day 5

Breakfast included
AM Group Circle 
Departure to Horquetas community
Horquetas activities
Lunch included
Horquetas activities
Return to hotel
Dinner
PM Group Circle and free time

Day 6 Breakfast included
AM Group Circle 
Lapa Verde Sound Therapy and Nature Walk
Lunch included
Tico’s Family Immersion
Dinner
PM Group Circle and free time
Day 7 Breakfast included
AM Group Circle 
Departure to Bajos del Toro
Box Lunch included
Return to hotel
Free time
Dinner
PM Group Circle and free time
Day 8 Breakfast included
AM Group Circle 
Elder Home Activities (stations)
Box Lunch included
River Swimming (Chilamate)
Dinner
Rain Forest Night Walk
PM Group Circle and free time
Day 9 Breakfast included
AM Group Circle 
Canopy in Sarapiquí
Lunch
Hot Spring Aguas Zarcas
Dinner included
Day 10 Breakfast included
Closure Circle
Transfer out Sarapiquí to SJO International Airport

My experience was amazing! I had so much fun interacting with the people of Costa Rica and learning more about their culture. It was a very eye opening experience and made me love nursing even more. This program made me a better person in so many ways.

2022 Spring Global Public Health Students

Questions? Get in touch!