Costa Rica Trip Application

March 8 - 15, 2025
Chaperones: Jed Wartman

The trip is open to students in grades 7 and 8.

Thayer Academy Middle School has partnered with the World Leadership School (WLS) to create an eight-day cultural immersion trip to Costa Rica. The program's all-inclusive cost is $4,000, with limited financial aid available. The group will depart from Logan Airport on Saturday, Mar. 8, and return on Saturday, Mar. 15. Participation is limited to 18 students, with one Thayer faculty member for every six students. Assistant Head of School for Student Engagement & Well-being Jed Wartman P '30, '32 will be one of the faculty trip leaders, joined by two Middle School colleagues. Upon arrival in San José, the group will be met by two WLS trip leaders.

Important Dates

  • Monday, Oct. 21: Trip application due
  • Friday, Nov. 1: Decisions emailed to students
  • Friday, Nov. 8: $500 deposit due
  • Friday, Dec. 13: First payment due
  • Friday, Jan. 17: Second payment due


Itinerary: March 8 - 15, 2025
Day 1
  • Morning departure from Boston
  • Mid-day arrival in San José, Costa Rica
  • Transfer to Santa Maria de Dota (2 hours) with lunch en route
  • Learning Session: Opening Artifact Arcade
  • Learning Session: AMPing Up
  • Dinner and stay at Cabinas Cecilias
Day 2
  • Community orientation with local leaders in Santa María
  • Learning Session: Local Leadership Challenge - Community Adventure Race
  • Guided nature walk in Los Quetzales with lunch at the reserve
  • Afternoon introduction and activity with homestay families
  • Dinner with homestay families
  • Stay at Cabinas Cecilias
Day 3
  • Community Engagement Day 1 - SDG #10 (Reduced Inequality) with nursing home + art lesson with women's cooperative
  • Learning Session: In My Shoes
  • Lunch with homestay families
  • Afternoon visit to local coffee cooperative - SDG #12 (Sustainable Consumption & Production)
  • Dinner with homestay families
  • Stay at Cabinas Cecilias
Day 4
  • Community Engagement Day 2 - SDG #4 (Quality Education) at an elementary school in Santa María
  • Learning Session: Pyramid of Perspective Jigsaw
  • Lunch with homestay families
  • Afternoon dance class
  • Dinner and stay at Cabinas Cecilias
Day 5
  • Community Engagement Day 3 - SDG #15 (Biodiversity Loss) with local conservation organization and visit to organic farm and local government office
  • Costa Rican cooking lessons
  • Lunch with homestay families
  • Learning Session: Do You Want To...?
  • Dinner and stay at Cabinas Cecilias
Day 6
  • Transfer to Dominical with lunch en route (2 hours)
  • Afternoon canopy ziplining
  • Learning Session: Closing Artifact Arcade
  • Dinner and stay in Dominical
Day 7
  • Morning waterfall hike
  • Afternoon surfing lessons
  • Learning Session: High-Five Hustle
  • Learning Session: Candle Circle
  • Dinner and stay in Dominical
Day 8
  • Morning transfer to San José (3 hours)
  • Flight back to Boston