Depart Home for San Jose, Costa Rica
Arrive in San Jose, Costa Rica
Airport Transfer & Orientation Walking Tour - The group will become oriented with their neighborhood, the public transportation systems, nearby pharmacies, markets, ATMs, etc. Additionally, an in-depth safety briefing will be provided for what to do incase of an emergency.
Welcome Dinner - The group will be taken for an authentic dinner with a wide variety of menu options to cater all diets.
Breakfast & Day Briefing
Costa Rica Culture & History - This overview session will offer an introduction to the country, with a quick historical and cultural summary to set the groundwork for the upcoming trip. We’ll be sure to include the history of sports and soccer in this national overview!
Spanish 101 - To set us up for the program, this will be the first of 2 Spanish lessons designed to offer ‘survival Spanish.’ Learn the basics and a few of the Costa Rica-specific words you can expect to need during the remainder of the trip.
Breakfast & Day Briefing
Proyecto Goal (Project Goal) - Project Goal runs the national soccer system in Costa Rica. This session will introduce us to the country’s ‘fútbol’ scenario. From professional down to community sports, we’ll learn how it works.
Lunch Break
Costa Rica Women’s League - The afternoon will focus on the Women’s Soccer League in Costa Rica. We’ll talk to leaders within the system (TBD), and with luck can watch a practice or game. Specific timing of the program will be key in defining precisely what this afternoon holds.
Breakfast & Day Briefing
NGO Visit in an Informal Community - We will spend the day with an NGO working in a primarily immigrant-based information (squatter) community. We’ll receive an introduction to immigration issues and racism in Costa Rica, while looking at the work being done to turn things around.
*We may well be able to put together an informal soccer game with the kids of the community as part of this day.*
Breakfast & Day Briefing
Adaptive Surfing in Jaco - Adaptive surfing is a branch of the sport that offers different modalities for surf that accommodate physical limitations.
This can include surfing for the blind, or those who have lost a limb. We will talk to someone from the Adaptive Surfing Association of Costa Rica to learn how they have worked to bring this holistic, healing sport to a population that often misses out. As a bonus, we’ll get to try out a surf lesson ourselves!
Breakfast & Day Briefing
Saprissa Foundation: Escuela de Fútbol Valores (School of Soccer Values) - In partnership with the United Nations and the International Organization for Migration (IOM), this unique community project uses soccer to teach a mix of national and immigrant kids not just sports, but values such as togetherness, common good and fellowship.
(Virtual) Chat with Travis Thomas - Travis Thomas is a Leadership and Team Development Specialist for the US Men’s Soccer Team. We’ll have the opportunity to talk to him about what it means to work with the US Men’s team.
Spanish 101 - Part 2 of our Spanish classes.
Breakfast & Day Briefing
Sports Management - We’ll talk to leaders within the Costa Rican Soccer system to learn about: Recruitment, budgeting, game day management, Etc.
Lunch Break
Costa Rica Men’s League - The afternoon will focus on the Men’s Soccer League in Costa Rica. We’ll talk to leaders within the system (TBD), and with luck can watch a practice or game. Specific timing of the program will be key in defining precisely what this afternoon holds.
Breakfast & Day Briefing
Coffee Farm - We’ll visit a small coffee farm, led by a family that has been growing organic coffee for the last two decades. We will have tour of the coffee plantation and learn about sustainable coffee production and processing. The farmer/owner poses some very interesting questions about supply chain sustainability and your role as a consumer!
Downtown San Jose Walking Tour - Most of your time in Costa Rica will be spent outside of urban areas. The capital city of San Jose is the economic, cultural and political heart of the country. We will do a tour with the social business that was developed to revitalize the run-down center of San Jose, drawing both national and international tourists to an area previously known for crime to change the image of the capital city.
Breakfast & Day Briefing
Surfing Lessons
White Water Rafting
Transfer to San Jose
Check-in, Relax & Refresh
Farewell Dinner & Program Closing
Breakfast & Day Briefing
Airport Transfer
Depart San Jose, Costa Rica for Home