Central America -
Honduaras, Guatemala, Costa Rica, Nicaragua
"There is no possible way I can ever express this in words, but I wanted to say thank you so so so much for everything. My CAM semester changed my life and ... I learned so much about myself, the world, other cultures, and an infinite number of other things. It has certainly been the best experience of my life up to this point.
I also just wanted to tell you that I was planning out the rest of my life the other day and this is what the plan looks like: finish college and graduate in 2012, then travel the world for a few months and start the Peace Corps. By the time I'm done with that, I'll be 25 and then I hope to be a Carpe Diem Instructor!! So, hold a spot for me, okay?"
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Guatemala
Orientation:
You will have 2-3 days of orientation at a beautiful resort to get your feet on the ground and to learn more about the program and each other. During this time you will work on communication skills and team-building activities and will set your intentions for the semester.Village Construction Project and Environmental Conservation:
Spend one week living in your first homestay in a rural village working during the days on a construction project commissioned by the local school. This is one of the most authentic volunteer places during the entire semester and is always listed as a highlight of the program. The week of environmental conservation is spent working with Peace Corps volunteers in the highlands of Alta Vera Paz. These projects are focused on working side-by-side with the locals to futher their own environmental protection. This is usually fairly tough labor so be prepared! This is also the site to launch from for a visit to some of the most fabulous water falls in Central America: Semuc ChampeyLanguage Study:
Spend 2 weeks studying Spanish with a private tutor for 4 hours each morning in a small town in the Peten region while living with your own homestay family. Afternoons are free to spend with homestay families or to participate in optional cultural activities (traditional cooking, outdoor conservation work, etc.) On the weekend explore the spectacular Mayan ruins of Tikal. Another 2 weeks will be spent studying Spanish and living with families in Quetzaltenango, in the western region of Guatemala. Quetzaltenango is Guatemala's second largest city and with it comes many of big-city amenities, although, Xela (as it's known locally) also has one of the largest Mayan populations and incredibly unique culture. You'll be free in Xela to take the afternoons volunteering with street kids, orphans, or generally learning about a variety of internships.
Trek:
Hiking through the Guatemalan highlands surrounding Lago Atitlan, the group hikes for 3 days through local communities where English and Spanish are rarely spoken in favor of the local Mayan dialect. Hiking is through corn fields and to remote areas that very few westerners ever see even in pictures. The final morning is spent watching the sunrise over Lago Atitlan - one of the largest calderas in the world and surrounded by dormant volcanoes.Spiritual Retreat and Personalized Internships:
Spend 1 week in a small town on the edge of Lake Atitlan. Time here is spent learning yoga and meditation, doing volunteer work in the community and/or studying one of the local art traditions (glass-work, massage, reiki, cooking, etc.)Nicaragua
Ecolodge and Arts Community:
Spend 2 weeks in a small town on the coastal town of San Juan del Sur. This community is focused on arts and healing, and our group works in conjunction with their staff to construct housing and support the intentionality of this community. Their intention is to be as green as possible using methods from composting toilets to cob-bale house construction to basic solar panels. We'll learn these alternative building methods and in our spare time you'll have the opportunity to surf in some of the best known surfing waters in Central America.Costa Rica
Turtle Conservation Work:
Spend over a week volunteering with an environmental organization on Costa Rica's Caribbean or Pacific coast (depending on the season). You will work at night patrolling 15 kilometers of beach for leatherback sea turtles that come ashore to lay eggs. You tag and take measurements of the turtles (which can be up to 7 feet long and 800 kilos!) and move the nests and eggs to a protected part of the beach. Days are spent sleeping, working around the base camp, and enjoying the beach.Exploration & Free Travel:
Take a week where the group designs, plans, orchestrates, budgets, and implements their own itinerary. The group can divide into two separate Carpe Diem-led groups throughout the region and past groups have chosen to go rafting, explore the cloud forests of Monteverde, or climb the active volcano of Arenal.Honduras
SCUBA:
Fly to the Bay Islands off the coast of Honduras for a week of rest, relaxation, and some of the best SCUBA in the world. You will live in a hotel on the beach and take a course leading to PADI Basic Open Water SCUBA certification. Higher levels of certification are available for those with previous dive experience. When not diving, you will have time for lazing on the beach and other leisurely pursuits. One of the best things about diving at this particular location is the bioluminescence that are present throughout the tropical waters. Doing a night dive is one of the most beautiful and unique experiences you'll have over the course of the program.Program Details
Program Dates:
Spring 2010: February 10 - May 4, 2010
Fall 2010: September 8 - December 1, 2010
Group Size:
A maximum of 12 Students & 2 Adult Leaders
Eligibility:
Ages 17 and UpAcademic Credit:
Up to 18 quarter hours of college credit available
Language Requirement:
None
Admissions:
No deadline - applications accepted on a rolling basis until start date.
Starting & Ending:
San Francisco, California. Our travel agent will price the best deals and notify participants.
Program Fee:
$7,900 Program fee includes all food, accommodations, and scheduled program activities for the duration of the program. International airfare, health insurance and spending money are extra. International airfare estimated at $1400. For information on Financial Aid click here.
