The location: With about 5% of the world’s species, Costa Rica is one of the most biodiverse countries in the world. The lush wild natural environment can be experienced all throughout the country. The country has been hailed as an example of successful sustainable development. However, social, environmental and economic problems persist. Exploring those problems and possible solutions, this program will be based in the southeast Limon province, in the indigenous community of Yorkín. In Yorkín, students will meet with the Bribri, Costa Rica’s largest group of indigenous people, to learn about the challenges of rural development in the rainforest and about life in the indigenous territories. Additional planned excursions include a rainforest canopy tour in Sarapiquí and sightseeing in Costa Rica’s capital city of San José.

Course Work and Highlights: In this course we will study three Global Goals through experiential learning. We will analyze what it means to consume less and how reducing our consumption will have a positive impact on our quality of life. In the Bribri Territories of Costa Rica we will meet indigenous people for whom consuming “stuff” has always been less important than other human pursuits like community, solidarity, and respect for Nature. We will explore their deep relationship with the tropical rainforest in which they live. We will examine how this value system impacts community goals, education systems, and plans for the future in the Bribri Territories.

Housing: In Yorkín, housing will be very rustic with limited electricity, no heated water and bunks with bug netting.

Prerequisites: There are no prerequisites for this field experience.

Eligibility:
Chatham undergraduate students must have good academic standing and a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0 or higher at the time of application and at the commencement of spring 2025 term. Students must have completed at least 30 undergraduate credits at the time of travel, including at least 15 credits
completed at Chatham at the time of travel.

Students must have good judicial standing (to be verified by Office of Student Affairs) and good financial standing at Chatham (to be verified by Student Accounts).

Students must be current Chatham students at the time of the field experience to participate.

The minimum enrollment for this course is 16 students. Each field experience is self-supporting and must meet its minimum enrollment number or it will be cancelled.