Faculty-led Program Opportunities

Costa Rica | Experiential Learning and Research with Keystone College
BIOL 2018 Topical Ecology & Conservation
December 14, 2025 – December 22, 2025

About this trip

Embark on an unforgettable 9-day journey of discovery with Keystone College to explore one of the most biodiverse countries on Earth. With 12 climatic zones and numerous micro-ecosystems within its borders, Costa Rica is a haven for neotropical flora and fauna. Begin this adventure on the lowland tropical rainforests of the Sarapiquí region before ascending to the temperate forests and volcanic landscapes around Arenal Volcano and the cloud forests around Monteverde. Along the way, enjoy countless opportunities to learn about conservation initiatives and participate in local research projects. Assist with wildlife monitoring programs, attend lectures by local scientists and specialists, meet with descendants of the Quaker settlers who laid the groundwork for the Monteverde Biological Reserve, and gain firsthand understanding of the critical importance of tropical ecosystems and the conservation efforts underway to protect them.

Highlights

• Explore the private reserve at Selva Verde Lodge, which protects hundreds of acres of virgin rainforest, and watch for wildlife such as monkeys, toucans, frogs, and hundreds of magnificent bird species like the Great Green Macaw.
• Assist with bird counting at the EcoVida Foundation Hawkwatch Tower and learn about their sustainable initiatives.
• Relax in the thermal hot spring pools heated by Arenal Volcano.
• Learn about the importance of biological corridors and conservation by participating in a reforestation project with the Monteverde Institute.
• Venture into the high cloud forest of Monteverde, which is estimated to be home to around 50 percent of Costa Rica’s biodiversity.

Program Cost:  $3,500.00
(Includes airline, housing, meals, snacks, and transportation)

Contact: Dr. Linda Tucker Serniak
Assistant Professor of Botany
Capwell 204 – 570-945-8407
Linda.TuckerSerniak@keystone.edu