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Be part of an unforgettable adventure with SBCC’s Sally Saenger and Geordie Armstrong.

Share excting weeks with like-minded students surfing in the warm, clear blue waters of Manuel Antonio, Costa Rica. After a day of working on your surfing skills, enjoy stretching and relaxation exercises on the beaches and in the jungle environment near the famous Manuel Antonio National Park. Study Economic Geography– including a service-learning component. Connect the natural environment with the cultural, historical, and economic development of the area and its impacts on the people and environment in Costa Rica today. A Spanish course will round up your immersive experience abroad.

All this and more is included in one magical summer program with SBCC!  Pack lightly to visit this popular beach town on the Costa Rican Pacific Coast with pristine beaches and warm temperatures.

You'll want to explore the area on a Mangrove boat tour, investigate a volcano with natural hot springs and marvel at the beautiful waterfalls during a rainmaker tour. Costa Rican culture is a vibrant blend of indigenous heritage, Spanish colonial influence and many other immigrant cultures. The result is a nation of friendly, welcoming and happy people. Join the program and experience Pura Vida!

June 1, 2024 - June 30, 2024
(leave LAX on May 31 to arrive early morning June 1 in order to meet the group transportation from San Jose to Manuel Antonio)

Sally Saenger, M.Ed, a Santa Barbara native, is a certified fitness professional who has been teaching at SBCC in both the credit and non-credit division since 1982. While getting her bachelor's degree from the University of Hawaii, she developed her skills as a swimmer, surfer and outdoor enthusiast. She received her Master's Degree in Education from Azusa Pacific University.  Besides directing the Costa Rica Program in 2023, Sally has led several fitness-related travel groups and taught internationally in the Bahamas, Dominican Republic, Belize and Mexico.

You can contact Sally via email at sasaenger@pipeline.sbcc.edu 

 

Geordie has taught Geography at SBCC since 2008. She teaches both physical and human geography courses, and is faculty advisor to WISE, Geography club, and Green club. She studied geography and human environmental relationships at San Francisco State, with her research focusing on the vulnerabilities of women in the informal sector of the economy in Latin America.

You can contact Geordie via email at garmstrong2@pipeline.sbcc.edu  

To acquaint program participants with the cultural aspects of life in Manuel Antonio, Costa Rica, a series of mandatory as well as optional free or inexpensive activities are planned, which varies but often includes lectures on local customs and contemporary issues, sports events, walking tours, sight visits, and dinners.  The below tentative excursions are included in the program (subject to change):

• Visit to Manuel Antonio National Park
• Rainmaker Tour (Waterfals and more)
• Mangrove Boat Tour
• Chocolate Farm Tour
• Cloudforest Canope 
• Night Walk Tour 
• San Jose City Tour
• Doka Coffee Tour & Poas Volcano
• Salsa Dancing Lessons
• Traditional Cooking Class
• Tandem Conversation Program
• Four days in Monteverde
• Two days in San Jose

In addition,  there are many fee-based optional (fee based) activities available in the area. Check out for some examples.

You do not have to be currently enrolled at SBCC to apply for the program. However, you must meet the following requirements to participate in the program:

• Must be in good academic and conduct standing 
• Must be at least 18 years old on the day of departure
• Must be in good academic standing
• Must have successfully completed 12 Colege level units with a GPA of 2.0 or above (dual enrollment classes or AP classes may count)
• Must successfully complete the application process
• Must submit the non-refundable application fee/ deposit upon acceptance notification to confirm the spot on the program. The spot is not confirmed until the fee has been received

After acceptance to the program and official program go announcement:
- Must enroll at SBCC for the summer 2024 semester in order to participate in the program

- Must show proof of international health insurance. SBCC requires basic medical insurance, which covers illness and accidents abroad as well as the cost of returning students to the US if needed.

- We encourage the purchase of Trip Cancellation and Interruption insurance 

- You must complete, sign, and return all legal documents for SBCC Study Abroad by the deadline. Failure to return completed and signed document by the deadline may cancel you from the program

- Must attend the mandatory pre-departure meeting

- Should Costa Rica require a Covid-19 vaccination in order to access public spaces, no exemptions can be granted for the vaccination mandate

There is no major or language requirement for this program.

Acceptance and participation in the program is not guaranteed until you have completed the interview with the program director/s and all required documents are received by the Study Abroad office.

The courses that are offered as part of the program are usually transferable to the University of California and California State University. Check with your academic advisor for possible exceptions.  You must enroll in all courses offered on the program (7 units).
Please note: There will be some course work for GEOG 102, PE 137 and PE 146 prior to departure to Costa Rica. Upon return from Costa Rica there will be 3-4 hours of additional course work for PE 137 and PE 146

GEOG 105 Economic Geography (3 Units)
Same as: 
Explores the impact humans have on their environment and on each other through resource exploitation and economic activity. Investigates the development and global impact of diverse geographies, the effect of place on economic sectors, and the role of place in strengthening or weakening economies. Also addresses regional patterns of principal economic activities of the world, with an emphasis on economic development, urbanization, transportation and the environment. SBCC General Education: SBCCGE Area B. Transfer Information: CSUGE Area D2, CSUGE Area D5, IGETC Area 4E, CSU Transferable, UC Transferable

AND

PE 137 Beginning Surfing (1.5 Unit)
Designed to teach the fundamentals of board surfing, and provide beginning surfers the opportunity to safely develop the skills to ride waves. Paddling technique, wave selection, ocean safety, oceanography, equipment, tides, and surf etiquette are explained. Students must swim comfortably 100m non-stop in order to continue in course. SBCC General Education: SBCCGE Area E3
Transfer Information: Health and Wellness, CSU Transferable, UC Transferable - UC Transfer Limit: Any or all of these PE Activity courses combined: maximum credit, 4 units.

AND

PE 146 Stretching and Relaxation (1.5 Unit)
Designed to enhance overall wellness related to body flexibility, injury prevention, and stress reduction for all adults, including athletes and non-athletes. Stretching techniques and their applications to active lifestyles, sports and stress management will be emphasized.
SBCC General Education: SBCCGE Area E3, Transfer Information: Health and Wellness, CSU Transferable, UC Transferable; UC Transfer Limit: Any or all of these PE Activity courses combined: maximum credit, 4 units.

AND

SPAN 131A Beginning Spanish Grammar I (1 Unit)
Review of Spanish grammar fundamentals. Designed to increase accuracy of written and oral communication in Spanish. Class taught in English. Transfer Information: CSU Transferable

OR

SPAN 131B Intermediate Spanish Grammar II (1 Unit)
Prerequisites: SPAN 131A or qualifying score on SBCC SoML placement exam.
Review of Spanish grammar at the intermediate level. Designed to increase accuracy of written and oral communication in Spanish. Class taught in English. Transfer Information: CSU Transferable

There will be Spanish Language Tutoring available on site.

 $3,782

* based on a minimum of 20 students
** includes $400 non-refundable application fee/ first payment 

Program Fee Includes:

• Required field trips and excursions (see 'Program Highlights")
• Housing as outlined under "Housing"
• Pre-departure handbook
• Pre-departure orientation
• On-Site orientation in Manuel Antonio
• Transit to or from the airport in San Jose, please purchase the group flight or arrive prior and meet up with the group
• Breakfast & dinner 7 days a week while living with host family, breakfast while living at hotel in Monteverde and San Jose (see "Housing" for details) 
• Emergency contact 24/7
• Free Salsa dance classes
• Free Tandem Conversation Program
• Free coffee and tea at the on-site snack bar
• Office-wide WiFi
• Daily transportation to and from surf location
• Certified Lifeguard Surf Instructors and additional lifeguards

Program Fee Does Not Include:

• Round-trip airfare (an optional group flight is available through Frosch Student Travel) see "Travel"
• Passport or visa fees if applicable
• Transportation to and from LAX
• Transportation from the airport in Costa Rica to the designated arrival point unless you are on the group flight or can meet up with the group for group transportation
• Meals other than those listed
• SBCC tuition, fees, books (non-residents are required to pay out-of-state or out-of-country fees)
• Personal expenses
• Additional fieldtrips and excursions or activities to those listed
• Trip cancelation insurance (recommended)
• International health insurance (required)
• Additional liability insurance (recommended for labtops, espensive cameras  or phones etc.)
• Anything not specified

 $400 non-refundable application fee due with application but no later than by March 24, 2024
* We can not accept cash. Please be sure you have sufficient funds. A $30 NSF fee will be applied if a check gets returned due to NSF

Final Payment of $3,382 due by April 15, 2024 directly to Maximo Nivel

Round-Trip airfare is not included in the program price.

You may choose your own flight, but must arrive by early Saturday morning, June 1, 2024 to make the group transfer from San Jose to Manuel Antonio.

An optional group flight will be offered on a space-available basis through Frosch Student Travel from LAX.

The group flight has a minimum requirement of 10 students in order to materialize. If 10 students are not registered for the group flight by February 26th, 2024 the group flight will be cancelled. Therefore, students wanting to get on the group flight must apply for the program no later than February 19, 2024. 

Estimated cost (subject to change): $949 Including all taxes. LAX to SJO - non-stop

For the group flight transfer, Maximo Nivel will arrange a coach bus and/or taxi transfer from airport to the designated arrival point in Manuel Antonio.

Participants missing the designated group arrival transfer are responsible for checking in during business hours at the designated arrival point on the scheduled date of arrival and are responsible for all transfer arrangements and costs. 

On the group departure date, Maximo Nivel will arrange a group departure transfer from the designated departure point in Manuel Antonio to the airport for group flight participants.

If the group flight gets canceled because it did not meet the 10 participants minimum, all participants will be responsible for their own transfer arrangements to and from the airport.

Double occupancy rooms with a host family during your three week stay in Manuel Antonio.
Double occupancy rooms at hotel in Monteverde. 
Double Occupancy rooms at hotel in San Jose.

Exact housing placements will be given upon arrival. 

OPTIONAL UPGRADES - please be sure to notify us in advance if you wish to upgrade your housing.

Optional single room at Host family in Manuel Antonio: $150 (3 weeks)
Optional single room at hotel in Monteverde: $280

Private Hotel Upgrade (1 Person per Room) - 3 weeks - MA	$1,530
Private Hotel Upgrade (2 People per Room) - 3 Weeks - MA	$765
Private Room with Host Family - 3 weeks - MA	$150
Private Apartment Upgrade (1 Person Per Apartment) - 3 weeks	$474
Private Room Hotel Upgrade in Monteverde - 4 nights	$280
Private Room Hotel Upgrade in San Jose - 3 Nights	$97

APPLICATION DEADLINE: Extended to April 19th, 2024

* This program will likely fill before the deadline. Program participants are accepted on a first come - first serve basis upon completion of the application process. We recommend you apply as soon as possible.

Please review the instructions below and gather all required materials prior to completing and submitting your online application. We are not able to accept you into the program until we have all completed required documents.

Partial applications will not be accepted. All required materials must be uploaded with the online application and all required signatures must be obtained before submission. 

Required documents to be uploaded with your online application:
1.  Recent Photo 

2. Completed Student Conduct Release Form - Click to download
The top of this form must be completed by you. Please use your full name and identify the program clearly by entering the destination and term of the program. The bottom portion of the form must be completed by the appropriate school official handling student conduct. For SBCC, this school official is the Associate Dean, Dr. Christopher Johnson, located at Campus Center CC-222. You can submit the form to Dean Christopher Johnson at ckjohnson2@pipeline.sbcc.edu.   Original signatures must be obtained. If you are not currently or have most recently been attending SBCC, you must submit the form to the school official responsible for student conduct at that school you most recently attended or are currently attending. If you are or have most recently been a High School student, your High School official must complete this form. The school official can also request a secure upload link by emailing nwalther@pipeline.sbcc.edu to submit the form.

3. Two Recommendation forms - Click to download (1 must be from a current or recent professor, 2nd recommendation can be another professor, advisor, counselor, coach or manager/ supervisor. Recommendations from family or friends can not be accepted.)

4. Unofficial Transcript. If you are a student at SBCC, you can download your transcript from your campus account. If this is your first semester at SBCC, you will need to submit a transcript from your most recent school. If you are not currently attending SBCC, please submit the unofficial transcript from your school. Phone screen shots of your transcript can not be accepted. 

Download and/or complete required documents BEFORE starting your online application:

 - Click to open AFTER you have collected all your required documents.

Please do not send documents with identifying information via email.

After review of your application, an interview with the program co-directors Professor Armstrong or Professor Saenger will be scheduled. Interviews may be held via Zoom.
 
Once you have officialy been accepted to the program, you must pay the non-refundable first deposit/ application fee to confirm you spot on the program. Please review the cancelation policy below.
 
Subsequent payments must be made directly to Maximo Nivel. Failure to make any payment when due will automatically cancel you from the program. You may request to be re-instated to the program. If space is still available at the time of your request, the outstanding payment is due immediately. Re-instatement can not be guaranteed especially when a waiting list has been established.

For questions about the application or the application process please contact the Study abroad office.

Check your e-mail frequently to find any additional deadlines for event RSVP's, legal documents, group flight reservation and other program related information once you hve been accepted in the program.

WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?

Once the study abroad office staff has received and reviewed your completed application with required documents, the program director/s of the program will reach out to you to set up an interview. The interview can be held via Zoom if you are located outside of the Santa Barbara area.

Once you successfully complete the application process, you will receive an email notification of the acceptance decision with further information and instructions.

After you get accepted into the program, you will be required to complete and submit a Program Participation Agreement and the non-refundable application fee to hold your spot on the program. Please note that your spot on the program is not confirmed until we receive the application fee.

At the time the program has met its 20 student minimum you will be notified that the program will move forward and receive the legal documents, which you are required to complete and return to the Study Abroad office by the provided deadline. At that time you can also purchase your flight ticket, enroll for the semester, and/or register for courses.

A pre-departure meeting will be held in May 2024. Attendance is mandatory for participants. Parents of participants are welcome to join the meeting.

The SBCC Study Abroad Office will communicate with you primarily by e-mail. If you change your contact information after submitting your application, it is your responsibility to update the information with the Study Abroad Office immediately by sending your new information to nwalther@pipeline.sbcc.edu

Any individual cancellation must be made in writing to nwalther@pipeline.sbcc.edu and is effective the date of the receipt by SBCC Study Abroad. 

Please refer to Maximo Nivel's Cancellation policy below. SBCC is not liable for any changes made to Maximo Nivel's policies.

The following per-participant cancellation fees will apply:

If you cancel by 60-30 days or more prior to the start of the program: Cancelation fee is $400
0-29 days prior to start of program: There will be no refund

Should the program be cancelled by SBCC after the program start date, no refund amount can be guaranteed, although Maximo Nivel may provide credit.

If at any time before or after the start of the program should a Travel Warning be issued by any official U.S. government agency advising American citizens not to travel to Costa Rica or SBCC determines that travel to Costa Rica  Maximo Nivel will make reasonable efforts to reclaim refunds or payments not yet made to providers or subcontractors.

Detailed arrrival information will be provided to all participants approximately two weeks prior to departure. Participants not able to check in during business hours at the designated arrival point may be required to make and pay for their own accommodations for the first night.

Transfer to and from the airports are not included in the program cost. If you arrive on the group flight or meet up with the group flight participants you may utilize the group flight transfer in Costa Rica. Please see additional information under "Travel"

Service Provider: SBCC teams with service provider Maximo Nivel. Maximo Nivel is the leading organization in study abroad and educational travel in Latin America. They are an internationally-accredited organization with 4 local institutes in 3 of the world’s most beautiful countries including Costa Rica.

Follow for meeting announcements, information and photos from past programs and more

Program Orientation: A mandatory pre-departure meeting will be conducted at SBCC in May 2024 and will introduce the academic course work, address general aspects of study abroad and cross-cultural learning and provide practical information regarding preparation and travel. Please check with the Study Abroad Office for the exact date before you make your travel arrangements.

An on-site orientation in Manuel Antonio will be held by Maximo Nivel staff on the day after arrival and cover practical matters  including safety in the area, as well as aspects of cross-cultural living and learning, giving program participants the tools they need to make the most of their time in Costa Rica.

Program Provider:
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Study Abroad Office
Nicole Walther
International Education Center, Room 1
721 Cliff Drive
Santa Barbara, CA 93109
Phone: (805) 730-4294
nwalther@pipeline.sbcc.edu

Information meetings will be scheduled during the semesters leading up to the application deadline. Please confirm dates, times, locations or Zoom URL's with the program directors prior to the event. Sally Saenger can be reached at sasaenger@pipeline.sbcc.edu and Geordie Armstrong can be reached at garmstrong2@pipeline.sbcc.edu