4 – What Costa Rican province(s) does this program pass through?
4A- 5A – During the Summer Camp Leadership program, students will remain in the Alajuela province near the town of La Fortuna.  They will stay in the Heredia province for a very short period of time when they first arrive in country and the night before they depart Costa Rica.  They will also visit the San Jose, Cartago and Puntarenas provinces for short periods of time.  

5 - What immunizations do we need to get for this trip?
5A – Rustic Pathways does not make recommendations regarding immunizations.  We strongly suggest that you consult with a travel doctor or your family physician for medical recommendations based on the area where the student will be traveling (as listed above).  You can also check the Center for Disease Control website at www.cdc.gov for more information.  Yellow fever vaccinations may be required to enter Costa Rica if you have traveled to some international destinations including Peru prior to your trip to Costa Rica.  Please check the Center for Disease control website for more information.   

6 - How does this program connect to other programs?
6A – On Tuesday night students will have a final group dinner and stay the night in Heredia at the hotel. Wednesday morning students will meet with their new group and guides at the same hotel where they stayed and go off on their new program.

7 – How long is the drive from San Jose to this program?
7A—The drive from San Jose to the Leadership base is approximately 3 hours depending on weather and other driving conditions.   Students will also take some field trips during their programs of which the longest will be a 2 hour bus ride.

8 – What is the climate in the region where this program takes place?
8A—The Summer Camp Leadership program takes place in the rainforest area, a very green, humid, and “wet” area in the country.  Students should be prepared for hot, humid weather in the 80s and 90s during the day, and the daily rain shower.

9 - Is this a good program for students interested in practicing their Spanish?
9A— This program focuses mainly on leadership skills however; students will be in close contact with Costa Rican children who will only be able to speak in Spanish, making the program an excellent opportunity to practice Spanish conversational skills.

10- What service projects will I work on and how are the projects identified?
10A-. During the first two weeks of July, Costa Rican school children are on vacation, and normally, children from rural areas have no special activities or educational projects to keep them occupied during this time.  Rustic Pathways works with local teachers and principals to identify children that would most benefit from a summer camp experience and provides them with this amazing opportunity to participate in a camp run by Rustic Pathways students.
 
11 – How physically strenuous is this program?
11A- The Summer Camp Leadership program is appropriate for most physical activity levels.  Students should be prepared to actively facilitate games and sports with Costa Rican children. 

12- What costs are not included on this trip?
12A- The majority of costs associated with the program are included on this trip. Students should have extra allowance money if they wish to buy souvenirs or additional snacks or sodas from the local grocery stores. Students should bring extra money if they choose to participate in optional activities that are not included in the trip costs.

13 – What are the optional activities available at an additional cost on this program?
13A-Optional activities are:

Please note that these optional activities are subject to change.  Occasionally Rustic Pathways staff identify new opportunities throughout the summer that we feel will enhance the students overall experience.  Optional activities may also be canceled. 

14 - What kind of food will we be eating? Where?
14A— For the most part students will be eating at the base camp’s restaurant where traditional Costa Rican food will be offered daily such as rice & beans with beef, fish, chicken, pork and other local specialties (expect a lot of rice and beans!!!). When away from camp they will be eating at local restaurants and will have a variety of meals to choose from.

15 - Can we cater to specific diets?
15A-Rustic Pathways can cater to most dietary needs on this program. There will be access to vegetarian choices in the buffets. Vegan diets can be accommodated.  Please know that while we are happy to accommodate alternative diets, many of the special diets common in the United States are not common in other parts of the world and travelers must be patient and understanding in having these needs be met.  Please contact costarica@rusticpathways.com with any questions regarding special diets or allergies.

16 - Will the kids be drinking bottled water?
16A—Costa Rica water is generally potable, so students should feel comfortable drinking tap water unless otherwise advised.  They can also purchase bottles of water in the local grocery stores.  

17 - What will the accommodation on this trip be like?
17A— For the majority of the Summer Camp Leadership program, students will be living in comfortable cabins at the base outside the town of La Fortuna. The cabins are furnished and equipped with basic commodities such as running water (hot & cold), bed sheets, pillows etc.  During the white water rafting trip, they will also stay in a rustic tent base camp along the river.  All other accommodations when students are on trips outside of la Fortuna will be clean and comfortable hotels.

18.  What are the bathroom facilities?
18A- The cabins have running water, American style toilets and showers.  Hot water may not always be available.   

19 - How many girls and boys are usually on this trip?
19A – There are typically more girls than boys however the exact numbers vary from week to week

20- What is the ratio of guides to students?
20A- Rustic Pathways generally strives to maintain a ratio of approximately 1 guide for every 5 students. Our guides go through a rigorous selection process including interviews with our program managers and a full background check.

21-Is your staff qualified in First Aid?
21A-   Because safety is our number one priority, all of our programs have staff that is certified with First Aid and CPR training. Many of our guides are also qualified Wilderness First Responders, EMTs, Wilderness EMTs, or Life Guards.

22 - How often (if at all) will students be able to do laundry on this program and what will it cost?
22A—Students should pack reasonably for this program. Laundry is available once a week and the cost is $5-$10 depending on the amount of clothes.  Those that will be connecting to another program will have access to another laundry service in San Jose at the end of their program for a cost of approximately $10-$15.    
    
23 - How often will they have access to phone and internet?
23A-Students will have limited access to internet during their program when they visit the town of La Fortuna. They will be able to purchase international phone cards in Costa Rica from the guides or at local convenience stores which can be used to call home from the public phones in La Fortuna.