High School June Trip – Costa Rica

Lying so close to the equator, Costa Rica enjoys a tropical climate year-round.with temperatures in the 70s and 80s (F). Typically May-October is the rainy or wet season and November-March the dry season, however regions will vary according to elevation and other environmental factors — the Pacific coastline tends to be dryer and warm, the cloud forests almost always wet. Everywhere is quite humid. San Jose, capital city, is at slight elevation and enjoys among the most consistent and temperate conditions year round, while Providencia is subject to big swings throughout the day with cool mornings, warm days, and breezy evenings. It is important toring layers and — during the wet months — be prepared to get wet!

The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends the following immunizations for travelers to Costa Rica.

• Up-to-date boosters for routine vaccinations (measles, mumps, chicken pox, etc.)
• Hepatitis A & B
• Typhoid
• Rabies
• Yellow Fever*

Zika has been reported in Costa Rica and the CDC recommends travelers to Costa Rica exercise rigrorous prevention against mosquito bites..The mosquitoes that spread Zika usually do not live at elevations above 6,500 feet (2,000 meters) and travelers whose itineraries are limited to those regions are at less risk of getting Zika from a mosquito (that would include the mountainous area of Dota where most of our service projects are located, though not the beaches). Many of the vaccinations should be started four to eight weeks in advance so please check with your healthcare provider or Travel Medicine clinic. Please refer to the CDC website or your doctor for more information on necessary vaccinations and insect repellents. *There is no risk of yellow fever in Costa Rica. The government of Costa Rica requires proof of yellow fever vaccination only if you are arriving from a country with risk of yellow fever (not the US).

It is typically warm, but quite rainy in the Spring and Summer in Providencia. Expect to get wet and muddy. Pack light clothing with layers and rain gear as the evenings and early mornings are cool, midmorning work hours are warm, and the afternoons are often rainy. While you’re working, plan to wear clothes that you don’t mind getting dirty, stained, or damaged. Also, wear very sturdy shoes or boots due to the mud and uneven terrain. Sandals are fine during free time but not during work time. Below are some other suggested items to bring along.

• Light clothing with layers
• Shorts, jeans, tshirts, sweatshirts
• Rain protection (jacket, boots, umbrella)
• Sturdy shoes for mud and uneven terrain
• Work gloves
• Spanish/English dictionary
• insect repellant (very important)
• Flashlight
• Sunscreen, hat & sunglasses
• Ear plugs (if you’re a light sleeper)
• Beach towel & bathing suit
• Over the counter medicine (aspirin, ibuprofen, Pepto Bismol, Imodium AD, band-aids) !
• Snacks (granola bars, trail mix, etc.)
• Journal/notebook !
• Camera
• Passport
• Spending money

Spending Money: Nearly all of your in-country costs are covered on this trip, but there are a few things that you are responsible for : extra snacks and drinks, souvenirs and gifts, social spending at the beach, airport exit tax ($29) and lunch on the way to San Jose from the beach will all be up to you. We recommend approximately $200, depending on your shopping and spending habits.

Participants often ask what they can bring with them to support the communities they are serving. Here are some ideas about how you can contribute.

• Most of our time in Costa Rica will be spent working in schools with kids from impoverished homes. These kids/schools often lack sufficient clothing, toys, art supplies, and books. If you have the capacity to collect bring such items with you, it would be greatly appreciated, though is not at all expected. You may also wish to consider small gifts for the directors and caregivers at these facilities, including such things as t-shirts, hats, sweets and other speciality items representing where you live.

• Monetary donations are most helpful. If each of us could raise at least $100, we would be able to send 1-2 teens to school for an entire year, as well as improve the physical structure of the local elementary school.

Due to the humanitarian nature of this trip, you may find creative ways to ask friends, relatives, colleagues, neighbors, business owners, etc. for monetary and in–kind donations. We can provide you with two documents, which may aid you in your efforts. These Google Docs are read-only. To be able to edit them into your own version, you will first need to make a copy

1. In-Kind & Monetary Donations Letter for Store Managers/Business Owners
2. In-Kind & Monetary Donations Letter for Friends, Relatives, Neighbors

All tax-deductible checks can be made payable to our 501(c)(3) non-profit, Dream Volunteers, and mailed to our headquarters: Dream Volunteers, PO Box 390726, Mountain View, CA 94039.

There are many ways to fund your trip and we encourage you to think creatively. Given the nature of your service trip, others may be interested in supporting or sponsoring you or contributing to the cause. View Funding Your Trip for more ideas about financing your trip or Fundraise for how to involve others in the cause.