SARANAC — A weeklong educational trip to Costa Rica is expected to enrich the lives of a group of Saranac Central School students and members of the community.
The excursion, planned for April 2013, is hosted by EF tours, which stands for Education First. Crickett Thomas, a tour director for EF, will supervise the trip to Costa Rica.
"This is not a hang-out-by-the-pool kind of trip," Thomas said to a group of high-school students, community members and parents at a recent informational meeting. "You will learn things you cannot learn in a textbook."
The expedition will reveal the Costa Rican culture, which is very different from what can be found in the North Country.
"Every day is jam-packed with lots to do, and there will be a tour director with us 24/7," Thomas said.
"Students will break out of their shell, which is a big part of what educational travel is all about," Thomas said. "It's about working with groups."
According to Thomas, anyone can join up to 110 days prior to departure, but the pricing will be different, increasing as time passes. Currently, the trip is $1,659 for high-school students and $2,327 for adults. The cost includes airfare, eight nights in a hotel, transportation, three meals a day, a full-time tour director and a guided sightseeing tour.
Theresa Figoni, a Spanish teacher at Saranac High School, is excited for the trip.
"The motto in Costa Rica is 'pura vida!'" she said with a shout. "It means 'pure life.'"
One of the first things the travelers will be able to do is visit the Arenal region, where they will visit an active volcano that is erupting and has natural springs at its base.
At Monteverde, they will participate in a canopy adventure and plant a tree in the EF reserve, and they will also have the option of horseback riding on the beach. According to Figoni, Monteverde is one of her favorite places "because of the cloud forest. You can hike up, and the weather will be completely different."
A zip-line adventure is included in the trip, and travelers will also see the Central Pacific Coast and Manuel Antonio National Park.
"You know, we have zoos here, but seeing wildlife in its natural habitat is just so special," Figoni said.
Participants will also get the chance to visit a school and speak with the teachers and students.
"It's always important to see how education is delivered in other countries," Thomas said.
Thomas told a story about a girl who had packed way more than she needed and ended up paying the price by having to leave some of her things behind.
"I cannot say it enough: Pack lightly. Pack lightly. Pack lightly. This is an educational trip, not a fashion show," she told students.
At the informational session for the excursion, Thomas showed the crowd several screen-saver-type photos of Costa Rica.
"We have these pictures up so you can see that you can have your own (photos) with you in there," Thomas said.
"When you come back, it always takes time to let it settle, everything you did," Figoni said. "When you have time to digest it, you realize how fabulous it really all was."
