A Taste of Adventure with Local Impact!

Ready to step outside your comfort zone and experience something new? Discover programs are perfect for high school students seeking a short, immersive service‑learning experience.

Program Snapshot:

• 2 weeks abroad — a focused, impactful experience.
• All students live together in the same community, with staff present 24/7 for guidance, safety, and support.
• Live with a host family and experience daily life in your community.
• Volunteer alongside local youth through service projects and recreational activities.
• Hands‑on learning opportunities — from beach cleanups to environmental workshops.
• No Spanish required — just bring curiosity and a sense of adventure.
• Earn 12 service hours per week while making a difference.

Discover programs give you the chance to immerse yourself in a new culture, build friendships, and take your first steps toward becoming a global leader.

Go Further. Build Connections. Explore What Matters.

If you’re a high school student ready for something deeper than a typical trip abroad, Explore programs offer 3–3.5‑week adventures that blend service, leadership, and cultural exchange.

Program Snapshot:

• 3 to 3.5 weeks abroad — a meaningful, extended experience.
• Live with a host family in a small group of volunteers.
• Volunteers are divided into three groups of 6–7 students, each placed in a different community.
• Each group has one staff member based in their community, who is present about 80% of the time to provide guidance and support.
• Work side‑by‑side with local youth on service projects that matter to the community.
• Strengthen your Spanish skills through daily immersion.
• Complete 20 service hours per week while contributing to local initiatives.
• Balance group travel activities with independent experiences in your host community.

Explore programs are designed for young leaders who want more than a vacation — they’re challenging, impactful, and unforgettable.

Live the Experience. Lead the Change.

Immerse programs offer the deepest level of cultural integration, independence, and leadership development for high school students ready to dive in headfirst. Based on the historical AMIGOS model, these programs give students the chance to truly live and lead in their host communities.

Program Snapshot:

• 4 to 6 weeks abroad — the most immersive AMIGOS experience.
• Live with a host family in Latin America.
• 2–3 volunteers per community, building deep relationships with local families and neighbors.
• Students plan their own daily schedules, making this a highly self‑driven experience.
• Collaborate on community‑led service projects designed and implemented with your host community.
• Earn 25 service hours per week while making a tangible impact.
• Project supervisors complete traditional AMIGOS “routes,” visiting volunteers once per week for 24–48 hours.
• Strong support combined with independence — volunteers shape real projects from the ground up.

Immerse programs are designed for students who want to take ownership of their experience, grow into confident, connected, and compassionate global citizens, and lead meaningful change alongside their communities.

Where Curiosity Meets Conservation!

Designed for younger explorers ready for their first taste of international service‑learning, the Middle School program invites students to discover Costa Rica’s stunning biodiversity while making a real impact.

Program Snapshot:

• 2 weeks abroad — a guided, supportive experience.
• Students live together in group housing (no host families).
• Staff are present 24/7 on site, ensuring safety and support throughout the program.
• Travel between two regions: the rolling hills near Chirripó National Park and the coastal biodiversity hotspot near Marino Ballena National Park.
• Work with two local partner agencies dedicated to conservation.
• Hands‑on service projects: reforestation, trail maintenance, beach cleanups, and setting up a nursery for baby sea turtles.
• Earn 24 service hours through meaningful environmental work.
• Practice Spanish in daily interactions and connect with local youth through cultural exchange.
• Build lifelong memories with a group of fellow young volunteers in a safe, supportive environment.

The Middle School program is the perfect first step toward becoming a globally minded leader, combining adventure, service, and cultural connection in a highly guided setting.