Education Abroad
Ecotoursim Adventure in Costa Rica - Faculty-led Program
Dr. Roberta Atzori | Assistant Professor - College of Business
In November 2017, a group of 13 students from the Sustainable Hospitality Management Programand other majors across campus participated in a week-long study abroad program in Costa Rica. The program has been developed and led by Dr. John Avella and Dr. Roberta Atzori, respectively Executive Director and Assistant Professor of the College of Business’ Sustainable Hospitality Management Program. The group of students and faculty was guided by the expert tour leaders of Americas Educational Programs (AEP), at the discovery of the most incredible Ecotourism country in the world.
The program included visits, professional meetings, educational activities, and leisure time in which the students experienced hands-on the concepts and best practices they learned in the Ecotourism Management course (HOSP 471: Ecotourism Management (4 units)) during the semester. The students enrolled in an ancillary class (EN 795 IP International Programs) which also allowed students from across campus and, through Extended Education, also community members and students from MPC Community College to join the program and learn the best practices of the most recognized ecotourism country in the world.
The group of students led by Drs. Avella and Atzori flew to San José, capitol of Costa Rica, where they were greeted by the warm Costa Rican welcome of the Americas Educational Programs’ tour guides. From November 18th to November 24th, the group visited Villa Blanca Cloud Forest Hotel and Nature Reserve, hiked the 1968 Trail at Arenal Volcano National Park, learned about butterflies’ life cycle and their importance for our planet at the Butterfly Kingdom butterfly conservatory, learned about coffee growing and making processes at Finca Rosa Blanca Hotel and Coffee Plantation, enjoyed the beauty of Costa Rican pacific coast at Coco Beach, experienced a rush of adrenaline by ziplining across the rainforest, and witnessed an exemplar model of ecotourism at Punta Islita hotel and village.
The program will continue in the years to come, with the second edition taking place in the Summer of 2019. As a result of what was learned on the 2017 trip, the agenda has expanded to include even more sites of great ecotourism interest, such as Manuel Antonio National Park, located in Costa Rica’s central Pacific coast and renowned for its exemplar conservation and sustainability efforts. Students and their families and friends, and alumni and members of the community are welcome to join the Sustainable Hospitality team at the discovery of ecotourism in Costa Rica in the Summer of 2019.
