2009 Study Tour to Costa Rica

A group of 12 Siena College students travelled to Costa Rica in January 2009 on a 10-night non-credit study tour with Deborah Kelly, assistant professor of management. In addition to experiencing the food, language and social interaction within a different culture, students learned about the global eco-tourism industry firsthand. The students, respresenting all three schools at Siena, participated in various eco-tourist adventures (such as horseback-riding, canopy zip-lining and riding a water slide through the forest.) They learned about the history, politics and economy of Costa Rica through various lectures. The group stayed in the Guanacaste (Pacific North) province of Costa Rica in an eco-friendly resort at Playa Panama.

They also took a day trip into Nicaragua, where they visited the Masaya volcano, the Santiago Crater and the city of Granada. While visiting Nicaragua, these Siena students participated in a service project at a Catholic Mission, delivering gifts of books and toys to children in a small, rural community in need. This is the third year that this study tour has been offered.