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Costa Rica: For Accepted Students

Program and Travel Information

Forms & Waivers required for Global Programs

• Instructions for Students and Parents
• Pre-College Global Programs Acceptance Form
• Submission Form for Travel Itinerary and Emergency Contact Information
• Immunization History Form (doctor’s signature required)
• Medical Authorization Form
• Disability and Medical Accommodations Form (as applicable)
• iACG Release and Waiver
• Copy of valid passport bio/photo page

Send all documents to:
Attn: Global Programs
Brown University
Continuing Education
200 Dyer St./Box T
Providence, RI 02912

Pre-Departure Orientation

A web conference program orientation is scheduled for Thursday, May 30, 2012 at 7:00 pm.

Additional information on how to access will be emailed prior to the web conference.

Booking Your Flights

Sunday, July 21, 2013 – Arrive in Liberia Daniel Oduber Quirós (LIR) International Airport (arrive by 11am and 3pm)
Saturday, August 10, 2013 – Depart from Liberia Daniel Oduber Quirós (LIR) International Airport (depart between 1pm and 6pm)

Once your flight is booked, submit your itinerary and emergency contact(s) to:

• Submission Form for Travel Itinerary and Emergency Contact Information

If your flight arrives/departs outside of the arrival/departure window as stated above, please contact us at (401) 863-7900 or email summerabroad@brown.edu as soon as possible to confirm that your arrival/departure can be accommodated.

Please note that if you are arriving/departing outside of the program dates, we cannot provide accommodations pre/post program.

Facebook Group Page

We have created a Student Facebook Group to provide a forum for students to connect directly with each other to arrange travel to Costa Rica. To access, the student must be a Facebook member. Visit Global Programs in Costa Rica 2013 and request to join. This is a private group accessible only for students officially enrolled in the Costa Rica program. Members must be approved by the group administrator.

Airport Pick-up and Transfer

• Students are met at Liberia Daniel Oduber Quirós International Airport  by Brown staff for transfer to Santa Rosa National Park. After students claim their luggage and go through Customs, they will connect with program staff at the ARRIVALS area.
• If your flight is delayed or canceled, contact Marian Thorpe, On-Site Coordinator.
• At the end of the program, students are transferred from the Monteverde Institute to Liberia Daniel Oduber Quirós International Airport and escorted through the airport until the security gates.

Course Materials List

Students are not required to purchase any course textbooks. All material will be provided on-site and/or available on-line. More information on how to access materials on-line will be provided before your departure.

Packing List

Please be very conservative in packing: bring only what you really need, and leave the rest at home. There is very limited space on the program vehicles and in the rooms and tents where we are staying.

Required items:

• Passport
• Round-trip ticket
• Copies of important documents -- passports, credit cards, etc. (Leave a set of copies at home. Bring another set with you and store them separately from the originals)
• Insurance policy # and name
• Credit card/debit card – check with your bank to ensure that your pin will work 
  in Costa Rica (Visa and Mastercard most widely accepted)
• Emergency personal contact information
• Personal journal
• Field notebook
• Pens, pencils
• Watch (waterproof or moisture resistant)
• Hiking boots (if purchased new, break them in for a couple of days before the program)
• 7 pairs of good quality boot socks (Smart Wool, etc.; sock liners are optional)
• Swim suit
• Daypack (the same as backpacks used to carry books at school – this will be used to carry field equipment during daily hikes)
• Canteens or water bottles (to carry 2 L of water)
• Sunblock
• Sunglasses
• Hat with a good brim for sun protection
• Towel

Recommended items:

• Books for pleasure reading
• Binoculars – (7x35 or 8x42, preferably water resistant)
• One change of nice (or at least clean) clothes for nights out
• Frisbee
• Playing cards
• Snacks (anything you'll especially miss)
• Compass (an inexpensive one)
• Tissues
• Hand lens
• Travel alarm clock
• Silica gel (to keep cameras dry)
• Sunburn lotion (i.e. aloe for afterburn)
• Insect repellant (only 1 container is necessary)
• Calamine or other anti-itch cream
• Flip flops/sandals (for beach and shower)
• Tennis shoes and socks for dorms
• Bandanas
• Toiletries (e.g. soap, shampoo, toothbrush and paste, etc.)
• 3 pairs cotton or cotton/polyester pants (note: jeans are NOT recommended as they tend to dry out VERY slowly)
• 7-8 T-shirts
• 2 long sleeve cotton shirts (light button-downs are good for bug/sun protection)
• a long sleeved t-shirt or wicking shirt to go snorkeling in
• 2 pairs of shorts
• Plenty of underwear and socks
• Rain jacket or poncho
• Light fleece or sweatshirt
• Spare pair of glasses/contact lenses
• Camera
• Flashlight (and extra bulb)
• Extra batteries for camera, flashlight
• Plastic bags (small and larger ziploc bags to keep items dry in daypack)
• Trash bags (to keep items dry in your large backpack)
• Personal medications

What Not to Bring

We recommend that students do not bring laptops or valuable electronics. Belongings will likely be exposed to high temperatures and high humidity. Computers will be available to students on site when required for coursework.

CELL Phones and Communication with Families

We recommend that students carry a cell phone that can be used during travel to/from Costa Rica. The BELL program phone has a U.S. number, so an international service plan is NOT required to contact us.

Families may contact us at any time during the program in the event of an emergency using the U.S. number as well.
We will send an email to parents confirming that the full group has arrived in Santa Rosa National Park. We will also send email updates from the group throughout the program. Students will have access to email on several occasions throughout the course.
Cell phones are NOT required during the program. Letting go of the frequent connection to phone, internet and social media helps us form a community and adjust to a new environment and culture more quickly; we ask students who do have phones to limit their use. Cell phone reception in the field is limited.

Students who would like to make and receive international calls during the program will need an international plan and should check with their service provider to ensure that their phones will function in Costa Rica.

HTH Insurance

Each student participating in a Summer@Brown Global Program is automatically enrolled in the HTH Worldwide health insurance plan which provides service and protection in the event a student becomes ill or injured while abroad. Students will be emailed instructions on how to register for the insurance plan.