Information for term Women in STEM for Environmental Action
Application deadline, and cost information.
Overview
Click to OpenFind inspiration and environmental solutions working with women in STEM in the rainforest, farm, and laboratory.
Explore science, technology, engineering, and math with inspiring women. Collaborate to develop an Action Plan in support of environmental sustainability—apply engineering skills to design a mushroom shed or use biological data to create a natural pesticide. It’ll be easy to find inspiration when living on CIEE’s eco-campus at the edge of Costa Rica’s famous Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve. Spanning 150 acres with a fully functioning farm, labs, library, and nature trails, the campus is the perfect outdoor laboratory for STEM and experiential learning. What’s more, brilliant and passionate women professionals in various STEM fields will mentor you throughout.
Along the way, have fun learning Spanish, lending a hand on the farm, preparing (and sampling!) Costa Rican dishes, engaging in folkloric dances with a group of local teens, and being constantly amazed with the wildlife around you.
Trips away from campus bring you even more of the natural beauty of Costa Rica, from the impressive El Tigre waterfalls, to the picture-perfect Tenorio volcano, to the magical turquoise waters of RÃo Celeste, and more.
Follow our Travels:
The Take-Aways
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REAL-WORLD EXPERIENCE
Conduct science research, survey local flora and fauna, and gain engineering, math, and tech skills. Participate in an Environmental Sustainability Challenge and come home with an Action Plan showing your recommendations.
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CREDENTIALS FOR YOUR FUTURE
Topics for your college essays, experience to inform your future career, an Action Plan that showcases your skills in STEM, and service learning hours documenting your engagement with the community.
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LIFE SKILLS AND NEW FRIENDSHIPS
Return with greater self-confidence, independence, and improved communication skills. Enjoy a broader worldview and friends of different backgrounds from across the U.S.
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HOURS OF EXPERT INSTRUCTION
45 -
HOURS OF SERVICE LEARNING
12 -
LIFE-CHANGING EXPERIENCE
1
Location & Culture
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The Destination
Welcome to Costa Rica, to its rugged mountains, dramatic volcanoes, lush forests, and incredible biodiversity.
Although Costa Rica covers only 0.03% of the planet’s surface, it contains over 5% of the world’s biodiversity. Its natural wealth, both in species and ecosystems, is the reason scientists from around the globe come to conduct research in this tiny Central American country. Cloud forests, one of the most unique and wondrous of all ecosystems, are found along Costa Rica’s northwestern mountaintops at Monteverde. It is here, the epicenter for biodiversity, sustainability, and scientific discovery, where you will live and research for three weeks.
Costa Rica is also a world leader in environmental sustainability. It currently runs on 100% renewable electricity and is actively working toward a national goal of carbon neutrality. The Costa Rican who formulated the national decarbonization plan is Andrea Meza, former Minister of Environment and Energy and one of many women leaders with a STEM background.
CULTURAL AWARENESS
CIEE wants all our students to feel welcomed, supported, and empowered to succeed while studying abroad. Local CIEE staff have provided details about conditions and cultural attitudes that students with specific identities might encounter in Monteverde.
Daily Life
Click to OpenDaily Life
Monday–Friday
Each day offers a balance between interactive instruction and cultural activities with time on your own, too. Morning classes and afternoon activities may swap places.
- Hearty breakfast at the dining hall
- Hands-on classes and mentoring from women scientists
- Hot lunch at the dining hall
- Outdoor activities, community service, or cultural workshops
- Dinner at the dining hall
Weekends
- Overnight or day excursions to top natural attractions
- Quality time with friends
Check out the blog posts to discover more about daily life and excursions on program.
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Residencies on the CIEE Monteverde Campus, shared rooms with other Global Navigators
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1 Program Leader for every 12 students and support from local staff
Weekly Learning Goals
Week 1
Click to OpenExplore the basics of sustainability and biodiversity, compute ecological footprints, and deploy camera traps to interpret wildlife data. Learn about the UN Sustainable Development Goals and work in groups on an Action Plan to address a local challenge.
Week 2
Click to OpenInvestigate nutrient cycles, participate in composting and tree planting, and explore different types of tropical habitats. Visit local women-run farms to learn sustainable practices and get inspiration from accomplished women guest speakers who work in STEM.
Week 3
Click to OpenDo a BioBlitz with a female STEM professional. Present your group’s Action Plan, including goals, deliverables, and next steps.
Program Blogs
Click to OpenProgram Blogs
Activities
Click to OpenTake a Tour of CIEE's Monteverde Campus
Sample Activities
Just imagine all the fun you’ll have!
- Tube over rapids down the gushing RÃo Celeste. Exhilarating and 100% carefree!
- Go on a guided night walk in the forest. Shhh! You’ll hear chirping, singing, gurgling, and rustling all around you.
- Zipline above the tree canopy, ride horses up a mountain, and cross hanging bridges through the cloud forest—you just might see howler monkeys, macaws, sloths, and maybe even a puma!
- Follow a path through the lush forest to El Tigre waterfalls and swim, if you dare, in the cold water.
- Discover a climate-friendly cosmetics farm and handcraft soap with natural ingredients.
Please note activities are based on past programs and subject to change at CIEE's discretion to adapt to local circumstances and participant feedback. Our goal when arranging activities is always to enhance your experience.
Dates & Fees
Click to OpenDates & Fees
ELIGIBILITY
- Program open to current high school Freshmen, Sophomores, Juniors, and Seniors.
- Program not open to male-identifying students.
- For scholarship eligibility requirements, please check our Scholarship page.
- This program involves engaging in moderate- to high-intensity physical activities, such as hiking, and extended observational time outdoors.
APPLICATION FEE
$25
Program scholarships and tuition include iNext Travel Insurance, but do not cover the cost of flights. Find additional details about what’s included with your tuition.
More questions? Find answers, get application support, sign up for virtual presentations or contact us.
Program |
Application Due |
Start Date |
End Date |
Costs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Summer Session I 2023 3 weeks | May 2, 2023 | Jun 18, 2023 | Jul 8, 2023 |
$5,050 |
| Summer Session II 2023 3 weeks | May 16, 2023 | Jul 9, 2023 | Jul 29, 2023 |
$5,050 |
Looking for funding?
What's Included
Click to OpenWhat's Included
Ready to change your life?
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