A two-day orientation session, conducted in San Jos at the beginning of the program, introduces students to the country, the culture, and the academic program and provides practical information about living in Costa Rica and the Monteverde community. It includes both structured activities and independent sightseeing.
Students attend lectures, tour museums, and purchase last-minute supplies.
At the conclusion of the orientation, program participants begin the field trip. In order to explore firsthand the various ecosystems not found in Monteverde, a field trip may include a visit to Santa Rosa National Park, a dry tropical forest famed as a center for studying the regeneration of deforested regions. The park is also a sanctuary for the endangered Pacific Ridley sea turtle. The program begins and ends in San Jos the capital, located in the Valle Central. Participants are encouraged to participate in the many activities taking place in the Monteverde community.