THE SCHOOL AND LOCATIONS
The Institute for Spanish Language Studies has a program which we can recommend for those students who want more of a camp atmosphere. These are two week programs with adventure activities, intensive Spanish classes, adventure tours and surf lessons, with accommodations in a hotel.
There are three camp locations:
Costa Rica – Playa Dominical (central Pacific coast) and Playa Tamarindo (northern Pacific coast)
Mexico – Puerto Escondido (Pacific coast of Mexico at far end of Mexican Riviera)
Students can choose location depending or dates or can choose to attend two programs consecutively.
THE COURSE
Three hours per day of Spanish classes with professional teachers. There are no more than 7 students in a level, and students are placed at a level based upon an oral and written exam. There are also visits outside the classroom with teachers to markets, fruit stands, the beach and into town. Classes are conducted totally in Spanish.
There are three surf lessons per week with other opportunities for practice.
ACTIVITIES
There is a full schedule of adventure excursions in each location. These include, as examples:
Mexico location:
Playa Estacahuite Snorkeling Tour
Chacagua Wildlife Refuge Weekend Tour
Turtle Observation Tour
Waterfall Finca Santa Fe Tour
Atotonilco Horseback and Hot Springs Tour
Costa Rica locations:
Zip Line through rainforest canopy
Horseback riding to Nauyaca Falls
Isla Cano National Park Tour
Canopy Climb to Top of Rainforest
Tour of Cartago, colonial capital
Rincon de la Vieja National Park Tour
Isla Catalina Nature Preserve Snorkeling Trip
Sea Kayaking Tour
Tour of Alajuela
ACCOMMODATION
Accommodation in this program is exclusively in hotels, in shared rooms with roommates requested or assigned by the program.
Puerto Escondido, Mexico: Hotel Santa Fe
The hotel has sixty spacious, air conditioned rooms. On site is one of the best restaurants in Puerto Escondido where many of the program’s meals will be service. Students will be housed in Standard rooms with single beds. Each room has a private bath and balconies. http://www.hotelsantafe.com.mx
Playa Tamarindo, Costa Rica: Hotel Tropicana
One of Tamarindo’s most popular hotels and very conveniently located at the beginning of town and right across the street from the beach. Students will spend much of their time relaxing by their large and well maintained pool. Each room has two beds, private bath, air-conditioning and a balcony. Buffet breakfast will be served every morning in their full service restaurant as well as one other meal each day. Many rooms have views of the ocean, just 50 yards away. http://www.tropicanacr.com/
Playa Dominical, Costa Rica: Villas Río Mar Resort
This full service resort is nestled between the Río Baru and the coastal mountains, which are covered in lush rainforest. Its over 12 acres of grounds are covered with beautifully landscaped gardens. There are 10 bungalows, offering 4 rooms, each with private terraces and hammocks. At the center of the compound is the large swimming pool. The large and well appointed restaurant has a definite tropical feel with its high thatched roof and tropical woods. There is even a tennis court. Each of the bungalows will be shared between two people. There are four bungalows per group. Both the inside and outside of each bungalow is engineered to stay cool in the tropical Costa Rican weather. http://www.villasriomar.com/
TYPICAL SCHEDULE (Costa Rica example)
Sunday, June 18th, July 2nd or July 16th
9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m., WELCOME! Students arrive in San Jose and are taken to Hotel Rosa del Paseo. 7:00 p.m., Welcome to Costa Rica dinner at a local restaurant Maria Bonita with typical Costa Rican food and entertainment.
Monday, June 19th, July 3rd or July 17th
6:00 a.m., Wake up for River Rafting on the Rio Pacuare.
At the river, students receive a half an hour of training in how to raft, along with safety tips and emergency procedures. Once on the river, students will experience some of the best rafting in Costa Rica over class two, three & four rapids.
5:00 p.m., Students will be given a Spanish evaluation to determine their ability in the language and to place them into the correct class levels. 7:30 p.m., Dinner at local restaurant Machu Picchu.
Tuesday, June 20th, July 4th or July 18th
8:30 a.m., Transportation by minibus to Playa Dominical.
2:30 p.m., Spanish Classes begin.
5:30 p.m., Return to hotel with time to get unpacked, swim at the pool and get to know their surroundings. Before dinner, there will be a tour of the facilities.
7:30 p.m. Welcome to Dominical dinner at hotel restaurant.
Wednesday, June 21st, July 5th or July 19th
9:30 a.m., Surf Lessons! Students that are already experienced surfers will be shown the different breaks and the individual characteristics of the beach and surf. All other students will be taught how to surf from the beginning on the sand. Students who have not brought their own boards will be provided with one. 12:00 p.m., , Lunch at a beachfront restaurant.
1:00 p.m., Free time to continue surfing or swim at the pool or study Spanish (you can even get a massage)
2:30 p.m. - 5:30 p.m., Spanish classes at the school’s campus with local instructors.
7:00 p.m., Dinner at a local restaurant in town.
8:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m., Free time and study period.
Thursday, June 22nd, July 6th or July 20th
9:00 a.m. Meet at the beach to continue surf lessons. Experienced surfers will again go out with instructors and beginners will continue with their lessons.
12:00 p.m., Lunch at the hotel.
2:30 p.m., Spanish classes.
5:30 p.m., Free time to hang out at the beach or return to hotel to swim or study Spanish.
7:30 p.m., Dinner at local restaurant in town.
9:00 p.m., Return to hotel.
Friday, June 23rd, July 7th or July 21st
9:00 a.m., Depart for Surfing at Playa Ventanas where the experienced surfers will surf on their own, while those still learning will continue their lessons. Playa Ventanas is one of the most beautiful beaches in Costa Rica.
12:00 p.m., Lunch at the hotel
2:30 p.m., Spanish classes.
7:30 p.m. - 10:00 p.m., , Dinner at local restaurant followed by free time.
Saturday, June 24th, July 8th or July 22nd
8:00 a.m., Depart by bus to the town of Sierpe to catch boat transportation to the Divine Dolphin Eco Lodge. 12:00 p.m., Lunch at the lodge after time to get settled in.
1:30 p.m., Corcovado National Park, one of the most biologically diverse places on earth.
4:30 p.m., Everyone will return to the lodge to swim or relax
7:00 p.m., Dinner at the lodge.
8:30 p.m. - 11:00 p.m., Bonfire on the beach after dinner with music and games, with free time until lights out at 11pm.
TRAVEL AND ARRIVAL
Round trip airfare is included in the cost of this program.
For Costa Rica students fly into San Jose. For Mexico students fly into Huatulco.
The US hub cities are: San Francisco, Los Angeles, Phoenix, Denver, Houston, Dallas, Chicago, New York, Philadelphia & Miami. Students not in a hub city have two choices. They can have ISLS book the flight, which may incur an additional cost or they can receive a $400 discount and purchase their own tickets. If outside one of our designated hubs, we will need to have the closest airport departure city. The difference in price of the ticket will be paid for by the parent. ISLS will decide the best flight, departure and return dates and times, airport, airline, class of seating and number of connections. Parents having frequent flyer miles on particular airlines can request that their son or daughter fly on that airline, but the final decision will be made by ISLS. Each round trip airline ticket will be reserved and a seat secured upon receipt of this registration form. Once the ticket is purchased there will be no refund of the ticket price if the program is cancelled. We will send out all information on the booked itinerary as well as any and all restrictions. All students attending the Puerto Escondido camp are required to fly into Huatulco on Continental Airlines. Students purchasing their own tickets or using frequent flyer miles are required to be on the same flight as all other students. Any questions about these tickets or provisions should be directed to Language Link as soon as possible.
Additionally, if the student is 14 years of age at the time of his or her program, they will need to sign up for the unaccompanied minor program of the airline they will be flying on. Most airlines charge between $60 and $90 each way for this service. This price is NOT included in the price of the program and is paid by the parent. If or student when he or she arrives. Students 15 and older are not considered minors and do not need this program. There is an exit tax charged in both countries. Each student will have to pay $26.00 USD in Costa Rica and $44.00 USD in Mexico. This is NOT part of the program cost.
AGES ACCEPTED
14 to 17 years
REGISTRATION
This program requires a special registration form. Please request the form from Language Link. The deposit required at the time of registration is $500, with the balance due 30 days before arrival.
DATES
Each program is two weeks in length, and students may take two sessions.
Playa Dominical: June 18, July 2, July 16
Playa Tamarindo: June 18, July 2
Puerto Escondido: July 22
FEES
The price for the 2007 Teen Summer Spanish and Surf Camp is $3,200.00 for a two week period. This price is virtually all inclusive which includes the following:
Airfare from selected major hubs in the continental United States. (US hub cities are listed above
All activities and tours with bilingual guides
Three half day surf lessons
Use of surfboards
All lodging & meals (3 per day)
Spanish instruction including classes & materials (30 hours)
All transportation
Health and travel insurance
Students will need very minimal spending money as all essentials are covered
REFERENCES – Note that this is a new program for Language Link representation, and these references did not have their trip arranged by Language Link.
Kimberly McLaughlin (daughter, Kassidy), VA, kmclaughlin@worldaccess.com
Ora Botwinick (daughter, Talia), OR, oranaomib@comcast.net
Sandy Isham (son, Collin), KS, ishamsandy@aol.com
Tracy Dillon (daughter, Anna), RI, tnt9@verizon.net
Nancy Panvini (son, Sam), CA, npanvini@aol.com
Donald Livsey (daughter, Jordan), CA, dlivsey@mail.cho.org
Erika Sertich (son, Chris), TX, chrissertich@yahoo.com
Bill Woodson (daughter, Erica), OH, bwoodson@popnetworks.net
Debbie Austin (son, Tom), NM, deb@officealternatives.com
Jackie Boberg (son, Alex), CA, jackie@boberg.com
Debbie Filkins (son, Walter; daughter, Jessica), RI, Filkins@verizon.net
Bernadette Millot (son, Xavier), MD, betiennemillot@worldbank.org
Lena Frumin (daughter, Alice), DC, mlfrumin@rcn.com
Robin Zill (daughter, Aubrey), NC, robin@thespacenter.com
Janet Jobert (son, Jessie), jj.jj@mindspring.com
Marci DeBock (son, Dylan), TX, marciadebock@hotmail.com
Julie Diers (son, Lucas), CO, jdiers@mesa.k12.co.us
 

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