Coasting down to Costa Rica; students travel to Central America to the “Happiest country on Earth” Pura Vida; Student travel to Costa Rica summer 2020

     In the summer of 2020, select students from North Harford will be taking a 10- day trip to Costa Rica. The trip will be led by Spanish teacher, Mrs. Jean Buttitta and environmental science teacher, Mrs. Laura O’Leary from June 30 to July 9. (This is not a HCPS sponsored trip.)

    There is a wide variety of activities students will have the opportunity to get involved in during the trip.

    “We go white water rafting, kayaking, zip lining, we plant a tree trying to recreate a corridor for a specific type of bird that is losing its habitat. We go to the beach which is a national park, we go to a cloud forest and look at the flora and the fauna, we go to either an orphanage or a school depending on the location and schedule, and we go to a volcano,” said Buttitta.

   She continues, “We go to a hot spring, which is also a waterpark, so you come down the slide and end up landing in what feels like bath water. Later, we go horseback riding on a family farm down the mountain into the hot springs that are on their property. While the kids are not riding or doing the hot springs waterslide, the la señora, the mom of the family, gives us a lesson on making empanadas.”

     Other activities include hiking and sightseeing of rainforests, sloths, toucans, volcanos, and beaches. O’Leary is specifically excited to see the diverse and exotic forms of wildlife found in the country. “I just want to be loving all of the iguanas. I just can’t imagine all of the wildlife, sloths, it’s just crazy.”

    This is the third time Buttitta has done this same itinerary. She adds that, “Past trips have gone beautifully. We have had the same tour guide both times, Daniella, who was an expert on all of the flora and fauna in Costa Rica, she knows everything.”

   Having such a good tour guide is very beneficial according to Buttitta. “She is also really good about the schedule. One time when we went, the volcano was erupting and they wouldn’t let us near it. Daniella has done this so many times that she moved that activity to another day and rearranged the activities, she really keeps us on track. She is also really wonderful with the kids.”

    Other trip leader, O’Leary, has never done this kind of thing before but has always wanted to. O’Leary says that when Buttitta first asked if she wanted to do the trip, she was quite hesitant but loved that it “sounded like the perfect liaison between spanish and environment science.”

   O’Leary loves that “every moment is planned” and that “There are so many adventurous excursions.”

   Buttitta agrees saying, “It’s a perfect combination. To practice your spanish and to learn a whole lot about the environment.”

    “Costa Rica has a huge percentage of its land here marked permanently, its protected,” said Buttitta.

   A whopping 25% of the country consists of protected forests and reserves.There are over 100 different protected sites to visit (ubelong.org).

    Buttitta continues, “Even the beach in Costa Rica is a National Park. Last time we were there, the equivalent of a park ranger, saw me picking up a seashell, and he told me to put it back, you can’t even bring it home, so it’s very very protected.”

   Costa Rica is incredibly environmentally conscious and working hard on sustainability. The country is ranked the second most environmentally sustainable country in the world, according to the World Energy Council.

   Costa Rica uses 99.2% renewable energy, 78% of that coming from hydroelectric sources and 18% coming from geothermal and wind power. This allowed the entire country to run on only renewable resources for over 75 consecutive days (ubelong.org).

    Buttitta also raves about the great food available to students on the trip. “It is wonderful food. My grandson came with me last time we went and when we got home, he said, ‘I don’t like American pineapple anymore’.”

    “There is also a lot of black beans and rice, and after a while the kids ask ‘when are we going to McDonalds?” said Buttitta. But she loves it. “Good food, fabulous coffee, the whole experience is just an adventure.”

  The total price of the trip is $2630 which includes everything. “Usually when I do the European trips, breakfast and dinner are included and for lunch they’re on their own, but for this trip, all meals, the flight, hotels, admission to everywhere we go, the fees for the kayaking and all of the other activities are included.

    “The kids don’t really need a whole lot of spending money. We do go to an artisan village as well where they can buy hand carved souvenirs,” said Buttitta.

    O’Leary adds, “I think it is a cool adventure. Not only is this a well planned trip, but it seems like there are some really cool cultural connections.”

    According to the environmental teacher, “We live in a pretty provincial area, a little place, North Harford High School, and being able to go out into the world a little bit is good for just about anybody.”

     She specifically mentions the trip to an orphanage and believes “that would just be interesting for a lot of kids.”

   She briefly explains a story about first world problems. “I remember having kids come into class back before the ag lot was paved. There was this girl who was just so mad she had to take her car into the ag lot. But she has a car, she has a parking place, she has a safe, warm school to be in. There are a lot of kids who have no idea what’s out there in this world so I think this trip is really cool for kids of any kind.”