COSTA RICA INTERNSHIP
CAREER EXPLORATION IN ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE
With Focus On Biodiversity & Rainforest Research
Take part in a transformational travel internship exploring the wilds and wonders of the Osa Peninsula, where you'll collaborate with field researchers, study wildlife and help protect Costa Rica's natural habitats.
Internship Overview
Embark on a dynamic 21-day internship adventure that takes you through Costa Rica, culminating in the wilds of the Osa Peninsula, where you’ll build knowledge and hands-on experience week by week. Join a dedicated group of aspiring conservationists to engage in immersive wildlife studies. Start with immersive learning in theoretical practices then be guided by expert field staff and actively contribute to ecological monitoring and habitat restoration projects. Learn about the importance of intercultural communication in environmental protection and embrace sustainable practices that are critical to becoming a good steward of the environment. This is your opportunity to explore, learn and make a lasting impact on the delicate ecosystems of Costa Rica while gaining valuable, real-world internship experience.
After three weeks in Costa Rica, you’ll wish you could stay even longer when departure day comes!
On GLA’s Costa Rica Internship: Career Exploration in Environmental Science you will:
- Engage in hands-on wildlife assessments, biodiversity surveys and data collection under the mentorship of experienced conservationists
- Contribute directly to conservation efforts through reforestation projects and habitat restoration initiatives
- Collaborate closely with expert local staff and field teams, gaining insights into the intricacies of wildlife conservation
- Embrace responsible and sustainable approaches to conservation while discovering the delicate balance between nature preservation and local community engagement
- Experience the breathtaking beauty of the Osa Peninsula’s rainforests & mangroves, forging connections with nature and like-minded peers while making lasting memories
- Earn a total of 62 internship hours throughout the course of your time on-program
Internship Menu
COSTA RICA INTERNSHIP
CAREER EXPLORATION IN ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE
Sample Itinerary
Let’s take a sneak peek at what your program experience might look like this summer! Please note that the order of activities may differ for each program session. The details provided here represent a general outline of what you can anticipate, though community service projects and activities are subject to change based on the needs of our local community partners, cultural celebrations and traditions, weather conditions and the specific requirements of the student group.
Day 1: Arrival
Fly into Denpasar, Bali’s main gateway, where GLA staff will greet you upon arrival. After collecting your luggage, you’ll travel with them to our home base in Ubud. Once settled in and everyone has arrived, we’ll begin orientation and enjoy your first Balinese dinner.
Day 2: Orientation
Om Swastiastu! In Bali, they give this greeting, which actually means, “May you be in the best of health: spiritually, physically, mentally and emotionally.” In the morning we’ll have a program orientation followed by a scavenger hunt in Ubud. In the evening, we’ll begin our Internship Curriculum led by your Internship Supervisor.
Day 3: Intro to Business, Entrepreneurship & Social Impact
After an introductory session on Business, Entrepreneurship and Social Impact, enjoy a student-favorite cultural experience. Walk through lush jungle paths and rice terraces on an herbal tour, learning how Bali’s native plants are used in traditional medicine, food and body care.
Days 4-5: Social Enterprise Site Visit & Balinese Culture
After a full day, visit Magi Farm, a social enterprise producing sustainable, high-protein animal feed. Then explore a local banjar to learn about Balinese arts, including woodcarving, offering making, gamelan, and legong dance, capped off with a world-renowned legong dance performance accompanied by gamelan music.
Days 6-7: Internship Curriculum & Cooking Class
In our next module with the Makadaya Impact Centre, we’ll explore business and community needs, branding, and marketing with a guest speaker. In the afternoon, visit an NGO tackling poverty in Bali, and in the evening, sharpen your chef skills while learning to make traditional Balinese dishes.
Days 8-9: Site Visit
After a full day, enjoy a rare tour of the Royal Palace and dinner with Prince Cok Agung, who shares how modern tourism impacts Balinese culture and traditions. You’ll have the chance to ask questions and gain firsthand insight.
On our second site visit, explore a social enterprise supporting regenerative rice farming, working with local farmers to restore traditional methods and promote biodiversity while creating positive impact through business.
Day 10: White Water Rafting & Transfer to Amed
Today we’ll head into the jungle for a whitewater rafting adventure, seeing Bali from a new perspective. After lunch, travel to the coastal town of Amed, where we’ll spend the next few days and hear from a guest speaker on financial literacy in social enterprises.
Days 11-12: Excursion to Amed: Snorkeling & Environmental Health
Travel to Amed, a quiet fishing village off the beaten path, with stops at Tirta Gangga and Bali Sehat along the way. Enjoy free time to explore before a sunrise boat ride with local fishermen and snorkeling over coral reefs. In the afternoon, assist the Bali Sehat clinic with service work, then return to Home Base for a group meal and more snorkeling time.
Day 13: Head Back to Ubud
Explore the Bali jungle on a scenic three-hour trek from a river through lush jungle to the Bali Aga village of Tenganan. Enjoy views of Mount Agung and rice paddies, with a stop at a local home to sample fresh honey and red tea, perfect for stunning photos.
Day 14: Guest Speaker & Tea Tasting
We’ll also hear from a guest speaker from the for-profit sector and get the opportunity to explore a social enterprise focused on balinese tea, having a garden tour and a tea tasking ourselves!
Days 15-18: Projects Begin
Get ready to make a real impact! After completing site visits and modules, you’ll work in groups to design innovative solutions to Bali’s social and environmental challenges. With guidance from local changemakers, you’ll present your proposal to the community, where it could be selected by a social enterprise to create jobs and lasting change.
Day 19: Surfing
Today we’ll head south to spend the day surfing in some of the most beautiful waters in Bali. Lessons will be taught by world-class instructors in an area that is well suited for beginners. South Bali is well known for being one of the top surfing destinations in the world, so this will definitely be an adventure to remember.
Day 20: Presentation of Local Business Plans to Local Community
It’s time to share your hard work and innovative ideas with the local community. After weeks of learning and planning, you’ll present your solution to a panel of social enterprises, local leaders, and community members. This is your opportunity to showcase how your project can address a real-world social or environmental issue, and potentially be selected to create lasting impact in the community.
Day 21: Departures
“Goodbye” doesn’t exist in Indonesian, so we’ll say, “See you later!” as you prepare to depart . Enjoy your last Balinese breakfast and head to the airport to begin your journey back. At the airport, GLA staff will help you check in for your flight and see you off on your trip home.
Program Map
COSTA RICA INTERNSHIP
CAREER EXPLORATION IN ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE
Program Details
Dates & Tuition
2027 Session Dates
July 10 – July 30, 2027
What's Included in Tuition
In-country transportation
Lodging
3 meals per day
Professional full-time staff and experts
24/7 parent support hotline during program
Secondary medical and evacuation insurance
Cultural activities, lectures and excursions
Pre-departure materials and support
Educational materials
to hold your spot on-program.
Program at a Glance
Program Location: Costa Rica
Program Type(s): Career Exploration: Internship, Service Learning
Every GLA Program is Backed by our 5-Point Safety System™
GLA HOME BASE:
SAFE & SECURE LODGING
CARING SUPERVISION &
EXPERT LOCAL KNOWLEDGE
SAFE
TRANSPORTATION
HEALTHY FOOD
& PURE WATER
24/7 SUPPORT &
EMERGENCY RESPONSE
Local Partner Spotlight
THE BIOSUR FOUNDATION
Our partner for this internship is an organization focused on rainforest conservation and engaging local communities. Their mission centers on protecting fragile ecosystems through land preservation and environmental education. By supporting critical wildlife habitats and promoting sustainable practices, they help safeguard the Osa Peninsula, one of the most biodiverse regions on the planet.
The Program Experience
Career Exploration
Discover the remarkable Osa Peninsula, one of the most biodiverse regions on earth. Engage in hands-on initiatives and workshops with local communities, gaining essential conservation knowledge and experience. Learn about the interdependence of nature on a local scale. You’ll also contribute to vital wildlife conservation efforts guided by expert field staff. With more than 2.5% of the planet’s biodiversity concentrated in this rainforest haven, this internship offers you the chance to emerge with practical skills and a profound appreciation for the peninsula’s unparalleled biodiversity. You’ll develop a deeper understanding of sustainable coexistence between humans and nature, shaping your path toward a future in conservation.
Before you dive into your Osa experience, you’ll engage in professor-led workshops to provide a theoretical framework for the learning we do on program. Start off with learning about the importance of intercultural communication when it comes to protecting the environmental on a global scale. Get familiarized with sustainability and climate action as it pertains to Costa Rica, to set your understanding from the get-go. And finally, learn about a design thinking method focused on faciliating change in a local way – with all this learning in the first week, you’ll be ready to dive deeper into the hands-on learning for weeks two and three.
High school internships like this one are still unique, but are becoming increasingly important for teens looking to stand out in competitive university applicant pools. This internship can also help you determine whether Environmental Science or Animal & Wildlife Conservation is a good fit for your future college education or career path.
Service Learning
Take part in a hands-on conservation journey throughout the wilderness of the Osa Peninsula. Engage with the community as you team up with local Ticos on eco-friendly initiatives. Join workshops and activities that foster a symbiotic relationship between conservation efforts and the local community. Learn practical conservation techniques through workshops led by community members and conservation guides; gain insight in how to develop ecological monitoring and restoration strategies and learn how to support data collection efforts for scientific research. Gain essential skills in sustainable practices while understanding the delicate interdependence that sustains the Osa Peninsula’s fragile ecosystems.
Adventure
Your travel internship will be filled with memorable adventures and new experiences! Explore the rainforest through guided hikes and nature walks led by experienced field staff, where you’ll encounter tropical flora and fauna and the sounds of the rainforest. Journey along the coastline to observe diverse bird life, where you will likely catch glimpses of various species of monkeys. Hike through a protected river reserve and to a breathtaking waterfall and enjoy a refreshing swim in pristine pools amidst the jungle’s beauty. Enjoy a zipline adventure and kayak through the mangroves of the Osa. Relax on an overnight beach excursion, giving yourself a break after the hard work and learning you’ll be doing; take a guided, meditative yoga course in the evening, or an energizing yoga session in the morning. Finally, go on a boat and snorkel tour to check out the diverse marine wildlife of Costa Rica’s Pacific coast.
Country Spotlight
Balance the educational focus of an urban Costa Rican college campus with the lush coastal beauty, protected nature habitats and rich conservation culture of Costa Rica’s Osa Peninsula.
Lodging: Our first Home Base is a college based in the San José province; students will stay in dormitories, sharing rooms with 2-3 other students and sharing a dorm-style bathroom per floor.
Our second Home Base is a rustic nature lodge where you’ll be surrounded by the sights and sounds of nature. Your accommodation offers a direct connection to the natural world, letting you fully experience the essence of the Osa Peninsula’s vibrant ecosystem. The simplicity of our lodge enhances the rugged beauty of the region, providing a tranquil sanctuary after each day’s adventure-filled exploration. Students will stay in shared rooms with en-suite bathrooms.
Meals: Costa Rica is known for its simple diet of rice, beans and a side of meat. The food at Home Base will reflect the traditional dietary staples of the people in Costa Rica. It will be simple, but fresh and healthy and include delicious, locally-grown fruits.
COSTA RICA INTERNSHIP
CAREER EXPLORATION IN BUSINESS & SUSTAINABILITY
Internship Details
Everything you need to know about the travel internship.
High school students who participate in this GLA travel internship in Costa Rica will develop essential leadership and career development skills, while working on initiatives centered around the United Nations’ 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development worldwide.
This is an experiential career development internship with sociological underpinnings into a specific theme and concentration in a field of interest. Interns will gain experience working in-person with a social enterprise or nonprofit host organization from around the world.
Throughout the course of your session you will complete 62 total internship hours and 36 service hours:
- Contact Hours: 52
- Self-Study Hours: 10
The outcomes of this internship are related to five main learning objectives:
- Gain a deeper understanding of your goals and your professional growth areas, as well as a deeper understanding of Costa Rica and fields related to environmental stewardship.
- Attain knowledge and understanding of recent trends, terminology and case studies within environmental conservation.
- Learn to recognize and articulate multiple perspectives within a larger social context.
- Learn to critically analyze quantitative and qualitative sources of information to make informed opinions.
- Learn to observe and analyze real places and situations where impacts and results can be interpreted and applied within context.
The 2030 United Nations Agenda for Sustainable Development serves as the framework for discussions and the self-study coursework for our student interns here in Costa Rica. During this travel internship you will focus on three SDGs, including:
- SDG 13: Climate Action
- SDG 14: Life Below Water
- SDG 15: Life on Land
Explore topics related to building the case for sustainable conservation practices.
Complete a core curriculum with your peers and through the guidance of your internship supervisor. Build your personal competitive edge, as part of a cohort of student interns working in partnership with our global nonprofit partner in Bali. Create a portfolio from completed project work to enhance your college application or future career resume.
By completing this travel internship you will earn:
- CliftonStrengths Assessment & Debrief
- Personal Mission Statement Updated
- Resume or LinkedIn Resume
- Letter of Recommendation completed by your Internship Supervisor & Internship Director
- Certificate of Completion (62 hours)
- Certificate of Service Hours (variable per internship)
- Professional Headshots for Resume or CV
- Portfolio of Evidence/Internship Log Book (if needed)
- Recommendations via Common App
Global Leadership Adventures can also provide any supporting documentation and serve as an organization of record, should you want to earn college credits for your internship.
Global Leadership Adventures is proud to partner with Hartwick College, a private liberal arts institution based in Oneonta, New York, to offer official U.S. undergraduate college credit for students who successfully complete the Career Exploration Travel Internship program.
Through this partnership, eligible students (16+) may enroll in the optional college credit add-on and earn 3 semester credits upon successful completion of the internship coursework. Upon successful completion of the internship requirements, students will receive:
- Official enrollment with Hartwick College
- Faculty evaluation and grading
- Issuance of an official college transcript
The deadline for college credit registration is May 31, 2027. Students must enroll in the college credit add-on by this date in order to be formally registered with Hartwick College.
- Accreditation: Fully accredited U.S. undergraduate credit.
- Optional Enrollment: The college credit add-on is 100% optional.
- Tuition Fee: The additional fee to earn up to three semester credits is $500.00.
- Click here to learn more.
COSTA RICA INTERNSHIP
CAREER EXPLORATION IN ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE
Photo Gallery
COSTA RICA INTERNSHIP
CAREER EXPLORATION IN ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE
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