For two weeks, the College welcomed an intentionally diverse cohort of eight participants from France, Germany, Nigeria, Poland, the USA, and Costa Rica to engage with challenging environmental and social concepts. The course was built on the principle of Deep Ecology, a concept designed to shatter the conventional human-centered worldview. The core goal was for participants to reimagine their relationship with nature, not merely as distant observers, but as integral and interconnected beings within the vast, complex global ecosystem.
Day 1: Arrivals
Participants settle into their residences and share a space to get to know one another.
Day 2: The formal kick-off
Participants dive into the UWC ethos, prioritizing meaningful connections over simple introductions. Facilitators Julien, Tatiana, and Tiyamike established the values of collective learning and mutual support. The immersion quickly moves from the internal community to the external world.
Day 3: Learning from the host town, Santa Ana
This is a crucial exercise in systems thinking and local observation. Students walk the streets, visit the local market and supermarket, and analyze how the community’s daily life intersects with sustainability practices. The afternoon is then filled with a burst of spontaneous cross-cultural connection, as some participants join local community members in friendly games of basketball and football. This is because the UWC mission becomes alive in shared human experiences that can unfold in any neighborhood court.
The thematic focus of the course is broad, touching on ecological interdependence, biodiversity, waste management, alternative economic models, food security, food traceability, and food sovereignty. These concepts are not taught in abstract lecture halls but in the very places where they are lived.
The commitment to Deep Ecology requires participants to understand the human element within the ecosystem, particularly through the lens of those who have sustained it for generations.
Day 5: Learning from the Indigenous Community of Quitirrisí.
This is a personal experience designed to provide each participant with the opportunity to learn directly from community members about their traditions, history, and way of life. This interaction sparks vital reflections on the significance of cultural preservation and respect, illustrating that environmental sustainability is inextricably linked to the survival of indigenous knowledge.
Day 6: Making Paca Digestora and Biofertilizers
Participants take part in a hands-on composting and planting activity in the campus’s greenhouse, where they engage in the act of nurturing the soil, and also explore regenerative practices through the preparation and use of biofertilizers. They participate in the Paca Digestora, a project that UWC has been experimenting with, which involves a block of compressed organic waste. This specific activity resonate deeply with participants, illustrating the transformative potential of simple actions. As one participant shared:
“The compost session on campus worked best for me. It gave me a wider perspective on how much food humans waste each day, and how, in most cases, that food just ends up in the dumpster, contributing to the amount of trash at landfills. However, what we did was compost it. It took not that long to do and gave me such a new perspective on how much we can do for earth that doesn’t even take us that long to do.”
Hanna – USA
Day 7: Water Conservation
The participants visit Naciente Palmichal in Acosta, a rural sustainability project focused on water conservation and community development. Students learn firsthand about local efforts to protect critical natural resources, cultivating an appreciation for the tenacity of Costa Rica’s rural communities. Back on campus, the students balance Spanish lessons with hands-on learning, including a biodigester workshop and the construction of “pacas” (natural digesters).
Days 9-11: Multi-day expedition to Monteverde.
The group travels to the pristine and world-renowned Monteverde cloud forest mountains. Nighttime visits to the frog sanctuary allow for the observation of local species, deepening an understanding of biodiversity in action. In complete hands-on activities, participants dive right into a comprehensive permaculture workshop, exploring sustainable farming and how to live in greater harmony with nature. The truly spectacular hanging bridges hike offers a shift in perspective: have you ever walked among clouds, looking down at the tree canopies? This is one of the highlight spaces that inspires reflections on the delicate balance of the natural world.
Days 11- 13: Organic Farming: from food systems to responsible consumption
Participants visit Pinar del Río Farm, an organic farm located in San Isidro de Heredia, and examine the challenges that food traceability and food sovereignty present for local producers. By experiencing and learning the complexity of crop diversification—a crucial practice for maintaining a resilient farm ecosystem—participants take action and build their own compost pile from scratch. An experience that connects academic concepts to real-world applications, supporting sustainable systems and addressing waste management.
Days 12-14: Más allá del Short Course
As the program draws to a close, the focus shifts to reflections on what comes next and how this experience can expand beyond the course. A visit to the Braulio Carrillo National Park becomes the stage for reflection amidst the sounds of the forest. In a final reflection circle, participants share how they show appreciation for the environment and for one another. And… the group also celebrates the completion of 36 hours of rigorous Spanish lessons.
Day 15: One last trip into Nature & Departures
On the last day of the course, participants visit La Paz Waterfalls Gardens near the stunning Poás Volcano region. The impact of the course does not end at the departure gate; it continues in the actions of each participant, who now also takes with them a bag full of skills and experiences.
The intentional socioeconomic diversity among participants, an essential part of the two-year UWC Costa Rica education program, also translates into the course. A cross-subsidized funding model ensures that applicants have access to financial assistance. The revenue from this course also serves as a source that supports the College Scholarship Fund and other programs. This engine of reciprocity and interconnectedness strengthens the institution’s commitment to continue offering diverse enrollment to youth based on their merit and not limit their opportunities due to their financial circumstances.
The Sustainability & Spanish Immersive Experience is therefore a fundamental tool for the College’s financial resilience, ensuring that UWC Costa Rica can continue to foster deep ecology, global change, and access to education for years to come.