Co-Curricular Program
Learning From Nature and From Each Other
The Co-curricular Program at UWC Costa Rica fosters a learning environment that embodies our mission and values. Through experiential learning opportunities rooted in decoloniality, equity, diversity, and inclusion, students develop empathy and global citizenship while cultivating the passion and ability to serve humanity and the planet. Our impact tracking system allows us to focus on high-quality initiatives, ensuring alignment with our principles of learning from each other and from exploration.
Students actively engage in shaping their educational journey through experience design, curating diverse Thematic Weeks, and activities that promote intercultural understanding and personal growth. The “Conociendo Costa Rica” initiative and regular CAS activities further exemplify our commitment to experiential learning, providing students with opportunities to connect with local communities, fostering reciprocity and a deeper understanding of Costa Rican culture.
CAS Experiences
Student and institutionally proposed and led community engagement experiences on and off campus—a core requirement of the International Baccalaureate (IB). Students must complete 240 Creativity, Action, Service (CAS) hours to achieve their IB Diploma. The list of CAS Experiences changes every year depending on students' proposals.
Creativity & Sustainability
- Greenhouse
- Campus Naturalists
- Eco-Bricks
- Rethinking Waste
- Climate Action
- Graphic Novelists
- Model United Nations
- Art Appreciation
- Origami
- Chess
- Creative Writing
- Content Creation
- Music Ensemble
- Film Production
- Rhymer's Poetry
- Music
- CASfeteria: Regenerative food systems & traceability
Physical Activities
- Yoga
- Crossfit
- Frisbee
- Cycling
- Table Tennis
- Volleyball
- Football (Soccer)
- Basketball
- Aerial Silks
- Afrodance, Asian Dance, and Urban/Contemporary Dance
- Self-Defense
- Swimming
Social Service & Community
- Lifting Hands
- Global Issues
- Healthy Masculinities
- Anti-Racism, Diversity, Inclusion, and Equity
- College Newspaper
- Cosmetics for our community
"Conociendo Costa Rica"
The "Conociendo Costa Rica" (translates to "Getting to Know Costa Rica") initiative provides students with the opportunity to learn about the social, cultural, and historical aspects of Costa Rica and its provinces while they visit essential places, interact with local people, and contribute to their economy. All students enjoy at least one of the off-campus outings during their two-year experience at UWC Costa Rica.
Community Action Week
Model United Nations (MUN)
The spirit of the Model United Nations (MUN) conveys an exercise of diplomacy, critical thinking, global citizenship, teamwork, and creativity. Public and private high schools in Costa Rica meet on UWC Costa Rica's campus for a three-day event, during which students represent different delegations on numerous socio-political topics.
Agents of Change (AoC)
The Agents of Change (AoC) Camp offers our students inspiring experiences to motivate them to deliver positive social impact. In this 1-day on-campus event, students choose among the paths of social entrepreneurship, STEM, or activism/advocacy to ideate projects to make a change, with the possibility of turning them into real-world projects in their communities or in college.
Thematic Weeks
Student-led immersive experiences, guided by experience design, where the entire community is invited to learn by delving into and understanding important issues within each represented community. Examples of Thematic Weeks include Central American, Queer, Asian, European, Black History, Women’s, and Afro-Caribbean Weeks, amongst others.
