Program overview
9
Days
10
Engagements
15
Students
Undergraduate students from Mississippi State University spent their spring break exploring the vibrant landscapes of Costa Rica through a custom service-learning program built around sustainability, community engagement, cultural immersion, and natural adventures.
Over the course of nine days, the students learned about sugar cane, medicinal plants, and organic farming, explored rainforest ecosystems and Indigenous communities, and even got moving with traditional music and dance.
Service was woven throughout the journey.
At Fundación Bosque Vivo, students learned about dairy farming and ecosystem restoration before returning the next day to help pot seedlings—getting a firsthand look at local approaches to conservation and environmental stewardship.
Later, the group visited Fundación Humanitaria Costarricense, where they learned about healthcare in Costa Rica and helped with basic health exams. Together, the two service-learning experiences gave students the chance to contribute to local initiatives while gaining valuable insight into the communities and organizations in the region.
It is such an honor to represent Mississippi State while in this beautiful country! Our group has been able to explore, eat fantastic food, and help out with projects that benefit the local communities, all while having lots of fun! We had a fantastic time helping with health exams! We also got to watch a play prepared by the local women!
Claire G.
Student, Mississippi State University
That sense of exploration extended beyond service projects. Students immersed themselves in Costa Rican culture, spent time in the country’s lush natural environments, learned traditional dances, played handmade instruments, and experienced the food, people, and landscapes that make Costa Rica such a vibrant and memorable place to travel.
While the program was designed to help students examine Costa Rica’s approach to balancing environmental conservation with modern development through sustainable and community-focused work, the real value came from the experience of doing it all together.
For this Mississippi State group, spring break became a chance to serve, explore, try something new, and connect with Costa Rica—and with one another—in ways that extended far beyond the classroom.
A look inside the program
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