High School Study Abroad
Program in Central America

Reading lists will be posted on your program site in early May. Online pre-departure sessions with your teachers and classmates begin one week prior to departure. These virtual sessions are designed to introduce you to your classmates, teachers, and course work. Our goal is to prepare you to hit the ground running and reduce your workload onsite.

Day 1: On the day of departure, we meet at Toronto's Pearson International Airport. Here, we unite as a group to distribute coursepacks, T-shirts and MEI Journals. After a meet and greet, we board a flight to our first location.

Days 2-8: Our destination takes us to the rainforests of Manuel Antonio’s spectacular National Park. This location offers us a good look at one of Costa Rica’s 12 ecosystems famous for its wildlife sightings. The park is made up of primary forest, mangrove swamps, lagoons, and coastal habitats. There are over 100 types of mammals and nearly 200 varieties of birds which makes it an ideal location to study how environmental factors can affect homeostasis. In addition, our morning workouts introduce the benefits of physical activities such as yoga, beach Frisbee, and body surfing. This is an ideal location to delve into your academic studies and utilize your teachers’ guidance to develop major assignments. We’ll experience one last dinner watching a picture-perfect sunset while listening to Latin music lingering in the air.

Days 8-13: From the San José International Airport, we travel by private coach to Arenal volcano in La Fortuna. We will reside at the base of this volcano, where we enjoy daily adventures such as zip-lining through tree canopies, hiking the mist forest, and testing out the natural hot springs. We balance activities with studies of the metabolic processes and how it affects environmental issues. Tropical storms and impressive lightning shows often enhance evening masterclasses while we engage in lessons.

Days 13-17: In Monteverde, which means “green mountain,” we reside in an ecolodge built in a cloud forest. Here, we have access to a state-of-the-art, on-site lab to test samples collected from the surrounding environment. In this remote location, we connect with the local ecology and participate in research, service work, and night hikes. These activities are integrated into the coursework so that we can find a balance while completing our research-based assignments.

Days 17-22: Our journey begins in Caye Caulker. We arrive on this tranquil island ready for adventure. A sandy pathway through the centre of town leads to a harbour flanked with boats, waiting to take us out to one of the most extensive coral reefs in the world. Caye Caulker offers us the chance to study unmatched aquatic habitats, including a vast range of tropical fish, stingrays and sharks. It is an ideal locale for the class to explore theories on evolution and biochemical adaptations.

Days 22-27: From the town of San Ignacio, options abound for exploring Belize’s scenic inland wonders, from the Mayan ruins to the Actun Tunichil Muknal caves. We engage with archeologists as they discuss the cultural importance the caves hold for locals, past and present. Here, we have the time to debate complex topics such as human genetics.

Days 27-35: Next, we settle in on a long expanse of white beach, where we kick back and rejuvenate along the coastline of Placencia. Here, we explore one of Belize’s largest conservation areas—Cockscomb Jaguar Sanctuary. The Sanctuary affords us a breathtaking view over the park, followed by an invigorating swim in the waterfalls below. This location is ideal for the class to delve into our creative writing inspired by our excursions. Dinners will be spent engaging in heated debates about controversial genetics issues.

Departure from Placencia Airport on Day 35

Upon your return, you have time to complete additional research and pull your work together before your final one-on-one online assessment. This week allows you to reflect on your travel experiences and integrate them into the course material. MEI staff have found this style of evaluation enjoyable and the most authentic way for students to demonstrate their knowledge and academic skills.