Study Abroad Program
The Las Nubes Project is committed to educating Canadian and Costa Rican students, as well as local communities within the Alexander Skutch Biological Corridor (COBAS), on environmental issues and sustainable practices.
By the mid-2000s, the Las Nubes Project launched a field course focused on tropical ecology, sustainability, and environmental education. Its success led to the creation of the Las Nubes Study Abroad Program in Summer 2017, with additional courses offered during Reading Week beginning in 2018. Through these programs, students gain hands-on experience in tropical ecology, sustainability, Indigenous education, arts, health, and conservation. Participants interact directly with rural Costa Rican communities, learning from their knowledge and practices while contributing to local education and community-based conservation efforts.
High Schools
Our 7-day High School Program invites participants to explore and learn in the vibrant tropical landscapes of southern Costa Rica.
Students will engage directly with local rural communities and discover what makes this region so unique. Through hands-on activities and guided lessons, students will explore topics such as tropical ecology, sustainability, Indigenous education, arts, health, and conservation. The program is designed to spark curiosity, deepen environmental understanding, and encourage critical thinking about global challenges.
Volunteer
In 2024, we partnered with Mondo Eco-Expeditions (Mondo), a social enterprise founded by York University alumni Dan Hammerschlag and Monica Radovski. Mondo offers immersive research expeditions (volunteer), engaging participants in hands-on ecological data collection that supports conservation biology efforts. The Las Nubes Expedition, Mondo’s flagship program in Southern Costa Rica, combines biological monitoring, complementary lectures, and cultural exchange activities. Participants contribute directly to vital conservation efforts while gaining real-world experience in ecology and environmental science.
Las Nubes Study Abroad Program at a Glance
1045
Students have taken courses at Las Nubes since 2006
41%
of the students that have participated in courses are from EUC since 2006
19
courses from five faculties at York have been offered within the program since 2006
230
graduate students have taken courses at Las Nubes
48
homestay families in the Alexander Skutch Biological Corridor have hosted students since 2017
48
guest speakers were featured in the 2024 Study Abroad Program
63%
of the Study Abroad Program’s costs were invested in the local economy of the Alexander Skutch Biological Corridor in 2024
65
sites across 18 different towns in Southern Costa Rica were visited during the Study Abroad Program in 2024
Get in Touch
Thank you for your interest in the Las Nubes Project!
For information concerning the Las Nubes Project or the Fisher Fund for Neotropical Conservation, please contact us at lasnubes@yorku.ca
Las Nubes EcoCampus
Santa Elena, Pérez Zeledón, Costa Rica