* DOCUMENTED COMMUNITY SERVICE HOURS AWARDED

 Puerto Rico is a proud island nation rich with cultural traditions, abundant wildlife, stunning beaches and the only tropical rainforest in the U.S. National Park system. Rhythm and music, Caribbean Spanish, and delicious traditional cooking make Puerto Rico an exciting summer travel destination, and Windsor Mountain has created a unique program that combines adventure and education in equal doses.

Bridge Puerto Rico Students will:

• Improve their Spanish
• Learn about the geography, ecology and culture of Puerto Rico
• Have tons of outdoor fun kayaking, swimming, snorkelin, and hiking
• Learn about the complex relationship between the United States and Puerto Rico
• Enjoy a week-long family stay experience
• Help the environment through service projects at an environmental research center
• Spend time with local youth and elders, activists and scientists

Who Should Participate?

This program is designed for students interested in traveling to an exciting destination to share in cross-cultural experiences, community service learning, and language opportunities. Students should join this program ready to immerse themselves in Puerto Rican culture as they live with Spanish-speaking families, work on community service projects, and discover the natural beauty of the island. Students should arrive with an open mind, prepared to meet new people, experience new cultures, try new foods, and dance Salsa! 

Projected Itinerary:

Days 1-3: Fly into San Juan. Meet your group and leaders and review learning goals for the trip.

Days 4-5: Orientation on Vieques. Enjoy snorkeling, swimming and kayaking on a bioluminescent bay, gain knowledge about the history and current events of Vieques, and learn about Puerto Rican culture by spending time with an elderly community.

Days 6-8: Adventure Activities. Enjoy surfing the Puerto Rican waves, hiking on mountain trails, and caving in amazing underground rivers and caverns.

Days 9-14: Stay with Families in Boquerón.  Spend time with your host family. Visit beaches, coastal cliffs, lighthouses, a dry forest reserve and various villages. Learn about day to day family life in Puerto Rico. Activities may include snorkeling, scavenger hunts and beach days, along with a beach clean-up.

Days 15-18: Community Service at Las Casas de La Selva. Help restore ecosystems, plant cacao trees, build trails and refurbish facilities with the guidance of environmental scientists from Tropic Ventures Education and Research Foundation.

Day 19-20: El Yunque! Spend time hiking, swimming, and exploring in the Caribbean National Forest.

Days 21-24: Goodbyes in Old San Juan, a preserved 16th century Spanish city with cobblestone streets and traditional Spanish architecture. Practice your new language skills one last time, reflect on what you have learned, and have fun over a delicious final banquet. Get on the plane and fly home!

Program Details:

Dates: 7/2-7/26

Tuition: $4,395

Group Size: approximately 16 students and 2 professional leaders

Student Grade Level: Finishing Grades 8-10

Starting/Ending Point: San Juan (optional group flight out of JFK)

Accommodations: Rustic Camping and Homestays

Major Equipment Needs: Sleeping bag and pad, multi-sport outdoor shoes, day pack. Cell phones and personal listening devices (iPods, discmans, etc) are not welcome. Students will be able to call home three times: once upon arrival to the host country, once ten days into the program and once two days before the program’s end date.

Tuition for this program is due in full by April 1, 2008. Travel expenses to and from the starting and ending points are the responsibility of the participant and are not included in the tuition. Windsor Mountain's travel consultant can help you in securing the most reasonable plan for coordinating your travel itinerary.