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Costa Rica mountains two men walking

Community Organizing for Social Transformation

COSTA RICA

Friday, December 12 - Sunday, December 21, 2025
Cost: $2,550

Get an inside glimpse of Costa Rica and learn about its complexities and challenges as well as its achievements. You will hear from the local people, community experts, and leaders who are striving to create a stronger and more just society. Each from a different perspective, from environmental justice and the complexities of ecotourism, to the first-hand stories of migration, immigration, and deportation woven among the interactive experiences and daily reflection sessions. We will be partnering with Augsburg University Center for Global Education and Experience, who have decades of collaboration experience in the area, and invite us to experience a variety of field encounters that stem from their long-term relationships in each community.

Participants need to complete an additional application form with Augsburg to be accepted into the program. You can access the Augsburg application here.

Commitment Expectation:

  • Tuesday | Nov 4 | 5:45 - 7:15 PM
  • Tuesday | Nov 11 | 5:45 - 7:15 PM
  • Saturday | Nov 15 | 9 AM - 4 PM (all-day retreat)
  • Tuesday | Nov 18 | 5:45 - 7:15 PM
  • Tuesday | Dec 2 | 5:45 - 7:15 PM
  • Tuesday | Jan 6 | 5:45 - 7:15 PM (welcome back meeting)

International Travel:
This immersion includes traveling abroad, you will need a valid passport and proof of vaccination to participate. Passports should have at least six months of validity when traveling internationally. 

 

 

Costa Rica SM25 Square group standing in tall green foliage

We are All Human, After All

For Simone Smith '28, the Summer 2025 Costa Rica Immersion was an eye-opening experience. Not only did it cement her commitment to become a Human Rights Attorney and make her recognize that her own position in this world is a privilege, but it opened her eyes to our shared humanity.

Saron Weldemariam '26

Why I Do the Things I Do

For LEAD Scholar Saron Weldemariam ’26, it took a life-changing Ignatian Center Immersion in Costa Rica to shift her perspective and remind her of her purpose and why what she was doing mattered. "Education is the reason my family came to this country, and I want to honor that.”

Please note: Although this video is from CGEE's semester program, the two programs hold many similarities and the video serves as a great example of the Costa Rica immersion experience.