Special Opportunities

Check out what you'll see and do in Costa Rica

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Coming Summer of 2012

Discover the World of Communication is proud to offer students interested in environmental filmmaking or photography an opportunity to learn the craft and put theory into action in Costa Rica. The three-week experience incorporates environmental filmmaking, Spanish language immersion, community service and explorations of the country's rich biodiversity. Students spend the first few on the American University campus taking courses in environmental filmmaking, Photography, and Costa Rican geography. Participants then head off to Costa Rica to film their documentaries and practice their Spanish while touring Costa Rica's cities and national parks. In the final week, students return to AU to finalize their projects and present them at the final premiere event at the Costa Rican Embassy in Washington, D.C.

Example Itinerary

Sunday, June 24th

•Welcome to American University – Students living on campus will arrive today. Flights begin arriving into Regan National Airport – TA’s meet students at airport. Those needing a ride from Regan National Airport should plan to arrive between 12:00 noon and 4:00pm. We must have flight arrival information in advance!

•3:00 pm Check Into Hughes Hall – students arriving by car

•4:00 pm Meet Resident Assistant and Teaching Assistants in Hughes Hall

•5:00 pm Tour of campus

•6:00 pm Dinner at Z-Burger ($10 for those not living on campus)

•9:00 pm Meeting with RA/TA

 

Monday, June 25th – Wednesday, June 27th

•8:20 am Welcome to Discover the World of Communication

•9:00 am – 12 noon Filmmaking Class/Nature Photography Class

•12:00 – 1:00 pm lunch

•1:00 -4:00 pm Filmmaking Class/Nature Photography Class

•After Hours DWC

 

Thursday, June 28^th

•9:00-11:00 Filmmaking Class/Nature Photography Class

•11:00 a.m. lunch

•12:00 noon Check out of Hughes Hall and board bus to Dulles (IAD)

•4:00 pm - Departure IAD – Delta Airlines 1413 (Flight to be confirmed)

•9:00 pm - Arrival to SJO Delta Airlines 413 (flight to be confirmed)

•Check in Hotel Presidente

 

Friday, June 29^th

•AM: Breakfast, Organize Equipment

•PM: Coffee Plantation- Tour/Shoot Sustainable Farming and Coffee Growing

 

Saturday, July 30^th

•8:00 am Check Out Hotel Costa Rica - Departure to Manuel Antonio National Park- Shoot Scenery/ Sustainable Farming along the way

•“B” roll footage for Sustainable Farming,

•Check into Hotel Mono Azul

•Swimming and Relaxation

 

Sunday, July 1^st

 •AM Screen Footage, translate, log

•PM Beach time. Snorkel and Boogie Boarding

 

 Monday, July 2^nd

•AM Filmmaking and Nature Photography in Manuel Antonio National Park. Arrive early to see wildlife wake-up. (Monday the park is closed to the public.)

•PM Beach at Manuel Antonio National Park1:30-3:00pm Environmental Documentary Production and Nature Photography

 

Tuesday, July 3^rd

•7:00am Check Out Hotel Villa Teca.

•8:00am Departure to Carara National Park-  Production work along the way.  Scenery, sustainability, wildlife.

•Chek into Hotel BWJaco

•Filmmaking/Nature Photography/Activities

 

Wednesday, July 4^th

•All Day

•Canopy and Naturalist Day – Shooting above the forest

•Evening:  Hot Springs

 

Thursday, July 5^th

•Volcano Day

•Last evening in Costa Rica- Closing Night Activities in Costa Rica 

 

Friday, July 6^th

•6:00am Breakfast

•7:00am Check out Hotel BWJaco

•12:45pm Departure to IAD – Delta Airlines 412/1632  (Flight to be confirmed)

•Arrive D.C. – Check back to Hughes Hall

•Sleep, view raw footage, begin logging

 

Saturday, July 7^th

•9 am – 12 noon Sleep in, Breakfast, Laundry, Relax.

•1:00 pm – 4:00 pm Activity TBA

•5:00 Dinner

 

Sunday, July 8^th

•Digitizing footage, writing, translation.

•6:00 pm Student’s Choice  - Watch a movie with your friends, play video games or start a game of beach volleyball

 

Monday, July 9^th

•8:00 am Breakfast

•9:00 am – 4:00 pm Post production work on films, writing, logging, editing, etc. (lunch on rotations between 11:00 – 1:00)

•4:15 pm AU Info Session – Admissions Green Room (Katzen 201)

•After hours DWC

 

Tuesday, July 10^th

•8:00 am Breakfast

•9:00 am – 4:00 pm Post production work on films (lunch on rotations between 11:00 – 1:00)

•After hours DWC

 

Wednesday, July 11^th

•8:00 am Breakfast

•9:00 – 4:00 pm post production work on films (lunch on rotations between 11:00 – 1:00)

•5:00 pm Dinner

•After hours DWC

 

Thursday, July 12^th

•8:00 am Breakfast

•9:00 am – 3:00 pm final work on environmental films, output to DVD, create trailers, practice presentations

•4:00 – 5:00 pm Dress/Prep for evening premiere

•5:00 – 6:00 pm Dinner

•6:00 pm Depart for premiere location TBA

•7:00 pm Premiere of Environmental Films with Costa Rican Embassy Reception and Recognition to follow

 

Friday, July 13^th

•8:00 am Breakfast

•9:00 am Check out of Hughes Hall

•9:30 – 1:00 pm Depart for home

• Information Session on American University available for students and parents interested in undergraduate program.

National Parks we will visit during our Environmental Filmmaking/Nature Photography Trip to Costa Rica

Parque Nacional Manuel Antonio

About the park

With the establishment of Manuel Antonio National Park in 1972, the people of Costa Rica decided to preserve, for future generations, one of the most beautiful and bio-diverse areas in the world. Although it is the country's smallest national park, the stunning beauty and diversity of wildlife in its 683 hectares is unequaled. 

Manuel Antonio contains a charming combination of rain forest, beaches and coral reefs. Those beaches are the most beautiful in the country, lined with lush forest, and the snorkeling is excellent too. The forest is home for sloths, iguanas, the rare and adorable squirrel monkeys and millions of colorful little crabs. And the trail that winds around Punta Catedral affords some spectacular views.

 

Parque Nacional Carara

About the park

This is the northernmost region of Pacific rainforest remaining in Costa Rica, and is the beginning of the transition zone into the tropical dry forests of the northwest. Carara is one of Costa Rica's most popular National Parks, in large part due to its proximity to San José. This is also where many cruise ship's passengers are bused for a day trip when the liners dock just up the coast at Puerto Caldera, and a common destination for field trips by school children.

This is the northernmost region of Pacific rainforest remaining in Costa Rica, and is the beginning of the transition zone into the tropical dry forests of the northwest. Carara is one of Costa Rica's most popular National Parks, in large part due to its proximity to San José. This is also where many cruise ship's passengers are bused for a day trip when the liners dock just up the coast at Puerto Caldera, and a common destination for field trips by school children.

Cost

Total Cost: $5,500

Amount made payable to American University - $3,500

Amount made payable to the Costa Rican Cultural Center - $2,000

*If not living on campus, deduct $1,500

Travel and Experience in Costa Rica Includes:

• Airfare Ticket from Washington DC to San Jose Costa Rica. Round trip.

• Airport pickup and transfers to the airport for their return to San Jose on the destination program start and end dates;
• Ground transportation in Costa Rica for the excursions as listed above;
• Entrances fees to all tourist places and cultural events organized for this tour.
• Guided tours.
• All hotels.
• Includes all meals.
• Medical insurance for all participants.
• Costa Rican Cultural Center staff to accompany the group on all excursions. Assistance and availability 24/7 throughout the program.

Experience in Washington, DC includes:

• Hands-on experiential workshops with AU faculty.
• Pre-production, production and post production of films produced in Costa Rica.
• Premiere of films in the Embassy of Costa Rica, tentatively set for June 12, 2012.
  

ATTENTION: Price does not include personal expenses.

Price Breakdown (price is based on 15-20 people)

• Airline* - $480.00  
• Accommodations- $350.00  
• Meals - $295.00  
• Entrances and activities - $208.00 
• Insurance - $90.00  
• Private ground transportation - $300.00  
• Administration Fee - $250.00  
• Exit Fee - $27.00  

Registration and Payment in full must be received by May 15th, 2012 Send both checks to: 
American University, Discover the World of Communication
Mary Graydon Center Room 300
4400 Massachusetts Ave., NW
Washington, D.C. 20016
Questions? Call: Sarah Menke-Fish, Asst. Professor and Director, Discover the World of Communication
202-885-2098