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About
GLASS 2023
AT A GLANCE
Location: Costa Rica
Session 1: June 21st - 30th, 2023 (Waitlist)
Session 2: July 5th - 14th, 2023 (5 Spots)
Session 3: July 18th - 27th, 2023 (13 Spots)
LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT
Our leadership curriculum is designed to help student-athletes cultivate the life skills learned through athletics.
SPORTS-PERFORMANCE TRAINING
Our daily sports-performance training is designed to help each student meet her current, unique athletic goals.
GLOBAL ADVENTURE
During GLASS, we embark on cultural and adventurous excursions including guided city tours, a catamaran tour, zip-lining, and surf lessons.
SERVICE-LEARNING
We support local nonprofits through a variety of service activities. Students serve in three culturally and demographically different locations.
PROGRAM DETAILS
Session 1: June 21st-30th, 2023
Session 2: July 5th-14th, 2023
Session 3: July 18th-27th, 2023
Total: $2995
Included:
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3 meals per day
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9 nights lodging
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Transportation in Costa Rica
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GLASS leadership workshops
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Sports-performance training
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Service-learning clinics
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Zipline excursion
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Catamaran tour
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Baldi Hot Springs
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Surf lessons
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GLASS t-shirt
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GLASS journal
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International Health Insurance
Not Included:
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Round Trip Airfare
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Passport fees (if applicable)
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Baggage fees on flights
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Personal expenses (i.e. souvenirs and snacks)
Payment:
A $250 deposit is required to reserve your spot. The remainder of the payments will be paid in installments.
Accommodations:
San Jose: Crowne Plaza (https://www.ihg.com/crowneplaza/hotels/us/en/san-jose/sjocp/hoteldetail)
La Fortuna: Hotel Magic Mountain (https://www.hotelmagicmountain.com/en/)
Playa Tamarindo: The Wyndham (https://www.wyndhamhotels.com/wyndham/tamarindo-costa-rica/wyndham-tamarindo/overview)
Transportation:
We will travel around Costa Rica via private shuttles and charter buses.
Capacity:
Sessions #1 and #2 are capped at 36 students. Session #3 is capped at 24 students.
Session #1 - Waitlist
Session #2 - 5 Spots Available
Session #3 - 13 Spots Available
Program Details
PROGRAM ITINERARY
Day 1 - Arrival Day - Students arrive to San Jose International Airport. Our staff will be at the airport awaiting students' arrivals. Everyone will be checked in to our hotel and we'll conclude the evening with dinner!
Day 2 - San Jose - Our first full day will start with typical Costa Rican breakfast––gallo pinto, fresh fruit, and eggs––then meet for Welcome & Orientation. In the afternoon, we'll complete our first workout and wrap-up the day with our first leadership workshop.
Day 3 - San Jose - We'll start the day with a workout and then host our first sports clinic for local youth. Later, we'll depart for a guided city tour of San Jose and our final dinner in the capital city. We'll round out the day with our next leadership workshop and salsa lessons!
Day 4 - La Fortuna - We leave early in the morning for La Fortuna––location of the famous Arenal Volcano! Upon arrival, we'll host our second sports clinic for local youth. In the afternoon, our Mentors will lead our daily workout and leadership workshop. In the evening, we'll visit Baldi Hot Springs for dinner and relaxation!
Day 5 - La Fortuna - In the morning, we'll zip-line and hike through the rainforest––viewing the La Fortuna waterfall from above and ground-level! Following our adventurous morning, we'll conclude the day with downtime and a leadership workshop.
Day 6 - Playa Potrero - We'll hit the road early again, en route for Playa Potrero––a local Costa Rican beach town. Once we arrive to Potrero we'll acclimate ourselves to our final home base with a town tour and beach visit! We'll soak in the last hour of sun with a sunset beach workout and round out the day with leadership.
Day 7 - Playa Potrero - In the morning, we'll volunteer at Barbara's Cat & Dog Shelter. In the afternoon, we'll host our third sports clinic. During our leadership for the day, our Mentors will facilitate a service-learning reflection to capture key learnings from the service component of the program.
Day 8 - Playa Potrero - We'll start the day with early morning surf lessons! After some time to rest and recuperate, our Mentors will lead an early afternoon leadership workshop. We'll conclude with souvenir shopping, dinner, and sunset viewing in a nearby town called Playa Brasilito.
Day 9 - Playa Potrero - Our final full-day, we'll begin with our last leadership workshop and workout. In the afternoon, we'll spend the day at sea on a sunset catamaran tour. Our program will conclude with a GLASS Wrap-Up, hosted by our staff.
Day 10 - Departure Day - Students will be accompanied by staff to Liberia International Airport for departure.
The itinerary components will stay the same; however, the exact day and times of each activity will change slightly. The finalized itinerary will be scheduled around our service activities.
Itinerary
Spain Team
GLASS
TEAM
Our GLASS program is directed by three of our full-time Beyond Sports staff members. Silvia and Megan live in Costa Rica year-round and are our local directors during GLASS operations. You can learn more about our program directors on our team page. Each program is also staffed by GLASS Mentors -- standout, recently graduated collegiate athletes. Our 2023 GLASS Mentors will be announced in the Spring!
Silvia Betancourt
Costa Rica Site Director
Megan Theiller
Director of Operations
Annika Wachtman
Director of Enrollment
Next Steps
NEXT STEPS
1.
Apply Online
We look for students who are invested in their personal growth and eager to learn more about the transformative power of sport.
2.
Connect with Us
Once admitted, you are paired with a staff member to answer your questions and help you begin the registration process.
3.
Register & Deposit
A $250 deposit reserves your spot in a GLASS session. The full payment is not due at registration. Payment plans are available.
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What does GLASS stand for?The Girls Leadership Academy for Service & Sport
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What sports do you offer training programs for?Our sports-performance training is applicable to athletes from all all sports. We focus on athletic aspects such as speed, agility, quickness, and more! While in Costa Rica, we also do our best to offer students optional sport-specific training blocks, so students have the opportunity to maintain their sport-specific skills while abroad.
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Do I need to speak Spanish?A Spanish language ability is not required for participation in GLASS. However, students interested in learning or practicing Spanish will have the opportunity to do so! During our service-learning sessions, students will engage directly with the local communities. Those with a Spanish language background will be able to refine their communication skills. Those who are new to the language will receive basic vocabulary and phrases, so they can also take part in the language learning opportunity.
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Do I need any vaccines or additional shots to travel to Costa Rica?No vaccinations or special shots are required for travel to Costa Rica. Please consult your physician for any specific individual recommendations prior to traveling. The COVID-19 vaccine is not currently required for our Costa Rica programs––that is subject to change based on local mandates in Costa Rica. You can learn more about our COVID-19 considerations here: www.beyondsportsglass.com/health-safety
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What if I have any allergies or dietary restrictions?During the enrollment process, students and their families will complete our Student Health Form where they will submit information about food allergies and restrictions. While most allergies can be easily accommodated, in some cases we may request a phone call to discuss allergies or dietary restrictions in greater detail.
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What happens if I become sick or injured while in Costa Rica?Students are covered by GeoBlue International Health Insurance, the world leader in study abroad travel insurance. We are located within 10 minutes of a private hospital in case of illness, accidents, or injuries. Costa Rica’s private hospitals are staffed by world-class physicians, many of whom attended medical school in the United States. For minor health concerns, we may utilize local clinics. We always encourage students to notify a staff member as soon as they are feeling unwell so that we can provide appropriate care and seek a medical professional if necessary.
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How many staff members will be present at all times?We maintain (at least) a 6:1 student-to-staff ratio throughout the program. Our staff is also available 24 hours a day.
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Is Costa Rica safe?Costa Rica is a tourism-friendly country and Beyond Sports has 11 years of experience hosting students in Costa Rica. You will find just how true this is when you experience the incredibly warm and welcoming local people and a culture that emphasizes relationships, family, and hospitality. While Costa Rica is a friendly country, students will participate in an orientation upon arrival to cover topics such as safety while abroad. Students will also be accompanied by GLASS Mentors throughout the program. We maintain a 6:1 student-to-staff ratio.
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When is the application deadline?Although there is no set deadline for applications, spots will fill up fast, so we encourage you to fill out the application as soon as possible.
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What are the steps of the application and admission process?Please view our application page for more details: www.beyondsportsglass.com/apply
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Do I need to know Spanish in order to be accepted?Spanish language ability is not required to be eligible for GLASS.
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Do I need to be a certain age or in a certain grade to be eligible?The Girls Leadership Academy for Service & Sport is for high school female athletes. This includes any female athlete who is entering her freshman year of high school through girls who have just graduated and are about to enter their freshman year of college.
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What are the credit and refund opportunities?Please refer to our Credit & Refund Policies page.
FAQs
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