- Arrive in San Jose and head straight to the Costa Rica Rescue Center, where a warm welcome awaits—from friendly staff to vibrant parrots, curious deer, and laid-back sloths. ¡Pura vida!
Envision by WorldStrides
Veterinary Academy: Costa Rica
Immerse yourself in two weeks of intensive veterinary medicine in Costa Rica's rainforest, where you'll provide care to wildlife rescue animals and stray dogs while gaining hands-on clinical experience alongside teaching veterinarians in one of the world's most biodiverse countries.
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Where Rainforest Adventure Meets Veterinary
Veterinary Academy: Costa Rica takes place across multiple locations in Costa Rica, from the wildlife rescue center in Guacima to the renowned Land of the Strays dog sanctuary in San José. This immersive experience places you in the heart of one of the world's most biodiverse countries, working with both wildlife rehabilitation and large-scale animal rescue operations.
You'll master essential veterinary skills like microscope work for ear and skin cytologies, safe animal handling and restraint techniques, and creating comprehensive post-surgery care plans. Every day brings new challenges - from conducting ethograms on sloths to assisting with spay and neuter surgeries for community pets, all while making a meaningful impact on animal welfare.
Your evenings feature cultural immersion activities like traditional dance lessons, Spanish trivia games, and Costa Rican art projects. Whether you're relaxing in natural hot springs after clinic work or hiking through Manuel Antonio National Park, this program builds lasting friendships alongside professional veterinary skills.
Whether you dream of specializing in wildlife veterinary medicine, emergency animal care, or international veterinary work, this program provides comprehensive exposure to diverse veterinary practices while offering the clinical hours essential for your future vet school application.
Grades:
9-12Duration:
14 DaysCollege Credit Hours:
2 College CreditsVeterinary Hours:
80 HoursFormat:
ResidentialStarting Price:
$7,199.00Locations, program content, and speakers are subject to change.
Envision by WorldStrides
For over 40 years, Envision—part of the WorldStrides family—has helped students from elementary through high school explore their interests and uncover what excites them most. Our immersive programs are built with educators and industry experts to support career exploration, leadership growth, and college prep. Along the way, students build real-world skills, boost their confidence, and start to see a clearer path toward their future.
Why This Program Changes Everything
Real Wildlife Rehabilitation Work
Learn what it takes to practice long-term care for animals that have been the victim of wildlife trafficking or who otherwise need care, including for special species like toucans, spider monkeys, porcupines, and kinkajous.
Comprehensive Hospital Experience
You'll take turns rotating through different shifts in the on-site animal hospital. You can look forward to providing enrichments for the large sloth enclosures, shadowing clinical staff as they perform physical examinations, and performing ethograms in the lab.
Immersive Cultural Learning
After a full day of learning, you can look forward to a fun, culturally enriching group activity, from taking a dance lesson with a local instructor to a Spanish trivia game to an art project inspired by the motifs of Costa Rica.
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Community Impact Project
On your final program day, you will assist the clinic veterinarians and professional staff to provide a free spay and neuter clinic for the pets of local community members.
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Built for Your Veterinary School Success
Earn Up to 80 Veterinary Hours
Gain substantial veterinary hours that count toward vet school admission requirements. These diverse hands-on hours demonstrate your commitment to the field and provide extensive experience that strengthens your veterinary school application significantly.
Master Diverse Clinical Skills
Develop proficiency in microscope work for ear and skin cytologies, safe animal handling and restraint techniques, post-surgery care planning, and physical examination procedures. These essential skills prepare you for veterinary school and professional practice.
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Contribute to Wildlife Conservation Efforts
Your work directly supports wildlife rehabilitation efforts and community animal welfare initiatives. Experience the satisfaction of meaningful veterinary work that makes a lasting difference in animal lives while building your professional portfolio with international experience.
Learn From the Best in Small Groups
With a maximum of 30 students and a 10:1 student-to-teaching veterinarian ratio, you'll receive personalized attention and mentorship. This intimate learning environment ensures hands-on experience with diverse veterinary procedures and direct access to expert guidance.
Dates, Locations, & Tuition
What does the price include?
What does the price include?
Tuition includes room & board, site visits & transportation during the program, lectures, simulations, curriculum & materials, college credit, and faculty & staff.
Regions:
Rescue Center Costa Rica
Guacima, Alajuela, Costa Rica
$7,199.00Residential
Dates: June 21 - July 4
Duration: 14 Days
$7,199.00Residential
Dates: July 19 - August 1
Duration: 14 Days
Featured Extras
Veterinary Online Experience
The Veterinary Online Experience provides online courses taught by expert veterinarians, allowing students to explore veterinary careers through hands-on virtual learning and self-paced instruction from home.
Tuition & Travel Protection
Optional protection plan providing comprehensive coverage including trip cancellation, medical evacuation, baggage protection, and accident insurance with assistance services.
Sample Itinerary
* Exact itinerary will vary by session and location. Participants should reference the itinerary provided as part of their enrollment package
Day 1
- Connect with your WorldStrides team and Loop Abroad veterinarians as you kick off the week with welcome activities and orientation.
Day 2
Hear from a wildlife veterinarian how to properly capture and restraint animals of Costa Rica.
Tour the Rescue Center
- Meet the animals that live at the Rescue Center Costa Rica
Meet the Rescue Center Staff
- Meet the team who are dedicated to protecting Costa Rica’s wildlife
- Observe the behaviors of animals.
- Create, design, and build an enrichment project tailored to your assigned wildlife animal, applying behavioral insights and presenting your plan to staff for approval.
Day 3
Sloth Team
- Take part in the hard work, compassion, and commitment that goes into caring for our slow-moving friends.
VET Team
- Assist with animal healthcare, surgeries, and x-rays.
Animal Team
- Prepare balanced and species-specific meals for animals, learning how nutrition supports health, behavior, and enrichment. Maintain animal enclosures by cleaning, inspecting, and organizing habitats to ensure safety, hygiene, and comfort for each species.
- Learn about Costa Rica wildlife animals that live in the sanctuary, and how they are cared for.
- Observe a wildlife veterinarian examines an animal and analyzes radiographs of various wildlife animals.
- Share your group’s enrichment project progress with your vet, applying feedback to enhance welfare and stimulate natural behaviors.
Sloth Team
- Take part in the hard work, compassion, and commitment that goes into caring for our slow-moving friends.
VET Team
- Assist with animal healthcare, surgeries, and x-rays.
Animal Team
- Prepare balanced and species-specific meals for animals, learning how nutrition supports health and behavior.
Day 4
- Spend a day exploring one of Costa Rica’s most popular parks - Manuel Antonio National Park, which is known for its beautiful beaches, rainforest and home to many wildlife animals, including sloths, monkeys, and iguanas.
- See wildlife up close as you walk through the hiking trail at the park.
- Enjoy swimming at one of the beautiful beaches inside the park after a busy morning of hiking.
- Enjoy having a Costa Rican style lunch at Manuel Antonio National Park while shopping for souvenirs to take home.
Day 5
Sloth Team
- Take part in the hard work, compassion, and commitment that goes into caring for our slow-moving friends.
VET Team
- Assist with animal healthcare, surgeries, and x-rays.
Animal Team
- Prepare balanced and species-specific meals for animals, learning how nutrition supports health and behavior.
- Test your group’s enrichment project with your assigned animal, observe the animal’s behavior, share notes with your vet and apply feedback to enhance welfare and stimulate natural behaviors.
Sloth Team
- Take part in the hard work, compassion, and commitment that goes into caring for our slow-moving friends.
VET Team
- Assist with animal healthcare, surgeries, and x-rays.
Animal Team
- Prepare balanced and species-specific meals for animals, learning how nutrition supports health and behavior.
- Explore the ethical responsibilities of wildlife veterinarians, the principles of animal welfare, and the vital role rescue centers play in global conservation efforts during an engaging lecture led by your veterinarian.
Day 6
Sloth Team
- Take part in the hard work, compassion, and commitment that goes into caring for our slow-moving friends.
VET Team
- Assist with animal healthcare, surgeries, and x-rays.
Animal Team
- Prepare balanced and species-specific meals for animals, learning how nutrition supports health and behavior.
- Practice veterinary diagnostics and physical exams with your veterinarian, building skills in species-specific care.
- Practice essential suturing techniques under the guidance of your veterinarian, gaining hands-on experience in wound closure and surgical skills used in clinical animal care.
- Practice good needle handling in veterinary medicine as it is vital to prevent injuries to animals. Study blood smears to ensure animal safety and understand symptoms including changes in an animal’s appetite, energy, or behavior.
- Enjoy the final evening at the Rescue Center Costa Rica and celebrate a successful week with the Rescue Center staff.
Day 7
- Spend a day exploring Arenal Volcano National Park, which is known for its hot springs.
- Enjoy swimming at a hot springs resort after a busy morning hiking.
Day 8
- Tour San Jose city with a local guide. Spend a day visiting historical buildings, such as the National Museum of Costa Rica, National Theater of Costa Rica, landmarks and statues of prominent leaders.
- Check into the hotel in San Jose and attend the program orientation for your time at the Territorio de Zaguates and clinic.
Day 9
- Connect with people and canines at the “Land of the Strays” as you meet the owner of Territorio de Zaguates and learn about their passion to give the abandoned dogs of Costa Rica a home.
- Tour the Land of the Strays grounds while hiking with more than 1,800 stray dogs.
- Hear from the dog sanctuary staff how to properly handle and restrain stray dogs, along with observing their behaviors.
Day 10
- Practice collecting, processing, and evaluating ear and skin cytology samples from a stray dog, building skills in species-specific care.
- Go on a hike with more than 1,800 stray dogs on the hills of Costa Rica, at the “Land of the Strays”
- Practice good needle handling in veterinary medicine as it is vital to prevent injuries to animals. Study blood smears to ensure animal safety and understand symptoms including changes in an animal’s appetite, energy, or behavior.
- Practice veterinary diagnostics and physical exams with your veterinarian, building skills in species-specific care.
Day 11
- Spend a day exploring the scenic grounds of the Rescate Wildlife Rescue Center and facilities with a tour guide; followed by a Q&A with the Rescate Medical Team to learn all about the care and treatment of the wildlife animals.
- Test your knowledge of basic Spanish words during trivia night.
Day 12
- Analyze white blood cells and red blood cells to diagnose and monitor disease, while practicing how to prep for surgery lab with the help of a canine friend you selected from your hike.
Day 13
- Assist clinic veterinarians and professional staff to provide free spay and neuter clinic for the pets of local community members.
- Enjoy the final evening with your friends, WorldStrides and Loop Abroad team as you celebrate your accomplishments.
Day 14
- On Saturday, you’ll head back to the SJO airport as a group and get ready to say goodbye and head back to the United States.
Health & Safety
Travel with confidence knowing you're never alone out there. When you choose Envision by WorldStrides, you've got an entire support network working around the clock to keep you safe.
Learn More
Safety Monitoring
Extensive Preparation
Local Support
Earn College Credit
Students attending select programs are eligible to receive college credit(s) through George Mason University. Credits are included in the cost of tuition and awarded upon successful completion of the program.
About Loop Abroad, our partner in Veterinary Medicine
Loop Abroad is the leading pre-veterinary travel program in the nation, with thousands of alumni at university and vet school campuses across the U.S. Their programs help students experience diverse veterinary careers firsthand. With an international team of expert wildlife and zoo veterinarians, Loop Abroad helps empower students to pursue the animal science careers of their dreams.
Testimonials
Frequently Asked Questions
What work background does your staff have? Have they taught/worked with youth before?
All staff go through an extensive training that includes developmental needs of students, facilitation techniques, classroom management strategies, as well as our medical, emergency, safety, and accountability policies. Many of our support staff are college students who have a passion for working with youth.
Can I request to be roommates with someone else?
We assign roommates according to the age of each student unless we receive a specific request. Although we try to ensure that every student has a roommate, we cannot guarantee a roommate, and some students may be placed in a single room. Students can request one roommate if:
- Both students are enrolled in the same program/session
- Both students identify as the same gender
- Both students complete the online Roommate Request Form no later than 3 weeks before their session.
I have specific dietary restrictions. Where do I submit this information and who can I speak with to discuss my needs?
If you have specific dietary concerns you can submit your needs before the program starts via the student portal. We have vegetarian options available for all meals at all locations. All other dietary needs (vegan, Kosher, Halal, gluten free, food allergies, fasting, etc.) should be communicated to our Office of Admissions, (866) 858-5323.
I take medication, how will that be handled?
You should inform staff of any medication but then you will need to self-manage medication while on program. Families should be reminded to send more than enough medication for the duration of the program. Envision staff are not able to administer any kind of medication even over-the-counter medication, like Tylenol. Parents must complete a Student Medication Administration Form (included on the Portal) and submit to the program staff on arrival day. Special requests regarding medication, including requests for refrigeration, should be communicated to our Office of Admissions, (866) 858-5323.
I left an important item at home. What do I do?
Parents should contact the onsite contact phone number so coordination can occur. The group is offsite all day and back on campus in the evening. All items, unless urgent, will be delivered to you upon return to campus in the evening.
I am having trouble with my roommate or classmate. What support is available to help?
All of our staff members are equipped to help scholars with any issues or concerns that may arise during the program. If at any time you have a concern, you are encouraged to reach out to a staff member for assistance. An onsite staff member is available 24 hours.
What if I do not feel well?
All of our staff members are equipped to help you with any issues or concerns that may arise during the program. If at any time you have a concern, you are encouraged to reach out to a staff member for assistance. An onsite staff member is available 24 hours. Students will always have cell phone numbers for designated program staff.
I will be arriving late to the program; can I still attend?
Yes. If you will be arriving late to the program, please call the Program Office or Admissions team to notify us of your delayed arrival. Once you arrive, you will complete registration, and you will be escorted to meet the group.
What education level do your staff have?
Veterinarians are professionals in the industry. Senior Management Staff have a bachelor’s degree or above. Support staff are often collegiate students in veterinary school or in education or like backgrounds, most are also alumnae of prior veterinary medicine programs of our partner, Loop Abroad.
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