Riverside Community College Logo
Hero Image

Costa Rica - Winter 2023

Program Information

Costa Rica is a small country located in Central America. What it lacks in size it makes up for in breathtaking nature and friendly locals, who are more than happy to teach travelers the relaxed Caribbean way of “pura vida”, or pure life. 

In Costa Rica, students can immerse the​mselves in the stunning diverse ecosystem, which is comprised of a myriad of natural wonders, such as dense tropical forests, pristine sandy beaches, active volcanoes, and more. The abundant and exotic flora and fauna are ready to be discove​red by students from all fields through extensive walking tours in some of the most famous national parks, wildlife reserves and biological stations. 

During this 16-day program students will have the opportunity to take part in various activities such as nature walks, tropical plant identification, bio forest and much more…​

costa rica brochure
       Brochure

stem brochure

Scholarship Information

How to Enroll​

If you are interested in the program and would like to know more, please fill out the program interest form and someone will contact you.

Program Interest Form   


If you are ready to enroll, please visit this page:  

Program Enrollment

Meet Your RCCD Faculty

kasey nguyen

Professor Kasey Nguyen, Ph.D.

Computer Information Systems
Moreno Valley College, CIS-30A


CIS-30A - Introduction to Python Programming (3 units) UC, CSU

Prereqisite: None. Wrangling data in Costa Rica by applying basic Python programming concepts in the enriched biodiversity and natural environment. Introduces the beginner or curious programmer to Python programming techniques through a series of practical hands-on exercises in lecture and labs using real-world data points in wild-life species, plants, climate and ​​volcanic soil in Costa Rica's refuge preservation, forest, trails, and conservatory. Emphasizes principles of software development, style, and testing in application and data handling. Focus​es on programming and problem-solving using Python programming language in beautiful provinces and e​xotic destinations, such as San Gerardo De Dota, La Fortuna and Tamarindo. 48 hours lecture and 27 hours lab.​