MLC Spring Break 2010: Costa Rica

2780 SW 37th Avenue, Suite: 200, Miami, Florida 33133Tel: 786-270-0562 Email: info@miamilearningcenter.net : 

1 2780 SW 37th Avenue, Suite: 200, Miami, Florida 33133Tel: 786-270-0562 Email: info@miamilearningcenter.net Miami Learning Center (MLC) is a full-service learning center with an experienced staff of Tutors and Academic Advisors that have been assisting students throughout South Florida for more than 10 years. MLC also offers an online tutoring platform which services students from all grade levels, nationwide. All-inclusive Spring Camps and Summer Camps are available, including study abroad programs in Costa Rica. If you would like to learn more about our services, please visit us online at: www.miamilearningcenter.net or call us at: 786-270-0562. Miami Learning Center

Costa Rica: Spring Break 2010 : 

2 Costa Rica: Spring Break 2010 This year, the MLC took several students on a study abroad program to Costa Rica. Spring break will never be the same.

The HOUSE! : 

3 The HOUSE! We rented a house not only for the convenience of having the students under one roof, but the 5 star accommodation was a luxury we couldn’t pass on. This is a 4 bedroom, 4 bathroom house with kitchen, living room, dining room, 2 TV rooms, library, office, indoor garden, pantry room, laundry room and garage. The house sits on approximately 2 acres with access to a river. House was custom built in 2007.

Living Room, Dining Room & Porch : 

4 Living Room, Dining Room & Porch Top: Living room and Dining room. Bottom: The Porch and its view.

The Kitchen! : 

5 The Kitchen! The kitchen: We had home-made breakfast, lunch and dinner everyday.

The Library, Office, and TV Room : 

6 The Library, Office, and TV Room Top: Library room with view of the office, office, and side view of the office. Bottom: TV Room, view from window of TV Room, TV Room. Jonathan would fall asleep on the armchair to the left while watching TV –old habits are hard to break!

Boy’s Bedroom and Bathroom : 

7 Boy’s Bedroom and Bathroom Left: Boy’s bedroom. Allan, Jonathan and Miguel shared the room. Right: Bathroom

Girl’s Bedroom and Bathroom : 

8 Girl’s Bedroom and Bathroom Left: Girl’s bedroom. Jessica, Mickia and Summer shared the bedroom. Three beds were accommodated for each girl. Right: Girl’s bathroom.

The students : 

9 Mickia Marian Summer Miguel Nicky (although he prefers to be called Nick) Jonathan Jessica Alex Allan The students

More Students…. : 

10 More Students…. Left: Ms. Kamitaki (4th one from the left) lead the Easter Egg Hunt Right: Top –Park for ATV rides, horse back, and more / Bottom –Museo de los ninos

Easter Egg Hunt and fun games : 

11 Easter Egg Hunt and fun games

Volcan Poas: It’s considered to have one of the largest craters in the world : 

12 Volcan Poas: It’s considered to have one of the largest craters in the world This is the top level of the Volcano. It is one of the active volcanoes in Costa Rica; however, it does not errupt. We were able to take a long, upward pathway to the very top.

Volcan Poas: It was a long walk up, but it was worth it! : 

13 Volcan Poas: It was a long walk up, but it was worth it! The group on top of Volcan Poas….we were exhausted, but the walking had only just begun!

Volcan Poas…and it’s trails : 

14 Volcan Poas…and it’s trails After reaching the top of the volcanic crater, we went through a trail that led to the lagoon. On the left, pictures of Jonathan taking breaks throughout the trail.

Volcan Poas: Botos Lagoon : 

15 Volcan Poas: Botos Lagoon Botos Lagoon is an extinct volcanic crater filled by rainwater. It still contains acidity due to its origin. It’s name derives from the indigenous tribe that used to live near the lagoon called “Los Botos”. Truly a hidden treasure!

ATV Rides : 

16 ATV Rides Left: Summer, Alex and Miguel on ATVs. Right: Jessica, Ms. Rosa & Jonathan, and Summer ride

More ATVs…. : 

17 More ATVs…. Left: Jessica (top), who had never ridden an ATV, was going approximately 7 miles an hour. Mickia (bottom), who had ridden before, knew better than to go faster than Jessica. Right: Summer, who had never ridden an ATV, was going approximately 25 miles an hour, she was quite the risk taker. Miguel, was one of the more experienced riders.

Horse back Riding : 

18 Horse back Riding We all learned a lot from Summer and how to approach a horse. Mickia didn’t take notes from Summer….here she is holding tight!

Horsing around… : 

19 Horsing around… Mickia finally gets the hang of it! 

More horsing around… : 

20 More horsing around… Here is Nicky dominating the horse. He was also one of the more experienced horse-back riders.

Even more horsing around… : 

21 Even more horsing around… Allan on the horse taking advice from Nicky on how to ride the horse.

More horse-back riding : 

22 More horse-back riding Left: Jessica wouldn’t ride unless Ms. Rosa would promise to do so. Right: Ms. Rosa keeping her promise.

More horse-back riding : 

23 More horse-back riding Left: Summer helping Jonathan get better acquainted with the horse. Right: Jonathan brave enough to get on the horse…..(not necessarily ride it)

We all remember this moment, and we will never forget… : 

24 We all remember this moment, and we will never forget… Miguel riding the horse The horse riding Miguel

Fun and Games : 

25 Fun and Games Left: The boys would sit will the others would pull them down a hill…no one was hurt during this activity. Right: We were serious about having the students bring a bottle of water….the horse was not happy about Jonathan stealing his water

Going Fishing! : 

26 Going Fishing! We thought we were getting fishing poles….little did we know! We were taught how to fish with the fish lines and without the poles. A lot easier than it sounds.

Who will catch the first fish? Who caught a fish and who didn’t? : 

27 Who will catch the first fish? Who caught a fish and who didn’t? And the winner was……Summer (top left)! Soon thereafter, Jessica (top right), Alex (bottom left) and Jonathan (bottom right) caught a fish

Even Ms. DeCarla caught a fish! Can you guess who didn’t? : 

28 Even Ms. DeCarla caught a fish! Can you guess who didn’t?

We caught some fish and we ate some fish, just like the locals! : 

29 We caught some fish and we ate some fish, just like the locals! At first, half of the students did not want to eat what they caught; however, by the time we sat to eat, everyone ate fish!

Breakfast! : 

30 Breakfast! Each day, student’s received a hot breakfast which included pancakes, scrambled eggs, fruits, ham, platanos (plantains), gallo pinto (rice and red beans), bread, cinnamon rolls, milk, and orange juice.

Museo de los ninos : 

31 Museo de los ninos The Museo de los ninos used to be an old prison. The government donated the building for the purpose of having a place where children can learn about general science and history, as well as the history of Costa Rica’s culture

Museo de los ninos : 

32 Museo de los ninos Left: Students got to experience what it felt like during an earthquake by standing on the platform that generating tremors. Right: In the health room, students got to perform physical exams on a “dummie”.

Playing around : 

33 Playing around Left: I think I know what Summer is thinking: “Boys can be so immature”…. Right: Apparently, so can girls…

More at the Museo de los ninos : 

34 More at the Museo de los ninos Left: Don’t worry mom, that is not a real cast. Right: Who says Jonathan doesn’t know how to brush his teeth?

The Helicopter : 

35 The Helicopter Right: Inside the Helicopter

The Train : 

36 The Train The younger students couldn’t get enough of the train…

More games… : 

37 More games… Left: Jonathan and Miguel inside a “bubble making” machine. Right: Alex flying a plane!

More activities at the Museum : 

38 More activities at the Museum Left: Mickia is getting ready to go feed the cows Right: Miguel is getting ready to milk the cows

Life size chess at the Museo de los ninos : 

39 Life size chess at the Museo de los ninos Left: Alex challenged Allan into a game of chess Right: Miguel and Summer play Bottom: Marian (and the rest of us) simply watch

The view from the Museo de los ninos: San Jose : 

40 The view from the Museo de los ninos: San Jose

The Zoo : 

41 The Zoo Top (left): Crocodiles –we all thought they were fake, but no one dared to get near them

Ojo de Agua –Water Park : 

42 Ojo de Agua –Water Park Top Left: Mickia, Miguel, Jessica and Summer by the pool Top Right: Jessica and Summer on the lower deck deciding whether to dive or not…. Bottom Left: Jessica on the upper deck and Summer on the lower deck….still deciding whether to dive or not Bottom Right: The only brave one that kept going back for more: ALEX!  He dove from the upper and lower decks!

Ojo de Agua: More fun in the cold springs! : 

43 Ojo de Agua: More fun in the cold springs! Left: Miguel and Jonathan enjoy the cold waters! Right: Jonathan, Alex, Jessica, and Miguel have fun while Ms. Rosa and Marian give up!

Ojo de Agua: natural cold springs : 

44 Ojo de Agua: natural cold springs Don’t be fooled, they are both freezing!

Canopy by the Arenal Volcano : 

45 Canopy by the Arenal Volcano Students get their harness put on and trained on safety protocols.

The Boys are ready for canopy! : 

46 The Boys are ready for canopy!

The Girls are ready for canopy….well, most of them! : 

47 The Girls are ready for canopy….well, most of them!

While off at canopy……. : 

48 While off at canopy……. Ms. DeCarla practiced on her photography. On the left, she captured pictures of hummingbirds and on the right, she managed to catch a few hummingbirds drinking out of the water feeder.

The much anticipated: HOT SPRINGS! : 

49 The much anticipated: HOT SPRINGS! Mickia tries to hang on… Miguel also tries to hang on… Jonathan never hangs on! Allan never let go…

Caught in the action… : 

50 Caught in the action…

Striking a pose for the camera… : 

51 Striking a pose for the camera…

Allan at the Hot Springs : 

52 Allan at the Hot Springs

Summer at the Hot Springs… : 

53 Summer at the Hot Springs…

After days of endless activities…the girls needed a relaxation Facial : 

54 After days of endless activities…the girls needed a relaxation Facial

Playa Parrita : 

55 Playa Parrita Jonathan, Allan, Summer, and Mickia enjoying the water

Playa Parrita : 

56 Playa Parrita

Playa Parrita : 

57 Playa Parrita Allan, Summer, Mickia, Miguel, and Alex (way in the right)

Playa Parrita : 

58 Playa Parrita Nicky, Miguel, and Alex

Playa Parrita : 

59 Playa Parrita Top (left): Jonathan, Allen and Mickia. Top (right): Miguel and Jonathan Bottom: Allan holding a little crab…

Playa Parrita : 

60 Playa Parrita It was high-tide season. From this picture you could see the distance from the shore to the beach.

Wouldn’t you like to call this home? Playa Parrita : 

61 Wouldn’t you like to call this home? Playa Parrita

Playa en Jaco, Costa Rica : 

62 Playa en Jaco, Costa Rica This is another beach we visited in Costa Rica. The currents were not as bad, and its considered a tourist spot.

Professional Horse-back riders! : 

63 Professional Horse-back riders!

More professional riders… : 

64 More professional riders…

We bid good-bye to our friends, Ms. Marta and Ms. Dorothy…as well as Costa Rica : 

65 We bid good-bye to our friends, Ms. Marta and Ms. Dorothy…as well as Costa Rica

One last surprise…. : 

66 One last surprise…. FIRST CLASS!!!

Students in first class, for the first time : 

67 Students in first class, for the first time

A special thank you : 

68 A special thank you To all of the students who participated in the fund-raising, and to those students who raised funds even though they were not participating in the Spring Camp –we could not have done this without you. Thank you to the parents of the students who also participated in raising funds and whose invaluable support to the MLC has allowed its mission to take course. A very special thank you to Ms. Marta and Ms. Dorothy, who not only opened their doors for us, but their attention and guidance, whom without, the trip to Costa Rica would not have been possible. As we look into the future, we hope to include more trips around the world for our students. Thank you parents for making our dreams a reality and for making us a part of your child’s educational success.