DANBURY, CONN. — Known as the land of volcanoes and lakes, the Central American country of Nicaragua is rich in culture and natural resources. That’s what makes it the perfect classroom setting for students from Western Connecticut State University to immerse themselves in language, culture and biology for two weeks this summer.

“Our classroom is a museum and the beach is a place to learn,” said Assistant Professor of World Languages and Literature Dr. Stacey Alba Skar. “When traveling as a part of a course, every place becomes an opportunity to engage in real world learning.”

“Global Academy in Granada, Nicaragua” will take place from July 25 through Aug. 10 or through Aug. 24, as part of the university’s world languages Spanish courses. The two-week program is open to anyone registering for three-credit Spanish courses SPA 211 or 411. The extended four-week program includes an additional three credits of Community Service and Spanish Language Study for students who register for SPA 298. Travel expenses are $1,930 for the two-week option and $2,330 for four weeks and include airfare, all traveling expenses, private room and three meals daily with a local family, and all-language immersion, field experiences and textbook materials.

Students will stay with families in Granada, the oldest colonial city in the continental Americas with buildings that date back to the early 1500s. Located on the largest lake in Central America, with views of the Mombacho cloud forest and close to the Pacific coast, Granada, Skar said, is the perfect place to connect cultural study with ecological diversity. “Its warmth is not only in its climate and colorful architecture, but in its incredibly friendly people.”

Students will participate in community service and work on education and ecology projects. Assistant Professor of Biological and Environmental Sciences Dr. Theodora Pinou will teach during the first two weeks with Skar, incorporating her knowledge on the study of sea turtles. One of Pinou’s projects will focus on the threats to sea turtles.

During the course, students and faculty will learn about preserving turtle eggs, which are often removed from the mother, and how they are negatively affected by climate change.

The first half of the day, students will study language and culture. Classes will be held in a museum that was formerly a convent. In the afternoon and on weekends, the focus will shift to community service and field experiences in education and conservation projects.

Skar said the program offers students a real connection to local reality; they will learn about language and culture simultaneously with ecological sustainability. An immersion in community service, which could range from adult literacy to ecological projects, was planned in response to student demand. “They want to connect with people,” she said. “That’s how they really learn about the culture of the region.”

In addition to weekly studies, there are also weekend trips planned, including camping on the beach to study sea turtles when they lay their eggs at Refugio La Flor, reforesting at the Volcano Lake of Laguna de Apoyo, and helping conservation efforts at the Mombacho cloud forest. The extended program includes a trip to Ometepe, a nearby island formed by volcanoes.

The cost of the trip is the responsibility of the student, as is payment of the course. The deadline to register for courses is April 3.

For more information on Global Academy, contact Skar at (203) 837-8485.

Western Connecticut State University offers outstanding faculty in a range of quality academic programs. Our diverse university community provides students an enriching and supportive environment that takes advantage of the unique cultural offerings of Western Connecticut and New York. Our vision: To be an affordable public university with the characteristics of New England’s best small private universities.