[ File # csp12123770, License # 2669532 ] Licensed through http://www.canstockphoto.com in accordance with the End User License Agreement (http://www.canstockphoto.com/legal.php) (c) Can Stock Photo Inc. / iqoncept

We know parents may be nervous to send their child so far away from home but we want to reassure you that it is a very safe and supervised environment with 24 hour security guards. It is far away from towns and cities. This is the 11th year of UGA’s campus in Costa Rica with no security incidents and having hosted thousands of students. The local staff is professional, and the ratio of WLA chaperones to students will be 1:10.

The WLA chaperones will always be with the students. If you ever need to reach us, you can call us directly down there or contact the WLA administration in the US who can reach us. We will provide parents with all of the contact numbers before we leave. Also, students have access to computers to email or skype their families in the U.S. Last year a few even brought their cell phones and could call home if needed. Even though we will be in another country, the WLA chaperones and the students are able to be reached quite easily if need be!

Some parents voiced concern about the students being around a lot of college students. There are very few college students studying on the campus when we are there and they are in separate areas. The WLA family of students and chaperones stay together as a group the whole time, eating, sleeping and going on excursions. It is a very bonding experience for everyone!


We will travel down there as a group and stay together as a group while at the airports and getting to UGA’s campus. We will meet at AOD early in the morning where you will say goodbye to your child. A school bus will take the group to the Atlanta International Airport. The WLA chaperones will assist each child with check-in and baggage. Once everyone has their ticket, we will go through security together as a group.

Everyone will have a buddy. Once we arrive in San Jose, Costa Rica, we will go through customs and immigration as a group, and make sure everyone’s luggage arrived. We will have a bus waiting to take us directly to the campus. We will not be spending any time in the capital city except maybe in traffic!

During all of the planned excursions, the students and chaperones stay together with the Costa Rican teachers and guides. Students are very busy learning and having fun all day long. They sleep in a bungalow that has 4 separate rooms, each room with 4 beds. There is at least one chaperone who sleeps in each bungalow with the students. Everyone is accounted for and lights out by 10 pm.

After last year’s trip, all students were surveyed and everyone wrote that they felt safe on the trip. Your child is in good hands.

If a medical emergency were to happen, there are doctors and hospitals not far away. WLA purchases travel health insurance that would cover any medical emergency.

If you have specific health and safety questions not covered here or found under the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs), just email us.