Missouri State University
AC-5: Immersive Experience

The winter immersion trip to Monteverde, Costa Rica focused on serving alongside local coffee growers, learning about biodiversity and sustainable techniques used in Costa Rica. Students lived with local host families in an effort to recognize the importance of contributing their knowledge and experiences to their own communities and the broader society and reflect on the role of active citizenship and its role in social change. The summer immersion trip to Costa Rica brought students in contact with the environment, scientific, and cultural characteristics of the region through the study of Leatherback Sea Turtle ecology. During rainforest visits, students had the opportunity to learn about the environmental threats of the tropical regions, importance of water quality assessments, and agricultural sustainability. The spring break immersion trip to Indianapolis, Indiana gave students who serve in the Springfield Community Gardens an opportunity to work with partners like Growing Places Indy, Friends of the White River, and Gleaners of Indiana, among others. The trip focused on social and environmental justice through sustainability practices. A look at the geoenvironment and culture of the South coast of Jamaica was provided to students through a ten day stay in guest houses in small coastal communities. They explored mountain, beach, and coral reef environments in order to gain an appreciation of how landscape, history, geology, and water resources have shaped the culture and economy of Jamaica.