Salitral

Salitral is a small community in mountains overlooking Santa Ana just outside of San Jose.   Its population is around 150 families, the houses of which are spread out along a single road that leads up into the mountains.  The community is based around agricultural production, and the main crops grown in the surrounding mountains are onions, lettuce, and coffee.  Many of the families also work in the economic center of Santa Ana, and in neighboring San Jose, the Costa Rica’s vibrant and bustling capital.

The NatureKids School in Salitral serves over 100 kids in 9 bi-weekly class offerings. It also serves the adolescent and adult populations of the town through specialized courses in advanced language acquisition and family-oriented coursework and lesson plans.

Drake Bay

Drake Bay is a quiet beach community located on the southwestern tip of the Osa Peninsula. Home to around 80 families, this small community is spread out along the beautiful beaches bordering Corcovado National Park.  The main industry in the region is ecotourism, and as such the area’s residents and families are have expressed a great deal of interest in language acquisition as a tool of personal and professional development. Other industries in the region are fishing and small scale agricultural production.

The NatureKids School in Drake Bay serves a diverse range of ages and language abilities, and through 7 bi-weekly class offerings the school works with the local population to provide the tools they need to fully integrate themselves into their changing economy.