Live Auction

Item Description

Experience Costa Rica with the exclusive access that our tenth graders enjoyed during their February 2015 trip to Playa Grande! The Nueva School's partner, The Leatherback Trust, is offering six nights at their research station in Parque Nacional Marino Las Baulas for a lucky Nueva group of up to 16 people. This park is a primary tourism destination on the Nicoya Peninsula of Costa Rica and the most important nesting beach remaining for critically endangered Eastern Pacific leatherback turtles. The beach is also visited by nesting green turtles and olive ridley turtles, which nest in enormous numbers (10,000 + individuals) at nearby beaches in the Guancaste Province during August November. The park also protects 174 species of birds, capuchin and howler monkeys, caimans, and crocodiles. There will be no lack of natural beauty and places to explore, including four beaches and two mangrove estuaries within the park. As one of Costa Rica's best, most renowned, and most pristine beach breaks, Playa Grande also attracts surfers from around the world. This is a perfect getaway for one or two families.Dr. George Shillinger, the Executive Director of The Leatherback Trust and an environmental conservationist since 1986, will personally lead your trip. Dr. Shillinger worked with Nueva faculty to lead the 2015 tenth grade trip to Costa Rica. He holds a PhD in Marine Biology from Stanford University, an MBA from the Yale University School of Management, an MS in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology from Stanford University, and a BA in the Biological Basis of Behavior from the University of Pennsylvania. With the knowledge and expertise of Dr. Shillinger, you will have an extraordinary opportunity to immerse yourself in the natural world! You will also have a $1,500 credit at your disposal, to be used for additional adventures such as a sunset sailing voyage, SCUBA diving at one of the nearby islands, ziplining through the jungle, a day trip to an active volcano, or sport fishing for billfish and tuna. You may also use this credit to arrange travel from the airport, or to rent a car for the week.

With easy access to popular tourist towns and Liberia International Airport, this beautiful and seemingly untouched destination is by no means remote. Your accommodations will be at a private compound at the research station that has hosted conservationists and researchers from around the world. Your group will stay in half of a duplex with a living area, kitchen, and three bedrooms that sleep up to 16. Amenities include a private pool surrounded by hammocks, outdoor showers, beach access, and a 24-hour security guard on site to monitor this gated property. This package includes a six-night stay in the compound, access to Dr. George Shillinger, and $1,500 credit for excursions and/or travel. Meals are not included. This is based on availability and must be scheduled at least two months in advance on a mutually agreed-upon date between April 1 and October 31, 2015.

Donor(s): The Leatherback Trust, Akiko Yamazaki and Jerry Yang, Kristina and George Phipps

Fair Market Value: Priceless!