At the beginning of the school year, Ritenour put out a message to their students that got them excited about what could be the trip of a lifetime.
The Costa Rica trip, headed by science teacher Samantha Bueltmann is offered as a study-abroad opportunity during the summer of 2026. This learning experience offers a unique way of teaching kids about the culture and what life is like in Costa Rica.
Through this, not only do students get to travel and explore the world outside of St. Louis, they also get to expand their knowledge and be educated on cultures beyond the American way, as well as help learn science in action.
“We will be directly learning about habitat loss and restoration and the importance of mangroves to the ecosystems of coastal communities,” Bueltmann said. “Students will even be able to help replant some of the habitat. In addition, they will get to learn so much about different animals, ecosystems, and cultures.
The trip is set to be nine days long with travel included within that time frame. For the price of $3,929, students who participate will get their travel fee, hotel, regional-style meals, tour director, transportation, expert local guides, guided sightseeing, and a service learning experience covered by the program.
While this trip would allow for multiple opportunities, the price of $3,929 isn’t taken lightly by everyone. Some might not consider this trip to be worth the price, while others might think it’s cheap.
“The Costa Rica trip caught my eye because I wanted to learn and explore about a place I’ve never been to before. Unfortunately, my mom and I decided that the cost was too much and we weren’t willing to pay that price,” junior Ariah Lindsey said.
Bueltmann is trying to help students cover the costs by running fundraisers from now until the trip, including a current fundraiser through TJ’s Pizza.
School districts, including Ritenour, Jennings, McCluer North, University City, and more, can offer this unique experience to their students by partnering with EF Educational Tours. Students can earn 0.5 high school credits by using the guide.
Overall, this trip will provide an opportunity for students to see more of the world, all while learning and earning credits to put towards their high school education.
It has been met with high interest, with over 100 people coming to the initial meeting, and Bueltmann says that the spots are rapidly filling up.
“We have 25 students already registered to come and a few more interested in joining. We do have room for 34, but 25 is more than we initially expected, Bueltmann said. “We are so excited.”