Costa Rican Explorer

Hi, my name is Ilene and I am very fortunate to provide Spanish language and cultural education to about 400 very diverse students in the Pittsburgh Public School district. It is my firm belief that every student can and should learn as much as possible about the world around them before leaving high school. To that end I have partnered with an educational tour company to offer an 8 day tour of Costa Rica to 17, 8th grade students.

Many of these students receive free/reduced lunches. While they have been working very hard since September it is near impossible to raise all of the funds needed for such a trip by our February 23 deadline. We have many sales and school wide fundraisers taking place and in the works, but I am requesting help from the general public to make this trip a reality for these deserving students.

While in Costa Rica, we will hike a Rainforest and a Volcano National Park. We will also visit a coffee plantation, a pineapple plantation, a biological reserve and a school. Thereby expanding the students' knowledge of Science and Social Studies as well as investigating many opportunities for their future - and hopefully pushing them to continue their studies after high school. Please help me create a brighter future for these wonderful and deserving children who have immense potential to become America's future leaders.