A group of Canadore College students has returned from Costa Rica with new perspectives on sustainability, community, personal well-being, and what it means to live with purpose.
The international experience was offered through Canadore's Partnerships for the Goals: Building Better Communities initiative, supported by the Canadian Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Scholarships program. Canadore was one of 22 Canadian post-secondary institutions selected to receive funding through QES 2025.
The Queen Elizabeth Scholars Program develops global citizens, activates a new generation of leaders through local and global community engagement, strengthens collaboration, and enables participants to contribute to community development in Canada and around the world.
Canadore is supporting that mandate by creating opportunities for students to build cross-cultural understanding, develop leadership skills, apply their learning in community settings, and contribute to locally identified priorities. By connecting international education with meaningful community engagement, the College is helping students understand how their knowledge and experiences can create positive change both at home and abroad.
"Canadore's work in Costa Rica reflects what the Queen Elizabeth Scholars Program is designed to achieve: providing young people with transformative cross-cultural experiences while building their capacity to lead and making meaningful contributions to their communities at home and abroad," said Alyssa Szilagyi, Program Specialist, International Scholarships, Universities Canada.
The students participated in immersive learning at Farm 17 in Providencia de Dota. Among the participants were Brandon Leger, a third-year Environmental Technology student, and Dylen Harrison, who has started her third year of Canadore's Bachelor of Science in Nursing program.
Located in the cloud forest of the UNESCO Savegre Biosphere Reserve, Farm 17 is a living classroom operated by Canadore College in partnership with Green Communities Costa Rica. Through hands-on activities, cultural exchange, community engagement, and the Purposeful Living Certificate, the students explored the connections among human well-being, environmental stewardship, and strong communities.
"I honestly can't put into words how grateful I am for the opportunity to be part of the Purposeful Living Certificate at Farm 17," said Harrison. "It has genuinely shifted my perspective and changed the way I look at life, community, and what it means to live with purpose. I'm leaving this experience with so much more than I could have imagined."
The Purposeful Living Certificate brings together well-being, resilience, nature, hope, and sustainability. Participants reflect on their values and strengths while exploring practical ways to create positive change in their homes, workplaces, and communities.
"Farm 17 changed how I think about happiness and what it means to live with purpose," said Leger. "Experiencing life in Costa Rica showed me how much fulfilment can come from family, community, and shared success rather than possessions."
The experience also gave students opportunities to move beyond the classroom and participate directly in community-based learning.
"These experiences have allowed me to move beyond simply learning about communities and instead become actively involved in them, build relationships, and contribute in meaningful ways," Harrison said.
In partnership with Green Communities Costa Rica, the group participated in sustainability activities and learned from local residents about the connections among the environment, community well-being, and daily life.
"Working alongside Green Communities Costa Rica at Farm 17 in Providencia de Dota far exceeded my expectations," Harrison said. "The sustainability activities, the Purposeful Living Certificate, and the conversations about well-being and our connection to the earth changed how I think about all three."
"Experiential learning gives students the opportunity to apply their knowledge in meaningful, real-world settings while developing confidence, adaptability, and a broader understanding of the world around them," said Jeannette Miron, Vice-President, Student Access, Success and Indigenous Engagement. "Through the Queen Elizabeth Scholars Program, Canadore is helping students build the cross-cultural understanding, leadership skills, and commitment to community that will allow them to make a lasting contribution in Canada and around the world."
The Costa Rica experience is part of Canadore's Learning with Impact approach, which combines education, cultural exchange, and real-world projects to create lasting benefits for learners and the communities with which they work.
The Canadian Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Scholarships program is managed through a partnership among Universities Canada, the Rideau Hall Foundation, and Canadian post-secondary institutions. QES 2025 is made possible through financial contributions from the Rideau Hall Foundation.
For more information
100 College Drive, P.O. Box 5001
North Bay Ontario
Canada P1B 8K9
www.canadorecollege.ca
