The SELAL youth leadership camp co-developed by the Stanford Woods Institute for the Environment and the SOMOS Foundation is an English Language and Leadership camp designed to empower youth with the necessary skills, knowledge, and opportunities to become future leaders. The mission is:

1) To enable youth in Osa and Golfito to better access to employment within the local "green" economy.

2) To enact place-based environmental awareness and action through principles of biodiversity and conservation, rural eco-tourism and community sustainable development, and connection and interaction with local environmental leaders

The structured two-week camp covers; Leadership, Biodiversity & Conservation, Eco-tourism, English language, & Personal development and is held five days a week during the students' vacation period. Daily conversational English lessons and activities, as well as presentations, workshops, and field trips led by community members who are affiliated with local businesses, organizations, and protected areas, are the foundation of the leadership camps.

The program is a collaboration between the public and private sectors, bringing together the community youth with diverse local leaders and business people in the towns of Bahia Ballena-Uvita, Puerto Cortes, and Puerto Jimenez de Osa.

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