Have you ever wondered what EARTH University’s Guácimo Campus is like, where more than 400 students from over 35 countries live? What life is like on campus? How do the students live in the middle of a lush rainforest in the humid tropics? What do they do when they have free time?
Every student who comes to our University makes our beautiful campus their home for four years. They greet their neighbors in the hallways, eat and talk in the cafeteria, and play football (soccer), Frisbee, and other sports at the Sports Complex. They create collective memories, and EARTH is full of their stories. The Office of Student Affairs and the Academic Vice-Presidency jointly work to make life rewarding, educational, and also warm and welcoming. At EARTH, the physical and mental health of students, faculty, and staff is always a priority.
One of the Academic Program courses during the first year is Health and Physical Fitness, designed to provide students with the necessary tools to maintain a healthy lifestyle. According to Cecilia Gonzalez, who developed this course, various clubs were created to generate interest in physical activity among the students. They can participate regularly in the clubs they choose and see progress in their abilities and health. In addition, there are clubs focused on arts and culture. Students can select from more than a dozen options, including activities like yoga, fitness, drawing, swimming, basketball, and volleyball.
“Health has always been a priority in the curriculum and the University’s activities program. But EARTH also has among its objectives the formation of well-rounded people, and the clubs fulfill that goal because they are spaces that promote values such as honesty and respect,” says Cecilia, adding that in these different settings, students can practice leadership, teamwork, and a sense of community.
The clubs are taught by people specialized in the subject or even by students with specific knowledge in some field. For example, student Mariana Chiriboga (Class of 2024, Honduras), who is in her last year at EARTH and has a black belt in Taekwondo, teaches this martial art club.
The clubs are mandatory only for first-year students; at the end of the term, they must have eight stamps proving their involvement. However, students from other academic years also regularly participate in the clubs, often joined by staff and professors who live on campus. In addition, the University organizes other recreational activities to encourage physical activity, such as different sports tournaments, races, and walks.
For instance, if you walk around campus on a Wednesday afternoon, you may encounter a group of people dancing Zumba to Latin and African rhythms in the gymnasium. You could see two teams enthusiastically playing football (soccer) on the field or find students challenging their strength in the weight room. And you might see another group of young people learning to draw eyes and noses in the Expression Room.
Above all, we want the EARTH community to feel fulfilled when they live at our University, which is also a home for hundreds of people.