education Archives • Upward Spirals

Sustainable Living Expedition with Upward Spirals

Join us for the world famous Sustainable Living Expedition; an 9 day / 8 night, all-inclusive, educational adventure where you’ll tour organic food production, green building, food forestry, renewable energy systems, and regenerative community development in action. Daily workshops and knowledge sharing sessions with Upward Spirals and other experts will share with you the knowledge, plans, tools and connections you need to create sustainability for yourself and in your communities.

Sustainable Living Expedition

The educational adventure of a lifetime! You’ll see successful sustainable solutions and learn from regenerative lifestyle experts at many amazing projects across Costa Rica. A transformative and inspiring week where you’ll be invited and supported to design a thriving life.

Envision Festival

4 Days of World Class Music, Yoga, Surf & Community

The Art and Practice of Live Culture Fermentation

In this intensive four-day course, learn the basic theory of the fermentation process and practice making a variety of fermented foods, including pickled vegetables, kimchi, herbal sodas and beers, ginger beer, vinegar, dairy kefir, dosas, and local starch sourdough.

Permaculture Design Course – Rancho Mastatal

Join our diverse team of permaculture instructors Scott Gallant, Mitch Haddad, Santiago Miranda, Rachel Jackson, Sam Kenworthy, and Laura Killingbeck for this annual life-changing 2-week experience. The course covers the core Permaculture Design curriculum and emphasizes creating diverse multi-functional human landscapes based on ecological patterns. Utilizing Rancho Mastatal as a living classroom, the class will mix lectures and hands-on work, exploring design solutions for both temperate and tropical regions.

Solar Electricity for the Developing World

Learn about solar electricity for the developing world in the developing world! This workshop provides an introduction to stand-alone solar-electric (PV) system design and installation, with a focus on small, rural systems. The workshop combines classroom sessions with a strong emphasis on real-world projects in the community, along with hands-on labs. You will have the opportunity to understand, design, and install lighting and cell-phone-charging systems that can dramatically improve the living conditions of the local people.

Sustainable Living Expedition

A educational expedition where you’ll tour sustainable solutions and ecologically harmonious living practices on many amazing projects across Costa Rica. You will learn from a diverse team of regenerative experts, how to increase your personal sustainability and how to share your growth with those around you.

Permaculture Design Course – VerdEnergia

VerdEnergia is a multicultural and diverse community with a colorful array of political and cultural approaches, practices and philosophies. Together we are pioneering a community-based, regenerative economic model with permaculture principles acting as our guide and unifying tool. We combine theory with applied practice, enabling ourselves and others to find right livelihood through practicing permaculture.

Timber Frame Construction

Learn the art of timber framing with talented and respected timber framers Skip Dewhirst and Lizabeth Moniz during this 10-day course when students will participate in the construction of a small timber frame structure on site at Rancho Mastatal.

The Society – Service and Adventure Program

You are invited to participate in this exciting and unique service and travel opportunity in Costa Rica. Experience the rich culture of this incredible country while doing work to support the people, communities, and preservation of the land and native environment. You will have an unforgettable experience, full of outdoor adventures, connections with local people, and mission outreach work.