Road Scholar in Costa Rica: Making a Difference at the Sarapiqui Conservation Learning Center
Costa Rica — Road Scholar’s 2024 Campus of the Year — has been drawing adult students for years. As our lifelong learners experience the beauty, flora and fauna of this extraordinary country, Road Scholar is committed to making an impactful difference in the communities here.
Since 1999, Road Scholar has brought more than 46,000 older adults to Costa Rica on nearly 3,000 different programs. With a steady, perennial presence, Road Scholar generates business and enables residents to offer services. In doing so, these individuals make a sustainable living for themselves and their families.
Geisel (Hazel) Valerio Hidalgo
Two hours from San José, Sarapiquí is home to nature reserves and lush rainforest. The Selva Verde Lodge, one of Road Scholar’s trusted anchors in this region, and the Sarapiquí Conservation Learning Center (SCLC) are found here. Over the years, Road Scholar has continued to support the SCLC and its mission to provide community programs such as English classes, computer literacy, environmental education and after-school activities. By offering residents opportunities to improve their job prospects, the SCLC helps residents cultivate more environmentally sustainable occupations to improve their job prospects.
Resident, Geisel Valerio Hidalgo shares her experience with Road Scholar with us:
RS: How has Road Scholar made a difference in your community?
Geisel: Thanks to Road Scholar groups, I have started my own Arepas and Cheese Tour business and I teach cooking classes to earn the income I need for my children's education. Road Scholar helps support SCLC and the development of our community and our local schools with donations of school supplies.
RS: Tell me about yourself and your family.
Geisel: My husband and I live with our three children, Vladimir, Adrian, and Kevin, on our dairy farm in La Chilera, El Roble de Sarapiquí. We produce cheese and milk and grow plantains, peppers, naranjilla, blackberries, yucca and sugar cane.
RS: Does the SCLC help you distribute and sell your food?
Geisel: The SCLC helps us sell our cheese, milk and other products. I also teach cooking classes, offer tastings and lead craft demonstrations for the many Road Scholar groups who visit.
RS: What is your favorite recipe to cook?
Geisel: Patacones!
Geisel (Hazel) leading a cooking class
Try Geisel’s recipe for Patacones
Ingredients:
Green plantains
Vegetable Oil
Sea Salt
Directions:
- Peel the green plantains, then cut them into two-inch long pieces.
- Fry the pieces in 1 to 2 inches of hot oil for 5 minutes.
- Remove from the oil and smash them with a tortilla press or plate into flattened discs.
- Fry a second time in hot oil for another 5 minutes until tender.
- Remove them from the heat with tongs and drain the excess oil on a paper towel.
- Sprinkle with sea salt to taste, and serve with chimichurri, refried beans, grated cheese, guacamole or salsa.