Welcome
The Las Nubes EcoCampus, an initiative of York University, is a living learning and research hub located in Southern Costa Rica that supports the conservation of the Las Nubes Biological Reserve and surrounding communities. It brings together education, research, and community engagement, offering students and scholars experiential, place-based learning while working in partnership with local communities to protect ecological, cultural, and social values.
The Las Nubes EcoCampus serves as the central organizing framework for a set of integrated and mutually reinforcing initiatives. Anchored in a strong foundation of private and institutional support, the Las Nubes EcoCampus brings together academic programming, research, and community engagement. Its physical assets include the distinctive Lillian Meighen Wright Centre (LMWC), the Las Nubes Biological Reserve, multiple conservation lots, and a community resource centre, Casita Azul. Equally, the Las Nubes EcoCampus is sustained by the relationships that animate it, including staff, local partners, homestay families, and community members, whose knowledge systems and values shape its ongoing development.
Study in Costa Rica
Las Nubes Project offers two programs during the year, the Summer Abroad and the Reading Week Programs. Through these programs, students are given an unprecedented opportunity to interact with and learn from the local rural Costa Rican communities through first-hand lessons on tropical ecology, sustainability, Indigenous education, arts, health, and conservation.
The Grounded Project
Grounded is a series of documentaries filmed in Costa Rica that gather experiences of people whose livelihoods are substantially linked to the earth and whose interactions with the environment not only reveal the structural elements that constrain the pursuit of social and ecological wellbeing, but also the opportunities that these experiences offer for the construction of alternative ways of living. Check out our latest documentary "Buried Seeds (2022)"
Conservation Timeline
Since its inception in 1998 with the generous donation of the Las Nubes property by Dr. Woody Fisher, York University has embarked on a transformative journey to establish a renowned biological reserve and research station. This visionary initiative has been made possible through a succession of philanthropic contributions that have not only fortified the university's commitment to environmental conservation but have also propelled it onto the global stage as a hub for cutting-edge research and community engagement. The Las Nubes Biological Reserve, serving as the catalyst for this endeavor, has grown into a cornerstone of York University's dedication to biodiversity preservation and scientific exploration.
Over the years, the institution's unwavering dedication, coupled with ongoing generous support, has fostered the development of an internationally recognized and robust facility that stands as a testament to the importance of preserving our natural heritage and meaningful connections with local communities. Las Nubes now serves as a dynamic center for interdisciplinary studies, attracting scholars, scientists, and conservationists from around the world who collaborate to address pressing environmental challenges and contribute to the advancement of ecological knowledge. Through the synergy of academic excellence and philanthropy, York University's commitment to sustainability and ecological stewardship continues to leave an indelible mark on the global scientific community.
Upcoming Events
July 2026
Communities and Knowledges: Toward a Situated, Participatory and Decolonial Academic Praxis
Get in Touch
Thank you for your interest in the Las Nubes Project!
For information concerning the Las Nubes Project or the Fisher Fund for Neotropical Conservation, please contact us at lasnubes@yorku.ca
Las Nubes EcoCampus
Santa Elena, Pérez Zeledón, Costa Rica