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Faculty of Health
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Faculty Bootcamp

Build new learning experiences with global partners.

Bootcamps are an opportunity for Health faculty members to participate in a structured short-term visit, where they meet and build relationships with global partners and explore ways to develop new international experiential education courses. 

Following each bootcamp, faculty members apply their experience towards benefiting student learning through a proposal for course adaptation, a new course design, globally networked learning plan, or identifiable joint projects with international partners.

Timeline for Processes and Deadlines

Call for Bootcamp Applications

Due October 31st

Bootcamp Participants Notified

1st week November

Faculty Travel to Destination

Winter Reading Week (5 days)

Faculty design/ adapt existing courses and propose to teach in the Study Abroad program

Call for Course Proposals to Teach Summer Study Abroad Course

Due April 30

Selected Courses Notified

End of June

Faculty Orientation and Preparations to Study Abroad Program

October - April

Faculty Teach Study Abroad Course

10 days within May - August

Past Bootcamps

Faculty Bootcamp: Experiencing Las Nubes as Learners

In February 2026, Dr. Maxwell Barranti and Dr. Christine Till experienced York's Las Nubes EcoCampus as students, not instructors. Over five days, they joined courses in Environmental Psychology and Ecological Health, comparing industrial and sustainable farms, visiting sites of historical relevance, a coral restoration lab, and learning from traditional healers in the indigenous Boruca community. Visits with Costa Rican universities and researchers revealed collaboration opportunities in psychology and nursing education. They returned equipped with concrete ideas, community contacts, and a deep understanding of Las Nubes' unique educational landscape.

Three people review printed materials together at a table in an indoor clinical setting

2024 Ghana Bootcamp for Nursing

Through a guided exchange with Ghanaian healthcare professionals across a variety of clinical settings, faculty members gained valuable insights into the country's healthcare practices and cultural context. These experiences directly led to the development of the Integrated Nursing Practicum (NURS 4527 6.0), which launched in Spring 2025 in partnership with Mansa Memorial Hospital.

Interested in next year's bootcamp? Applications open fall 2026.

A group of faculty members visiting Las Nubes EcoCampus standing and sitting together in a room in May 2023
Las Nubes EcoCampus May 2023
A group of faculty members visiting Las Nubes EcoCampus standing outside on a balcony in May 2022
Las Nubes EcoCampus May 2022
A group of faculty members visiting Las Nubes EcoCampus standing in front of a bus in February 2020
Las Nubes EcoCampus February 2020

Frequently Asked Questions

Any full-time faculty members within the Faculty of Health are eligible to apply. Faculty members must be available for travel on the dates provided and agree to travel with the group.

Faculty members are selected based on their online applications. Applications should provide a clear description of the faculty member's vision for a course they would like to adapt for Costa Rica and their motivation for participating in the bootcamp. The description should consider how the course could explore opportunities for experiential learning. Courses should be relevant to and appreciate the mission of Las Nubes as valuable to the experience rather than a nice setting for a course that could otherwise be taught on the Keele campus.

Applications are reviewed by a committee from within the Office of the Dean and Las Nubes.

Airfare, accommodation, ground transportation, field visits, meals, logistics planning and support are provided. No additional stipends or per diems will be provided. Faculty members will work with and be supported by the Las Nubes team and York University staff who coordinate this experience and can assist in the organization of course delivery in Costa Rica.

Faculty will be guided and introduced to established community contacts based on identified areas of course interest. Contacts and relations have been established through Las Nubes after more than 20 years in the community. Accommodations will be organized as part of the bootcamp experience and depend on locations of travel throughout the experience.

No. Any faculty member can submit a proposal to teach in the Las Nubes Study Abroad program whether or not they participate in the bootcamp. However, participating in the bootcamp will help shape and develop courses relevant to the community and resources available, and provides valuable experiential learning insights.

Participating in the Faculty Bootcamp does not guarantee faculty will teach as part of the Study Abroad Program. Submitted course adaptation proposals will be reviewed by the Las Nubes Study Abroad program for selection as course requests come from across the university. The Eco-campus has limited capacity to accommodate all requests. The Faculty of Health is committed to teaching two courses each year at the Las Nubes EcoCampus.

Faculty members in health should expect to get paid on overload in the winter term following the course delivery.

The Study Abroad program provides each professor with an established per diem to help cover their meals and personal expenses (such as a hotel night in San Jose), as well as their airfare to and from Costa Rica. Professors are given the choice of accommodation at the eco-campus (prepare their own meals) or with a local family in homestays (meals provided).

While it certainly helps to be able to communicate in Spanish, being able to speak/understand Spanish is not required. Support with translation and interpretation is available and is provided through the program.