La Mariposa is now offering service and educational trips to groups of between 6 and 12 high school/college/university students. We also welcome groups of older travelers who are interested in spending time learning the language and culture of this fascinating and much under-rated country. Our goals are to promote learning in the Spanish language, increase awareness of Nicaragua´s history, politics and culture whilst ensuring a fun and enjoyable time. We offer education in environmental matters and community development utilizing a range of teaching resources available to us both within the Mariposa and further afield in the surrounding community. A very positive outcome is the interchange which takes place between students and their Nicaraguan hosts.

Please note - we do not work through a "middle man" which is why our prices are so very competitive (compare them with other educational and service trip providers to Latin America). You write to us direct on behalf of your group and we will undertake to work with you every step of the way to work out the program of whatever combination of the options listed below is best for your group. We are super flexible and always do our utmost to deliver what we offer!

• We offer a range of service or voluntary work options in the local community - students can work individually or in small groups depending on the activity and the needs of the individual students. Each student/group works alongside a local Nicaraguan worker thus maximizing your knowledge of Spanish, of the local community of San Juan de la Concepcion and of Nicaragua.
  
  Examples of possible placements for service work include: working with our rescued animals (monkeys, dogs, horses etc): working on one of our organic farms or helping a community establish their own household organic vegetable plots: using environmentally sound materials in a small construction project: working on one of our reading schemes and libraries or with the pre-school day care project.

• Students can take Spanish classes in groups arranged according to the level of Spanish of each student (we work with six levels of grammar from absolute beginner to advanced). You follow the same format of grammar and conversation as described in the Spanish Class section.

• We can offer the following courses (available either in a single workshop format or as a series of more intensive classes) - taught classes in history, culture and politics; practical classes in a variety of local handicrafts e.g. local embroidery, making maracas out of hickory seeds, making bamboo furniture, Nicaraguan cookery, making natural medicine and natural soap/shampoo; learning to play marimba or to dance folklore dancing and/or salsa!

• We work with other course providers to offer a half day seminar on solar power (Suni Solar) - longer courses with them incur extra cost.
  
  
• Activities and visits to place of interest. Including an evening trip to the theatre or a music venue in Managua.
  

• We can arrange for you to spend one or two nights with a family in Los Moncados, a co-operative finca which offers very rustic homestays and a chance to explore their grounds on foot or on horseback.

• Special seasonal activities - Easter week.
  

• From December through January we offer two days at the El Nisperal helping to pick organic coffee - see box at bottom of page for more information.