Join renowned Permaculture instructor Chris Shanks for this life-changing 2-week experience. The course covers the core Permaculture Design curriculum including applications of Permaculture in diverse settings and techniques for meeting human needs that harmonize with ecological patterns. Lectures and hands-on work will explore bioregional designs, natural building, renewable energy choices in North America and the Tropics, agroforestry, composting toilets, methane biodigesters, watershed management, community development, tropical and temperate garden and orchard design, energy and nutrient cycling, and the integration of animals into cultivated ecosystems. Local experts on organic production and goat management will make guest appearances. The course will conclude with students doing their own Permaculture site design. Permaculture design benefits community leaders and professionals in the fields of architecture, planning, ecology and education.

Learn About Renewable Energy in Costa Rica This Winter!

Solar Energy International (SEI) is teaming up with Rancho Mastatal once again to present a special opportunity to study renewable energy technology in a beautiful natural setting in Costa Rica!

This is an overview workshop of photovoltaic systems for the developing world. Participants will learn how to evaluate the resource and plan for high quality systems. Classroom sessions and labs will supplement field experience. More than half of our time will be spent working on actual projects. The middle day of the workshop will be open for cultural and recreational pursuits in the area.

This course is a unique opportunity for students to receive outstanding wilderness medicine training in a spectacular setting. Aerie's courses are dynamic and challenging, preparing students for travel and work in remote, outdoor settings. This WFR is ideal for individuals or outdoor leaders traveling and/or working in Central America and/or the Tropics.

We are accepting a limited number of students. There will be one or two free days scheduled in the middle of the course so students can rest and enjoy the incredible surroundings. We also strongly encourage students to plan an extra few days either before or after the course to fully explore this wonderful part of the world. Registration forms and class information are available through the Aerie office in Missoula, Montana. See below for contact information.

Instructors
Dave McEvoy, Director of Aerie School for Backcountry Medicine
Paramedic, BA, Bates College, MS, Biology, University of Montana, co-founder of Aerie. He has worked for the past twenty years with the Student Conservation Association and numerous other outdoor organizations. David is a former member Missoula County Sheriff's Search and Rescue and fisheries biologist with the Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks. He is a paramedic with Missoula Emergency Services ambulance service, has served as their Training Officer and directed their paramedic education program. He teaches paramedic anatomy and physiology at the University of Montana cadaver lab. David and his wife, Andrea, have found new meanings for the term Risk Management from their two young daughters.

Fernando Giaccaglia
Wilderness EMT-B, Fernando comes from the city of Mar del Plata in Argentina. He spent his earlier years as world-class competitive swimmer and triathelete. Toward the end of his professional athletic career, Fernando visited Costa Rica and joined Coast to Coast Adventures as a Lead Guide. Fernando now welcomes visitors to world-class rivers, mountain biking and hiking in remote areas. Fernando is an incredible naturalist and teacher. He instructs our wilderness medicine classes in Spanish and translated Aerie's Wilderness First Responder manual for those courses.

Aerie instructors present at national and regional conferences, including the Wilderness Risk Management Conference, the International Conference on Outdoor Recreation and Education, the Spring Fever Trauma Conference and the US Forest Service Incident Medical Specialist program.

Language
This English course will be translated to Spanish for Spanish speakers.

Accommodations
Students will be accommodated in one of three houses during the course. Most students will stay in the wonderful, private bunkhouse (Jeanne's) set amongst fruit trees on the edge of the rainforest. Jeanne's house is an attractive structure set amongst fruit trees on the edge of the rainforest. It is quiet and is surrounded by the forest and orchards full of mangoes, bananas, pejibaye, cashews, starfruit and other tropical delights. There are six beautiful bamboo bunkbeds and one double bed to sleep in, as well as five Mayan hammocks where you can relax outside. This house has 65 acres of protected forest, six kilometers of trails, a 60-foot cascade, views to the national park, and beautiful swimming holes. Jeanne's comes equipped with running water, electricity, one flush toilet, one composting toilet (which we encourage everyone to use as to reduce the pressure on our small septic system), an outdoor shower, two passively heated private showers, and an indoor shower.

The main house is set on our 235-acre private wildlife refuge and features eight kilometers of trails, abundant wildlife, waterfalls, rivers, swimming holes, and beautiful forests that border the La Cangreja National Park. The house is less than a one-minute walk to town and contains three comfortable rooms. There are five Mayan hammocks on the porches in which to read a book or nap. Guests at the main house share a bathroom. The house has one flush toilet, and one composting toilet. The main house is generally the most active place at the Ranch, and where all meals are served.

We also have a beautiful camping area that looks out to the La Cangreja National Park.

Food
Meals are mostly vegetarian, wholesome and delicious. The Ranch takes their cooking and food seriously. For snacks the Ranch serves bananas and sweet breads, the latter often times cooked in our homemade earthen oven.

Cost
$795. There will be a $100 discount for the course for native Costa Ricans. A $250 deposit will secure your spot in the course. We will also be offering the Wilderness First Responder Refresher/Recertification during the course. The cost for this will also be published soon.

About Aerie
Aerie provides outstanding training on a local, national and international level. Their courses, from Wilderness First Aid through Wilderness EMT, are taught to employees and members of the Student Conservation Association (SCA), NOLS, Outward Bound, the US National Park Service, the US Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management, the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, the Missoula Backcountry Horsemen Association, and others. Aerie provides training for the US Forest Service Smokejumper's EMTs and the USFS Wildlands Firefighting program.

About Mastatal
The hospitable and attractive agricultural community of Mastatal is a lovely village set amongst beautiful rainforest, and provides the visitor with a glimpse of "Tico" campesino life. The locals invariably spawn the fondest memories for those taking the time to interact with them.

Cancellation Policy
We receive the right to cancel the course due to inadequate enrollment and circumstances beyond our control. In the event of cancellation, all payments, including deposits, will be refunded.

For more information on the course and/or to register for the course, contact: