Full Immersion Activities facilitated in Spanish by the SOLSS School teaching staff.
The following is an approximate list - actual offerings may vary depending on climate, time of year, etc. 

Tours through Granada on foot and in horse drawn carriage to get to know the markets, parks, and services of the city, and to visit various sights of historical interest which include: Convento de San Francisco, Plaza Mayor, Muros de Xalteva, Iglesia de Guadalupe, Estación de Ferrocarril, Capilla de Animas del Cementerio, El Malecón, Fortaleza La Pólvora, Granada's various Catedrales, Museo Casa de los Tres Mundos, Museo Tenderí, La Casa de Antiguedades, y más...

Excursion to the summit of Cerro Posintepe, to enjoy the panoramic view of Granada and el gran Lago of Nicaragua.

Participation in Cultural Activities in the Casas de Cultura including art, dance, martial arts, music (guitarra), Nicaraguan cooking classes; artisan activites, activities with children, and a cultural exchange program with bailarines, músicos, teatristas, poetas, escritores, historiadores, deportistas, panaderos, costureras, vendedores, lustradores, etc., to learn about their life and challenges.

Visit to Parque Zoológico to see Nicaraguan mammals, reptiles and birds.

Educational Mini-Cursos  taught by school staff and invited speakers which focus on issues of economic and social reality to give you a historical and cultural context for appreciating your Nicaragua experience. Recommended for intermediate and advanced students, but all students can participate. Topics include:

• Salud y Medio Ambiente
• Desastres Naturales
• Historia
• Ecología
• Economía
• Sexo y Género
• Costumbres y Tradiciones Culturales
• Religión

Excursion to El Chocoyero a semi-humid forest full of mammoth (40 meters+) trees with an amazing variety of low and high altitude dwelling birds.

Excursions to Los Pueblos Blancos, Catarina, San Juan de Oriente, and Niquinohomo (birthplace of A.C. Sandino), with emphasis on sites of history, folklore, and artesanía.

Excursion to Fortaleza Coyotepe. This fort, located to the north or neighboring Masaya, has a fascinating history. There important battles in Nicaraguan history were fought, and later the fort was a converted into a prison during the time of the Somoza dictatorship.

Visit to Galería Héroes y Mártires de Masaya where you can veiw photographs of the history of the Sandinista Revolution as lived and died by local heroes who died in battle.

Visits to Artisan Shops and Markets of Granada and Masayato view their working conditions and to see how they make their various products including furniture, hammocks, pottery, woodwork, sculpture, paintings, clothing, musical instruments, and more. Shops include: Artesanos en Cuero who make leather goods from alligator shoes to saddles; Muebles de Mimbre, furniture made with natural bamboo-like material of artistic quality; Artesanos en Madera who make furniture and other crafts out of Nicaragua's many precious woods like cedar, laurel, teak, and ebony, among others; Confección de Trajeswhere they make clothing for weddings, children's clothes, traditonal guayaberas used by Nicaraguan diplomats, and the renowned bordados granadinos.

Visit to Rural Projects Nicaragua Libre, Sonzapote, La Granadilla, to see life in el campo, learn about Nicaraguan agriculture, horseback riding.

Excursion to La Purera to see how they make Nicaraguan cigars of high quality for exportation.

Participation in local nightlife. Dance to traditional and 70's music, watch a movie Nica participatory style, visit the various places that people congregate to gossip and promenade. . . There is always something going on!

Trips to Las Isletas on Lake Nicaragua and Isla Zapatera.There are hundreds of islands in lake Granada with flora, fauna and inhabitants, many of them little explored.

Participation in local fiestas including Fiestas Tradicionales en Diriamba (week of Jan 20 - transport cost), Fiestas de Diriomo (week of Feb 2), Fiestas Patronales de Nandaime (last week in July), Fiestas Patronales de Jinotepe (week of Jul 25 - transport cost), Fiestas Patronales de Masaya (Sept-Dec.), La Verbena de Masaya(year round fiestas), y más...

Excursion to Laguna de Apoyo, a beautiful lagoon formed by a great volcanic explosion hundreds of years ago. The optional hike down from el Mirador de Catarina is an adventure with a cool swim awaiting at the bottom.

Participation in Proyecto Donación SOLSS in which students facilitate a series of ongoing material aid donation projects sponsored by SOLSS school. Students can participate in the following project steps: donation recipient selection, material needs assessment, shopping and purchasing of material to be donated, donation disbursement, follow-up, photodocumentation.

Visits to the various social service organizations to see the work they do and for possible volunteer work.

SPECIAL CELEBRATIONS IN GRANADA NICARAGUA

Here is a list of special dates and events that take place in the country and you might find interesting to see as part of the history, traditional folklore and culture of Nicaragua.

February	Granada Poetry International Festival. Granada
February 1-8	Fiestas Patronales Virgin Candelaria in Diriomo, Granada
March / April	Easter, Religious processions
May 1-30	May Pole Dance Festival and Carnival. Parades, dances. Bluefields
May 30	Nicaraguan Mothers Day
June 23	Nicaraguan Fathers Day
July 19	Anniversary of the Nicaraguan Revolution, Liberation Day
August 1-10	Fiestas Patronales and Santo Domingo Carnival. Managua
August 1, 10	Solentiname International Fishing Tournament. Solentiname Islands
August, last Sun	Masaya Cultural Carnival
August, last Sun	Day of liberation of slaves, Crab Soup Party. Corn Islands
August	"Ben Hour" National Race Cart Horses, Managua
September 2	Nicaraguan Army Day
September 14	Battle of San Jacinto Anniversary. National Parades of High and Elementary Schools
September 15	Independence of Central America
Sept-Oct-Nov	Fiestas Patronales and Popular Carnival of San Jerónimo. Masaya
October	Beer Festival October Fest celebration in Selva Negra, Matagalpa
November 2	Day of the deads
December 7	National Celebration of La Gritería in honor of Virgin Maria, National Saint of Nicaragua.
December 24, 25	Christmas Celebration
Dec 31, Jan 1	New Year Celebration

National holidays: January 1, Holly Friday, May 1, July 19, September 15, December 8, 25. Classes are not held on these dates and are not subject to be replaced within the study program. There is not variation on prices.

...See some pics

 

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