Location

Antigua, Guatemala

Program Description

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This 10-day summer program in Guatemala will provide incoming first-year students with a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to learn about themselves and the tools to navigate their first year of college at JMU. This will be accomplished in a unique venue where they will also get to know a cohort of their incoming classmates and learn about Guatemalan culture, history, and language while enjoying much of what this beautiful land has to offer. 

This course will focus on knowing and understanding ourselves better and using that understanding to plan for a successful transition to new experiences—particularly the transition to college at JMU. Specific information about JMU resources and tools will be shared with students, and they will also develop individualized strategies and goals for their success in college. Students will take various day trips/overnight trips, potentially including opportunities to observe an active volcano, experience a homestay in a thriving local village on the hillsides of Lake Atitlan, spend a day on the black-sand beaches of the Pacific, and many workshops focusing on local commerce and food production. Through these activities, students will consider their location/position in a multicultural society, while learning to be responsible world travelers who are aware of the impact of tourism on local communities and people. Classroom activities and daily structured reflection and discussion will provide a way for all participants to discover, articulate, and digest their experiences as they also interact with each other’s posts, demonstrating how our own lives and experiences are shaped through interaction with others. This course is taught via a combination of facilitated course activities (led by JMU  instructors) guest workshops (led by local Guatemalan people), course outings and site visits (led by local tour guides), and daily reflection/discussion (led by JMU instructors). 

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Location Description

The majority of this program will be centered in the city of Antigua in the Central Highlands of Guatemala. Antigua, a city of approximately 49,000 inhabitants, was once the capital of the Chaplaincy of Guatemala, before a series of earthquakes forced the capital to move to a safer location in 1776. The city is flanked by several volcanoes, including one active volcano that can be seen erupting several times each hour. The charming colonial city has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage site, as a model of efforts to preserve the city’s baroque architecture. Situated close to the Guatemalan capital, Antigua is considered to be calmer and safer with many opportunities for tourism and day trips to nearby destinations, offering visits to coffee and macadamia nut plantations, chocolate-makers, black-sand Pacific beaches, Lake Atitlan, and many historical sites. Antigua is a common destination for learning the Spanish language through immersion, due to many language schools in the area. Language institutes and tourism are the primary industries of the area. Many cuisines are represented in Antigua, including Mediterranean, Italian, Asian, American, and traditional Guatemalan eateries. Must have a valid passport. Students are strongly encouraged to apply for expedited processing if they don’t already have one. Roundtrip airfare is NOT included in the program fee. Students will travel independently to Guatemala City where they will meet the program directors who will escort them to Antigua. More details will be shared upon acceptance. 

Director

Ritter Clevenger | newdukesguatemala@jmu.edu | Dean of Students Office

Matthew Hunsberger | newdukesguatemala@jmu.edu | Dean of Students Office

Accommodations

Accommodations will be provided for students. Primary Location: Earth Lodge - boutique eco-hotel featuring private tree houses, cabins, and geodesic domes located in the tropical mountains of Guatemala, just 15 minutes outside of Antigua. 

Two nights will be in San Juan La Laguna on Lake Atitlan partnering with local residents in a homestay style.  

All meals will be provided as part of the program fees. Several meals will be provided via excursions, experiences, and/or homestay. Students will be allocated a daily meal stipend for meals that are not already included with experiences. 

Applicant Criteria

Applicants must have a GPA minimum of 2.5 

Open to deposit-paid incoming first-years and transfer students enrolling fall 2025. 

This program travels to Central America where Spanish is the primary language. While it is not required, conversational spanish is helpful.