Summer Springboard

Terra Education Global Internship

TEGI

SPEND EIGHT MONTHS ABROAD IN SAN JOSE, COSTA RICA FROM JANUARY 2, 2026 THROUGH AUGUST 9, 2026.

Internship Description

Summer Springboard is a rapidly growing educational summer program for high school students.

Our mission is to help students increase their self-awareness so they can make decisions about college selection, academic majors, and careers that reflect their personal vision for success.

Currently, we offer two-week summer programs on 16 campuses, including Berkeley, Yale University, UCLA, Duke and more.

Responsibilities: Admissions Intern (Winter – Spring)

Work directly with the Admissions Manager to generate enrollments by engaging in consultative sales over the phone with families who have expressed interest in our program.

  • Speak with thousands of prospective families over the phone and communicate the excitement and transformative nature of our experiences.
  • You will only call warm leads (no cold calling) and qualify them for the program.
  • Through this position, you will be given the ability to develop skills and knowledge that will accelerate career advancement and future professional opportunities. Successful applicants will engage in a series of professional development sessions grounded in intentional youth empowerment during their internship in Costa Rica. These sessions are designed to enhance both soft and hard skills, empowering interns to communicate confidently about the benefits and opportunities offered by pre‑college youth programs. Additionally, they will provide interns with effective messaging and strategies to achieve their sales objectives and equip them with practical skills essential for a dynamic, hands‑on student program environment.
  • Position requires calling thousands of people over the course of the internship, and you will face rejection (as well as excitement) every day.
  • Although most of the time you will be selling, you will occasionally also be asked to assist with program support and customer service.
  • Other duties as assigned.

Responsibilities: Program Intern (Late Spring – Summer)

  • During the spring, part of your time will be dedicated to assisting with program preparation/planning
  • During the summer, work on the inbound helpline to assist enrolled families during their programs.
  • Assist with pre-program preparation for multiple campuses (including but not limited to reviewing forms, collecting payment, reviewing flight information, and fielding family calls via email/call).
  • Participate in an in-person Director’s training on-campus in late May (Exact dates and location TBD).
  • Other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

  • Bachelor’s degree
  • Flexibility and adaptability and a sense of humor
  • Prior sales or customer service experience advantageous
  • Passionate about the educational potential of youth summer programs
  • Excellent communication skills
  • Highly motivated and proactive
  • Experience with CRM software (Salesforce  is preferred)

We are seeking individuals who demonstrate adaptability, cultural humility, and a collaborative spirit. Applicants should be prepared to:

1. Navigate Limited Access to Familiar Goods and Services
Adjust to living in a country where online shopping platforms like Amazon may not function as they do at home, and where certain products commonly available in your home country may be difficult to find or unavailable.
2. Embrace a Different Pace of Daily Life
Accept and adapt to a more relaxed approach to daily routines, which may include irregularities such as lack of queue etiquette, challenging traffic conditions, and bureaucratic processes that can feel slow or unfamiliar.
3. Thrive in Communal Living Environments
Live harmoniously with peers in shared accommodations over an extended period. This includes navigating shared spaces, differing habits and routines, and fostering mutual respect across diverse perspectives and lifestyles.
4. Engage Respectfully with Cultural Differences
Approach cultural norms and practices that may differ significantly from your own—whether religious, social, or related to gender identity—with openness, respect, and a willingness to learn and grow through those differences.

About the Internship Program in Costa Rica

This internship is part of the Terra Education Global Internship (TEGI) program. TEGI is designed to give young professionals the chance to gain international work experience, learn Spanish, and explore Costa Rica.

Interns will be provided housing and a workplace in the San Jose region. Work alongside other mission-driven interns who work hard and play hard!

This position will begin with a remote training on December 1, after which the internship cohort will move to Costa Rica to begin working in-person Friday January 2, 2026 and will last through August 9, 2026.

Internship benefits include:

  • Housing with all utilities/internet included
  • $1,000 monthly living stipend + monthly goal incentives
  • $2,000 Completion bonus
  • 4 day work-week (3 day weekends!) from December to April
  • 5 Sick days, 5 Paid days off (Available to use Between January and May 15, 2025)
  • Off (December 15, 2025 – January 1, 2026)
  • Depending on performance and eagerness to continue work with Summer Springboard. An intern may be selected to go to a campus location in the summer to learn more about program operations and staffing.
  • 3 All expenses paid excursions around Costa Rica
  • Health insurance
  • Spanish classes
  • Quarterly professional development workshops
  • Training on CRM and Marketing Automation Software systems
  • Paid Training in-person in the U.S. at a University campus
  • 2 in-person professional development training sessions

Interested?

  • Submit resume and cover letter to intern@summerspringboard.com
  • Please write “TEGI program” in the subject line; otherwise, we won’t consider it.
  • Be sure all of your contact information (email, phone number) is included in your resume. If your phone number is not included, you will not be considered.
  • This application will include multiple steps. Those that qualify will receive the next steps once you submit your cover letter and resume.

Summer Springboard

Apply for the Internship

TEGI Interns: Learning, Working and Living Abroad

At Summer Springboard, our interns experience more than just a traditional internship. They live and learn immersed in a new country and culture, just like our programs do, helping prepare and guide students for the summer ahead.

We caught up with our cohort of interns living and working in Costa Rica to hear about how their adventure is going.

Admissions & Programs Intern, Eile Harris, tells us she’s been enjoying the beautiful geographical diversity of Costa Rica, which allows for an adventurous lifestyle alongside her work as an intern.

“What’s that thing they say in real estate? LOCATION. LOCATION. LOCATION. I didn’t expect to be able to travel to the beach, to a volcano, and to a waterfall all in one day, but in Costa Rica that is exactly what you get,” says Eile. “Never have I been able to live in a place so beautiful, that you just have to take some time to take everything in.”


She also appreciates the melting pot of cultures reflected in the local cuisine, finding joy in the variety of new flavors and combinations. But more so, she values the community aspect of the internship.

“You never know what it’s like to move in with a group of people that you have never met before, and that can be hard in itself, let alone to another country,” she says. “I am so grateful to be housed with such incredible humans!”

Fellow intern, Jill Villa, echoes Eile’s sentiment about the natural beauty of Costa Rica.

“My favorite part of living in Costa Rica is the beautiful scenery we get to see and explore every day,” says Jill. “I love trekking through the national parks, finding different wildlife, and visiting the breathtaking waterfalls.”


“When I learned about the internship, I knew I had to apply. Not only was this a great opportunity to learn more about Summer Springboard, but I had the chance to explore a beautiful country with amazing food and people! It is truly an experience I will never forget and would do again in a heartbeat!”

-Jules Martinez – 2024, 2025 Intern


For Jill, the internship is also a gateway to understanding business operations within the educational travel industry.

“This internship aligns with my future career goals in many ways,” says Jill. “Not only do I get to connect with people on a personal level, but I learn more about how to help them in the best way possible.”

When it comes to career, intern Jules Martinez might not be entirely sure what she wants to do with her life just yet but agrees that the internship combines her biggest interests: travel, working with teens, and working in education. After graduating from university in 2022, Jules joined Summer Springboard as an RA, and fell in love with the organization’s mission and team. When she saw the opportunity to join the team again in Costa Rica, she knew she had to apply.

Time away from home isn’t always easy, and Jules admits the biggest challenge so far has been missing her family and cat. But despite homesickness, Jules finds solace in the tight-knit group of interns.

“My favorite part of this internship will always be the team,” Jules says. “I seriously could not have asked for a better group to be with.”

Each intern’s journey is also profoundly shaped by the dedication and guidance of our internship supervisors, whose expertise and support are essential to the experience in Costa Rica.

Jose Hernandez-Ugalde, Intern Supervisor at Summer Springboard and Costa Rica Field Coordinator for Global Leadership Adventures, has been with Terra Education since 2018; his brother Daniel just celebrated 20 years with Terra, so he has been working in and around the organization for many years.  His experience has allowed him to deeply understand the benefits and opportunities provided by the internship and the professional doors the internship opens.


“There are plenty of benefits both for Terra as a company and for the interns and young professionals working in the international field,” Jose explains. “Terra attracts young professionals who are inspired to live abroad and to gain professional experience with a leading company in international travel and experiential education,” he says.

Jose also emphasizes the learning opportunities available through the company’s involvement in local initiatives.

“Interns can visit programs throughout Costa Rica and learn about local communities, grassroots organizations, [and] GLA involvement in local initiatives to improve communities,” Jose says.

Sammy Gacsi, Costa Rica Internship Admissions Manager, has a rich history of over 25 years in youth development, and his perspective is invaluable for shaping the professional paths of interns.

“The main benefit is to learn to manage, create, improve professional skill sets in an international working environment where time management, efficiency, remote work, and productive project management are in the forefront.”


“You never know what it’s like to move in with a group of people that you have never met before, and that can be hard in itself, let alone to another country … I am so grateful to be housed with such incredible humans!”

-Eile Harris – 2024 Intern


With the guidance of Jose, Sammy, and other dedicated leaders, Summer Springboard interns are not only supported in their current job but are also prepared for future professional challenges and opportunities in the educational travel industry. As they reflect on their enriching experiences in Costa Rica, it’s clear that the journey has been much more than just an opportunity to work abroad. It has been a transformative chapter in their lives, providing them with invaluable lessons in cultural immersion, professional development, and personal growth.

We are deeply thankful to our dedicated team of interns, supervisors, and the vibrant community of Costa Rica for making these experiences possible!