Faculty and Staff Development Workshop in Panama

spotting a sloth in the canopy, La Mariola

Learn From Travel is excited to launch its second annual Faculty Development Workshop from January 3rd to 7th, 2027. Whether you’ve never led a study abroad program or led more times than you can count, you’re welcome to join us. We will build a fun and thoughtful learning community while immersing in Panamanian culture.

On day one, our tentative itinerary includes a program orientation and interactive discussion on risk management, physical and mental health, and other faculty leader responsibilities over a welcome dinner in Portobelo. Day 2 will feature a historical tour of Portobelo, complete with with stories and artifacts of pirates, gold, and the famed Black Jesus. Lunch and dinner will frame a visit to a secluded beach and dance performance with local Congo drummers. Participants will travel to an indigenous Emberá village on Day 3, dining with locals for lunch before heading to Panama City for the evening. Rounding out the workshop in Panama City on Day 4, the group will tour Casco Viejo, a UNESCO World Heritage site; view the Miraflores Locks of the Panama Canal; and enjoin group lunch and a farewell dinner over stimulating reflections.

learning about the recycling project at Adifort, La Fortuna

This Panama tour follows our inaugural Faculty Development Workshop from January 4th to 8th, 2026, in Costa Rica, which hosted fourteen faculty and staff members from six different institutions. We began our journey with a welcome dinner in Liberia before boarding a coach bus the following day for La Fortuna. Along the way, we stopped at the stunning Café Macadamia, setting the tone for a week that balanced reflection, community engagement, and experiential learning.

In La Fortuna, we visited Adifort, a local nonprofit dedicated to supporting youth and seniors through education, wellness initiatives, and community programming. Participants learned how Adifort operates a modern swimming pool for seniors, hosts private events to generate income, runs a large recycling operation, and funds its work through the privately-owned La Fortuna Waterfall preserve. This visit sparked rich discussion around community-based organizations and how they often step in where government services are unable to help. According to one participant, “The discussions on why certain activities and places were chosen was very helpful in understanding the study abroad design process.”

Enjoying a chocolate tasting at North Fields, La Fortuna

Our final full day returned us to Liberia for a guided visit to the National University of Liberia, led by a local biology instructor. Highlights included research on stingless bees, a community playground, and even a hiking trail featuring edible termites, before concluding with a warm farewell meal at a local restaurant.

Overall, participants described the workshop as intentionally designed, informative and fun. We’re excited to see how this experience inspires the development of impactful future study abroad programs at their home institutions. One faculty member concluded that “The entire trip was excellent. I underestimated how impactful it would be to be a participant. It’s been fun reflecting on the trip.” Please register today for your spot on our next program in Panama!