In an era when a college degree means enormous student loans and a debt-filled future, it's not hard to see why more and more festivals now offer richly curated workshops, panels and speaker series. By pouring resources into learning opportunities for attendees, festivals position themselves as annual pilgrimages for those who want to better themselves and the world at large, through educated discussions, immersive retreats, high-profile thought leadership, and festival-inspired "university" courses.

One festival that has always devoted energy to awareness and learning is Envision Festival in Costa Rica. Each year, its founders have improved upon its offerings – so much so, that Envision now holds six retreats beyond the festival's main programming, all of which incorporate Envision's Core Values. From herbalism to learning about the power of dance, there are powerful learning opportunities to be had. Of these, three courses deal with environmental awareness and permaculture, in order to honor its host country's dedication to the same issues and involves working with the local community. As such, Envision is a festival that offers the necessary knowledge to become aware of the problems our natural world faces (especially seen through the lens of Costa Rica as an extraordinarily biodiverse country) while training participants to tackle these issues beyond the festival scene.

That's why Jungle Camp , a new offering from Envision's founder Stephen Brooks, alongside the Human Experience , is a natural and exciting extension of festival culture's contributions to the world. The off-the-grid learning event in Punta Mona, Costa Rica, is touted as a transformational camp for adults that's different from a festival in that the workshops get top billing (but there is amazing music, of course!) and the gathering has a much more intimate vibe, as attendance numbers are much smaller.

"It feels as we continue to transform at our favorite transformational festivals that the next step in this evolution are these smaller, more intimate gatherings where we truly dive into the creation of community and hone in our tribe," Stephen Brooks told us. "At Jungle Camp you not only get to see your favorite musicians or artists perform, but you get to live together for several days. Once you taste how sweet living like this can be, it's truly hard to go back!"

Photo by: Lane Undhjem

Without the hectic hustle and bustle of a more traditional music festival setting, attendees get to focus on the nitty gritty; workshops in subjects such as permaculture, eco-village design, visionary art, chocolate making, African drumming, yoga (on the beach!), medicinal plants, farm tours, and Thai massage are led by renowned experts who want to help us envision and create a sustainable future. And of course, attendees will be able to explore the unparalleled beauty of Costa Rica through hikes, kayaking, dolphin watching, snorkeling, and more. Coupled with traditional summer camp-esque activities (sing-alongs! a talent show!) and gourmet jungle cuisine in place of cafeteria food, the experiences that awaits attendees at Jungle Camp are sure to open more than a few hearts and minds.

Sure, you won't have your phone to document your camp experience in real time, but you won't miss it. The immersive Jungle Camp vibe, where everyone is present and opportunities to learn envelope the mind, cannot be captured on a cell phone.

It all takes place from September 26-October 1, 2016 at the Punta Mona Center for Regenerative Design and Botanical Studies, surrounded by lush jungles and uninhabited beaches. For an application to attend, click here.