Many times students looking for Semester programs through outdoor leadership schools such as Outward Bound are looking for an opportunity to gain professional certifications with the hopes of working in the outdoor industry. For this reason, outdoor schools choose to employ leaders that excel in their particular area of focus to instruct and train these industry hopefuls. Here at Outward Bound Costa Rica, often times, that leader is Phil Perez.

Phil’s Work with Outward Bound Costa Rica

Though Phil’s role has evolved over his time with us, his dedication to OBCR has always been both in the field and in the management of the organization ever since he joined us in 1997. Currently, his involvement in the field centers around the outdoor training and certification phases of our courses. He works mostly with Leadership Semester students, where leads our Wilderness First Responder (WFR), Technical Ropes Rescue: Operations Level (TRRO) and Whitewater Rescue Technician (WRT) training phases of the course. He is also in charge of training our instructors in these same technical skills as well as providing instructor Judgement Training. In addition to being on OBCR’s Board of Directors, Phil is also the head of our Safety Board and is in charge of our routine, organization-wide safety reviews.

About Phil

Phil Perez has been running rivers all of his life. He grew up in Sacramento, California where the American River ran through his backyard.

Phil’s experience on the river has always been complemented with a strong dedication to safety. His training as both a river guide and emergency patient care professional began in the 1970s when he worked for the rafting company American River Recreation and Life Assist Inc. in the Sierra Mountain Range. His years as a raft guide combined with work as an ambulance Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) opened doors for many lead jobs on the river. Some of his positions included being an Instructor for the Eldorado County Sheriff Department’s River Patrol unit and a Park Ranger position for the U.S. Bureau of Land Management where he conducted River Management Plans, Training seminars and Communication Systems for the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act 1968 (U.S. Dept. of the Interior). In California, his recognized expertise on the river enabled him to contribute to the design of river gear with specialized safety features. (“the safety and program development for Risk Management Plans (BLM).”)

Phil came to Costa Rica in 1995 when he was given the opportunity to teach the Swiftwater Rescue Program throughout Central America an initiative sponsored by Rescue 3 International. He has also been hired for notable international events in Costa Rica, including his work as the Safety Coordinator of the world-cup rafting event, the CAMEL International White Water Challenge (CWWC) in 1998 on the Rio Reventazón; there he supervised 18 guides, 8 rescue rafts, 8 safety kayakers, 2 helicopters and 4 ambulance crews during 21 days of running Class V water.

Phil’s expertise in the field makes him a prime candidate to instruct courses for Swiftwater Rescue Technician 1, Technical Rope Rescue, Wilderness Medicine and river guiding on an international level, teaching courses in seven different countries. With his company Aventura Seguridad y Rescate, he serves as Rescue 3 International’s authorized Agent for education, training and safety whitewater for Central America.