Meet the Team

Board of Directors

We are led by a five-person governing board, supported by a larger Advisory Board. These board members contribute their time and talent to ensure the ongoing success of Outward Bound Costa Rica and guide us in furthering our mission. 

Leadership

Jim Rowe

Jim Rowe, PhD

Founder & Executive Director

Hometown: Sun Valley, Idaho

In 1991, after having traveled to over 25 countries searching for the ideal place to establish a nature-centered adventure program, Jim Rowe settled in Costa Rica. With one monolithic raft and some scuba diving equipment, Jim began what would become an

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international adventure school employing over 30 staffers who are equally passionate about using adventure to help develop life skills. A leader in experiential cross-cultural learning, Jim has facilitated seminars and lectures in areas of sustainable development, ecotourism and adventure programming worldwide. He serves as our Scuba Instructor, in addition to his many other duties, and loves the opportunity to introduce students to one of his favorite pastimes.

Education: B.A. in International Business Management, Brigham Young University Hawaii; Masters & PhD in Cultural Anthropology, Applied Ecopsychology and Integrated Ecology, Greenwich University

Certifications:
Instructor with American Red Cross: Lifeguarding with Waterfront Model
Instructor Trainer with American Red Cross: Emergency Response (First Responder); First Aid/CPR, Oxygen Administration
Instructor Trainer with National Association for Search and Rescue: Wilderness First Responder; Wilderness Advanced First Aid; Wilderness First Aid
Instructor Trainer with American Safety & Health Institute: Wilderness First Aid; First Aid & CPR
Instructor with Rescue 3 International: Technical Ropes Rescue; Recreational Rappel Operator; Whitewater Rescue Technician
Instructor with International Rafting Federation (Level IV): River Guide
Instructor with NAUI: Basic & Advanced Open Water Scuba Diver

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Esther

Esther

Accountant & Human Resources

Hometown: Tres Ríos, Costa Rica

Esther, our fashionable accountant, loves nature and animals. When not working, she is volunteering with different social groups. She has traveled throughout Europe and speaks Portuguese thanks to a long stint working in Brazil with a rural community.

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Esther has a big job taking care of all the finances of the organization and is always there to lend a hand to both instructors and office staff. She is a wonderful caretaker of our base mascots and gives plenty of love to all the animals here on base!

Education: Accounting & Business Administration, Universidad San Marcos

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Eleanor

Director of Marketing & Communications

Hometown: Cleveland, Ohio

Eleanor made her way down to Costa Rica for the first time in January of 2023 to begin working for OBCR as the Admissions and Enrollment Manager. Since then, she has fallen in love with the rainforest base and everyone who makes it such a special place to call home.

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Eleanor believes experiential learning that connects us to our natural world is an integral part of continuous personal development, intercultural understanding and a holistic sense of community. She sees her role as marketing OBCR and its programs internationally as a way to encourage others to stretch beyond their comfort zones.

If you can't find Eleanor sitting on the porch of the Communications Office, she is likely running around Tres Ríos, playing piano on her front porch, or walking around in the reserve with Rafi.

Education: B.A. in Global Studies with minors in Business Administration and Spanish and Latin American Studies, Otterbein University

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PROGRAMMING STAFF

Carlos Castro Montero

Carlos

Instructor

Hometown: San José, Costa Rica

Above all else, Carlos loves learning about his students – they make everyday of every course different. To Carlos, the diversity of his students’ backgrounds, interests and goals represent a metaphor for learning about life.

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Carlos is well-known for his surfing ability and leads many of our surf programs here at Outward Bound Costa Rica.

Certifications: Wilderness First Responder, First Aid, CPR, and AED for the Professional Rescuer, Technical Rope Rescue: Operations, Instructor Judgment Training, NAUI Advanced Open Water Scuba Diver, Waterfront Lifeguard

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Bailey Palmer

Bailey

Instructor

Hometown: Ventura, California

Bailey is a seasoned OBCR Alumni and Instructor. She has been on multiple Girl Scout Destinations with us when she was younger. She fell in love with the country and after an Outdoor Leader Semester course with us,

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she became a full-time instructor. Bailey is excited to share her love of surfing and Costa Rica with students.

Certifications: Wilderness First Responder, First Aid, CPR, and AED for the Professional Rescuer, Technical Rope Rescue: Operations, NAUI Advanced Open Water Scuba Diver, Waterfront Lifeguard, International Rafting Federation Guide Class I-III, and Swift Water Rescue Technician

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Mariany

Instructor

Hometown: Sarchí, Costa Rica

Mariany grew up in the small town of Sarchí, Costa Rica just beside the mountains, so she loves nature and any outdoor activities. Nany, as everyone calls her, studied Ecological tourism at the Universidad de Costa Rica; by

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then she has focused not just in sharing that love for nature with everyone, but really enjoys the teaching aspect of how to preserve it as well.

One of her main passions is sea turtles, she has been volunteering to protect them since 2011. She loves every water sport as well as hiking and camping, etc. In general the outdoors are her happiness and she loves to spread that love with her students. Last but not least teaching them to leave every place they visit better than they found it!

Certifications: Wilderness First Aid, Basic Life Support, NAUI Open Water Scuba Diver

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Henry

Henry

Instructor

Hometown: Piedras Blancas, Costa Rica

Henry is a seasoned Instructor. He is skilled on all course areas, especially hiking. He has a kind-hearted personality and is incredibly knowledgeable about the flora and fauna that encompasses Costa Rica's natural locations.

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Certifications: Wilderness First Responder, First Aid, CPR, and AED for the Professional Rescuer, Waterfront Lifeguard

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Kenneth

Instructor

Hometown: Limon, Costa Rica

Kenneth is originally from Limon and is now living in Cartago. He is currently studying in pursuit of his degree. In his spare time, Kenneth enjoys going to the gym, reading, watching movies, and listening to music. He

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loves the outdoors, meeting new people, and sharing his passions with those around him. Kenneth is excited to help others experience the dynamic beauty of Costa Rica.

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Alessandro

Maintenence Technician

Hometown: El Rosario de Desamparados, Costa Rica

The beautification of our base is accredited to the hard work Ale puts in to maintain it. When he’s not busy with a leaf blower or a paint brush, Ale likes to take rides on his motorcycle through Costa Rica’s mesmerizing landscapes

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in order to find the best place to watch the sun set. He loves exploring new places, being surrounded by nature, and is looking forward to continuing his most recent pursuit in teaching Mimi how to ride a scooter.

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Kevin

Administrative Assistant

Hometown: Boaco, Nicaragua

Kevin began working for Outward Bound Costa Rica in 2019. He has done everything from working in the bodega to leading excursions as an instructor, but enjoys his position now in the office working in administration.

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He loves music, and you know when Kevin is working hard because you can always hear him singing while doing so. After coming to Costa Rica from Nicaragua in 2017, Kevin immediately became an avid supporter of C.S. Herediano, and he will never let you forget it. He lives close by the rainforest base, surrounded by lush greenery and animals- two of Kevin’s favorite things.

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Maria

Logistics Coordinator/Instructor

Hometown: San Marcos Tarrazú, Costa Rica

Maria is a certified tour guide through the Instituto Costarricense de Turismo, with licenses both as a tour guide in the Central Pacific Conservation Area and as a naturalist guide. Since she was a child, she has lived in la Zona de los Santos, which is surrounded by mountains – hence her passion for them. Maria loves everything about nature, but is very interested in bird and amphibian watching. She also loves the peace and tranquility she finds when camping.

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Marcos

Driver

Hometown: Tres Rios, Costa Rica

Marcos is a driver at our rainforest base. He always on time and the kindest person. He lives quite close by, caring for his mother in Tres Rios.

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COMMUNICATIONS OFFICE

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Karolina

Enrollment & Outreach Manager

Hometown: Tres Rios, Costa Rica

Despite living her whole life under 10 minutes from our rainforest base Karo wasn’t fully aware of all the opportunities Outward Bound Costa Rica has to offer until the fall of 2023 when she began working on the Marketing Team as an intern.

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Since then, she has transitioned to working full time in the office while she studies Industrial Design and Engineering at the Instituto Tecnologico de Costa Rica. Karo loves seeing the world for what it is and translating this into art forms like painting, yoga, and graphic design to name a few. She is both enthusiastic and passionate about sharing all the beauty her country and culture has to offer with students from all around the world.

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Tamika

Media & Marketing Manager

Hometown: Tres Rios, Costa Rica

In 2023 Tamika came to Costa Rica for the first time to pursue an internship with OBCR. It was immediately apparent that Tamika was right where she was meant to be, and she has since taken on a position working full time in the marketing office. In her free time Tamika

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Interested in Joining our Team?