It’s officially summertime here at Outward Bound Costa Rica! Tune in to our blog on Tuesdays for updates on our Summer Adventures and Fridays for updates on our Girl Scout destinations program to hear all about our student happenings here in Costa Rica and Panama.

Our first three groups of Chica Scouts arrived last Saturday to our rainforest base:

After a day of orientation, each group left for their unique destination experience, challenging themselves in unfamiliar settings and serving local communities! Read on to learn about each group’s whereabouts.

Scuba & Sea Turtle Adventure #1

The girls headed out early this week for Caribbean Coast of Panama and have been working on conservation efforts to protect the endangered leatherback sea turtle population, the largest species of turtle which, in adult size, can measure up to seven feet in length and weigh up to 1,500 pounds! The girls finish up their project tomorrow and will be heading to the islands of Bocas del Toro, an archipelago rich with tropical ecology and inhabited mainly by local indigenous communities. The girls will be staying on the remote island of Solarte, which will serve as their basecamp while they learn to scuba dive in the warm crystal clear waters!

Catching Waves #1

The Chica Scouts of Catching Waves are camping at a serene beach campsite at Playa Avellanas, located in the Province of Guanacaste. There they have been challenging themselves to take on warm water waves, surfing by day and sleeping under the stars by night. The girls will be arriving to base this weekend for a day of rafting, where they will battle whitewater rapids and learn about teamwork. The group will wrap up their 10-day course with a zipline canopy tour and a visit to the vibrant local artisan market in San Jose. Stay tuned for photos of their adventures on our Facebook page early next week!

Service Challenge #1

These service-focused girls have been spending their time working on their first major project of course. The students have been with their instructors in Amubri, a small indigenous village located in the region of Talamanca. They’ve been contributing to a wide array of community efforts including painting a library with murals of natural landscapes and a united world and restoring an abandoned health clinic for future use. Beyond the hard work, the girls have had a great time interacting and learning from the local elementary students and community– They’ve been practicing their Spanish and have even learned a few words in Amubri’s local indigenous dialect, Bribri! After visiting Cahuita National Park today, they’ll head back to our rainforest base to prepare for their upcoming conservation project.