On May 14, 2018 Outward Bound Costa Rica (OBCR) welcomed nine students and one chaperon from Canyon School in northern California for an 11-day hiking adventure through picturesque and remote rainforests of Costa Rica.
After they arrived at our base, they met their OBCR Instructors Mauren and Diego, began a course orientation and packing for the expedition. The thirteen of them, including Ryan from OBCR’s Marketing Staff, departed the next morning for a volcano hike on Volcán Irazu and tour of a famous basilica in Cartago. The following morning the group left early heading to their launch point to begin their hike.
Some of the highlights from their course included: nights at village homestays, waterfall rappelling, homemade local meals, spotting monkeys, learning how to make homemade sugar from sugarcane, whitewater rafting and surfing lessons.
Throughout their trip, there were many opportunities where each student pushed themselves beyond what they thought was possible. Instructors Diego and Mauren took some time to put pen to paper and wrote about what each one of them brought to this course and lessons they could take back home with them. Take a read:
"Your smile is like a ray of sunshine! You make people around you comfortable and give them confidence. You are easy going, strong and adapt to every situation with ease. We were so impressed by your ziplining skills! You said it yourself: 'when I overcome challenges, I am really happy with myself.' We hope that you keep this memory as a reminder that your fears are your only limitations. Keep exploring!"
"Your clever insights during our evening meetings really impressed us, as well as your happiness catching waves for the first time and being able to stand up on your surfboard so quickly! You are ready to start pushing your limits, to challenge yourself and overcome your fears. We would like you to remember that it is a process, and that the journey of a thousand miles begins with one step…"
"Connecting with you was a true gift. You are funny, easy to get along with and talented. It was great to see you realize how strong you are on the hike, and to see that you are always ready for a new challenge! You are a true adventurer at heart. We would like you to remember to never be afraid to be yourself or to share your many talents with others. You have a lot to offer to the world!"
"It was great to see you so happy boogie boarding and playing in the waves! Your joy was contagious. Your strong personality has a big impact on the people around you, you are very organized and are not afraid to be in charge. These are great strengths which, if you use them wisely, can make you an inspiring leader. We would like to remember that 'with great power comes great responsibility' and to go with the flow!"
"You are a very smart, genuine and are not afraid to speak your mind. We loved your curiosity and your eagerness to learn about Costa Rican cultures and lifestyles, and how interested you are in the world around you. You said that you learned that 'challenges become amazing memories'—we would like you to remember that you are stronger than you think and that your limits are only in your mind!"
"Your genuine, happy personality and your capacity to always see the bright side of everything are truly precious gifts—they allow you to take on any challenge with a smile on your face! We’re so glad that you had 'an exhilarating, sweaty heck of a time'! Embrace the positive impact you have on people, keep living in the moment and always be yourself!"
"You are so strong – we were so impressed seeing you run up the hills during the hike! We loved that you always took the time to thank our host families, cooks, drivers, and staff members. It was so great to see you enjoy every single second on course, every new food you tried and landscape you witnessed. Keep living in the moment, and remember to find time and ways to express all your energy – it’s a wonderful gift!"
"You are a strong, very resilient and observant person, and you were a great ‘profesor’, carefully choosing your words and getting straight to the point. We loved your lesson about coffee! You took on all challenges and never complained. We loved seeing you so genuinely happy when you were playing in the Pacific Ocean waves! Remember to let your beautiful voice be heard!"
"You were an amazing chaperon—funny, helpful and always stayed positive. You are a very observant, caring person, who places energy in the right things. It was such a pleasure to have you on course!"
Interested in a Custom Course?
Surf, hike, raft, scuba, kayak, and more on a Custom Course with your class, family, friends, school, Girl Scout troop, or co-workers.
Contact our Custom Courses & Partnerships Manager at 1 (800) 676-2018 or by emailing [email protected].