This year, we welcomed back students to Costa Rica and Panama on our summer courses for teens and programs for adults! Between June and August, they completed an incredible 635.5 hours volunteering, earned 75 certifications, and made countless memories!
Each one of our courses were adjusted for COVID-19 to help ensure the health and safety of both staff and students.
Take a look at what our student’s achieved on each of our summer programs…
Tropical Trek, Raft & Waves
Our Tropical Trek, Raft & Waves groups began their first day in Costa Rica indulging in some delicious gallo pinto (Costa Rican famous rice and beans), fried plantains, and fresh local fruits. With their bellies full and spirits high, they were ready to take on their tropical trek!
The students loaded their backpacks into the van and were driven to their trek’s trailhead just southwest of San Jose. They hiked through scenic clouds and rainforests, while their instructors taught them all about the native plants along the trail. The groups made it all the way to the Rainforest Eco Lodge—a remote location tucked away in the Costa Rican mountains. Once the sun had gone down and the stars were out, they ventured out for a short excursion to spot rare and colorful tree frog species in their natural habitat. The groups finished their hike and celebrated their huge accomplishment by relaxing on the pristine beaches of Manuel Antonio, swimming, and boogie boarding in the Pacific Ocean!
After their time on the coast, the groups headed back the OBCR’s rainforest base in the Central Valley of Costa Rica. They cheered each other on as they took turns climbing up and rappelling down a towering fig tree in our rainforest reserve, carried out reforestation initiatives for a service project, and had a group bonfire, where they enjoyed sharing stories from trek and eating hot dogs and s’mores!
To finish up their adventures, they had a blast ziplining through the rainforest canopy and whitewater rafting down the Pejibaye River!
Scuba, Sea Turtles, Service & Sloths
Our Scuba, Sea Turtles, Service & Sloths groups kicked off their adventures by getting to know each other during team building activities, including the climb and rappel challenge at the strangler fig tree in our rainforest reserve!
Students then set their sights on earning their NAUI scuba certifications. They enjoyed their first scuba lesson at a private pool before some free swim time to soak up the sun and take a couple runs down the waterslides! With their pool sessions complete, the groups crossed the border to Panama and sped out via powerboat to their picturesque island home in the archipelago of Bocas del Toro. For the next few days, the students learned all about diving from our Executive Director, Dr. Jim Rowe, who has been a scuba instructor for over 25 years. After learning the gear and their first standing water session, they began taking their skills to the water and exploring coral reefs, a sunken catamaran, and shipwrecks.
After all students passed their scuba diving tests, they conducted a self-led buddy dive, with instructors present below the surface for support, if needed. We were very proud of their huge accomplishment! They celebrated their achievements by cruising to a local cave filled with stalactite and completed an incredible bioluminescent night dive or snorkel.
The groups then had heaps of fun wakeboarding and kneeboarding around the Bocas del Toro islands and ventured out via powerboat to our secret spot on Sloth Island, where they were all able to spot some three and two-toed sloths! Later on in the week, they carried out a service project in a local community before traveling to San San Pond Sak, one of the most important sea turtle sanctuaries in the world. Students met with conservationists to learn about the active conservation efforts for endangered leatherback and hawksbill sea turtle populations. They excavated old nesting sites, released newly hatched baby turtles, and completed a night patrol to protect the mama sea turtles laying their eggs along the beach. They finished their experience in Panama by canoeing around San San Island and feeding elusive manatees from the docks!
Pacific Surf & Saving Lives and Pacific Surf Extensions
Our Pacific Surf & Saving Lives and Pacific Surf Extension students spent their time on course exploring the gorgeous beaches of the Pacific Coast! The students set up their tents on the world-famous Playa Dominicalito (its warm tropical waves are great for both beginner and experienced surfers) and there they learned the basics of surfboard selection, beach safety, paddling techniques, and popping up on their board. They also visited Dominical, a surf community, where they were taught about surf etiquette, lingo, as well as tides and wave formations.
After their sunrise surf sessions, students walked up into the mountains to enjoy the incredible views and watch the waves crash onto the shore. The group also completed a very sweaty but rewarding 2-hour beach cleanup and learned about marine pollution while our surf instructors taught them about “Leave No Trace”.
The group then traveled up the coast to Manuel Antonio, where they began earning their First Aid & CPR/AED certifications. They also surfed at Jacó Beach, one of the most important surf towns for surfers in Costa Rica. When they weren’t riding the waves, the group was putting their newly-acquired First Aid and CPR/AED knowledge into practice. In the future, they will be ready to assist, comfort, and support people who become injured, if ever they are needed.
When the group returned to base, they proudly showed their surfing footage to students from other courses. Everyone really enjoyed watching the new surfers catch waves at Manuel Antonio’s beautiful beaches.
The group closed out their experience challenging themselves to climbing and rappelling at our rainforest base to reach unbeatable views of the canopy as well as a beautiful waterfall!
Adult Programs
Our summer courses for adults are packed with all the top activities from our courses for teens, but all in seven days!
Our Tropical Island & Scuba Adventure group spent their week in the archipelago of Bocas del Toro in Panama to earn their NAUI scuba diving certification and immerse themselves in Panamanian culture. After crossing the border from Costa Rica into Panama, they sped off in the OBCR powerboat to their island home to spend the next few days learning about scuba gear, having their first standing water session, and taking their skills to the water. They explored stunning tropical coral reefs and shipwrecks and cooled off with some refreshing coconut water from Local Panamanian islanders after their rewarding days of diving. All students passed their scuba diving test and are now NAUI certified!
Just as the week of scuba came to close, our Rainforest Trails & Ocean Waves course began! Bright and very early Sunday morning, the group was driven to southwest of San Jose to begin their hike through the spectacular mountains of Costa Rica’s highlands. The group made it all the way to a Rainforest Eco Lodge overlooking the mountains and there they learned how to harvest sugarcane from scratch, completed a challenging waterfall rappel and ventured out for a short excursion to spot rare and colorful tree frog species in their natural habitat.
After three days of hiking through the rainforest, the group finished their trek and made it to the gorgeous beaches of Manuel Antonio! They celebrated their huge accomplishment by relaxing on the pristine beach, swimming, and boogie boarding in the Pacific Ocean. To finish their action-packed week, the group headed out to take on the class II-III whitewater rapids of the Sarapiquí River and returned to base for final dinner and final ceremony!
Are you feeling inspired? Join us next year on an teen adventure or program for adults.