Outward Bound Costa Rica has two bases where students stay to receive instruction and do teambuilding activities while not out in the field. One of our bases is our “rainforest base” here in San Ramon de Tres Rios, right outside of San Jose. Here we are surrounded by the lush canopies of the mountains surrounding the country’s capital city. Besides being an amazingly beautiful place, rainforests are integral to human life. This interesting article, 5 Fact About Rainforests You Didn’t Know, sheds light on just how important these forests are.

We were intrigued when we came across this recent article about the polar bears of the Nunavut province of Canada and how they are seeking refuge atop iceburgs, supposedly to escape from hunters on the mainland. Polar bears typically will use icebergs that are mobile to hunt for seals, but it now appears they are making their regular home here!

Bilingual is a wonderful thing to be. Not only is one able to communicate with a larger number of people as a bilingual individual, but children and young people who learn a second language at an early age will also enjoy “cognitive benefits, enhanced academic and multi-tasking skills, and an increased cultural awareness,” claim the authors of the new book “Bilingual Is Better”. We agree! Because of our location each one of our courses features Spanish language-learning and cultural immersion due to our largely native Costa Rican staff. Definitely a wonderful perk of OBCR programming.