After spending two weeks on intensive Wilderness First Responder training and practicals, our Outdoor Leadership Semester (OLS) students were anxious to stretch their legs along the Costa Rican mountain range. They traveled from homestay to homestay and with each new visit, our students appreciated the simplicity of life here and how cultures, even sub-cultures, differ in throughout the region.
Diego Villalobos, an Instructor on the OLS hike, said, “When it comes to homestays the students get to interact with the families and get to see a very different part of life in Costa Rica—one that is a lot more in balance with nature.”
Niall, age 19 from Canada, echoed Diego’s sentiments in sharing, “I loved the self-sustainability. It’s crazy how someone can be so far from civilization in the thick of the jungle and still have beautiful houses beside the river. You can go swimming, you can get your own food: milk, eggs, and cheese. I thought it was really inspiring.”
Prior to the hike many students came in with unknown expectations. Students tend to feel anxious or ask the dreaded question ‘will I be good enough’ to take this challenge. “The hike was intense. I’ve done hiking before, but it’s very different doing it in a tropical climate as opposed to the Northeast,” said Joey, age 19 from Massachussets.
Leon, age 20 from Massachussetts, shared similar feelings in saying, “I didn’t think that I would be able to do it. I didn’t really do a lot of physical activities before this course. So far I’ve been able to do a lot of it, and I love how it challenges me.” You can never predict what a group will gain from their experience on the hike or homestays… and that is the true beauty of Outward Bound Costa Rica.
Just get out there. You won’t know until you go.
Submit an inquiry above or contact our Enrollment Manager by calling 800-676-2018 or emailing [email protected].