Our first Pacific Wave & Water summer expedition course  kicked off their week with a service project on our local reserve at the Tres Rios rainforest base before heading out to catch their first waves! The students plus instructors Jorge and Spencer headed behind base on Sunday where they gave a helping hand in clearing trailways throughout the reserve. The guys bonded over shovels and rakes as they dug up roots and debris and learned about the importance of preserving the natural land around them. The trails provided passageways leading to a water plant that administer clean water for over 110,000 residents in the local area! After the service project, the boys rested up and packed their bags to leave Monday for their first water excursion on Río General. At Río General located near San Isidro, students loaded into their rafts and took on the rushing class III-IV rapids filled with highs and lows as they unite together as one team paddling through the thrashing waves. After a few hours of adrenaline-pumping rapids, students set camp by the river where they enjoyed a hardy lunch and a wondrous view into the jungle. The next day students awoke to the  sound of trickling waters as they prepared for one more day of intense rafting through the south of Puntarenas.

On Wednesday students traded in their rafts for surf boards making their way to our base at Manuel Antonio National Park to catch some gnarly waves on the Pacific Coast. At Manuel Antonio students will enjoy 3 days of surfing under the sun overlooking the sandy white beaches while also learning about the vast biodiversity throughout the park and effects of over fishing and eco-tourism. Next week they will begin training to become certified in First Aid and CPR training!