You do not have to be an athlete or in stellar physical condition to attend an Outward Bound Costa Rica course, but you do have to be ready both physically and mentally to take on the incredible challenges you will experience!
To get the most out of your experience, here are a few tips on how to prepare for your course:
Mental Preparation
Teamwork
Be ready to be part of a team. Think about the teams or groups you have been apart of in the past whether they are sports teams, school plays, or classroom project groups. What makes a team successful?
Being Away from Home
The feeling of being alone and away from family might not happen immediately, but it can occur while on course. If you are feeling this way, speak up and use your instructors and teammates as resources as they are there to help. We can help you come up with some ideas to address it.
Keep in mind that you might regret when you’re back home if you were thinking the entire time about family and friends, so prepare to live in the moment! This is an incredible opportunity, so take each moment in.
Group Discussion
A big part of the growth that you will experience on course takes places by discussing course experiences during nightly meetings. Through these group discussions you’re more able to hold onto the value of each experience take it home with you. Be prepared to share your perspective and gain insight from others on your expedition.
Physical Preparation
Adopt Healthy Habits
A great way to prepare physically is to adopt healthy eating habits and focus on being well-hydrated. No matter what course type, the following tips may help:
- Arrive at your course start well rested
- Reduce consumption of fatty foods, alcohol, and caffeine as these substances require a lot of water and oxygen to metabolize.
- Eat unrefined carbohydrates (i.e. whole grains)
- Drink more water than usual; 1/2 to 1 gallon of water per day
Build on Your Fitness
Try to get at least 30 minutes of exercise per day. If you’re training for longer and more intensive sessions make sure you have one day of rest throughout the week for recovery. Great exercises include running, jogging, swimming, biking, body weight circuit workouts, climbing stairs, jump rope, rowing, hiking, skating, or yoga. The aim of your training is to increase your body’s capacity to breathe oxygen—increasing the capability of your heart and circulatory system to supply blood and oxygen to all organs and tissues. Remember, always stretch after every workout to maintain flexibility and help your body recover faster. The most important thing is to find an activity that you enjoy doing.
Everyone’s Experience is Different
Keep in mind that every course, every participant, and every instructor is amazingly and beautifully unique. You have an incredible experience ahead of you. No matter how much you read the materials we provide and no matter how many questions you ask, the reality is that you will not know what it is like until you are here. Come with an open mind, an open heart, and prepare to have an experience that you will hold onto for years to come!