Academic Credit & USING 529 Funds
Talk to your study abroad or academic advisor to approve earning 10 course credits through an independent study or via transfer from Western State Colorado University.
Outdoor Leader Semester
Overview
Dates & Cost
Itinerary
Location
Reviews
Overview
65 days | Costa Rica & Panama | Ages 17+ | from $10,370 USD
Discover your strengths, goals, and leadership style as you delve into the field of outdoor education through both technical & soft-skill training. Learn to set up belay systems, organize rescues, provide wilderness medical care, guide rafts down world-class rivers, lead groups through the Costa Rican rainforest, and scuba dive in Caribbean waters during this comprehensive skill development course. Earn seven internationally-recognized certifications and an in-depth study of the Outward Bound Costa Rica’s educational model to make you a desirable instructor or guide for various organizations throughout the world. This program is also for individuals who love the outdoors, and want to elevate their outdoor skills on an adventurous journey. You may earn 10 academic credits.
Top graduates of this Outdoor Leader Semester program may be offered a paid internship as a Field Instructor Intern for Outward Bound Costa Rica’s summer high season, with the possibility of staying on as a year-round instructor.
Dates & Cost
Dates:
Sep. 10 – Nov. 14, 2024 (Spring 2024)
Feb. 4 – Apr. 10, 2025 (Spring 2025)
Sept. 9 – Nov. 13, 2025 (Fall 2025)
Cost: $10, 580 USD (Fall 2024)
$10,580 USD (Spring 2025)
$10,790 USD (Fall 2025)
Tuition includes all room and board, technical gear, course activities, and in-country transportation. Airfare to/from Costa Rica is not included in the listed tuition cost
Itinerary
PLEASE NOTE: This is a sample itinerary. Details are subject to change.
Orientation & Wilderness Training
Fly to Costa Rica’s Juan Santamaría Airport (SJO) where you will be greeted by our staff and be driven to our remote and isolated rainforest base in Tres Ríos, Cartago. Meet your coursemates and newfound friends, instructors, and participate in a program orientation. Get to know our rainforest base grounds, staff, and what you will be accomplishing during your semester course. Observe a 3-5 day group quarantine period. During this time, you will enjoy our vast tropical rainforest environment while earning your CPR, First Aid and Wilderness certification. Nights in furnished dorms.
River Phase: 14-19 Days
Travel to the Pacuare, Sarapiqui, General, and/or Pejibaye Rivers to begin your Whitewater Raft Guide and Whitewater Rescue Technician training. On this course you will learn the rules of swift water rescue, how to self-rescue and personal safety, hydrology and river dynamics, equipment, rope rescue skills, medical procedures, and how to respond in high risk scenarios. You will also learn how to steer a single inflatable kayak and safety guide a full multi-passenger inflatable raft down Class II-III rapids. Overnights in a private thatched roof home along the river. At the end of this phase you will return back to our San Ramón de Tres Ríos rainforest base to clean gear, relax, repack and prepare for the next phase of course.
Please note students must be 18+ to be eligible to earn Rescue 3 certifications.
Scuba Phase: 7-9 Days
Depart to cross the Panama border and arrive via boat to your island home. Begin earning your Scuba Diver or Advanced Scuba Diver certification through the Caribbean archipelago of Bocas del Toro. Learn how to dive and discover spectacular tropical coral reefs up close and personal. If you are already certified, earn your advanced certification by participating in special dives including a compass navigation dive and a deep dive. Take your practical and written exam toward earning your scuba diving certification. Enjoy a celebratory night dive—wave your hands and glide through the waters as thousands of magical bioluminescent lights illuminate your path. Between instructional lessons, enjoy white sandy tropical beaches and learn how to wakeboard through the turquoise enclaves. Overnights tent camping under a traditional thatched-roof lodge suspended over the Caribbean waters on Isla Solarte.
Surf and Lifeguarding Phase: 7-9 Days
Depart to the Pacific Coast and setup camp at a beautiful beach site. Participate in beach school, where you will learn the basics of board selection, waterfront safety, paddling techniques and standing upright on your board. Wake up each morning to the sound of crashing waves! Instructors will teach beginner to advanced surf lessons and you’ll practice your new skills in the water. Your days will also consist of theory sessions or hands-on Lifeguarding with Waterfront Module training. Technical elements of the lifeguarding course will also be taught during the scuba phase. Overnights at beach campsite. At the end of this phase you will return back to our San Ramón de Tres Ríos rainforest base to clean gear, relax, repack and prepare for the next phase of course.
Recreational Rappel Operator Phase: 3-5 Days
Stay at our San Ramón de Tres Ríos rainforest base and travel to nearby locations to facilitate your Recreation Rappel Operator training in how to lead group rappelling. This course includes knots, technical equipment, anchoring, contingency/releasable anchor systems, belaying, ascending, coaching new rappellers, emergency drills, and risk management.
Please note students must be 18+ to be eligible to earn Rescue 3 certifications.
Hiking Phase: 9-11 Days
Depart early to your “far from the tourist route” trailhead. Journey through the thick tropical rainforest as you hike your way through spectacular valleys, cascading waterfalls, and winding rivers that lead you from campground to campground. Discover fresh animal tracks, impressive plant life, and rugged trails as you navigate your way. This challenge also includes a one-day solo reflective experience, where you will take inventory of where your life is, where you want it to be, and to experience pure solitude without distractions and without your group in a controlled environment. This experience is adventurous, rewarding and a world away from the norm! At the end of this phase you will return back to our San Ramón de Tres Ríos rainforest base to clean gear, relax, repack and prepare for the next phase of course.
Course Wrap-Up: 2 Days
Spend your last evening on base with a course reflection, final traditional dinner, and program celebration. Overnight in furnished dorms. Transfer to the Juan Santamaría Airport (SJO) for departure. Say hasta luego to your friends and coursemates. Nos vemos pronto en Costa Rica!
Location
Reviews
“This experience is just what I needed at this point in my life. I began to feel a lot more comfortable with my personality and all its quirks. I started noticing this during Wilderness First Responder (WFR) training. It’s something that typically causes me a lot of anxiety, but now I can cope with it more effectively and ease my anxiousness.”
“This experience allows you learn invaluable skills and meet amazing people in an environment so different than the one I have known for the past 19 years. I’ve learned to never be afraid to be unapologetically yourself.”
“This was a life changing course that teaches you more about yourself and your life. I found that experiencing things outside my comfort zone made me grow a lot.”
“There is nothing that can change your life more than being away from your life at home. This experience is a self exploration and a way to find out what is most important to you. The most important thing I learned is to look at the world with child-like wonder and show appreciation for everything. I have become more comfortable with who I am and I’ve developed a sense of caring for others.”
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