Rainforest Hike & Homestay #2
The six students on Rainforest Hike & Homestay session #2 completed their course on Saturday. After two weeks exploring the jungles, beaches, and rivers of Costa Rica and experiencing “pura vida,” the students are walking away with a powerful experience where they pushed their limits, worked as a team, and had a lot of fun with new friends.
“My Outward Bound experience was life-changing, impactful, enriching,” said Leah B. from Paris, France. “I got to experience more than just the surface of Costa Rica with the wonderful views and the wonderful people.”
The students gained valuable leadership skills while taking on different leadership roles throughout course.
“I find the leadership part of Outward Bound to be one of its more obvious strengths, showing what kind of leader you are and teaching you how to operate more effectively as one,” said Lucas S. from Los Angeles.
Sienna R. from from Ventura, California agreed, “the four pillars of Outward Bound and being taught how to be a leader will carry out in my life forever.”
Lindsay S. from Dublin, Ohio described her experience as, “the most amazing and life-changing experience where I made memories and friends to last a lifetime.”
While taking breaks from their long-distance trekking, the students benefited from lots of time to reflect throughout the course, whether it be debriefing after an activity or at their nightly meeting.
“I feel like the whole course is very well-organized in a way where the students can connect all parts and activities and really learn from them,” said Santiago S. from Santa Ana, Costa Rica.
“The best memories of my course are all of the laughs and views we shared on our hikes,” said Jacob A. from Hawthorne, California, referencing the many wonderful vistas of the mountains and valleys of central Costa Rica that are seen on the hike.
Two students from this group are continuing on to Panama for another two week expedition, the Caribbean Scuba & Service course, while two students will be going to a new part of Costa Rica for a week of surfing on the Pacific Surf & Cert Extension.
For more course photos, visit and Like our Facebook page. (Photos courtesy of Lucas S.)
Caribbean Scuba & Service #1
This summer’s first Caribbean Scuba & Service course wrapped up this Saturday. All students are now NAUI scuba certified after a week diving in the beautiful warm waters of the Bocas del Toro Archipelago in Panama. They also wakeboarded, sea kayaked, and enjoyed a lot of time getting to know each other as a group.
“I would describe my experience as great friendships, fun memories, and beautiful nature,” said Jack P. from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
The group’s final destination before coming back to Costa Rica was San San Pond Sak, where they worked at a wetland reserve on a leatherback sea turtle conservation project. The combination of challenging but fun water activities and meaningful community service provided the students a well-rounded experience and a new perspective of Panama.
“I chose Outward Bound Costa Rica because I wanted to get into traveling, challenge myself, and get out of my comfort zone,” said Sara M. from Kennebunk, Maine. “I learned a lot, met great people, had lots of fun, and it changed my views on my life.”
Five students are continuing the adventure after their time in Panama with an additional week in Costa Rica for the Pacific Surf & Cert Extension course.
Rainforest Hike & Homestay #3
Twelve students have come from all over the world to make up our third session of the Rainforest Hike and Homestay. They have travelled to Costa Rica from California, Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, Canada, and Mexico. One student is continuing their summer expeditions from Caribbean Scuba & Service #1 for another two weeks of adventure in Central America.
The group left early Monday morning to embark on their week-long hike through Piedras Blancas. In the next few days they will experience adventure, hospitality, and challenge as they journey through cloud forests, become culturally immersed at homestays, and rappel an 80-foot waterfall.
Caribbean Scuba & Service #2
Eight new students arrived in Costa Rica this past Saturday and joined two students that just finished the Rainforest Hike & Homestay #2 to begin their expedition to Panama. The ten students have come from California, Florida, Maine, New Jersey, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Costa Rica, and Venezuela.
The group left on Sunday for Panama and are already on their way to being scuba certified after this next week of diving and exploring the Caribbean sea.
Pacific Surf & Cert #1
Seven students are continuing their summer expeditions from either the Rainforest Hike & Homestay or Caribbean Scuba & Service courses. They left Saturday morning for Avellanas beach on the Pacific coast of Costa Rica. This next week they will be camping on the beach, practicing catching waves every day, and earning first-aid and CPR training.
All students stood up on their boards on their very first day of surfing!
Be sure to check back next Tuesday for our next Summer Expeditions update!