The Bribri are the largest indigenous population in Costa Rica. Around 10,000 Bribri reside in the mountains of the Talamanca region, and a smaller population live in Bocas del Toro, Panama as well. The Bribri are one of the communities Outward Bound Costa Rica serves on our service learning expeditions, including our Costa Rica & Panama Service Challenge and Venture and Volunteer […]
This weekend we bade a bittersweet farewell to our latest group of Outdoor Leader Semester Students. Nine students from across the United States and Canada joined us in Costa Rica and Panama for a 65-day course. They trained in seven internationally-recognized outdoor certifications and learned to become leaders while participating in challenging, outdoor activities. We […]
Many of our Outward Bound Costa Rica alumni go on to do amazing things after course. Our Girl Scout Destinations Alumna Ashley Chico recently won first place at the Bright Ideas STEM for Today’s Youth finals, a multi-state competition where high school students show how science, technology, engineering and math can bring their ideas to life. […]
Our Outdoor Leader Semester students have reached the final week of their 65-day course with us in Costa Rica and Panama. Last week, the students returned from a ten-day hike through Central Costa Rica, trekking through rainforest landscapes to homestays with local families in the remote village of Piedras Blancas. “It’s the side of Costa […]
This week our Communications team celebrated Outward Bound Costa Rica‘s first media day by spending a day on course with six bloggers and journalists. The group spent time with Executive Director and Founder Jim Rowe, an Outward Bound instructor and one of our students to learn more about the history of Outward Bound Costa Rica and the […]
Often considered the best river to ride in Costa Rica, the Pacuare River amazes visitors with its world-class rapids and breathtaking scenery. This popular river is 108 km long and flows from Cordillera de Talamanca (a mountain range of eastern central Costa Rica) to the Caribbean Sea. At Outward Bound Costa Rica we venture to the […]
Costa Rica is known for beautiful beaches and exotic wildlife galore, and there are few better places for this tropical combination than Manuel Antonio. This must-see destination hosts one of the country’s most visited National Parks, as it exemplifies both the idyllic sandy Pacific coast as well as the lush rainforest full of fascinating creatures. Located […]
Do you love swimming at the beach in the pounding ocean? Or do you prefer to the tranquility of a lake? Either way, you might be interested in earning your Waterfront Lifeguarding certification, just one of the internationally recognized certifications offered on our Outdoor Leader Semester and our River to Sea Leadership Semester. Keep reading to see what this certification […]
Our Outdoor Leader Semester students recently completed their Whitewater Rescue Technician training on the Pacuare River. During this phase of their course, the students explored the rivers of Costa Rica while learning and practicing techniques such as safely swimming through rapids, reading whitewater, swiftwater rescue, self-rescue and personal safety. “The river was our first sense of […]
We’re always proud to hear about our Outward Bound Costa Rica alumni and their amazing accomplishments. Participants of our Alumni Ambassador program help spread the word about their life-changing experiences on course. If you would like to join the team and be a featured alumnus on our blog, start by filling out our Alumni Ambassador […]
For the past 20 years, Outward Bound Costa Rica has challenged participants to live bigger, bolder lives as the leader of outdoor and experiential education in Central America with courses in Costa Rica, Panama and Nicaragua. Outward Bound, a non-profit organization facilitating outdoor education, was founded more than 70 years ago and has schools […]
Our Outdoor Leader Semester students have been in Costa Rica for more than a week, completing Wilderness First Responder training on our rainforest base. During their rigorous training, the group learned skills such as First Aid and CPR, practiced rescue scenarios in the wilderness, and studied for a technical exam. “I learned almost as much about myself […]
Whether you’re hiking through the remote rainforest, scuba diving coral reefs, or learning to surf in warm water breaks, our Outward Bound Costa Rica Summer Expeditions are packed with adrenaline-pumping fun. But fun aside, there are numerous educational and cognitive benefits of participating in an international education summer program abroad. Let’s take a look at […]
Yesterday our Spring 2015 Outdoor Leader Semester students arrived at base to start their 65-day adventure in Costa Rica and Panama. Nine students are joining us from California, Colorado, Idaho, Massachusetts, North Carolina, Vermont, Washington and Canada. “I have always been very physical, and I love the outdoors… so Outward Bound [Costa Rica] was a natural […]
Every year Girl Scouts travel to Costa Rica to participate in service adventures. This December, Girl Scout troop 5644 from Virginia joined us in Costa Rica for a customized Group Program. During their eight-day course, the girls made a difference in local communities while participating in culturally-rich service projects working with the indigenous Cabecar population in […]