The Leadership Semester students spent last week in Panama getting scuba certified and exploring the depths of the Caribbean Ocean. When they weren’t studying for their scuba certifications, the group took turns wake boarding and also spent a day sailing on catamaran. The Leadership students are switching gears and heading out to raft the rivers […]
The Tri-Country Semester group has been soaking up the Caribbean sun on Solarte Island in the archipelago of Bocas Del Toro, Panama. After this past week, most of the students are NAUI-certified scuba divers! The students now know about dive equipment, the science of diving, responsible diving practices and the Bocas Del Toro underwater environment. […]
This should make getting to Panama from Costa Rica easier! Copa Airlines has introduced a new flight that will provide service from Liberia, Costa Rica to Tocumen, Panama. We would love to soak up the sun on the Guanacaste beaches and immediately hop a plane to Panama City to explore the famous canal town. Story […]
When most people think of COSTA RICA OUTWARD BOUND, they think of surfing; waterfall rappelling; trekking volcanoes; sea kayaking; camping in the jungle; sailing; white water rafting; SCUBA diving; zip-wire flying; and other outdoor adventure sports. But what few may not know is that two core values of COSTA RICA OUTWARD BOUND are community service […]
It’s not often you supply food to an island of indigenous people who actually need it. And by “actually,” we mean that even a home full of fifteen orphans did not have anything to eat last Saturday the 19th until eight Girl Scouts and their two instructors arrived with bags of food. Two weekends ago, […]
Well, we finally did it. When Scott returned from a seven-day cat-and-mouse journey in Panama last week, we knew it meant one thing: the new van finally arrived.He summarized his cultural experience: “Nowhere are the differences between Central America and North America more evident than in the navigation of law, bureaucracy and borders.” In short: it wasn’t easy.To acquire such a beautiful […]
Most students’ friends and family get different images in mind when reading the update, “Students are in Panama this week…” While most envision the Panama Canal (which is actually about 12 hours away by bus) and/or the commercialism that it brings, they would be surprised to learn about the beauty of both the scenery and […]
When we partnered with Outward Bound USA this year to create a semester course that was partially in the Florida Keys and two-thirds in Costa Rica, we had no idea what an unforgettable – and unique – experience it would be for both the students and the instructors. Among them were yours truly, Orlando Zamora […]
re•con [ri-kon] -noun reconnaissance ¿Perdon? re•con•nais•sance [ri-kon-uh-suh ns, -zuh ns] -noun a general examination or survey of a region, usually followed by a detailed survey “A general examination of a region” is the best way to define our missions out into new, undiscovered territory for updating courses and adding new ones in Costa Rica, Panama, […]
One of the most crucial parts of the scuba certification education process is learning about aquatic wildlife. Why ‘crucial?’ Because a human’s touch can be fatal to an entire species; and on the flip side, marine life, too, can be fatal for humans. The lionfish, while not fatal, does fall in the “danger” category, as […]
With all the activities and locations, it can be hard for families & friends to keep track of students in the field. All our current courses will transition phases soon, so we expect them all on base (in San Ramon de Tres Rios) this week. We’ll do our best to get photos- read below to […]
There’s more than a canal in Panama? Spanish Emphasis, Reef & Rainforest, and Summer Semester courses sure are experiencing a once-in-a-lifetime trip to Panama, enjoying all the hidden treasures it has to offer. After a weekend of snorkeling in the island chain of Bocas del Toro (a Panamanian province), they are playing soccer with the […]