Tri-Country Semester Course (Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Panama)
| Length of Course: |
85 days |
|
| Core Activities: |
• Backpacking
• Homestays
• Whitewater rafting
• Kayaking
• Surfing
• SCUBA diving |
| Age Range: |
17+ |
| Course Dates: |
Sept. 20-Dec. 13, 2009
Jan. 15-Apr. 9, 2010
Sept. 11-Dec. 4, 2010 |
| Tuition: |
$9,495 |
| Certifications Earned: |
NAUI Scuba Certification
First Aid
CPR |
| Training Provided: |
Whitewater Training
Swift Water Rescue Training |
| Potential College Credits: |
Coastal Ecology - 3 credits
Intro. to Spanish - 3 credits
Natural History of Costa Rica - 3 credits
Group Leadership - 3 credits |
Course Description
Tri-Country Semester itineraries may change with weather and water conditions, but here are the basics:
Cross-Country Backpacking and Homestays: Most of your journey will unfold in Costa Rica and begins with 25-35 days trekking through bio-diverse cloud and rain forests. Hiking between 5 and 10 miles per day with two qualified instructors, your group will make its way across Costa Rica from coast to coast. Along the way, learn about rainforest biology, natural history, back country skills, team-building skills and conversational Spanish.
Several nights of the trek will be spent at the homes of indigenous families in the remote village of Piedras Blancas. Adventure and cross-cultural activities may include: a waterfall rappel, technical tree climb, harvesting or preparing traditional crops and foods, playing soccer with local children or community service projects.
There is also a solo element to this course in which students are given the experience to be alone in a safe wilderness setting. Solos enable students to reflect upon their lives and their Outward Bound experience while fully immersed in nature.
Surfing: Explore some of the best warm-water breaks while learning or improving upon your surf skills. Depending on conditions, you will visit beaches along Costa Rica’s Pacific Coast including Playa Avellanas, Playa Hermosa and Manuel Antonio. Learn about lunar phases, wave formations and coastal ecology.
Whitewater Rafting: The Sarapiqui, the Pacuare(consistently rated in the top 10 for whitewater in the world), and the General are among the Costa Rican rivers on which our students learn rafting and safety techniques. Challenge yourself on a series of Class III and IV rapids while cooking and camping under the stars at night.
Kayaking: Learn to roll, flip, brace, loop and surf Class III rapids as you practice your new skill sets on rivers such as the Savegre, Naranjo, Parrita, and Sarapiqui. Further your abilities by crossing into Nicaragua to paddle down the Rio San Juan where you’ll take in the vast range of local flora and fauna while learning about Nicaraguan history.
Scuba Diving: Bocas del Toro in northern Panama will be the backdrop for the scuba portion of your course. Earn your NAUI Open Water Certification and learn about reef and coastal ecology. When not underwater, engage in other activities such as snorkeling, sea kayaking, biking, wakeboarding, caving or sailing. Possible opportunities include a community service project and interacting with the local Guay-mi tribe on the island of Solarte, Panama.
Service Project: CRROBS integrates a service element into every course. Past projects have included: trail building, painting a school, planting trees, and working with local orphans.
Arrival Information:After arriving at San Jose International Airport you will be met by Outward Bound staff and transferred to our base, located in the rainforest 15 miles east of the Costa Rican capital, San Jose. On base, you will meet your instructors and be outfitted with a backpack and gear to get ready for your adventure. You will eat and sleep on base before departing to begin your course.
To inquire about or to enroll in this course, click the appropriate link below. You can reach the Student Enrollment Coordinator at 1-800-676-2018.
