30-Day Multi-Element with Spanish Emphasis (Costa Rica & Panama)
| Length of Course: |
30 days (15-Day, 24-Day) |
|
| Core Activities: |
• Backpacking
• Homestays
• Whitewater rafting expedition
• Volcano hike or Sea kayaking
• Surfing
• Canopy Tour
• SCUBA diving |
| Age Range: |
14+ |
| Course Dates: |
June 15 - July 14, 2010
July 17 - Aug. 15, 2010 |
| Tuition: |
$3,999 |
| Certifications Earned: |
NAUI Scuba Certification |
Course Description
Multi-Element itineraries may change with weather and water conditions, but here are the basics:
Backpacking and Homestays: Your journey begins by trekking through bio-diverse cloud and rain forests. Along the way, learn about rainforest biology, natural history, backcountry 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 at our beach base in Manuel Antonio. Enjoy the white sand beaches of Manuel Antonio National Park where you'll see an array of flora, fauna, and animals
Whitewater Rafting Expedition: 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.
Canopy Tour: Soar through the rainforest high above the forest floor as you discover the jungle from a new vantage point.
Volcan Exploration (first session) or Sea Kayaking (second session):
- Volcano Adventure: Explore Costa Rica's Guapiles region, home to Volcan Turrialba and Volcan Irazu. Hike through dense vegetation, old lava flow, and craters. You will have the opportunity to meet the local communiy and spend multiple nights at homestays in this region.
- Sea Kayaking Expedition: Explore various islands, their unique ecosystems, and the treasures they hold. Spend days kayaking in the warm, Pacific water and nights camping under the stars. The kayaking phase will take place either in Costa Rica, off the Nicoya Peninsula, or in Panama, off Isla Solarte, depending on conditions.
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.
Spanish Emphasis: Thirty days allows you the time to dramatically improve your Spanish skills. Everyone, beginners included, will benefit by our interactive teaching style which utilizes verbal and cultural immersion to improve vocabulary, grammar, and conversation. Every course includes a minimum of one instructor who is a native Spanish speaker.
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.
