Perspectives from students on the 15 day Multi-Element Course Outward Bound

This was an experience that really left a mark on me that has become a really valuable part of my life. It was really fun – definitely a good time – you conquer so many challenges/fears plus you meet so many cool and different people. I will always remember it, and I’m sad it’s over. My favorite part was the homestays. The families were very nice to us and made us feel really welcome. I loved playing with the children. It was good seeing the family life and how close they are. I liked seeing how they made their own food, and it was so good. It really felt like my eyes opened a lot more to the Costa Rican Culture. I feel like I learned more about myself both physically and mentally. The beautiful scenery was amazing. The waterfall rappel was awesome. I loved the thrill of being tied to a rope and climb down a waterfall with the water hitting you. I had a blast! Thanks so much!

Katy Billups
19, Texas, USA
15 day Multi-Element, Summer 2006

The challenge is unique and very different from most that I have been through. It’s surely a lifetime experience. The homestay allowed me to interact and communicate with the locals, not only to understand their habits and daily lives, but also really know and make friends with them. Awesome!

Emily Chow
19, Hong Kong, China
15 day Multi-Element, Summer 2006

I was the fourth family member to do a course with Outward Bound. CRROBS is an amazing program. Every aspect of the course was challenging and met all criteria. My favorite part was the homestays—living in their houses and seeing how the families live and work. Seeing their daily routines was a life-changing experience.

Thad Beals
18, Michigan, USA
15 day Multi-Element, Summer 2006

I will remember it forever. I loved meeting the families at the homestays—getting to learn about the different cultures, and the waterfall was exciting and scary at the same time. I also loved the tree climb and everybody in my group. Who gets to go to Costa Rica and make brown sugar and live in the rainforest?! You don’t get to do stuff like that back home. It was an experience of a lifetime! The instructors were awesome. I’ll miss them a lot, especially their sense of humor. They really pushed us. I pushed myself to my limit. I have never worked so hard before. I’ve never pushed myself so hard. Everyone should do this at least once.

Heather Ivess
16, Maryland, USA
15 day Multi-Element, Summer 2006

It was a totally awesome program. I will remember these last 15 days for the rest of my life. It was a good experience that most people would probably never get the chance to do.

Kaylyn Bopp
15, Ohio, USA
15 day Multi-Element, Summer 2006

It was a great experience that I will remember for a lifetime. It was an absolutely memorable experience. I loved going down the waterfall and the homestays. The hiking was hard, but in the end it was all worthwhile. I gained a lot of confidence. I can say I did an Outward Bound course now, and I know I’m capable of a lot more.

Kara Ness
18, Quebec, Canada
15 day Multi-Element, Summer 2006

The only way to grow as a person is to explore yourself and venture out to other, new things. Though the hiking was pretty hard, it helped the group bond and we all got through it together. It was a lot of fun. The homestay families were so welcoming and each homestay was so different. Our group played soccer in the rain with them. We played with the kids a lot. We got to talk to all of them. They made us feel really welcome. It felt so good to help out with service projects and give back after all of their hospitality. I’m happy to have done the solo. I learned how impatient and bored I get when people aren’t around me. I learned to detach myself from the things I’m dependent on back home like pizza, TV, my friends, shopping and cell phones. I overcame some of my fears. I thought the waterfall would be the scariest thing ever, but I didn’t think about it. I learned a lot from everyone in our group. I did a lot of things in such a short time. All in all, it is a good experience to go through and you definitely learn a lot about yourself, learn other things, and meet so many cool people from all over.

Natasha Amin
15, New Jersey, USA
15 day Multi-Element, Summer 2006

I loved rafting—the way the water splashes your face. The whole trip was a great experience. I loved it. I wish everyone could experience this. I really enjoyed learning Spanish and I realized there’s more to life than partying. I appreciate what I have a lot more.

Dave Reese
18, California, USA
15 day Multi-Element, Summer 2006

This trip is indescribable. During the community service project, I felt that I was actually helping. I learned I need to appreciate people more. It’s just an amazing experience to have in my life.

Anneliese Beckers
18, Arkansas, USA
15 day Multi-Element, Summer 2006

Rafting was my favorite activity. It was great. I loved everything. It strengthens you all around. It made me a better person. It got me to work harder and appreciate things more. When I was hiking, I didn’t like it while I was doing it, but I’m glad I did it. I was really pushed.

Jon May
15, Michigan, USA
15 day Multi-Element, Summer 2006

It was awesome. It was amazing. I’d like to do it again. Even my lows were highs. I learned a lot about myself. This experience was a great adventure into expanding my limits and developing my character. I learned you can push yourself to do more. The homestays were a vital aspect to understanding the true culture of Costa Rica. I had fun and was serious at the same time.

Caitlin Moore
16, Georgia USA
15 day Multi-Element, Summer 2006

For an Outward Bound Course, this was the best it can get. I had fun. The people were awesome. It was definitely intense—really intense. I pushed myself for sure.

Stuart Gracey
16, Florida, USA
15 day Multi-Element, Summer 2006

It was great, awesome and mind-blowing. It was a great learning experience and a good way of seeing new things and putting everything into perspective. I’ve realized stuff about myself that I want to change.

Bonnie Powers
15, California, USA
15 day Multi-Element, Summer 2006

I loved the authenticity of the cultural immersion with real families in the middle of the rainforest. For me it was a life-changing experience that broadened my horizons physically, mentally, and spiritually. I’ve never done anything like this. You can make it as hard as you want. I knew I could do it, but it changed my outlook on how to get things accomplished. It was definitely all it was cracked up to be and I’m proud to have kept my positive attitude. The instructors were the best. I can’t think of anything negative. I got to swim in a river, pick wild fruit, and make candy—it was all awesome.

Fred Reisen
17, New Jersey, USA
15 day Multi-Element, Summer 2006

I liked everything about this course. It was cool. It’s something everyone should experience. I loved all of it. I hate to go home. It made me rethink the city, and I rethought my life and had a really positive experience. I think I want to do something like this for a few years after high school.

Matt Freeman
17, California, USA
15 day Multi-Element, Summer 2006

This was an action-packed physically and mentally challenging adventure where I learned how to make friends. The rafting was awesome. I loved being able to jump out and swim in the river. Felipe showed us a lot of cool things. The homestays were really cool and the food was really good. They were great people and a lot of fun. The service project was fun: it was hard work, but knowing that you’re helping out the families made it easier. Hiking was good. Hard, but you gotta push through. I learned to push my limits. I’m glad I did it. I saw some amazing things. It was a great experience. I really liked it a lot. I now know I can go beyond what I thought I could. I can do more than what I thought I was capable of. I had never rappelled before. I’m usually afraid of heights, but it was great, and the group all motivated each other. We couldn’t have hoped for better people to be my counselors.

Ben Kauder
16, Pennsylvania, USA
15 day Multi-Element, Summer 2006

It wasn’t what I expected. The people I met challenged me intellectually. I loved the people I met and the homestays. My favorite parts were the group conversations at night. I wish there was more. It’s an experience.

Brianna Ronzetti
16, New York, USA
15 day Multi-Element, Summer 2006

I thought it was going to be hard, but it was a lot harder than I thought. The hiking got easier as it went along. I feel better about myself. I feel stronger. I’m glad I did it. I loved the homestays. There’s a really good sense of family there.

Alex Miller
14, New York, USA
15 day Multi-Element, Summer 2006

It was awesome. The whole experience of working as a group – pushing ourselves. Hiking was tough, but I though it was the perfect amount of hiking, you need to prepare well for it. I know my perseverance. I think I can accomplish almost everything now. It’s mind over matter. I liked the homestays a lot. They were all good to see. They exposed us to other cultures and beliefs. They were really interesting. I liked doing the service project. I felt good doing it—helping the community. Overall it’s an incredible experience that everyone should take part in.

Jason Zerden
16, Georgia, USA
15 day Multi-Element, Summer 2006

Outward Bound Costa Rica challenged me physically and mentally which pushed me to my limits. It’s a great program that teaches its students about how to preserve the environment in which we live. Thanks.

Laura Stephenson
18, North Carolina
15 day Multi-Element, Summer 2006

I’ve been over mountains and down rivers, and I’ve come out in a new place of mind. It definitely made me less of a follower, and more of a leader. It was great. I think it made me grow as a person, making me more of a unique individual. I loved it! Its fun and gets you in shape. The homestays were fun and it was cool to see the different culture and how simply they live. They seem really happy, but it’s not for me. Though it made me think about a lot of stuff in my life.

Matt Sloan
17, Maryland, USA
15 day Multi-Element, Summer 2006

CRROBS has been a long journey in which I’ve traveled over mountains, rafted down rivers and surfed massive waves and through it all I’ve changed physically and spiritually. I have more confidence in what I can do.

Phil Schinis
16, Connecticut, USA
15 day Multi-Element, Summer 2006

I’m glad we did the service project. It was good that we helped the families, but I feel that we didn’t do enough for them. Visiting the homestays you got to see how other people live, the food was great, and you realize how lucky you are. We should have done more service projects for them. Hiking and sleeping in the forest teaches you a lot. I was worried about the solo but it was fine. I learned to be more independent—not relying on other people. Though sharing your thoughts with the group is fun and important. It’s going to be hard to leave these friends that I just met.

Spencer Serra
14, Texas, USA
15 day Multi-Element, Summer 2006

I had to push myself more than I ever thought I would. It was a good program with lots of unique activities. I could not have done all these different things in one trip on any other program.

Rachel Sidford
19, New York, USA
15 day Multi-Element, Summer 2006

I learned a lot and grew a lot as a person. The trip made me think about who I want to be as a person, and I think the others benefited as well. You meet amazing people and experience/have the best 15 days of your life. The climbing activities pushed me to places I never thought I could go. I loved the homestays with the families and learning about the plantation and traditional foods. We learned a lot about how the communities work and what they need to function.

Adrienne Beitcher
18, California, USA
15 day Multi-Element, Summer 2006