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 Leave
the daily grind behind, and step into the ‘Pura Vida ’
of Costa Rica! Costa Rica Rainforest Outward Bound School (CRROBS)
has partnered with Valley Forge Military Academy to offer
an exclusive, leadership training trip in the rainforest. You'll be challenged
by hikes, rafting, climbing and rappeling through the exciting rivers
and luscious rainforests, or enjoy breathtaking beaches and glowing sunsets
while learning how to surf.
Get ready for the wild and natural beauty of your surroundings to push
your body and spirit to achieve a level of accomplishment and personal
development you never thought possible!
This trek will take you through some of Costa Rica's most
enchanting jungles, exciting rivers, and gorgeous beaches! In
only 11 days, you will trek through the rainforest, do a tree climb, raft
Class III-IV rapids, try your skills and luck on a surfboard. You will
also have the unique opportunity to spend time with Costa Rican families
in their homes, and participate in their daily activities and traditions–
including anything from milking cows, harvesting crops, to making tortillas
by hand! You will never experience Costa Rica like this again!
The focus of this course is on leadership development and all the activities
will provide opportunity for interpersonal skill development, as well
as personal development as a leader. Students will be given duties and
responsibilities throughout the entirety of the course. These duties and
responsibilities include and are not limited to group cook, group motivator,
group “doctor” (doesn’t give out medication but rather
asks each one of his peers the status of their physical condition), group
clean up, group leader, group “environmentalist” (makes sure
the group leaves no traces behind when leaving any natural area), etc.
Students will rotate through these specific duties and responsibilities.
Itinerary
Days: 11
Dates: June 10th - June 21st, 2007
 Participants
arrive in San Jose, Costa Rica. Pick-up at Juan Santa María
International Airport in San José, Costa Rica and transfer
to the Outward Bound Base camp nestled in the hills of Tres Rios.
Welcome and orientation meeting, “Duffle Shuffle” (packing
for the trail). Overnight at the Tres Rios Base Camp.
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 Morning
transfer to the trekking area. The first day of trekking begins at
an approximate elevation of 8,000 feet. This area is home to the quetzal
bird, which has historical significance for indigenous groups, as
well as a myriad of other flora and fauna. A Costa Rican instructor
accompanies each group for the entire rainforest portion of any CRROBS
course. His or her role is to share unique knowledge of the species
found in the rainforest, and to converse in Spanish with the students.
 The
route continues dropping in elevation through transitional and cloud
forests. The forest is shrouded in mist for much of the day and
trees are covered with moss and lichens. This forest feels enchanted
as the route becomes more and more remote.
The route enters lower-elevation tropical rainforest. This area
is home to many species including parrots, parakeets, toucans, birds
of prey, ocelots, three species of monkeys, sloths and even tapirs.
This area is quite rugged and mountainous, so the pace is unhurried
to allow you to take in the abundant natural beauty of the area.
The group will be camping and staying at remote shelters during
this hiking phase. |
Today your trek ends at your destination, the mountain village area
of Piedras Blancas. This town is named after the many white boulders
found in the area. Many of the village homes are built using the boulders
as walls or dividers. Tonight your group will be the guests of a local
village family, enjoying a typical home-cooked Costa Rican meal. Since
most families in Piedras Blancas have many young children, you can
always find a willing partner for a card game, art project, or just
a nice chat for a chance to practice your Spanish.
 Host
families in the Piedras Blancas region will share many of their
traditions and daily chores with you. Activities could include planting
or harvesting traditional foods such as bananas, rice, beans, sugar
cane, chocolate beans, avocados, oranges, squash, or corn. Food
preparation could include hand milking cows or goats, grinding corn,
hand-making tortillas or cooking over an open fire.
The team will also have the opportunity to take part in a conservation
project in the village area. Whatever the project, your rainforest
leadership experience is more complete knowing that you have actively
been involved in preserving it and the culture that depends on it.
Students will take part in challenging leadership activities such
as a canopy tree climb and a waterfall rappel. These challenging
activities will both facilitate personal and group development,
management, and confidence.
 During
the homestay phase, every Valley Forge student will have the opportunity
to take part in an Outward Bound solo. The solo is an experience
you may have only once in your life. Experience pure solitude for
a period of 12 - 24 hours. Spend time alone in the wilderness to
enjoy nature and to take inventory of where your life is and where
you want it to be. The solo exercise is designed to allow students
to make an introspective evaluation of their personal progress on
their course and in life. The solo is not a survival exercise per
se; the focus is more meditative, and the environment allows students
to be free of distractions. Students are frequently asked to write
a letter to themselves and/or to the group to help organize their
thoughts and feelings related to what is a very impacting personal
experience.
Nights will be spent with the families, and in most cases is an
open shelter where students are protected from the elements, but
are able to hear and see everything that is happening around them
in the rainforest.
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 These
two days happen on exciting Class I-IV rapids. The river flows through
a combination of rainforest and scenic rural farmland. Combine this
with warm green waves and surfing holes for an experience you'll never
forget! Riverine ecology as well as principles of hydrology will be
experienced up close. Depending on water conditions, students might
have the possibility of captaining the rafts and guide their peers
through the rapids. Valley Forge will camp alongside the river. |
 This
phase will be spent at the Manuel Antonio CRROBS bungalow with CRROBS
expert surf instructors. Partake in a surfing and/or boogie boarding
or snorkeling lessons. Students will learn about wave formation as
well as coastal ecosystems. When the swell is hitting and the tide
is right, you will be in the ocean studying rips, reading waves, and
catching tubes. When the ocean is calm and the tide is out, you will
be exploring your natural environment: engaging in group building
as well as leadership activities.
Today, spend time visiting Manuel Antonio National Park. The park
is one of the most popular attractions of Costa Rica, and home to
many species of wildlife, including the mono titi– monkeys
that are indigenous to the Manuel Antonio area. The park also contains
some of the most pristine beaches in the area. In the afternoon,
transfer back to Tres Rios Base for your final dinner and celebration.
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Transfer to international airport and fly home |
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