PACKING LIST – ADULT SURF GETAWAY

This is a list of what our instructors deem as fundamental gear for your course. Feel free to bring items that are not on this list, but please keep in mind that you will be responsible for your personal belongings.  Do not bring more than you think you will be able to carry!

                            

Prior to leaving our base, instructors lead students through a process we call the “Duffle Shuffle.” During this process you will be issued the necessary equipment for whichever phase of your course (rafting, surfing, etc.) that you are about to embark on.  At this time, instructors will advise you as to which of your personal items you will not need or cannot take on course.  Any such items will be locked in our storage facility on base and returned to you at the end of your course.

                                                                      

When packing, please keep in mind that rain, mud, and harsh weather conditions are possible.  Good equipment can protect your body from these elements and really make a difference in your comfort level.

Personal Clothing

2-3 Pairs of casual/street clothes for travel

1 Tight-fitting rash guard for surfing

1 Lightweight WATERPROOF/breathable rain jacket with a hood. Check at your local outdoor
     store (REI, EMS, etc.) for their store brand of jacket.

Underwear – lightweight, fast drying, non-cotton

2 Pairs of socks

2-3 T-shirts – highly preferable: non-cotton, fast drying and/or wicking fabric

2-3 Tank tops

1 Pair of shorts - lightweight, fast drying, non-cotton

1 Lightweight long sleeve shirt and pants - for mosquito protection, preferably not cotton

1 Fleece Jacket – at Base Camp and during the hiking section, you will encounter cold nights

1 Baseball cap or wide brimmed hat

1 Beach towel or Sarong

Foot Wear

1 Pair non-Velcro sandals with ankle straps OR neoprene SCUBA/surfing shoes with a rubber sole. This is to protect your feet during the rafting day. We recommend Chacos, Keens or Tevas. Crocs are not recommended.

1 Pair of Flip-flops (for the beach/casual days)

For Women

2 Swimsuits - at least one needs to be a sports swimsuit for surfing and beach athletics

1 Pair of board shorts/swim trunks

2 Comfortable sports bras – non cotton if possible

Tampons – bring a good supply even if you do not expect to need them.  You DO NOT want to
     be surprised on course.  Try to find a brand without plastic applicators or that are bio-
     degradable.

Menstrual cramp medication recommended if you normally need it

For Men

2 Pairs of board shorts/ swim trunks

Personal Gear

1 book bag or day pack - We will provide a very large hiking backpack to carry all your
     stuff, but for days at the beach you will want your own smaller bag.

1 Pair UVA/UVB protection sunglasses - polarized lenses are best on the water

2 Nalgenes or other wide-mouth water bottles – 1L each

1 Fox 40 whistle (non-cork ball)

1 Headlamp with extra batteries - Energizer brand headlamps have proven to be durable as well
     as cost efficient for course

2-3 Large Ziploc-type plastic bags

1 Bottle of bug repellent

1 Aloe Vera gel or other sunburn cream

1 Lip salve or balm with sunscreen

1 Bottle of waterproof sunscreen (SPF 30 or higher)

1 Tube Zinc oxide sun protection – if you burn easily this is the best sunscreen for you

1 Toiletry kit with travel size bottles: toothbrush, toothpaste, biodegradable soap,
     shampoo/conditioner (biodegradable), foot powder, antibacterial hand sanitizer, deodorant
     (unscented), etc.

1 Pack towel (shammy)
1 Full size bath towel and/or beach towel (CRROBS does not provide any towels)

1 Personal journal, paper, envelopes, and pens – we gladly provide postage for postcards home

Medical

1 Bottle of Swimmer’s Ear to prevent ear infections

Instructors carry complete First Aid kits on all courses, so you only need to bring medications that are specific to your needs.  If you are taking prescription medicines or have glasses/contacts, bring backup supplies (up to twice the normal amount – in case of loss/emergency).

Travel Documents/Money

Your passport (must be valid for at least six months)

Your plane ticket and copies of your flight itinerary to assist us in planning transportation for
     your return flight

A photocopy of the picture ID page of your passport

$200 US CASH or Credit Card for medical emergency and personal items

Optional

1 Pair tennis shoes/running shoes for walking/hiking (not necessary if your sandals are sturdy)

Crazy creek chair

3mm spring suit (shorty wetsuit) – Unless you get cold VERY easily, this is not necessary.

1 Small dry bag

Camera(s) – disposable/disposable waterproof are good options.  If you bring a more expensive camera, we recommend a small dry bag or other waterproof case to store it.  If you bring a digital camera, consider bringing extra batteries and memory cards.

1- 2 Secure straps (“Croakies”) for your sunglasses and/or glasses, if applicable

Camp/travel hammock – “Eagles nest” or Hennessy hammocks made of lightweight nylon are
     best.  Many students buy a traditional hammock in Costa Rica before leaving the country
     as a souvenir, but this will not be available until the end of the course.

1 Book for your reading pleasure

1 Travel size sewing kit

1 Travel pillow

1 Mosquito net – keep in mind that some students never end up using it

1 Spanish-English dictionary

1 Deck of cards or other travel game

CRROBS Provides:

Hiking backpack

Sleeping bag and pads

Meal kit

Surfboard/boogie board

All necessary river equipment

SURFBOARDS:

CRROBS provides all of the equipment necessary for the surfing sections of your course.  YOU DO NOT NEED TO BRING YOUR OWN BOARD!  It is not a good idea to buy a board if you are a new surfer just for your course!

If you intend to bring a board with you to Costa Rica:

          Ensure that it is carefully packaged for transport- if you need suggestions for this, ask!

Be sure to bring all necessary parts: fins, bolts, leash, bag, etc. and necessary tools specific to your board.

          CRROBS provides surf wax.

Think carefully about bringing your own board- it may be damaged in flight or on course.  CRROBS is not responsible for any such damages should they occur.

ITEMS NOT ALLOWED ON COURSE

The following items will not be allowed while you are on course and will have to be left at our base.  You may consider leaving them at home:

           

Cell phones – Cell phones will most likely not work once you land in Costa Rica and therefore are only useful in US airports.  Regardless of service, they are not permitted on course.

I-pods or other music devices- These items will be put in our safe at the beginning of the course and you will not have access to them again until the last day of your course.

Watches/ Clocks- If you are used to checking your wrist every five minutes, it’s time to relax.  =) If you bring a watch with you, you will be asked to leave it at base.  We find that students enjoy themselves much more if they aren’t worried about the time.

Pocket Knives or Multi-Tools- We supply all the cutting implements you will need for your course; personal ones will need to be left on base.

Lighters- Our instructors carry all fire-starting devices you will need for camping and cooking activities on course.

ANY OTHER PERSONAL ELECTRONIC DEVICES- (with the exception of cameras) must be left behind once you start your course, so think carefully before bringing them.

ANY ALCOHOL, DRUGS, CONTROLLED SUBSTANCES (OTHER THAN PRESCRIBED BY A PHYSICIAN) and TOBACCO PRODUCTS ARE FORBIDDEN ON COURSE!

We take this very seriously! Violations are grounds for expulsion from course.  If you have questions, please ask us enrollment@crrobs.org.

It's a Small World Afterall

"It was a memorable experience," one of the Water & Wave students concluded yesterday on his last day of the course.

This reflection may be a result of the fact that Water & Wave students spent 20 days on a river, they went to three countries in 70 days, they got scuba certified, or even that they learned how to carve and paint gourds.

OR it might actually be because of the number of "odd connections" among the group of students and instructors.

Take a look at these coincidences:

• The only female student on course, Caroline, attended the same Mount Pleasant, South Carolina high school (Wando High School) as our Surf Instructor, Alex Cook.
• Student Scott Turner went to the same Doylestown, Pennsylvania high school where his own Course Instructor, Sean Marr, went: Central Bucks High School West.
• Student Craig Dietsch's family lives next door to the New Jersey family summer home of his Course Instructor Sean Marr. Actually, their parents have known each other for years, but only recently made the connection that their sons are on course together.

As we say "adios" to the Water & Wave students today, we have this lesson to share with future students: If you sign up for a course in the depths of the rainforest to escape home and your social circle, you might be surprised to find someone who knows your sister's friend's stepdad's niece.

All Good Things Come to an End

Bye See ya Nos vemos See you later Hasta luego
So long Catch-you-later Ciao Farewell G'bye Y'all come back now Cheerio Adios Good-bye

These were some of the words exchanged among the spring Tri-Country instructors (Heidi and Santiago) and their students this morning just before the left for the airport.

"My experience with Costa Rica Outward Bound was a great first step into a great future!"

-Anne

The course was 85 days. They hiked across the country, coast to coast. They went to Nicaragua. They camped on beaches and surfed. They went scuba diving in Panama, where they also snorkeled and went on a catamaran. They did it all. And it has come to an end today.

"The greatest happiness comes after the greatest struggles."

-anonymous student

Many of the students rated the Hiking Phase as their favorite part. While this may be shocking to those who have heard it for the first time, it is not shocking to us. It is definitely the hardest work, the most rugged, and the most exhausting of any of the activities. However, students find it empowering to complete, and they love seeing how simply and happily the homestay families live in their remote villages. And to top it off, they are going to the most untouched areas of the rainforest that most people will never go. In these parts they are able to bond among one another and with the local families. They have time to reflect on life and find ways to make it better. Out on the Hiking Phase, life is simple and happy, just like the Ticos.

"It was an amazing growing and learning experience."

-Anne

And in case you were curious, their Final Dinner last night, included barbecue chicken sandwiches with bacon, Caesar salad, and yuca (a common Costa Rican potato substitute) fries.

Click on these links to see their photo albums:
Tri-Country: Spring 2010 I
Tri-Country: Spring 2010 II
Tri-Country, Spring 2010 III
Tri-Country: Spring 2010, IV
Water & Wave and Tri-Country I
Water & Wave and Tri-Country II

Panama Sea Kayak Recon

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, and Nicaragua.

So last fall in Panama, Costa Rica Outward Bound staff members Laura (Program Director), Scott (Associate Program Director) and Jim (Executive Director) set out for one of these missions, finding a the ideal CRROBS sea kayak adventure. (Photos on right are from this trip. Click here for the complete photo album of their recon mission.)

First it's important to know what exactly we seek during these missions in order to add it as an option in our list of courses:

• protected areas
• community service opportunities
• untouched, extremely remote and rural locations
• diverse, beautiful scenery
• varied ecosystem
• educational opportunities
  

Lucky for them, they found it all in Bocas del Toro, and more. And it was all perfect for a sea kayaking adventure.

Not only was the area overflowing with untouched, protected seas; but it also exhibited varied shorelines, mangrove islands, an interesting history, unique plant and animal species, indigenous communities (with whom we have already done a number of service projects), and lots of open water.

"It's a great experience to be in power of where you go in an area that large... you get a feel for how inhabitants have gotten around for hundreds of years." -Scott

For the past week, our Outward Bound USA students have been - hopefully - making that same discovery. They have kayaked from island to island while learning about Columbus' adventures hundreds of years ago, the unique species of plants and animals, the local people, and how to become expert kayakers. The next students who can see it with their own eyes are our Panamanian Kayak Adventure course students this summer.

It's not every day that you can sea kayak around an area seen by fewer than 1% of the world's population.

Panama: Lionfish Invasion

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 it is a poisonous aquatic predator with an incredibly painful sting. The sting can last up to two days and cause some swelling. Immediately, the sting can be treated by frequently immersing the affected area in water no warmer than 114 degrees Fahrenheit until symptoms subside.

Because of its deceptive beauty and its large Panamanian population, our scuba dive masters had to draw special attention to its danger when instructing the Water & Wave and Tri-Country students last week - and OB USA this week - in Bocas del Toro, Panama. It was a helpful lesson because they did, in fact, report having swum very closely with the colorful fish.


The large and growing population of this South Pacific and Indian Ocean species has become a major environmental issue, not only in Panama, but in the Caribbean and all the way up the US east coast.

It's invasion in this hemisphere is a unique and interesting story.

In 1992, an aquarium broke during Hurricane Andrew and is believed to have released a few lionfish into the Atlantic Ocean. Since then, reports have begun to come in regularly from divers in Florida, all the way up to Massachusetts, and now all the way down to Panama these past 20 years. (Luckily for the northern states, the species’ intolerance of cold winter temperatures means it is unlikely to survive in these areas.)

This is a problem to the marine environment because lionfish are voracious predators that quickly adapt to eating new types of food, and they have no native predators in Atlantic or Caribbean waters. Lionfish have venomous dorsal, ventral, and anal spines that can deter predators and injure humans. They can reproduce year-round and are relatively resistant to parasites, giving them an advantage over native species. They are also fast growing and can outgrow and out-compete native species for food and space. Lionfish are eating fish, invertebrates and coral in large quantities, including juvenile spiny lobsters, parrotfish, and the Atlantic coral reefs. Reefs depend on some of the decreasing reef species to prevent seaweed and macroalgae from overgrowing the corals.

There is no way to really rid the waters of this species, but different diving groups and governements are playing their own part in trying to alleviate the problems. And actually, while the students were in Panama last week, the local paper published an article educating civilians about lionfish and urging people to kill the predator when they get the chance!

A recent article in Smithsonian Magazine reported, "Some experts believe that lionfish are so widespread that their effect on the ecosystems of the Western Atlantic will be almost impossible to reverse."

Fantastic Phases

An Adventure Ballad

The semester students are on course down here for many days,
and for this, the courses are arranged from phase to phase.

The Panama Phase began for Outward Bound U.S.A.,
filled with a variety of activities in the Bocas' bay:

Scuba certification, free dives, and bike riding;
sea kayaking, snorkeling, and learning about guiding.

Instructors Danny, Scott, Jim and Antonio have been there to train,
and they reported clear water, abundant wildlife, and some rain.

Tri-Country and Water & Wave, however, hit the waterways.
Their River Phase began this week, and continues for another 15 days.

They began on Río Pacuare, training for the title of an SRT*,
practicing in unseasonable rains and the Pacuare's world-renowned beauty.

Instructors Joe, Alex W, Santiago and Diego say the students are doing well;
their river skills and knowledge are beginning to excel.

Overall, the students are busy, happy and learning a lot.
Hopefully, with the abundance of experiences, they can remember what they're taught.



*Swiftwater Rescue Technician

24 Hours of Hiking, Diving, Surfing, Sailing, Serving

What haven't our current students been doing around Central America in the past 24 hours?

Only four courses are out right now, yet they've managed to stay busy in almost every activity just within a small period of time.

The Tri-Country Semester, Water & Wave Semester, OB USA, and SUNY New Paltz have covered a lot of land. Tulin's beaches (in Costa Rica), our base in San Jose, our base in Manuel Antonio, Solarte (in Panama), and Rancho Tinamu (in the depths of Costa Rica's Central Valley rainforest) are all areas our students have been seen lately.

State University New York, New Paltz just finished four days of hiking from Rejas to Rancho Tinamu to Londres yesterday. The reward at the end of the long hike was a great one, though. They headed straight to our base at the beaches of Manuel Antonio to begin their surfing lessons today.

Tri-Country and Water & Wave are partnering up for their scuba diving certification course in Panama. After their final dive yesterday, they woke up to a fun and fulfilling day today, sailing to Bocas del Toro (in Panama), Solarte to help the indigenous community there.

Finally, Outward Bound USA made it back to base today after some adventure-filled days on the beaches of Tulin, Costa Rica where they, too, were learning to surf. For some, it was a thrill learning to catch a wave under the instruction of veteran surfer Carlos "Diablos", and for others an exciting part was meeting professional surfer, Gilbert Brown who randomly shared some watermelon with them on the beach. We managed to catch a few of these students in our bodega today before they head to Panama tomorrow:



And in just a few weeks, we'll be even busier. The Leadership Semester students arrive April 1st!

Course Updates

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 catch up on their adventures!

Water & Wave (day 16 of 70): Water & Wave students began their journey in Costa Rica with a week-long trek to Piedras Blancas, where they rappelled down a waterfall, spent a night alone in the jungle for their solo, and experienced life in the Costa Rican countryside. Students backpacked to the coast where they began surfing! They’ve been surfing & volunteering at the turtle refugre on Playa Tulin (read for more info.), and arrived at our beach base on Manuel Antonio on Saturday for more surfing.

What’s next? Panama with Tri-Country! Both courses will get scuba certified, wakeboard, and sail in the archipelago of Bocas del Toro in Panama.

See this video for what students can expect in Bocas del Toro:



Tri-Country (day 52 of 85): Tri-Country left 8 days ago to paddle up the Rio San Juan, the border between Nicaragua & Costa Rica. They will take a tour of El Castillo (read this article for more info.) as well as visit San Juan del Norte.

What’s next? Panama with Water & Wave! Both courses will get scuba certified, wakeboard, and sail in the archipelago of Bocas del Toro in Panama. See video above.


OB USA: Both patrols of OB USA have been paddling on the Rio General, in class III-IV rapids. They have been kayaking & rafting on the river for a week, learning swift water rescue & how to guide.

What’s next? Six days of lifeguard training, surfing, and staying at the turtle refuge at Playa Tulin (read this article for more info) on the Central Pacific coast.

OB USA's Costa Rica River Rush

Outward Bound USA students are exhausted, and with good reasons. The rivers have been quite the strong competitors lately.

After they finished their 8-day WFR course last week, they were finally set free into the rainforest to test their river skills. Their first stop was the beautiful Río Pejibaye where they practiced their Whitewater Rescue Tech (WRT). Primary OB USA instructors Liz McNeil, Brian Aheart, and Casey Montandon accompanied our Costa Rica Outward Bound veteran River Technicians Diego Lopez Salazar, Joe Ewing, Danny Jimenez, and Alex White for the training.

Each day, for four days, they ran the same stretch of river where they could learn such skills and lessons as:
• how to use throw bags: bags filled with a long rope that can rescue someone going downstream
• how to swim in rapids
• escaping a strainer (an opening where water can flow through, but a larger solid object cannot)
• currents and hydrology
• rope and rescue systems

The students did really well, and even swam in Class II rapids by the end of the WRT course! Their instructors told us that rescuing one another from the rushing water was their favorite part.

But this wasn’t all that exhausted them. WRT training preceded three days of learning kayaking basics. As Diego, Danny, Joe and Alex helped them perfect their kayak rolls and rapids, the water got more intense – and exciting – as unseasonable downpours continued all week long. By yesterday, they had to cut their lunch short to race the rising river to the takeout point. They arrived at base today tired and liberated.

With all of this river exhaustion, the OB USA students were still able to enjoy some of Costa Rica’s unique atmosphere. They saw rainforest wildlife – including dart frogs, toucans, and mica snakes – and experienced the Tico culture firsthand at homestays where they practiced Spanish while eating beans & rice.

We wish we could tell you they are getting about a week of rest after exhausting themselves these past seven days, but tomorrow at 5am they head back out to face the jungle.

Hasta Luego, Canterbury School

“Que tuanis, mae.”

Meaning “How cool, man,” this was Orlando’s way of describing the Cantebury School students he had the pleasure of instructing last week. Diego, their other Tico instructor, agreed. They talked about how listos (literally meaning “ready” but translates to “intelligent”) the students were, who talked only in Spanish by the end of the course. And that included the nightly meetings, when most of the talking takes place among the group as they discuss their highs, lows, lessons and more about the day.

So who were these “ready” students?

Adrian Alea, Courtney Bagans, Sami Blaze, Alexandra Dadrat, Jace Eddy, Alex Feiock, Rachel Hachero, Janet Hamilton, Alexis Macdermott, Julianne McDonough, Talia Moorey, Joey Nicotra, Carl Nist-Lund, Amy VanPelt, and Angel Zambrano spent seven full days together in the depths of the rainforest with their chaperones Sheena Neese and Ryan Butcher.

Like most Costa Rica Outward Bound students, their favorite rainforest experiences included homestays and surfing. More specifically, while staying with our Tico homestay families, they loved playing soccer with them, harvesting sugar cane (pictured right), and bonding as a group.

“I learned that life isn’t about materialistic objects and we don’t always have to be stressed about what is coming next. What matters is love, belief and overcoming challenges,” reflected one of the students.

Another student said, “My experience was breath-taking; it opened my eyes to the awes of nature and gave me more self-confidence and self-reliance.”

And while they wished they could do some rafting, zip-lining and service, their week-long course in Costa Rica was invaluable. As one Cantebury student summarized:

“It was the greatest thing I’ve ever experienced.”

Canterbury's Dedication to Costa Rica

An obsession, or a passion worth sharing?

Canterbury School's Spanish teacher would argue the latter.

For six years, Sheena Neece has returned to Costa Rica with a different - and larger - group of her Spanish students. This year, she and fellow chaperone Ryan Butcher brought 15 eager and excited students: Adrian Alea, Courtney Bagans, Sami Blaze, Alexandra Dadrat, Jace Eddy, Alex Feiock, Rachel Hachero, Janet Hamilton, Alexis Macdermott, Julianne McDonough, Talia Moorey, Joey Nicotra, Carl Nist-Lund, Amy VanPelt, and Angel Zambrano to "spread the passion" through activities such as waterfall rappelling, cooking, hiking, tree climbing, milking cows, sugar cane harvesting, and meeting homestay families.

And this itinerary hasn't changed much in six years.

Originally, when she planned this trip, she had similar goals. "I sought a unique adventure that reached beyond the formulaic Costa Rican experience commonly illustrated in travel magazines. I also hoped that students would gain a sense of leadership, self-reliance, and personal accomplishment.... And Costa Rica Outward Bound created an adventure-packed week that exceeded my expectations. I watched as the students’ eyes widened as I read aloud the itinerary, which included a waterfall rappel, three homestays, a 15-hour solo and a day at Manuel Antonio beach." (Click here for a satellite map; the arrow is about one inch west of where our base is located.)

"The daily chores such as milking cows, cooking meals, and making cheese... gave students a greater appreciation for their meals and a new perspective on life."

New perspective is not the only reason for Sheena's return every year. "Students immediately learned the importance of time efficiency and teamwork. They were each assigned jobs to maintain the daily flow of activities, and we held nightly meetings to reflect on the days’ events.... During the waterfall rappel two students and I overcame our fear of heights, and similar endeavors resulted in exceptional personal successes.... We had accomplished so many things, faced so many challenges, and overcome so many obstacles. The experience will undeniably remain an important part of our life journey."

But what did the students think?

"It was the best trip I have ever had, and I will NEVER forget it or the aweseome people who were with me."

"It was a life-changing experience that I will forever remember."

"It was a life-enhancing experience that can only be described as 'food for the soul.'"


And Sheena expects this year's fifteen students to experience the same feelings.

Going for the Gold

This does not refer to this month's winter Olympians in Vancouver, but rather, it does refer to some other Canadians.

They are the students of Trinity College School of Ontario, and they are about to complete their final stage of the Duke of Edinburgh Program for receiving the Gold Award here in Costa Rica with Outward Bound.

Leaders Jen Powles (Duke of Edinburgh Coordinator), Tom Tansley (Health & Physical Education Teacher), Laura Tansley (his wife), and Alex Oosterhof (Student Teacher) have accompanied 14 Trinity College students to the rainforest, all of whom are striving to achieve the coveted Gold Award this week through backpacking, homestays, rafting, surfing, and more.


This is no standard high school award program. The Duke of Edinburgh's Award is internationally-renowned (run in 120 countries), and it can take about two years to accomplish all three levels (Bronze, Silver, and Gold). It requires an expedition, 45 hours of community service, a six-month hobby, and sport participation for 20 weeks (with a minimum of 2 hours a week).

Costa Rica has been no vacation for these high-achievers. Students in this particular "expedition" group must:

• turn in a map of what they walked, complete with lunch and breaks mapped out
• do 8 hours of activity each day
• travel 20km a day
• have a main expedition of 3 nights and 4 days, with 1 “preparation” day beforehand

The purposes of this Gold Award achievement? Well, they're very similar to our own mission at Costa Rica Outward Bound, actually. Students set their own goals and choose their own activities in the four areas of the program: Community Service, Personal Skill Development, Physical Recreation, and Adventurous Journey. The D of E mission states:

To inspire, guide and support young people in their self-development and recognise their achievements.

Participants have until they are 24 years old to complete this. Upon completing the Gold Award they receive a pin and certificate presented by a member of the Royal family at a ceremony.

Getting from one ocean to another

How many of us can say that we went from one ocean to another without the use of transportation?

Not many, but our Tri-Country students can.

It took 28 days, about 200 kilometers, twenty days of hiking, 14 nights camping, a 72-hour solo, meeting and helping 14 homestay families, a rest in hot springs, a volcano visit, two days of rafting, and two days of kayaking to finally reach the Caribbean today. Grand total? 28 days.


The cross-country trek was their first and most difficult phase, but it does not lack significance for the 17-24-year-olds. One Tri-Country alumnus reported, "The hike brought about a huge feeling of accomplishment... rafting gave me a new skill that I'm sure I'll use in the future, and kayaking was all around amazing."

We will finally get to see their tired, buff, dirty, healthy selves tonight on base. Maybe they will tell us about their lessons on ecotourism, water issues, Costa Rican culture, or the rainforest. Or maybe they will tell us about their bruises and scrapes from tree climbing, sugar cane harvesting, waterfall rappelling, hiking, soccer, or kayaking. Or just maybe they'll be too tired.

Learning to Surf

"It's a lot harder than I thought it would be."

This is one of the most typical comments of feedback we hear from students after their first few days learning how to surf. And after Calvin College students head to Manuel Antonio to learn this weekend, they will most likely be in agreement.

Physical challenges are most commonly faced in three areas:

1. getting out there: this requires paddling, diving under waves, bringing your heavy board with you (voted the most physically challenging by far)
2. catching waves: quick and strong paddling is necessary to stay in front of the wave that pulls the surfer backwards
3. popping up: similar to doing a push-up, but with extra effort to stand up

Almost every week here in Costa Rica, more Outward Bound students are experiencing this surf workout, and luckily they have some veteran surf instructors to help them beef up, get motivated, and physically assist them in the water. One of them, Carlos "Diablos," is shown in this video instructing the Adult Surf Getaway students earlier this month:



Greg, a long-time surfer from California who works in Costa Rica Outward Bound's communications office, has this to say: "It's hard, but it's worth it."

Ode to Calvin College Patrols

Last weekend Calvin College's patrols flip-flopped courses;
by now their experiences have made them two strong forces.

Patrol 1 is rafting and kayaking on the River Phase,
Patrol 2 is making their way through the rainforest maze.

Patrol 2 has learned to hike up steep hills,
while Patrol 1 has had some fun kayak spills.

A Swift Water Workshop kept Patrol 1 from sinking,
Patrol 2's solos allowed a LONG time for thinking.

Orlando's family welcomed Patrol 2 with freshly-made juice,
Patrol 1 learned knots to stop raft supplies from coming loose.

Patrol 2's Land Phase brings them to the Lopez's today;
tomorrow's waterfall rappel is part of this homestay.

Until yesterday Patrol 1 kayaked Rio Savegre,
and now on Rio General they raft 'til Saturday.

Rivers, mountains, the rainforest and a waterfall,
Calvin College participants are doing it all.

Calvin College Finds Its Tico Side

What has Calvin College's Patrol 1 been busy doing?

(View their photos on our Facebook Page: Part I, Part II)

The same activities as Ticos, of course.

From harvesting sugar cane and making candy to jumping in the river and playing games, Patrol 1 has done it all. Up until yesterday when they ended the Land Phase and began the River Phase, Annie, Jean, Laura, Casie, Thomas, Luke, Mark, Kathryn, Ryan, Glen (the professor), Chris and Jake had been roughing it in the rainforest. Activities consisted of farm work, learning how to cook food from scratch, waterfall rappelling, swimming in the Lopez's river, camping, and community service. This hard work comes at a cost: many of the students suffered minor blisters from the heavy work of sugar cane harvesting. But any ampolla here and there is worth the pain when it means making candy in the end.

Candy was not the only food they made from scratch. After milking the cow, they made cheese. After grinding the corn, they made tortillas. After gathering eggs and bananas, they made bread. It is an understatement to say that these Calvin College students are getting in shape. Not only that, they helped with flattening and expanding the rainforest paths between two of the homestays. This act of service is greatly advantageous to the villagers living in the area who use these paths to transport items to and from their remote homes. Thanks to their work, paths are safer now for horses, too.

Overall, their Land Instructor, Mauren, had great things to say. "Disfrutaron mucho," she said with a huge smile. ("They enjoyed it a lot.") "Y no puedo creer como despabilados son," meaning that the group is incredibly bright and ready to face any challenge.

Already they're beginning to sound like indigenous Ticos. Now it's Patrol 2's turn to work on their Costa Rican cultural immersion.

Calvin College vs. Rio General

Calvin College, 12
Río General, 0

Twelve of Calvin College's students (Patrol 2) conquered 40 km of Costa Rica's challenging 60-kilometer Río General (see below) in a 3-day River Phase extravaganza.


Ryan, Kevin, Brian, Kelsey, Lauren, Katy, Rachel, Ted, Kyle, Trent, Alex, and Andrew accompanied three of Costa Rica's best (at least, by word of mouth) rafting guides: Felipe Lopez, Joe Ewing, and Antonio Lopez. Their skills rubbed off on the Calvin College crew. Not only did all students learn to roll, but three of them completed the entire 40-kilometer stretch in hard shell kayaks! "I'm like a proud parent at a dance recital," Joe reported later.

The students were enjoying it so much, in fact, that they all decided to get WRT (Whitewater Rescue Technician) certified in those three days. On class III-IV rapids, they worked hard to complete every skill necessary for this reputable certification. All that's left is a 25-question test which they will complete at the beach camp next week after finishing their Hiking Phase. It was obvious the students never wanted to leave the river. But all good things come to an end, right? Luckily for them, however, more good things begin for them today in a different part of the rainforest.

The other half of the Calvin College group, Patrol 1, will begin this river phase next week on the 18th. We'll see if they can keep the score high for Calvin College.

Clean Water for Cabecar

"Service is an active expression of valuing our common humanity, our diversity, and the natural world."

This statement comes straight from the Costa Rica Outward Bound website under the Mission and Philosophy page. It is one of our goals to enrich the students not only through the challenges they face in and around the rainforest, but also through the assistance they provide in the local communities. The needs of the country and its communities change from year to year, so it is important that we go on reconnaissance missions to find new projects with which the students and employees can help.

Last October, Shawn Pendergrass and Orlando Zamora went on such a mission to Valle Escondido ("Hidden Valley" in Spanish), in the Turrialba area, to visit the indigenous Cabecar tribe to which visitors must hike 12km through mountainous rainforest terrain. This trek takes about three hours from a road.

What brought them to such a remote location?

Orlando, a long-time volunteer and friend to this group, has wanted to supply this eight-house, 50-person village with clean water for years. Currently, only the school and two homes are connected to water. The others get their water through hoses originating in nearby springs. Silt and parasites frequently contaminate them causing a multitude of illnesses, some of which are fatal. The main cause of death for the indigenous children, in fact, is dehydration and illness from bad water.

This clean water project, spearheaded by Shawn (the Community Outreach Coordinator) and Orlando (veteran Land Instructor), will supply the entire village with safe and reliable drinking water. To begin such a project, they must bring two large, 1,100-liter blue tanks. No special transportation exists to bring them - they, too, must be carried 12km on foot, in addition to the rest of the materials which include: tools for digging and cutting, pipes, connectors and spouts, and water treatment supplies. Shawn and Orlando need plenty of help from CRROBS students if they want to complete this project.

Enter: University of Alabama.

This Sunday, December 13th, we welcome eleven UA students and their chaperone, Josh Burford, the Coordinator of Freshman Community Outreach for the Community Service Center. Six of their eight days will be spent assisting Shawn and Orlando in Valle Escondido setting up the clean water to the area. The village will have clean water by Christmas, in addition to new school supplies, clothing, and toys the UA students will be contributing. Doña Carmen, a member of the CRROBS base staff, also donated a large trash bag of stuffed animals.

As a reward for their hard work, the students will thankfully have a day rafting the Rio Pacuare. That is, if their tired bodies make it that far.

To view photos of Shawn's and Orlando's reconnaissance mission in October, click here.

One month later, watch their experience in this video montage:

Students in WRT Training

November 2, 2009

This week we sent our Water & Wave and Tri-Country students out to Rio Pejibaye to get a taste for what it takes to be a river guide. They will have two days of training in WRT, Whitewater Rescue Technician, while our Leadership students receive the full certification.

What does it take to be Rescue 3, WRT-certified?

The course concentrates on advanced water rescue skills for river guides and professionals, including managing the rescue scene, litter management and the utilization of teams. Costa Rica Outward Bound students get their training and certification through reputable Rescue 3 International. Four days of training, practice, experience and testing are required to obtain that coveted certification card.

1. Classroom instruction (1 day)
2. Developing and practicing water rescue skills in the river including search and rescue scenarios (3 days)
*Developing self-rescue skills
*Controlling in-water contact rescues
*Handling hazards and obstacles
*Setting up technical rope systems
*Understanding water dynamics
*Using basic rescue equipment
3. Written test

All CRROBS rafting instructors have not only been certified by Rescue 3 International's WRT program, but they renew this certification once a year. They run so many rivers and have so much valued experience, in fact, that the International Rafting Federation (IRF) has asked them to help structure and standardize its training program. An article explaining this series of standardization seminars (taking place on CRROBS base) will be posted in the upcoming week.

Viva la Tortuga!

Long live the turtle!

‘Tis the season to be nesting. Every year from August to October, two of Costa Rica's three sea turtle species lay most of their eggs on the coastlines: the Green Turtles in Tortugero National Park (Caribbean coast) and Olive Ridley Turtle in Guanacaste (Pacific coast). There are seven species of sea turtles found in the world, all of which are endangered. Therefore many animal lovers fly to Costa Rica to do their part in assisting with turtle conservation projects set up by Costa Rica-based organizations.

Costa Rica Outward Bound is one of these organizations. And this week, students from two of our fall semester courses, Water & Wave and Tri-Country, are sacrificing their sleep to help out on the beaches of the Pacific Coast.

With a special partnership with one of Costa Rica’s turtle refuges (an area protected by the government) in Tulin, CRROBS students are able to participate in the conservation of these beloved animals. There are three crucial ways through which our students participate in the conservation process:

1. Beach cleaning: maintain and improve the beach; rescuing turtles if necessary
2. Night patrols: protect eggs from poachers and predators
3. Collecting eggs: place them in a secure hatchery area

The beaches must be maintained because, in the off-season, the sea turtles stay in the water. When it is time to lay their eggs (mainly between August and October), they exit the water and follow the moon to find a safe spot to lay them. Because they do not see very well, they are confused if the beach has too many obstacles and no place to go. Volunteers, including our students, clear the beaches maintain safe places where turtles consistently go to lay their eggs year after year.

In addition, poachers steal eggs, and predators eat them. Turtle eggs are a delicacy and can sell for a lot of money. As night time is both the time when eggs are laid and the time when poachers and predators make their moves, conservationists set out around midnight and again at 3am to safeguard eggs and relocate them to safer places. Costa Rica Outward Bound’s students make these patrols every night while camping on Playa Hermosa.

Through these efforts, CRROBS students and conservation organizations all over the country hope to repopulate the beaches with these adored creatures.

To read more from a previous CRROBS newsletter, click here.