Put a 'Journey' in Your Curriculum

jour·ney   [jur-nee]
–noun
1. (dictionary.com) a traveling from one place to another, usually taking a rather long time; trip
2. (Teton Science School) a direct experience in the ecological or cultural environment that serves as an essential part of learning

With the name "Teton Science School" you might be wondering how it is different from any other school (aside from an extra science class or two) and what it has to do with a "journey."

To better understand the connection, it helps to know a few things. First, four of the subjects emphasized in the high school curriculum are Science - obviously - Physical Education, "Journeys", and Spanish. Secondly, through all classes, teachers incorporate both content and skill. The mission statement, in fact, is "Connecting People, Nature, Place and Education through Six Innovative Programs in One Amazing Place." One of these "innovative programs" is the Journeys School, the Pre-K to 12th grade branch of Teton Science Schools. Finally, in setting up the school this way, the goal is to combine innovative content with the traditional disciplines in order to "develop the wisdom to make educated decisions while maintaining a unique perspective of the world."

Journeys School does what it can to integrate learning with ecology, culture and the community wherever possible.

Therefore, it only makes sense that they would organize a special course for their students with Costa Rica Outward Bound to learn by immersing themselves in this dynamic environment. Costa Rica does, afterall, contain 5% of the world's biodiversity even though it is only about 0.25% of the world's landmass! Around 25% of the country's land area is in protected national parks and protected areas, which is the largest percentage of protected areas in the world.

And to lead them through it are two of our Tico (Costa Rican) staff members, Mauren and Rodolfo. Let's meet them:

Rodolfo Vargas
Hometown: San Jose, Costa Rica
About: Due to his role as a biologist (and the Owner) at Refugio Herpetologico de Costa Rica since January 2002, it only makes sense that he help lead a science-based course. He maintains a collection of 30 species of reptiles and amphibians and investigates at-risk animal populations in Costa Rica.



Mauren Granados

Hometown: Piedras Blancas, Costa Rica
About: Mauren is one of our toughest female instructors. She is known as "Mau" by her friends, and she got married last year to another adventure guide. One of her surprising passions includes watching free-style motocross. When she's not instructing courses, she enjoys playing soccer with locals in her town.
Read More: official site staff description











This week, the students of Journeys School have already been hiking in the depths of the rainforest through Las Rejas, Cruce Tonito, Rancho Tinamu, and Londres. They have learned about birds, ecology & diversity, insects, and water analysis at Rodolfo's refuge. And finally, they will zip-line in the rainforest's upper canopy on Saturday before flying home on Sunday.

Learning can be rough.

Girl Scouts Who Earn It: Part 4

With a name like Stevie Peacock, making a name for yourself is bound to happen.

So what does it mean to "make a name for oneself?" Does it mean being a member of the Sarasota Crew Team for two years? Does it mean traveling to France for one of two summers in which she did a foreign exchange program through her Congressional Silver Medal Award? Does Does it mean "serving as a positive role model to the youth and adults she encounters in her local community and beyond," as her HOPE Task Force Facilitator, Julia, told us? Or does it possibly mean coming on a Costa Rica Outward Bound course to perfect surfing skills in the Girl Scouts Catching Waves course?

Perhaps.

But Stevie has done more than that. MUCH more. In fact, it is not shocking that Reader's Digest wrote an article about this 16-year-old Floridian in 2008. Nor is it surprising that she was chosen as one of ten teens to help carry the torch in Coca-Cola's "Open the Games, Open Happiness" campaign for the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games (photo on left).

"Not only does Stevie sincerely want to make a positive difference in the world, but she has the skills to design and implement projects that actually make that difference both at home and and abroad," Julia said.

Her experience has made this clear. Stevie led the Healthy Girls Task Force in a Holistic Obesity Prevention Endeavor in 2009 and 2010. She has spent the past six years helping Memorial Elementary School in Arcadia, FL through a non-profit she started, called Project KINDNESS, after Hurricane Charley badly damaged the area in 2004. Through this, she provides them with school supplies every August, reads to the classes (see photo right), brings treat bags in October for Halloween, delivers Christmas gifts in December, and brings Girl Scout cookies & juice every Spring. In addition, Stevie has brought all of Jordan's Crossing (a Habitat for Humanity neighborhood) school supplies for the past three years, held an annual holiday toy drive for All Children's Hospital for the past eight years in St. Petersburg, FL, and helped fund a school in Cambodia through her position as For Each Other's Florida delegate. Stevie actually went abroad to Cambodia to attend the dedication ceremony, then delivered books and toys to a Cambodian orphanage while she was there (see photo right).

Amazingly, Superwoman Peacock has made time to develop her own skills and persue her interests, too. She plays the guitar and drums in addition to singing for the Venice School of Rock, performs as a pianist for Holidays at Boca Royale Restaurant, participates in the Faith Formation & Youth Band with the St. Thomas More Youth Group, and went to Crew Camp at the Annapolis Naval Academy. Oh, we forgot to mention her month-long precocious experience at Oxford University in England studying literature. Now she wants to become a better surfer in Costa Rica this summer through the Girl Scouts Destination program*, stating, "I hope to take away life skills, memories, and I hope to build a stronger character."

Not impressed yet? Just google her name. Then remind yourself that she's only 16.

Read more "Girl Scouts Who Earn It":
Part 1: Kelly Wolf
Part 2: Virginia LaGrow
Part 3: Michaela Zimmerman

*The Destinations program, on behalf of Girl Scouts USA, is a chance for members to participate in enriching travel and adventure opportunities, ages 11-18. Girl Scouts must apply through their respective Councils. Applications consist of an essay explaining their ambition to attend, two recommendations describing her as a qualified participant, and a general Q&A portion.

Costa Rica Outward Bound has been a Destination location for more than five years. In 2010, there are four Destinations for ages 13-18: Underwater Explorers, Rainforest River & Reef, Service Challenge, and Catching Waves. Click on the studio2b links on their respective crrobs.org pages to find the applications.

Stylish Surfers This Season

The next time you are on the beaches of Costa Rica and are astounded by the fashion sense of a group of surfers in their light and dark blue matching rash guards, you might be surprised to know it's a pack of Costa Rica Outward Bound surf students.

That's right - we have our very own rash guards now! Each top was remarkably handcrafted by the American company, Wholesale Rash Guards.

If you didn't notice the tropical chic of these beach dwellers, it might have been because you were too focused on their brand new surfboards. Costa Rica Outward Bound recently purchased ten new surfboards not only to maintain the quality for our surf students, but to accommodate different surfers. This means that, in addition to our standard sizes for learners (ranging from 6'8" to 7'2"), we now have six 6'4" fishes and four longboards (three 9'6" and one 10'2").

We were so excited about the rash guards that we had a silly little photo shoot with two of our staff members: Surf Instructor, Alex Cook, and our new Enrollment Administrator, Maggie Foote. Nope, it's not the most realistic setting for surfboards and rash guards, however this rainforest base is located only two hours from our beach base in Manuel Antonio where we just recently added strong new fans, new window screens and a new stove top!



The rash guards will be used in our Manuel Antonio base for students who are passing through it for 1-3 days of surf instruction.

So, surf students, get ready for a fun, brand NEW, exciting experience this summer! We certainly are.

To watch a video about how to purchase your own rash guard before coming on one of our Packing List: Rash Guards video given by Surf Instructor, Alex Cook.

University of Alabama: Reflections

University of Alabama returned to us for the second time this school year (see this newsletter article about the service project they completed last December); this time, with Alabama Action Abroad. This group of honors student spent a semester studying global poverty and service, and ended their course with a service trip to Costa Rica with Outward Bound.

Sign up to get the newest edition of the Canopy Chronicle which contains an article about their service project in Talamanca.

How did the University of Alabama students like their course? Here´s what they had to say...

“This trip has continued to contribute to my personal growth by having focused on service that is directed by those who need it as well as cultural interaction and exchange. From the hearty meals in Suretka to learning Bribri in Amübri, from playing games with the school kids to participating in and actual tribal dance; this trip was full of positives and a unique experience I’ll forever cherish.”
-Trew Johnson, 22

“I came, I saw, I served, I battled the bugs and other elements of nature, and I loved it. Cultural differences and linguistic barriers can be bridged with a simple smile.”
-AJ Collins, 18

“Being a part of this experience has been life changing—learning about myself, my students, our guides, the country, nature, language, culture…it was all amazing.”
-Wahnee Sherman, chaperon

“I learned that I’m stronger than I believed and that a positive attitude can be a leader’s best asset. Also, there is so much more to life than going through school.”
-Elise Cranston, 20


“This course challenged me and everything I thought I knew about myself—I will be going home a more confident, more aware individual; going outside my comfort zone and living in a different culture was an incredible experience that I will never forget.”
-Julia Israel, 22

Solarte: Our Panamian Home

Most students' friends and family get different images in mind when reading the update, "Students are in Panama this week..."

While most envision the Panama Canal (which is actually about 12 hours away by bus) and/or the commercialism that it brings, they would be surprised to learn about the beauty of both the scenery and the culture in Solarte (pictured right) where Costa Rica Outward Bound students stay.


Just 20 miles south of the Costa Rican border lies the Archipelago of Bocas del Toro, Panama, a cluster of six principal islands that forms a province on the Caribbean Sea. It is famous for its luscious palm forests spreading over the islands, an extensive coral reef system that is a snorkeler's playground, and beautiful clear water full of tropical fish. One of these islands, Isla Solarte, is the destination for all Costa Rica Outward Bound courses that involve a SCUBA portion, including all semester courses (Water & Wave, Tri-Country, and Leadership) summer courses.

The Archipelago of Bocas del Toro was originally discovered in 1502 by Christopher Columbus and became an often-visited spot by pirates during the 17th century. On their underwater dives or in their rainforest hikes, many Costa Rica Outward Bound students hope to find buried treasure that is rumored to still be hidden in the area.

Solarte's defining geographical feature is Hospital Point, so named after the hospital built there in the 1900s by the United Fruit company to quarantine yellow fever and malaria patients. The hospital was abandoned in the 1920s when the United Fruit company shut down operations on Solarte due to a plague that knocked out most of the banana plants. Much of the snorkeling done by Costa Rica Outward Bound students takes place around this point.

Students arrive on Solarte via water taxis (taxis marinos) and are immediately greeted with a view of palm trees, greenery, and clear water. Houses nearby are made from boards of wood, often with thatched roofs. Solarte also has a simple structure which serves as the community's church and a small school right behind the rancho where Costa Rica Outward Bound students stay. The nearby field serves as a soccer field, and in between scuba dives students have ample opportunity to join in futbol, especially in the evening. During the day, the temperature is very warm, and when it is windy it can get very windy. In order to escape the sun's intense rays, students turn to Duckies, inflatable kayaks that provide a wonderful way to get a closer look at the crystal clear Caribbean waters.

Costa Rica Outward Bound students have been visiting this island populated with indigenous tribes for over seven years, and are always looking for ways to give back to the community. In fact, Leader's Challenge of Colorado did a major service project in March 2009 when they installed working toilets for the Guaymi tribe. (Read about it here.)

Every year we explore new places to go with students, new outdoor activities, and new service projects. And because of our last Panamanian reconnaissance mission, we have recently added a plethora of courses and activities in Panama including: Panamanian Kayaking Adventure, Volcano Exploration and Panama Adventure, Outward Bound USA's sea kayaking phase of their semester course, and our Girl Scouts Underwater Explorers course.


Read more blogs about Panama: Panama: Undiscovered Territory, Panama: Lionfish Invasion, Busy in Panama, Leadership Semester SCUBA in Panama, SCUBA in Panama

Article donated by former Communications Director, Kathleen Sullivan.