February 2012
Dive Dive Dive! Leadership & Tropical Challenge Scuba Phase!
The Leadership and Tropical Challenge groups are back from their trip to Bocas del Toro, Panama where they were all working on their Scuba certification. Take a look at some of their pictures below!
With the groups now separated again, the Tropical Challenge folks are doing some climbing and service projects, and the Leadership students are headed out to their surfing phase!
Link Roundup!
A great week of finding links here in Costa Rica. Take a look below at our marvelous bounty.
The first stop any of our students make when coming to Costa Rica is, of course, the Juan Santamaria International airport. Recently, the airport was named one of the top 3 of airports in all of Latin America. Not bad SJO, not bad at all. Story here.
Do you know what Costa Rica’s two main exports are? To figure one out very quickly, you should pay a visit to the convention taking place in San Jose this week. Story here.
I like a nice jacuzzi as much as the next person, but sitting in a depression on the edge of Victoria falls sounds like a little bit much.
Recycling old equipment has been something on our minds here recently. Check out this video, where old surf boards are turned into new surf boards. Very cool.
Giving Back – Helping the Sea Turtle Refuge
The service projects at Playa Tulin are some of our most popular as they involve everyone’s favorite topic: sea turtles. However the projects at Tulin often involve more than collecting of the eggs and helping the little ones safely into the ocean. The sea turtle refuge at Tulin is an organization that survives because of the hard work of volunteers like the students at Costa Rica Outward Bound. As many of our alumni know, the facilities at Tulin are rather spartan and can always benefit from some projects to help refurbish and repair, which in turn helps other volunteers and the staff to better do their job. Additional projects such as management of the landscape and area (building fences, clearing out debris, etc) help immensely to keep the area clear and organized. Take a look at the work the most recent Tropical Challenge group did; they collected all the drift wood and turned it into a fence for the refuge’s beach area.
All the wood by the beach was turned into an awesome fence
The refuge and surrounding facility gets quite a few visitors a year, and gets even more wear and tear due to heavy use and lack of repairs. Some of our upcoming service projects will involve repairs and improvements to the facility. Program Director Trey was recently at Tulin and took pictures of some of the particular things that we will be working on, take a look!
This structure will be needing some new siding and a fresh coat of paint
Some new tin roofing will do the trick on this structure
This corner and some others like it could use some additional concrete
One of the best parts about Playa Tulin and the park rangers who work there is the opportunity they give to help preserve one of natures most incredible animals. However it is also very rewarding to be able to give back to the reserve and its workers – a location and people who care immensely for their responsibilities and work tirelessly to help the sea turtles and educate others about their importance. We here at Costa Rica Outward Bound appreciate the work done by the Playa Tulin Reserve and look forward to opportunities where we can help give back!
If you would like to learn more about opportunities specifically related to helping the facilities at Playa Tulin, please email Trey at programdirector@crro
Leadership Students Learn How to Save Lives
Last week, Leadership Semester students studied for their Wilderness First Responder certification, an essential component of their training here at Costa Rica Outward Bound that teaches them how to assess and take action in emergency medical situations. After days of studying, the students put the theory to use in a simulated emergency scenario.
Check out the photos taken at the scene!
Link Roundup!
It has been another awesome week here at Costa Rica Outward Bound. In addition to taking part in a whole slew of outdoor related activities, we have been seeing some really great stuff on the internet. Enjoy!
A recent article published by The Costa Rica News details some of the best outdoor destination attractions in the country. Story here.
And we had to throw in this surfing video… It’s just cool!
A Little Surfing and a Little Hiking
Sometimes you just need to get away. This is precisely what program director Trey was feeling this weekend and thus made the journey down to the Manuel Antonio base for a weekend of hiking and surfing. Trey is known for his good eye as well as his sense of aesthetics, and therefore is never far from his camera. Take a look at some of the photos below!
Tulin is the location of our service projects, as well as some surfing!
Trey hiked in and saw the Leadership students learning how to use the trapiche
A cool shot of Hernan's kitchen in Piedras Blancas
Many of our students probably recognize this awesome church from the Londres-Rancho Tinamu hike
Course Update for Tropical Challenge Spring 2012
As the tropical challenge semester transitioned from their surfing phase to their kayaking portion, we quickly grabbed an assortment of fantastic images from their time spent on the pacific coast riding the famed Costa Rican waves.
Check out the slideshow below!
Link Roundup!
Another fantastic week has come and gone here in the rich coast. As the office dwellers have been exploring the vast reaches of the internet, some cool stuff has been discovered. Take a look!
I am almost 100% positive we have done every single one of these things here. The trash bag as a pack cover rings especially true. Story here.
Continuing the theme of coffee, looks like Starbucks will be trying to lay down roots in the home of one its strongest suppliers. We will see how they do. Story here.
This Spanish dish looks absolutely delicious and is easy enough to make in the field. This had to be shared immediately. Story here.
The commute for most of the staff here is somewhere between 30 seconds and a minute, and generally involves a leisurely stroll. This gentleman prefers the bike.
Even More New Staff Ahoy!
Costa Rica Outward Bound is happy to announce the arrival of Jeff Friend, our new Director of Communications & Marketing. Take a look at his bio below!
Hometown: Eugene, OR (Childhood); Sacramento, CA (later childhood); Los Angeles, CA (adulthood)
MBA & BA in Business Management from University of Phoenix.
Before joining Outward Bound in Costa Rica, Jeff oversaw all communications and marketing efforts (Social Media, PR, Advertising, etc.) for a $50M Staffing & Recruiting firm in the U.S. He is thrilled to be able to continue those efforts for Costa Rica Outward Bound, a company that truly cares about improving the lives of its participants.
From the rich green forests of Oregon to the massive Redwoods in Northern California, and down to the endless summer beaches of Southern California, Jeff was introduced to a wide variety of eco systems along the West Coast. After having the opportunity to live in Fiji in 2003, Jeff discovered a true passion for adventure and culture. He has since traveled throughout the U.S. and Europe, and is eager to discover as many countries in Central and South America as possible! He is also really excited to improve his Spanish speaking skills here in Costa Rica.
Spring Leadership Pics After Their 10-Day Hike
The leadership course is back on base after 10 days of hiking through the remote Piedras Blancas region! Their trip included amazing vistas, heart pounding uphills, personal challenge activities, opportunities to work on the farm, and a whole lot more. Take a look at some of the students’ very own pictures below. Next up for the leadership course is the Wilderness First Responder Certification, stay tuned!
Check out the slideshow below!
