Blog
Leadership Semester Update: February 15, 2013
During the first part of their Leadership Semester course, the group of ten students bonded on a trek through Piedras Blancas. They backpacked their way to two homestays- one with the Lopez family and the other with the Granados family, finally ending with a couple days for a solo. During their solos, students are traditionally [...]
A Winning Read: Live a “Life Without Limits”
Chrissie Wellington, four time Ironman female champion and holder of the world record for this extreme tri-sport competition, visited Costa Rica yesterday to promote her book “A Life Without Limits.” Chrissie spoke to an audience at the local Brook’s store about the importance of staying positive and believing in yourself especially during the most trying moments [...]
Welcome, Spring Leadership 2013 Students!
Introducing the Leadership Students, 2013: Working together to climb to the top! Hank hails from Malaysia, where he decided he wanted to obtain certifications in outdoor leadership. After doing an Outward Bound course in Malaysia, he developed a love for white water rafting. In Costa Rica, he hopes to learn more about the [...]
Links We Like: January 30, 2013
The Costa Rican newpaper, La Nación, joined tica actress Thelma Darkings on her rafting trip down the Pacuare River. They made a sweet tutorial about river anatomy and rafting know-how that everyone should check out! National Geographic turns 125 years old this year – and we love what they’re all about. This company has [...]
Experiential Learning 101: What is it really?
Experiential learning is essentially the art of learning through first-hand, primary experience, as opposed to second hand ‘conventional learning’ often associated with classroom learning and the memorization of facts (see below). Because experiential learning technically has no borders, nor time constraints, imposing structure on experiential learning opportunities can help individuals add value to their learning. [...]
Links We Like: January 23, 2013
Choosing the right hiking boots can make or break a trip. Besides the shape, material and construction of a boot, the way you wear your boots will also affect how your feet fare across miles of rock and trail. Section Hiker explains different lacing techniques for hiking boots. Grab your boots, and try a new [...]
Outward Bound Surf Spots: Witch’s Rock and Beyond
Outward Bound Costa Rica courses utilize several top surf spots, varying as much in vibe and character as in wave breaks and micro climate. Some of the more renowned surf spots are found in the Guanacaste Province, located in the northwest part of the country. OBCR is the only Outward Bound school that boasts a [...]
Links We Like: January 16, 2013
Exercising does a body good – it helps prevent injury and gets your pumped and prepped for when you need the muscles. Surfer Magazine shows some exercises to help keep your surfing body in shape. With a new year often comes new goals. National Geographic Adventure magazine just published their Ultimate Adventure Bucket List 2013. [...]
Fill the School Bag for a Costa Rican Student: A Girl Scout Alum Keeps on Giving
Every year, Girl Scouts from across the nation join us in Costa Rica to participate in meaningful service projects across the country. Some girls help protect the habitats of endangered sea turtles. Others visit remote villages to work on projects such as cleaning and painting cabins and up-keeping plant nurseries. This past summer, Katie Maher did [...]
New Staff Ahoy! OBCR Welcomes Michelle
The Communications staff here is excited to welcome our new Custom Course Manager to the OBCR team! Michelle Luise Mazzeo will be in charge of running and developing OBCR’s Custom courses, also known as our Build an Adventure program. Michelle hopes to create as many opportunities as possible for people to get the Outward Bound [...]
Links We Like: January 1, 2013
Around the country today, many national and state parks are holding First Day Hikes – a healthy way to start a new year in the outdoors. Check out some of these hikes in Colorado Springs, CO, or Seattle, or Texas, or Virgina. Check out America’s State Parks website to find the park closest to you [...]
Hasta la próxima, Semester Students!
Last week Outward Bound Costa Rica bid farewell to the last of its Semester students. It’s been a wonderful few months and all of us in the Communications Office have really enjoyed hearing these students’ stories on transition days, experiencing their activities through photos and video and having the chance to watch them gain leadership [...]
Links We Like: December 19, 2012
Costa Rica’s efforts to become a “carbon neutral” country by the year 2021 incorporates various kinds of renewable energy including solar, wind, geothermal and hydropower. The recent inauguration of wind farm Parque Eolico Valle Central in the mountains of Santa Ana is the newest addition to a collection of wind farms throughout the country. In [...]
Jade in Guanacaste
The use of jade as a precious stone was popularized in Costa Rica around 500 B.C. Jade was so special in fact that it was considered more important than gold by the ancient inhabitants of Costa Rica. Although Costa Rica is widely recognized as the country in Central America with the best known tradition of [...]
Links We Like: December 12, 2012
Hanukkah in Latin America looks a bit different. As a testament to this statement, check out this link to some traditionally Jewish recipes for the well-known holiday with a tropical fusion. Costa Rican and Central American cuisine in general is arguably a bit bland, but these Jewish foods, which incorporate ingredients found in this part [...]
Fights, Legends and the Virgin of Guadalupe: La Festival de la Yeguita
December 12 marks an annual celebration in Guanacaste called Fiesta de la Yeguita. Fiesta de la Yeguita, or Celebration of the Little Mare, commemorates an event that occurred many years ago in which a small black mare parted two brothers fighting over the same woman. Depending on the legend followed, the mare suddenly appeared [...]
Leadership Update Dec 7
The Leadership Semester students spent last week in Panama getting scuba certified and exploring the depths of the Caribbean Ocean. When they weren’t studying for their scuba certifications, the group took turns wake boarding and also spent a day sailing on catamaran. The Leadership students are switching gears and heading out to raft the rivers [...]
Protecting Costa Rica’s Wildlife: About the Jaguar Rescue Center
Costa Rica is known world-wide for its conservation efforts that protect its rich biodiversity. With policies such as its recent ban on recreational hunting, it is no question that the country is especially passionate about saving its wildlife. Here at Outward Bound Costa Rica, we are lucky to have opportunities to explore Costa Rica and [...]
Links We Like: December 5, 2012
It’s hard for us to imagine being able to climb El Capitan (located in Yosemite National Park, California) let alone wanting to fall and swing from a rope attached to the mountain’s peak! But that’s exactly what the climber depicted in this video did, and he survived unscathed! We’re slightly frightened by the events in [...]
Tri-Country Update Dec 4
The Tri-Country Semester group has been soaking up the Caribbean sun on Solarte Island in the archipelago of Bocas Del Toro, Panama. After this past week, most of the students are NAUI-certified scuba divers! The students now know about dive equipment, the science of diving, responsible diving practices and the Bocas Del Toro underwater environment. [...]
Our Latest News
- Adios, Leadership Semester Students! April 9, 2013
- And the Winner of a Free Course Is… April 4, 2013
- Links We Like: March 27, 2013 March 27, 2013
- Links We Like: March 20, 2013 March 20, 2013