Tropical Challenge Semester
With the Tropical Challenge Semester course, you will focus on both technical outdoor skills and personal development. You can earn up to 12 academic credits as well as five outdoor certifications, including two specifically geared towards raft guiding and whitewater safety. In true Outward Bound fashion, your experience will be far from all work and no play! Climbing and rappelling, surfing, backpacking, service and scuba diving will challenge you physically while honing your teamwork and leadership skills.
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The 70-day Tropical Challenge Semester course offers the opportunity to experience personal growth through adventure activities as well as earn valuable professional lifesaving and whitewater certifications. This course is eligible for up to 12 academic credits through Western State College of Colorado (independent study credits through your school may also be available).
You will participate in a huge variety of activities focused on service, challenge, adventure and professional development throughout Costa Rica and Panama. This semester is organized into six distinct activity phases interspersed with leadership and cultural activities or transition days–where you are able to take a break from your time in the wilderness to reconnect with friends and family back home.
Course activity phases include:
phases may take place in any order
Orientation & Certifications
The Tropical Challenge course starts at our base camp just outside of San Jose, where you will take classes to earn your First Aid and CPR certifications and build a foundation in leadership skills. Enjoy several challenge and cultural activities while getting to know your instructors and coursemates.
River Phase
The river phase is the cornerstone activity of your Tropical Challenge Semester. You will begin by earning your Whitewater Rescue Technician (WRT) certification through Rescue 3 International. These skills will come in very handy during the two weeks you will be whitewater rafting and experiencing the thrill of captaining and/or crewing a raft on Class II – IV rapids on some of Costa Rica’s world-renowned rivers. During the phase, you will battle the wild rivers and have an opportunity to earn a Raft Guide certification through the International Rafting Federation. Additionally, you will hone your ability to read the river as you learn to paddle, brace, roll and surf rapids in inflatable and/or hard-shell kayaks.
Land Phase
During this phase, you will challenge yourself on a multi-day rainforest trek into one of the most remote regions of Costa Rica. Backpack, cook, and camp while learning about wildlife, exploring the terrain and gaining insight into the mysteries of the jungle and the people who live there.
The trek brings the group to a remote village to spend a few nights with Costa Rican families, experiencing their famous hospitality and becoming immersed in the rural lifestyle. You can practice your Spanish while helping with traditional activities such as harvesting and grinding sugarcane, making tortillas and playing soccer with local children. During this phase, you will also participate in your “solo,” which is a time to disconnect from the rest of the world and enjoy some self-reflection in a safe, wilderness setting.
Service Phase
Tropical Challenge is the only semester course to visit the remote Talamanca indigenous region of Costa Rica. Keeping in line with the Outward Bound philosophy of compassion and service, you will participate in a multi-day service project designed to improve the lives of some of the poorest people in the region. Past projects have focused on nutrition, community beautification and clean water.
Surf Phase
The surf portion of the course takes place on Costa Rica’s Pacific Coast, where possible surf sites include Manuel Antonio, Playa Hermosa, Avellanas and Playa Negra. You will gain or improve your surfing skills with the help of our surf instructors, who provide detailed, holistic instruction about how to read waves, tides and currents. Through both group and personal instruction, you will learn how to pop-up, catch waves and improve your board stance to ride more challenging breaks. In addition to surfing, students often volunteer at a nearby sea turtle refuge, where, depending on the nesting season, you may have the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to release newly hatched baby turtles into the wild.
Climbing & Rappelling Phase
Test yourself and learn to trust your team through progressively more challenging climbing and rappelling activities. You will learn knot and anchor system basics as you both climb and belay. Sites may include natural rock, climbing walls and waterfalls.
Panama Phase
The group will travel to the Caribbean archipelago of Bocas del Toro in northern Panama where you will visit with indigenous communities and participate in water sports such as wakeboarding and sailing. Then, in the crystal-clear waters off the island of Solarte, you will have the chance to earn your NAUI Scuba Diver Certification. You will participate in several dives, progressing from contained, shallow-water dives to more advanced open-water dives. You will also complete readings, written assignments and participate in on-land theory sessions required for certification.
To cap your experience, you will celebrate the completion of your semester experience with a final dinner and debrief.
This course teaches practical, valuable skills, introduces students to another culture and aids in personal development. Costa Rica Outward Bound inspires character growth and self-discovery in order to make the world a better place.
Student Profile:
- Male & Female, ages 17+
- Typical age range: 19-24
- Average group size: 8
- Desire to learn or improve whitewater skills
- Commitment to the shared group experience
- Interest in Latin American language and culture recommended
Requirements:
This course is open to males and females, ages 17 and older. Students should be conversant in English; Spanish language skills useful. Experience with course activities is not required, though an active lifestyle is recommended. If seeking academic credit, students must make all necessary arrangements to secure credits prior to arrival.
Accommodations and Equipment:
Costa Rica Outward Bound provides all meals, safety gear, surfboards, and camping and hiking equipment (including backpacks). Students will be provided a detailed packing list for clothing, toiletries and personal gear. All students are asked to bring personal spending money, as souvenirs and incidental expenses are the responsibility of the student. Please see the packing list for information regarding items not allowed on course.
Students will be camping or staying as a group in family homestays or student dorms (bedding provided).
Academic Credit:
Tropical Challenge Semester students are eligible to receive up to 12 academic credits through Western State College of Colorado. Making arrangements for academic credit is the responsibility of the student and must be done prior to course start date. For more information see our Academic Credit page.
Certifications:
Our instructors will aid students in every way possible to earn the certifications included in their course, but successful completion of all required practical skills tests and written exams are the responsibility of each student. Costa Rica Outward Bound cannot guarantee that all students will receive any/all certifications included in this course.
Transportation:
Airfare to and from San Jose, Costa Rica is not included in course tuition. All international travelers are required to pay a US$26 exit tax prior to departure; this is the responsibility of the student.
All students are met at the airport by Costa Rica Outward Bound and transported to our main base facility outside of San Jose. Costa Rica Outward Bound provides all transportation throughout the duration of the course, including transfer to Juan Santamaria International Airport on the final day of course. Airport regulations do not allow us to accompany students into the airport unless they travel as an Unaccompanied Minor (a paid service provided by each airline).
Safety:
Because safety is paramount, all itineraries may change on account of weather and water conditions. All of our instructors have internationally recognized safety certifications relevant to their specialties. A minimum of two instructors accompany groups at all times.
To reserve a place on course, complete the following two steps:
1. Complete the course’s Enrollment Form.
2. Submit a $500 USD deposit towards the full course tuition. Deposits can be paid with a Visa credit card, wire transfer or by personal check. Please see our Payment Information page for more details.
For questions, please see our Enrollment Process page or Contact us at any time.
