The Sea Turtle Retreat & Adventure course provides an unparalleled opportunity to learn about environmental conservation, help endangered sea turtles and explore the unique ecosystems of Costa Rica. If you are looking to make a difference in wildlife conservation over your winter break, this is the course for you!

In addition to conservation activities, you will meet girl scouts from all over the U.S., build your self-confidence, and improve your teamwork and leadership skills.

Description

During your time in tropical Costa Rica you will work to protect sea turtles and their fragile nesting grounds along the beautiful Pacific Coast.

You and your coursemates will camp on Costa Rica’s Central Pacific Coast and volunteer with the Playa Tulín Turtle Reserve. Learn about endangered turtle species while you help with conservation efforts through nightly patrols, cataloging nests, habitat creation, and (hopefully!) releasing newly hatched baby turtles into the wild. You will learn about Costa Rica’s exotic wildlife and ecosystems and may participate in additional service projects such as beach clean-up or trail preservation.

Enjoy Costa Rica’s warm winter weather and beautiful beaches while challenging yourself through various adventure and cultural activities. These may include rappelling down a waterfall, climbing trees, visiting a local artisan market, whitewater rafting, a canopy zipline tour, surfing, or visiting a local volcano.

Girl scouts will be exposed to Outward Bound Costa Rica’s unique approach to outdoor education and personal development. Woven into all activities are discussions and meetings about leadership. You will explore how the challenges you meet in and out of the Central American wilderness help you confront other challenges that life presents.

Details

Dates:

12/27/13 – 1/5/14

Girl Scout Profile:

• Must be 13–18 years old at the time of the course
• Interest in service and environmental conservation
• Ready for a physical challenge
• Intermediate-level swimmer who is comfortable in the water
• Good team player
• Beginners welcome!

Requirements:

This course is open only to current members of Girl Scouts of the USA. Tetanus vaccination and valid passport required before arrival.

Accommodations and Equipment:

Outward Bound Costa Rica provides all meals, safety and adventure gear and camping equipment. 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 student dorms (bedding provided).

Transportation:

Airfare to and from San Jose, Costa Rica is not included in course tuition. All international travelers are required to pay a US$28 exit tax prior to departure; this is the responsibility of the student.

All students are met at the airport by Outward Bound Costa Rica and transported to our main base facility outside of San Jose. Outward Bound Costa Rica 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.

Enrollment Instructions

To participate, girl scouts must complete the following steps:

1. Download and fill out the Girl Scouts Destinations application and reference forms. Submit your completed application to your girl scouts council. Specify which session(s) you are applying for when filling out your application. If you are applying for more than one destination with Outward Bound Costa Rica, please rank your preferences (1 being your top choice). You will only be accepted to one summer destination with Outward Bound Costa Rica.

For early applications (deadline: December 1, 2012): All acceptance notices will be emailed by January 16, 2013. Due to the volume of applications we receive, we will be unable to answer any questions related to your acceptance status before this date. Thank you for your patience and understanding.

Late applicants welcome on a space available basis! Ask your council contact to fax or email your application to ensure its timely arrival.

2. If accepted, follow the instructions in your acceptance email to reserve your place on course. You will be asked to complete a detailed enrollment form as well as submit a $100 USD nonrefundable 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.

Note: Deposits for early application acceptances are due no later than February 1, 2013.

For questions, please see our Enrollment Process page or Contact us at any time.