What happens when a group of students who have never been out of the urban DC Metro Area is sent out to the jungle of Costa Rica armed only with bug repellent and headlamps? The result is both amusing and impacting. The Youth Business Initiative (YBI) is a nonprofit organization that serves young adults in foster care as they transition between high school and college or careers. Five students were taken out of the comfort zones in June 2009 and spent 9 days in the Costa Rican rainforest. They developed their leadership skills in preparation for their future roles as mentors to younger students who will be in the YBI program in the upcoming school year.

Our custom courses are a great chance for groups to get a tailor-made experience. YBI's itinerary was crafted to give a wide range of activities, along with a focus on leadership training. As participant Masiel Rodriguez-Vars stated, “I especially enjoyed the range of activities that we experienced—river rafting, camping, surfing, horseback riding, camping, surfing, etc. Each of the experiences tested a different aspect and each made me learn something new about myself.”