CRROBS veteran Orlando Zamora speaks Spanish with such a gentle demeanor that even non-Spanish speakers will find themselves engulfed in conversation.

Growing up in “el campo” just outside of San Isidro de General, Orlando spent the majority of his childhood working on farms. Armed with a machete from age 2, Orlando was cutting down sugar cane, working in coffee plantations, picking the best coffee beans by hand, and taking care of farm animals from age 4.

For him, school was always a challenge. He worked in the farms morning and night, running back and forth to school. He never really learned to read or write and some of his brothers didn’t go to school until after they were married. He was a happy child, but he is making things different for his five children. Growing up, Orlando never had time for himself, and he wants that for his kids. He wants them to go to school, maybe even college, and have a different life with more of a focus on education. He wants his children to have the opportunities that he didn’t have.

Working from a very young age taught Orlando, in-depth, how to farm, but despite having a very social demeanor he found it hard to connect with those living different lifestyles (i.e. people who grew up in the city) because they couldn’t relate to his lifestyle in the country.

When CRROBS Executive Director Jim Rowe, PhD was starting his experiential education, adventure school, he learned about the remote area of Piedras Blancas in the heart of the Mestizo rainforest. After Orlando’s father purchased a lot of land there to start a cattle farm, Orlando built a house by hand and moved his family into the rainforest, the land of the indigenous. He has always been intrigued by indigenous culture, was born with a bit of indigenous blood, and that connection in PB makes him feel more at peace. Jim started meeting the families and talking about the ideas for his school and caught the attention of Orlando at the age of 25.

He began working with Costa Rica Outward Bound by welcoming students into his home for a few days at a time. Shortly afterward, he started working as a land instructor by hiking students into the area of PB from the small town of Brujo and the campsite of Las Rejas. From that point on Orlando began to participate more and more in CRROBS programs. He learned how to be a raft guide and conduct waterfall rappels, but after six years he decided to keep to what he knows and loves best, guiding students through the rainforest and sharing his knowledge of flora, fauna and wildlife. “Every plant and tree and animal in the forest is important to our lives,” Orlando said. “When you live in the city with conventions, you sometimes don’t have time to think or value what you have and what is around you, but when you like a simple, natural life, a life a little harder than normal; you find more of a reason to live.”

Before CRROBS Orlando had never heard a person speak English and, at first, he really didn’t like it. But now, he realizes that it is another gateway to communication that he longed for when he was growing up.

CRROBS made a huge change in Orlando’s life for the better. With a passion for working here and passing on his knowledge, he’s an advocate for the idea behind our courses: no smoking, no drinking, no drugs, participating in life with locals, communication, sharing and challenge.

“CRROBS isn’t for tourists, it’s for those who have time for themselves, to learn about others, to learn more about yourself, to push your limits – there are no borders in life – learn to be happy by being simple,” said Orlando. “I am happy in my life, for my family, everything I’ve learned at CRROBS. We are a family here. Take that experience with you. Our CRROBS family grows everyday, it stays in your heart, we are moving toward the family we want.”

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