Living simply can be beautiful, individuals can make a huge impact, personal growth never stops and catching a wave is not as easy as it looks!  These are just a few of the lessons students from the Howard Gardner School learned after spending 22 days backpacking though the Costa Rican rainforest.

Teaming up with the Costa Rica Rainforest Outward Bound School (CRROBS), Timothy Stevenson, Mary Pat Abraham, Julia McIntosh and Benjamin Yellin, accompanied by teachers Addison Helmke and Alex Castle, came to Costa Rica seeking an educational and service-oriented adventure.  While staying with local families, rafting down Class III rapids, and learning to surf, the students also gave back to the community.  They constructed a fence in Piedras Blancas, a tiny village in the middle of the rainforest, cleaned up Playa Hermosa where they also learned to surf, built a multi-purpose field for an underprivileged community in Tres Rios, and painted a local school.

Reflecting on the course, Benjamin Yellin said, “It’s harder than you imagine, but worth it more than you imagine.”  The students returned home refreshed and energized, with a new perspective on Costa Rican culture and wildlife. 

Outward Bound encourages character development, leadership, and self discovery through challenge and adventure.  CRROBS has differentiated itself from other Outward Bound schools by offering a wide array of wilderness adventure courses that enhance cultural and global awareness throughout Central America.