CRRTravel.com

5 Creative Ways to Get Students to Sign Up for a Trip

noreply@blogger.com (Tom) — Mon, 29 Apr 2019 21:28:00 +0000

Travel experiences for teachers and students often hinge on whether getting enough students to sign up. Here are some tips from teachers who have become experts in introducing students/parents to a life changing trip every year.

Flood the school and front office with posters. As many as you are allowed to put up. Most travel companies will send you posters if you request them. Also get the front office staff informed. They talk to parents and see everyone.
Build up the trip without announcing the destination. Set a date and time to make the destination a surprise. This makes the trip feel a little bit more special. Kids love surprises so use it to your advantage.
Before announcing the destination have your students do a project, watch a movie, and have interesting facts about the host country you plan on picking. This gets them familiar with the country and makes it more personal when they learn they have the option to visit on a trip.
Invite your favorite students privately. One teacher puts letters rolled up in a bottle and passes out the bottles to students. Make it attractive maybe with some interesting facts on the host country you will be visiting.
Have contact with host country. Many programs now a days include homestays and if you choose a personalized company chances are you can have a Skype call with one of the families. This helps build a relationship and motivates students to want to visit virtual friends.

You might have some more creative ways to attract students on trips and we would love to hear them. Remember many students don't realize just how life changing a trip can be so they often need a little extra motivation to wake up the travel bug inside of them. The best part about taking student to Costa Rica is that it often sells itself but it never hurts to use the tips above.

Three Succesful Ways to Promote Your International Trip to Students

noreply@blogger.com (Tom) — Mon, 29 Apr 2019 21:24:00 +0000

If you are thinking of running an international student trip the foundation starts with having students sign up. Most teachers have training as teachers. If they decide to run an international trip they are going to need some marketing skills. Below we will walk you through some suggestions to get students and parents aware of your trip:

Flood the campus with posters. Ask the company you will be travelling with for material. The most important are the posters around campus. The rest of the material can be digital.

Front office exposure. The front office space and employees are the voice and face of the school. Make sure you have informed the front office crew of the trip, dates, and use them to your advantage as sales reps to all the traffic passing through. Don't forget a nice front office poster.

Online presence. With all the social platforms students have access to these days it is essential that you have a digital poster and share it regularly. Invite students with large list of followers to share the poster regularly. Ask the company you will be traveling with for an attractive digital poster to get students excited.

These are just three ideas we have seen work in the past. Recruiting students is sometimes a snowball affect and students sign up without much promotion. Other times it will play out differently. If you stay consistent and use the tips above you should not have much problem getting the numbers you need to run a trip.

Is Ziplining Safe in Costa Rica?

noreply@blogger.com (Tom) — Fri, 26 Apr 2019 17:40:00 +0000

Having owned and operated a zipline in Costa Rica for the last seven years my asnwer to this question is, yes. Ziplining in Costa Rica is safe for a number of different reasons but like any outfitter it is important to go with a reputable company. Ziplining was pioneered in Costa Rica by biologist studying in the trees setting up cables to travel in the canopy. In Costa Rica they use steel cables. All ziplines should be designed by an architect and engineer for permit permission. Along with the architectual plans each tree you use has to be studied by a forest biologist for its strength and longevity. Once the structure is in place the safety will rely an operational and maintence attention to detail.

Those that operate ziplines are known as guides here in Costa Rica. They all have been through Vertical Rescue courses along with Wilderness CPR. A zipline guide in Costa Rica is trained in how to safely operate a zipline tour, how to have an eye for daily maintence, and how to safely evac and rescue clients in the event of an emergency. They also are trained in manipulation of equipment. Most equipment is of the highest standard and it is required by law in Costa Rica that each trip and usage of equipment is registered and noted which the guide is also trained in how to care for the equipment so it is maintained at the highest standard of safety.

While ziplining is safe in Costa Rica every adventure sport runs its risk and without specific attention and a professional level of operation some of these incidents can happen:

Clients forget Brake - this is a common mistake of first time zipliners. While you are taught how to brake in the safety class getting the hang of it might take a cable or two. The good news is ziplines offer a backup breaking system if you do not break. Coming in fast will not result in a physical injury but will get the heart pumping for sure.

Not following Directions - We all know tourists who just seems to do the opposite of what the guide says. If you put your hand on the cable or in front of the pulley chances are you might get pinched and break some skin. The best part is that this mistake usually only happens once. It is sort of like touching a stove. If you follow the directions in the safety speech starting with proper clothing we can assure you that you will have smooth zipping from start to finish.

Weather Conditions - This is probably the most important safety factor when dealing with zipline tours. Wind and electric storms are the two conditions that can make a zipline tour unsafe. Ziplines have evac areas that they can cancel the tour in the event that storm or wind approaches quickly.

Most importantly people always ask how often the structural system is inspected. Every 4 months the cables, clips, and trees are inspsected.

What does traveling abroad mean?

noreply@blogger.com (Tom) — Mon, 01 Apr 2019 14:49:00 +0000

Traveling abroad is a term used in reference to students visting another country. You do not have to be a student to travel abroad but in modern terms one thinks of "traveling abroad" as an educational experience for students.

The term traveling abroad can refer to a number of different experiences. They can range from visiting a foreign country for 10 days and doing an educational tour to living in a foreign country for 3, 6 or 12 months .

Many colleges and high schools across the world incorporate a "study abroad program" which offers opportunities to their students to take part in different study abroad experiences. These experiences sometimes are done as part of an exchange receiving a student from a foreign high school in exchange for a student's study abroad experience. Often the program is designed for a student to be exposed or even learn fluently a foreign language. While most study abroad programs are based on learning a new language and culture there are programs that are geared to history, science, music, theater, to even the famous Semester at Sea where you're on a sailing ship through different parts of the world.

The term study abroad brings excitement and jitters to almost any student (and parents). The benefits of studying abroad are endless from personal growth to enhanced recognition for college and job applications. In most cases the study abroad programs are expensive while others offer scholarships for students deserving of such an experience.

How can a Student Travel Cheap?

noreply@blogger.com (Tom) — Mon, 01 Apr 2019 14:48:00 +0000

If there was a book on Student Travel, the most read chapter would certainly be "How can a student Travel Cheap?".

Having worked in the travel industry for a number of years there are some standard know-hows that make travel cheap for students. The first is to travel in a group. Although you might not want group travel to cramp your style of searching for the truths of the universe, you will quickly realize a group trip is better than no trip. By the end of the trip you will learn a lot about yourself and that becoming an adult is mostly made up of meeting people, them getting on your nerves, then figuring out how to deal with them. So consider it an investment for the rest of life that you are actually saving money on. Group travel lowers the price on lodging, transportation, food, and any activities you sign up for.

Second way to travel cheap for students is to plan ahead. Do your research. I remember when I traveled as a student we would have everything planned out and seldom changed plans that would affect cost. Today I will admit I unfortunately loose money by simply changing plans on the fly and not really knowing where I am going only because $50 or $100 loss is not as tragic as it was 20 years ago. If you lose $100 on a student trip that could very likely be the difference between being stranded in Moroco for the rest of your life or arriving home on the dime for Thanksgiving dinner. Plan ahead and stay on track.

Finally and most important is do not treat it as your last trip. If you fall into the groove of, we are in Rome so we might as well eat and sleep fancy for the night then you will be broke quick. Chances are you have only been on the Earth for 18 to 25 years. I understand a big trip is a major event but you want to take it easy for two reasons. First, you want to feel like you have something to go back for. This will help you later on in life with motivation to take another trip. Second, some of the best moments on big trips are doing things that don't cost much money. Instead of the big expensive tours try for a more local gig. Look for local groups of any interest and just show up out of the blue.

Traveling cheap as a student is easier than you think and remember you are built like a modern day gladiator. At 19 years old you can eat, sleep, and enjoy pretty much anything so use that superpower to your advantage assuming you are safe.

If you have to splurge on something, don't be afraid to spend on water! Dehydration is the kryptonite of the youthful traveling gladiator. Stay hydrated even if it costs you!

What are the best friendly place to Retire (or do a sabbatical with your family)? Guanacaste, Dominical, and/or Central Valley?

noreply@blogger.com (Tom) — Wed, 27 Mar 2019 16:57:00 +0000

The age old question of where the best place to retire is? Well, if we are talking about Costa Rica I feel obligated to give my opinion. I moved here when I was 20 years old and since moved my parents down to retire, moved an uncle down, helped multiple family friends make the move and have lived in six different areas of Costa Rica while running a business. I have seen more people come and go and come back again. I feel at age 38 I could sit down with a couple looking to retire, look at their financials, get a feel for who they are as people and give you a layout of where and what they should do in Costa Rica. Let's just say it has been a 20 yr schooling of Hard-Knocks University but I am still here and I love everything about my life in Costa Rica.

I am going to talk about three places that I mostly get asked about. They happen to be the three places of the country where you will find great dining, supermarkets with all the goods from home, and enough people to speak English to keep you more informed than most locals. Two of these places are on the Pacific coast which are Guanacaste and Dominical. The third place is the Central Valley.

While everyone wants the beach, mark my word that San Jose, Costa Rica is on the verge of taking its place in future generation's history books. While most people look at it now and see a capital city overcrowded with cars and old infrastructure, I see the most perfect weather on the planet along with a society on the brink leaping into the future ahead of most if not all developed countries. In short imagine San Jose is going to be the Elon Musk playing ground of electric cars , modern infrastructure, and a life of modern efficiency at its peak. This will ultimately result in San Jose becoming a global attraction not too mention perfectly situated in the middle of North and South America along with two coasts to Europe and Asia.

So do I think San Jose is worth the investment, YES! Do I think it is the right place for you to spend the next 20 years of your life, depends. There are places of the Central Valley (San Jose) that can keep you isolated from the hectic parts. Not too mention if you are retired you should not be doing an 8 to 5 job commuting everyday. The valley is vast and not all of it is hectic. My parents found themselves a small corner of the valley with everything they needed. They had healthcare, great food, church, modern supermarkets, and more. They only had to sit in traffic if they needed to update something at Immigration once every couple months.

One of the main benefits of the Central Valley is you really will have easy access to the entire country. My parents got to see every inch of Costa Rica. Weekend trips were something that were doable because of our close proximity to everything. If you want to enjoy Costa Rica for what it really is, which is an endless amount of pockets of paradise, then the Central Valley is where you need to be.

The other options are similar to each other in that they are the beach but in a sense two different worlds completely. If you compare Guanacaste and Dominical the most obvious would be that Guancaste is dry and hilly and Dominical is more mountainous and greener. I say green because the rain really does not affect beach going if you live there. Your numbers of sunny mornings outweigh your rainy mornings by a long shot.

Here is something to consider. When I was 20, I voted Dominical as the best beach in Costa Rica. You could surf, raft, and rappel waterfalls all in the same day. This all sounds great but now my legs are not what they use to be. I now visit Guanacaste when I want to go to the beach. If you are retired my vote would be Guanacaste although if you want to just sit with jaw-dropping views then go to Dominical. Ask yourself these questions on factors that take an unforeseen toll on people in Costa Rica. Try to answer the questions below before you tell yourself a certain view, color of sand, or style of architecture will make life perfect in Costa Rica.

How much of my day to day life is in a car? Sounds adventurous but not bouncy car rides take a toll on bodies even if broken up into 10 minutes. If you can walk places you will enjoy things more. If you answer more than 5 minutes per day you need to spend less on the house and more on a car to ease the comfort.

How far is the nearest airport? You end up going home much more than planned when you live abroad. If you plan to go home once a year you will be home 2 or 3 times a year.

Don't let "nearest hospital" be an issue. I have seen too many people base their decision on the nearest hospital. Most cases it bumped their 3rd or 4th choice up to first place. My dad ended up going home for his heart procedures. Having worked on an ambulance for a summer in the US most 911 calls can have a patient in the ER in an incredible 20 minutes. Here in Costa Rica that is not gonna happen. Although Costa Rica has amazing health care that all of my family have used (other than my dad) it is in a sense a mute issue to base your retirement on 45 minutes to 1 hour 911 response time and I am being considerate. The sheer change of lifestyle in Costa Rica is likely to bump a few extra years to your time on Earth so let that be your counter argument.

It is because of those questions I started leaning towards Guanacaste. Easier access to properties, closer airport, and once you find your town the drives are short to and from things. The perfect and my favorite example would be Nosara.

Now if you still want to live in a paradise on steroids then Dominical is your spot. The mountain meeting the sea makes for awe-inspiring views from every angle and a much more jungle feel. Access is a little harder to certain properties, the area is stretched out along the long coastal highway resulting in longer drives, and closest international airport is still San Jose.

Do Students get Discounts on Flights?

noreply@blogger.com (Tom) — Wed, 27 Mar 2019 16:56:00 +0000

Oh to be a student again. The days of not having money, ramen noodles, and did I mention not having money. Students are a great market for travel companies and that is why there are so many deals for them. Why is this? Well, students still see the value in traveling, soul searching, and adventure while questioning everything about their own and new cultures! Also if students have $1000's in their bank account they are not afraid to spend $995 on a one way ticket to wherever!

Airlines are happy to help this addiction of looking for the meaning in life until mom and dad say its time to sign up for classes. Because of this students by themselves have very little money but the collective whole is a huge monster market the travel industry is anxious to host. Your most expensive part of traveling is obviously airfare because we know ramen noodles don't cost much and having your own room is for the Queen of England.

The two most common services for cheap airfare are Student Universe and STA Travel. These two sites make being a student more fun as if it wasn't already. You can travel the world at budget prices in everything from airline tickets, rail passes, and bulk supply of those noodles. These companies usually only work with students from ages 18 - 26 years of age.

Why are Educational Trips Important?

noreply@blogger.com (Tom) — Wed, 27 Mar 2019 16:54:00 +0000

"In the end we will conserve only what we love; we will love only what we understand; and we will understand only what we are taught." Baba Dioum, 1968

I think this is the answer to the question in the title of this blog. If you are reading this blog post you probably already fall into the category of knowing that travel helps eradicate cultural ignorance, racism, and a whole slew of social problems. Getting to know the world in which we live first-hand, helps us to see its beauty and purpose, while motivating us to protect the planet.

Many students grow up knowing the traditional family vacation, filled with fun, food, rest, and as little mental excursion as possible. This is a great way to recharge your batteries and unwind. During these types of vacations, we want to close off the outside world and be with our families. This can be very rewarding, but it is not the only type of vacation. Many unique opportunities exist today for seeing the world around us.

An educational trip has a similar affect but is even better. Not only do you get to recharge your batteries but you make them last longer and stronger for the next run in life. An educational trip has you mostly looking at the world around. Having guides and locals help you look at the culture through the eyes of the locals and not just the lens of your own upbringing. The results of this are often more understanding of things in your culture, having seen how things are done differently in other cultures. It also might come by seeing what others do in other countries for an average work day and wage. The US style of comparing itself with the Joneses is much more enlightening when you make the entire world your neighbor and not just the people on your block. It is so common to unconsciously compare ourselves to other cultures thinking they did it wrong and we did it right on certain topics. Having lived in Costa Rica for the last 20 years it is shocking how wrong or right certain customs or ways of doing things can be done on both sides.

Some of the ripple effects for students of educational travel are higher self esteem, better understanding in conflict situations, realistic ideas of what career they would like to pursue, and the list goes on. While the benefits are grand for the student on the educational trip it must be kept in mind that the percentage of students on our planet that actually get this opportunity is small. Some of the kids that have these travel opportunities will grow up to be influential in the private and public sector. It is in their youth that these experiences are more crucial than anytime in their life. But it should also be said that the many local kids they will visit on their trip is the closest opportunity those local kids will get to traveling abroad. The student visiting is the ultimate ambassador of educational trips and they should be properly prepped on this task before their trip.

Educational trips are a win win for not only for the students doing the traveling but also everyone they cross paths with in life making it an exponential way of changing peoples lives.

Westminister Costa Rica Music Adventure

noreply@blogger.com (CRR) — Sun, 22 Dec 2013 14:39:00 +0000

March 21st ----- Arrive & Drive to Village of Sitio de Mata (Homestays)

Today you will be met outside the airport by your CRR private guide and driver. If you can show up on an early day flight it would be best. Jetblue offers an early arrival as does American from the Miami area. This will allow us to be out of San Jose and make the 2 1/2 hour drive to the village of Sitio de Mata located in mountains of Turrialba before the city rush hour traffic. If your flight is early it would be great to stop at the National Theatre in the center of San Jose to show the kids where the National Symphony plays and a little history lesson on the coffee boom, arrival of Europeans, and construction of the National Theatre (including a quick history of music in the region).

We will arrive to Sitio de Mata in early afternoon where the homestay families will be waiting for us. We will gather as a group and assign the kids to their new families. We can have two or three kids to a homestay and the houses are so close together that it almost feels like one big home. The homestays are split up into two different extended families offering a real community feel to our stay.

Hanging with your new friends!

When we arrive we will take a quick tour of the village and have dinner with your families and get some rest for the next 6 days of service and fun. (Meals: Lunch & Dinner)

Evening Activity: Get situated in homestays and Reflection on first impressions. Journal topic is your first impressions.

March 22nd ----- Visit School with Music Introduction (Homestays)

Today we will get straight to work on making a difference in the community. After you confirmed that this trip was approved we had a meeting the day after and the school and community has had music on their wishlist for the kids for years now. With the excitement of the introduction of this program I will leave it to you and the kids to decide how you want to present it. We can divide the kids into small groups and give quick lessons on music? We can offer a small demonstration on playing music? Maybe your kids could give a short backround/history lesson of music? There seems to be a number of ways I think we can do this to make it engaging for the local kids and beneficial for the Miami Christian kids.

Recycled Crafts by Doña Fressy

After working with the kids we can spend the afternoon getting a local soccer game together or learning how to make tortillas or other cultural activities. (Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner)

Evening Activity: Reflection on the day. Journal on the topic of the experience of working with the kids.

March 23rd ----- Music Activity & Evening Fiesta with Music Presentations for Local Village (Homestays)

Today we can continue the work we did at the school on the previous day. We can take a more advanced look into the music instruments or just polish our skills from the previous day. In the evening we will have an organized event where the local kids will put on some of their school performances and Miami Christian kids are welcome to perform also.

Evening Activity: Reflection on the day, souvenir shop at local recycled craft store by local moms, and local fiesta and performances.

March 24th ----- Enter Pacuare River (Pacuare Ecolodge)

Lets get wet!

Listed by National Geographic as one of the top 5 most scenic rivers on the planet is the Pacuare River. This is a great day of adventure and fun. We will make the 30 minute drive to where we will put in and start our day on the river rafting, walking to waterfalls, and having a lunch prepared for you on the side of the river bank. We will make our way down to an area of the river we will stop at and spend the night. This is the CRR Pacuare Ecolodge that will be your private lodge for the night with breath-taking views of the surrounding rainforest, mountains, and river.

In the evening we will get the bon-fire going and a chance to sit around, roast marshmallows, and tell some stories. (Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner)

Evening Activities: Discuss Your Top 3 of the Homestay Experience, Journal Free Writing, Bon-fire & Marshmallows!

The Scenic Pacuare River

March 25th ----- River Rafting & Drive to Arenal Volcano (Los Lagos Hotel)

Today you will raft the most scenic part of the river. You will float past 150 foot waterfalls and through 300ft canyons making it an unforgettable experience for all. Once we finish the rafting we will take out of the river around noon and enjoy a hearty meal before we make the 3 hour drive to the Arenal Volcano.

The Arenal Volcano is one of the most picturesque volcanos on Earth. It is perfectly cone-shaped. Here we will be staying at the Los Lagos Resort where the kids will have a chance to enjoy a large pool area and more of a deserved luxury feel after their three days in homestays and the ecolodge. (Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner)

Evening Activity: Journal Writing about being in Nature at the Ecolodge, Discuss what you miss about the homestays, time in the pool area!

Arenal Volcano

March 26th ----- Zipline and Visit La Fortuna Waterfalls (Los Lagos Hotel)

Today is a great way to end an epic week. We will take you to the zipline adventure where you will zip across the rainforest on different cables with some of the finest views of the volcano and lake Arenal found anywhere. During your adventure the kids will also get a chance to learn about the rainforest and the wonders of it's incredible diversity.

After zipping through the rainforest we will make our way to one of the most scenic waterfalls in Costa Rica where the kids will hike on 500 steps that will take them to a beautiful swimming hole at the bottom of the La Fortuna Waterfall.

La Fortuna Falls

In the evening we will have a farewell activity and a chance to reflect about the last seven days. (Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner)

Evening Activity: Journal writing about your top 3 moments of the week, Reflect on top 3 events of the week in an open discussion.

March 27th ----- Fly Home!

Today we will make the drive to the San Jose Airport (SJO) which is 2 1/2 hours from the hotel. Take into account when making your flight reservation that you will want to arrive 2 hours before the flight. It will be ideal to have a flight that is not very early in the morning for this itinerary. (Meals: Breakfast)

Jared Sample Costa Rica Itinerary June 2014

noreply@blogger.com (CRR) — Fri, 22 Nov 2013 14:54:00 +0000

Day 1 -- Arrive & Travel to Arenal (Arenal Hotel)

Arenal Volcano

Today you will be met by your CRR staff and transported to your first hotel in the province of San Carlos on the fertile northern plains of Costa Rica. Here you will be staying at the base of the active Arenal Volcano. This is a travel day but will consist of an orientation to get teachers and students aquainted with staff members and an idea of what to expect during the week. (Meals: Dinner)

Day 2 -- Arenal (Don Juan, Ziplining, National Park)

Today we will start with a little adventure as we make our way to the ziplines that hang 700ft above the rainforest floor. This will be the kids first introduction to the primary rainforest. The students will also get to use their Spanish in an adrenaline-pumping situation. We'll give them a list of words to use such as TUANIS! PURA VIDA! BUENAZO! and many more local favorite phrases The zipline guides will surely be impressed with their bi-lingual guests.

After the zipline we will make our way to the Arenal Volcano National Park. Here the kids will hike on old lava

Zipline Adventure

rock and get to the closest possible point of the volcano. This is a great lesson on not only the origins of the volcano but this area of Costa Rica.

After the hike we will stop for lunch in town and then the kids can have some time to walk around the small little town of La Fortuna. Later we will be heading to the organic farm of Don Juan where the kids will taste, see, smell, and feel the different stages of organic farming from one of Costa Rica's most respected farmers. This will be followed by a delicious dinner prepared from all the things grown on the farm.

Then it's back to the hotel where we will have our first official reflection, getting the kids together and talking about the experience so far. Since this is a Spanish focused trip we could have them journal in Spanish just to keep the writing skills prime during their week away from school. (Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner)

Day 3 -- Travel to Sitio de Mata (Sitio de Mata)

CLICK HERE TO VISIT HOMESTAYS SITIO DE MATA

Today we will say good-bye to the volcano and make the drive to Sitio de Mata where you will be saying "hola!" to
your new families. This is the part of the trip where the kids will be immersed with some of the greatest families for homestays you will find anywhere. You will be taken in as family and have the chance to communicate in Spanish from start to finish. Every day will be filled with activities and things to keep us busy, building new friendships, learning about the culture, and understanding the importance of family values.

When we arrive we will meet in a little ranchito where all the moms will be present and we will introduce all of you to your new families. Although not everyone will be in the same house, this is a small village and houses are close together. Everything is in a very short walking distance.

In the evening we will meet as a group in one of the ranchitos where the kids will have time to journal and reflect on the homestay arrival. (Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner)

Day 4 -- Culture Activities (Sitio de Mata)

Time with the families

Today is a day of cultural activities in the village. We like making this the first day activity so you can learn about the many different norms of the village. We will learn how to dance, cook, and even take a ride into the larger nearby town of Turrialba. We'll have a lesson in shopping for the village since we will be responsible for cooking a meal for our homestays!

This is an excellent day for plenty of time with your families, a chance to get to know the kids, and get your bearings in the village.

After dinner, as we do every evening, we will have a reflection where the kids will meet with their guides as a group and go over their experiences. (Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner)

Day 5 -- Attend School (Sitio de Mata)

Well you might think you had the week off from school but guess what?! We found a school for you to attend in Costa Rica!Back to School, kids and it is a full day of learning. This is a day of being in class with local
students. It would be great to have a notebook of interview questions for the CR kids to answer throughout the day keeping everyone engaged and attentive. They will surely make a lot of new friends and maybe even get some homework.

Day 6 -- Community Service (Sitio de Mata)

Today we will have a service project set up so the students from Utah can give back to the community that in just two days has given back so much to them already. Depending on the type of project we come up with or ideas you and the kids back home might have, will depend on the type of work we do doing your stay.

In the afternoon we will again meet as a group and reflect on the day of work. (Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner)

Day 7 -- Visit Nearby Canyon, Soccer Game with Locals, & Farewell Fiesta! (Sitio de Mata)

Rafting Pacuare River

Today we will take the kids to a nearby canyon where they can rappell down different waterfalls. This is a fun adventure getting everyone wet and enjoying some outside time with the local kids. After the morning in the canyon we will head back to our homestays and have lunch and some down time with our families.

Then it will be time for the soccer game that is always requested by the local kids and a crucial part of getting the full culture experience. This is a great way to enjoy what the local kids love doing with their spare time. Once the soccer game is over we will head back to our homestays and great ready for the final evening fiesta. This is a show you can not miss and in our opinion is on par with Cirque du Sole! (Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner)

Day 8 -- Enter Pacuare & Stay at River Lodge (River Lodge)

Today we will spend the morning saying good-bye to our Sitio de Mata families. This will not be an easy

Morning in the Jungle

departure after five days of being with the families I get choked up just writing about the departure. Once we give our final hugs, good-byes or "until next time", we'll head to what National Geographic has listed as one of the top five most scenic rivers in the world. In the morning we'll raft some small class II & III rapids then have lunch right on the river followed by a little hiking to some waterfalls.

Then it's back in our rafts to get to our final river destination, our beautiful river lodge that has breath-taking views of the Pacuare Canyon and lush green mountains as far as the eye can see. In the evening we will have activities planned for everyone as we experience living in the jungle for a night. (Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner)

Coffee Makes a good souvenir!

Day 9 -- Travel to San Jose & Souvenir Shop (San Jose Hotel)

Today we will get breakfast and begin our final raft. This is the most scenic part of the river with the most adventurous rapids. We will deftly make our way down the class III & IV section passing beautiful canyon walls that rise 300ft high, primary rainforests from start to finish, and hundred foot waterfalls that drop into the banks of the river.

Back on dry land and in the bus, we will make the two hour drive back to San Jose leaving us enough time to stop at some souvenir spots. At the hotel, we'll have our final evening reflection and farewell dinner. (Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner)

Day 10 -- Fly Home!

Today we will make the drive to the San Jose Airport where you will catch your flight home! (Meals: Breakfast)

Lisa Costa Rica Sample Adventure 2014

noreply@blogger.com (CRR) — Fri, 22 Nov 2013 14:22:00 +0000

Day 1 - Arrive & Drive to Arenal Volcano (Los Lagos Resort)

Arenal Volcano

Today we will meet you outside the airport with your CRR driver and guide. We will make the drive to the Arenal Volcano. Here you will be staying in the beautiful Los Lagos Resort where you will have breath-taking views of the Arenal Volcano.

During the first night we will have dinner at the hotel and a brief orientation getting the kids ready for their 7 day Educational adventure. (Meals: Dinner)

Day 2 - Zipline, National Park Hike, & Don Juan (Los Lagos Resort)

This is a full day of activities. We will start with a hike through the Arenal National Park where the kids will get a lesson in learning about the volcano. They will walk on the old lava flow and get amazing pictures of the massive volcano.

After the Volcano hike we will make our way to the zipline where we will enjoy zipping through the jungle on

Zipline

cables that run 700ft high and half a mile long. This is an adventure that the kids will love and also get a chance to learn about the canopy of the rainforest during the gandola ride.

After the zipline adventure it will be over to Don Juan's farm where you will get the chance to take a walk through his small farm and learn about the production of his organic farming feeding over 20 families on less than 2 acres. We will also get a chance to pick different vegetables and use them in the meal we will be enjoying at Don Juan's. (Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner)

Day 3 - Drive to Sitio de Mata (Homestays)

Today we will say good-bye to the Arenal Volcano and make our way to the area of Turrialba. CLICK HERE TO SEE HOMESTAYS. This is actually home to another smoking volcano called Turrialba. On the other side of the valley from where the Volcano Turrialba is located sits a small rural village up in the mountains. This village is Sitio de Mata and is where we will be enjoying our homestays. Here the kids will have the chance to live with local families and enjoy the rural lifestyle.

During the evening we will be enjoy a presentation from the local kids in the village on traditional song and dance as we eat another very tasty meal. (Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner)

Day 4 - Morning Activities in the Village and Drive to Pacuare Ecolodge (Pacuare Ecolodge)

Today we will spend some time in the morning in the village learning different cultural activities or a community service project.

After lunch we will make our way on to the nearby Pacuare Ecolodge where we will get a bonfire going and get ready for the night in the jungle with great views of the Pacuare River. (Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner)

Pacuare River

Day 5 - Raft Pacuare River & Travel to Caribbean (Villas Caribe)

Today we will be rafting the Pacuare River. This is rated by National Geographic as one of the top 3 most scenic rivers on the planet and surrounded by primary rainforest for start to finish.

When we are done with the rafting adventure we will drive out to the Caribbean coast where we will be staying on the white sandy beaches of the Caribbean. (Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner)

Day 6 - Beach Day & Nature Hike (Villas Caribe)

See you on the Nature Hike!

Today we will take one of the best nature hikes in all of Costa Rica. Here you will have the chance to see a number of different species along with expansive views of the Caribbean sea. In the afternoon the kids will have some time to sit with their feet in the sand or play in the waves. (Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner)

Day 7 - Fly Home

Today we will make the drive back to the SJO San Jose Airport. Having an afternoon flight would be best as we will have a 3 1/2 hour drive from the Caribbean to the airport. (Meals: Breakfast)

Susy: Option 2 Costa Rica Sample Adventure 2014

noreply@blogger.com (CRR) — Mon, 11 Nov 2013 17:45:00 +0000

Day 1 - Arrive & Drive to Arenal Volcano (Los Lagos Resort)

Arenal Volcano

During the first night we will have dinner at the hotel and a brief orientation getting the kids ready for their 7 day Educational adventure. (Meals: Dinner)

Day 2 - Zipline, National Park Hike, & Don Juan (Los Lagos Resort)

After the Volcano hike we will make our way to the zipline where we will enjoy zipping through the jungle on

Zipline

cables that run 700ft high and half a mile long. This is an adventure that the kids will love and also get a chance to learn about the canopy of the rainforest during the gandola ride.

Day 3 - Drive to Sitio de Mata (Homestays)

Today we will say good-bye to the Arenal Volcano and make our way to the area of Turrialba. This is actually home to another smoking volcano called Turrialba. On the other side of the valley from where the Volcano Turrialba is located sits a small rural village up in the mountains. This village is Sitio de Mata and is where we will be enjoying our homestays. Here the kids will have the chance to live with local families and enjoy the rural lifestyle.

During the evening we will be enjoy a presentation from the local kids in the village on traditional song and dance as we eat another very tasty meal. (Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner)

Day 4 - Morning Activities in the Village and Drive to Pacuare Ecolodge (Pacuare Ecolodge)

Today we will spend some time in the morning in the village learning different cultural activities or a community

Pacuare River

service project.

Day 5 - Raft Pacuare River & Travel to Caribbean (Villas Caribe)

Today we will be rafting the Pacuare River. This is rated by National Geographic as one of the top 3 most scenic rivers on the planet and surrounded by primary rainforest for start to finish.

See you on the Nature Hike!

When we are done with the rafting adventure we will drive out to the Caribbean coast where we will be staying on the white sandy beaches of the Caribbean. (Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner)

Day 6 - Beach Day & Nature Hike (Villas Caribe)

Susy: Option 1 Costa Rica Sample Adventure 2014

noreply@blogger.com (CRR) — Mon, 11 Nov 2013 17:32:00 +0000

Day 1: Arrive and Drive to Sitio de Mata, Costa Rica (Homestay)

Today we will meet you outside of the airport. Your driver and guide will take you through the capital city and then out into the rural mountains of Turrialba. Here you will be introduced to your family for the next four days in a village called Sitio de Mata. This village is home to some of the most spectacular views anad unbelievalbe people. (Meals: Dinner)

Evening Activity: Journal & Reflection Time

Day 2: Homestay Activities & Scavenger Hunt (Homestay)

You'll have to put your Spanish skills to the test today. We will be living the life of rural Costa Rica. We'll leave the village as a group in the public bus accompanied by many folks from our homestay families. This is a very intense and competitive scavenger hunt in the city of Turrialba. Everyone will meet in the Central Park with a list of things they need to buy for their homestays. The first team back to the Central Park after a few hours of using their Spanish in full immersion will win ICE CREAM sandwiches! In the evening it is back to the village to enjoy some more homestay activities. (Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner)

Evening Activities: Journal & Relfection along with dance classes

Day 3: Enter Pacuare (CRR Ecolodge)

After breakfast in the homestays, we'll head to the Pacuare River. This is one of our favorite adventures surrounded by virgin tropical rainforest from start to finish. We will be spending the night on the river staying at a tent-camp with a chance to enjoy the sounds of the jungle all night. The first day of rafting is made up of mostly class II rapids and the next day we'll raft the most scenic and adventurous part of the river. (Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner)

Evening Activities: Journal & Bonfire

Day 4: Leave Pacuare & Return to Sitio (Homestay)

Today is two hours of rafting you'll never forget. The best part about today is without a doubt, the scenery. From start to finish, it'll be large canyons and waterfalls surrounded by more virgin tropical rainforest. In the afternoon we will go back to Sitio de Mata. We'll have the Annual Cedaredge/Sitio Soccer Game with the local kids and then after getting cleaned-up, have the final Farewell Fiesta with our homestay families. (Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner)

Evening Activity: Journal, shop at souvenir village shop, and FIESTA!

Day 5: Cloud Forest (Trogon Lodge & Quetzals)

Today we will leave the homestay after breakfast and make our way to a very different ecosystem. Here you will have the chance to enjoy the highlands of Costa Rica and be amongst the cloud-forest. Once we're in the mountains, the climate can be pretty chilly, especially at night. One of the highlights about being in this area is the chance to see the most beautiful bird in all of the America's--the Quetzal. (Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner)

Evening Activity: Journal & Reflection

Day 6: Drive to Cavern & Hike in during afternoon (Sleep Behind Waterfall)

Today we will spend the morning in and around the cloud-forest doing different hikes that will give us a chance to see beautiful forests and the Quetzal. After lunch we'll drive to the entrance of where we will begin our hike to the cavern where we'll sleep behind the waterfall. This is a fun day but involves some hiking. Reaching one of the most scenic places in all of Costa Rica makes it well worth it! (Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner)

Evening Activity: Bonfire

Day 7: Rappel Waterfall, Visit Pools, & Travel to Beach Ecolodge (La Cusinga)

Today you will wake up behind a waterfall and have a full day activities of fun and adventure in the land of the waterfalls. We will first hike to the upper pools where the kids can have the chance to swim in pristine pools and jump off a 15 ft waterfall. We'll then go back down to have lunch behind the waterfalls.

Then it will be time for a little adrenaline rush as we get ready to rappel a 120ft waterfall. After the rappel we will get some snacks and make a hike to the top of the Diamante Waterfall, the highest waterfall in all of Costa Rica.

After a day in the jungle we will visit what might arguably be the best view in all of Costa Rica. Sitting on the edge of the Pacific coast where the mountain meets the sea is the La Cusinga Ecolodge. Here you will enjoy excellent local grown meals with breath-taking views of the pacific. (Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner)

Evening Activity: Journal & Reflection

Pacific Costa Rica

Day 8: Travel 30 minutes to Beach (La Cusinga)

Today we will hike out of the cavern and make the 30 minute drive to the Pacific Coast. We'll arrive to the ocean around lunch time and the kids will have a chance to enjoy the waves in the warm tropical waters of the Pacific. (Meals: Breakfast & Dinner)

Evening Activity: Journal & Reflection

Day 9: Beach Day! (La Cusinga)

Saying Until next time to the Pacific!

This is a full day of fun and reflection on the trip. We will make it a beach day and the kids will have the chance to rent some surf boards if they would like and then in the evening we will have a recap of the amazing adventure as we get ready for the farewell dinner and your travels back home! (Meals: Breakfast & Dinner)

Evening Activity: Journal & Reflection

Day 10: Fly Home!

Today, with lots of great memories of Costa Rica and its people packed in our minds, we'll drive to the airport and get ready for next years trip!!! (Meals: Breakfast)

Pura Vida!!!

Pam Costa Rica 2014!!!

noreply@blogger.com (CRR) — Thu, 31 Oct 2013 17:54:00 +0000

Feb 12th - Arrive & Drive to Arenal Volcano (Los Lagos Resort)

Arenal Volcano

During the first night we will have dinner at the hotel and a brief orientation getting the kids ready for their 7 day Educational adventure. (Meals: Dinner)

Feb 13th - Zipline, National Park Hike, & Don Juan (Los Lagos Resort)

After the Volcano hike we will make our way to the zipline where we will enjoy zipping through the jungle on

Zipline

cables that run 700ft high and half a mile long. This is an adventure that the kids will love and also get a chance to learn about the canopy of the rainforest during the gandola ride.

Feb 14th - Drive to Sitio de Mata (Homestays)

During the evening we will be enjoy a presentation from the local kids in the village on traditional song and dance as we eat another very tasty meal. (Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner)

Feb 15th - Morning Activities in the Village and Drive to Pacuare Ecolodge (Pacuare Ecolodge)

Today we will spend some time in the morning in the village learning different cultural activities or a community

Pacuare River

service project.

Feb 16th - Raft Pacuare River & Travel to Caribbean (Villas Caribe)

Today we will be rafting the Pacuare River. This is rated by National Geographic as one of the top 3 most scenic rivers on the planet and surrounded by primary rainforest for start to finish.

See you on the Nature Hike!

When we are done with the rafting adventure we will drive out to the Caribbean coast where we will be staying on the white sandy beaches of the Caribbean. (Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner)

Feb 17th - Beach Day & Nature Hike (Villas Caribe)

Feb 18th - Fly Home

Today we will make the drive back to the SJO San Jose Airport. Having an afternoon flight would be best as we will have a 3 1/2 hour drive from the Caribbean to the airport. (Meals: Breakfast)

Westhills Costa Rica Adventure 2014

noreply@blogger.com (Tom) — Tue, 15 Oct 2013 20:13:00 +0000

Day 1 -- Arrive and Travel to Ecolodge (Pacuare Ecolodge)

Arrival of mid afternoon flight would be ideal. Drive to Ecolodge is 2 1/2 hours from airport.
Dinner at Ecolodge
Evening Bonfire
9pm --- Lights Out

Day 2 -- Raft Pacuare River (Pacuare Ecolodge)

7:30am ---- Breakfast
9:00am ---- Safety Talks
9:30am ---- Start Rafting
11:30am --- Stop for River Lunch
2pm --- Take out of River/change clothes/ and drive back to Ecolodge

Pacuare River Rafting Adventure
3 o 4pm --- Snacks and Juice at Ecolodge
5pm --- Game with guides
7pm ---- Dinner & Bonfire
9pm ---- Lights Out

Day 3 -- Breakfast in Village & Travel to Cavern (Sleep Behind Waterfall)

A night in the Cavern!

6:30am ---- Leave Ecolodge
7:30am --- Arrive at Village for Breakfast
9am ---- Travel to Cavern (This is a 4 hour drive over the Central Mountain Ridge/Great Views)
12pm --- Stop for Lunch
2pm ---- Start Hiking to Cavern
4pm ---- Snacks in Cavern
5pm ---- Visit 600 ft Waterfall
7pm ----- Shower & Dinner
8pm ---- Bonfire
9pm ---- Lights Out

Rappel Waterfalls

Day 4 -- Rappel Waterfall & Travel to Beach (Beach Hotel)

7am ---- Breakfast
8am - 11am ---- Rappeling Waterfall
12pm --- Lunch
1pm ---- Hike to Pools
3pm ---- Snacks
4pm ---- Hike Out & Drive 30 minutes to Beach Hotel
7pm ---- Dinner at Beach Hotel
8pm ---- Reflect with Kids
9pm ---- Lights Out

Surf Classes

Day 5 -- Surf Classes (Beach Hotel)

8am ---- Breakfast
9:30am - 12pm ---- Surf Classes
12pm - 2pm --- Lunch/pool at Hotel
2pm - 5pm --- More Surfing Optional
6pm ----- Dinner & Bonfire on Beach
9pm ---- Lights Out

Day 6 -- Travel to Arenal Volcano (Arenal Hotel)

8am ---- Breakfast
9am ---- Leave for Arenal Volcano; 5 hour drive
12pm ---- Stop for Lunch
3pm ---- Arrive to Arenal Volcano
4pm ---- Pool Time
6pm ---- Dinner & Evening Reflection with kids
9pm ---- Lights Out

Community Service

Day 7 -- Community Service Project (Arenal Hotel)

8am --- Breakfast
9am --- Leave for Community Service Project
12pm --- Lunch at the Community Service Project
2pm --- Visit Waterfall
5pm --- Arrive at Hotel
7pm --- Go out for dinner
9pm ---- Lights Out

Day 8 -- Zipline & Hotsprings (Arenal Hotel)

8am ---- Breakfast
10am ---- Zipline
12pm ---- Lunch
2pm ---- Visit Hotsprings
6pm ---- Farewell Dinner

Zipline Adventure

9pm ---- Lights Out

Day 9 -- Fly Home!

7am ---- Breakfast
8am ---- Leave for San Jose Airport (SJO)
11am ---- Arrive to Airport for mid-day flight

Oak Hall 2014 Costa Rica Adventure

noreply@blogger.com (CRR) — Wed, 11 Sep 2013 20:28:00 +0000

Raft Pacuare

Day 1 --- Arrive Pacuare Ecolodge (Pacuare Ecolodge)

Today you will be met by your CRR guide and driver will transport you to the Pacuare Ecolodge. Here you will arrive where the road ends and ride on 4x4 down into the Pacuare canyon and enjoy one of the most scenic roads in all of Costa Rica. Your first night will be spent in the Pacuare Ecolodge with views of the lush green mountain tops as far as the eye can see. You will also enjoy breath-taking views of the beautiful Pacuare River canyon. (Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner)

Day 2 --- Raft Pacuare (Pacuare Ecolodge)

Today is your day of adventure as you whitewater raft the Pacuare River. Here you will have the

Pacuare Waterfalls

chance to raft through some of Costa Rica's most adventurous rapids and without question most scenic river. The Pacuare River is rated by National Geographic as one of the top 5 most scenic rivers in all of planet Earth with 200ft waterfalls that fall into the river and canyon walls that rise 300ft from the river bank. During your day on the river we will take our time and enjoy hiking to different waterfalls and a river lunch prepared for you by your CRR river guides.

In the afternoon it will be back to the lodge where you will get to enjoy one more night at the Pacuare Ecolodge surrounded by lush tropical rainforest. (Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner)

Day 3 --- Drive to La Fortuna & Visit Sarapiqui Wildlife Reserve (Don Bosco)

See you at Sarapiqui!

Today is a travel day to the northern province of San Carlos where you will be staying at the base of the Arenal Volcano. During the drive to the Arenal Volcano we will make a stop at the Sarapiqui Wildlife Refuge which is a small piece of land owned by a local family that will give us a glimpse into the wildlife of the rainforest as they walk us through their small reserve and teach us some of the many magical wonders of the tropical rainforest.

In the afternoon we will arrive to our hotel at the Arenal Volcano and enjoy the views of the Volcano. (Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner)

Day 4 --- Caño Negro (Don Bosco)

Zipline Adventure

When it comes to wildlife in Costa Rica there is no better place to hang out than in the Caño Negro Wildlife reserve. This is an expansive wetland area that is home to many different species of birds, monkeys, and sloths along with many more animals. We will ride through the wetlands with our naturalist guide and enjoy the sites and sounds of the biodiversity in the area as our naturalist guide teaches us more about the flor and fauna in the area,

If you are into birding this is one of the top places in all of Central America to get your bird count looking like one of the pro's! (Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner)

Day 5 --- Zipline & Take Fairy to Nicoya (Camp on Beach)

See you at Caño Negro!

Today we will enjoy an early morning zipline as we make our way to the other side of the volcano and zip on cables that hang 700ft above the rainforest floor. This is without question our favorite zipline in Costa Rica and home to some of the best views of the Volcano and lake you will find anywhere.

The afternoon will be traveling to the Nicoya Peninsula where we will take a fairy across the gulf and arrive to a deserted beach where your CRR guides will have tents, food, and everything you need to survive on the beach for two nights. This is one of the most scenic beaches you will find anywhere. We will arrive just in time to enjoy a sunset with our toes in the sand. (Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner)

Day 6 --- Sea-Kayak & Camp (Camp on Beach)

Today is a full day of sea-kayaking. We will get geared up and begin our adventure kayaking out to an island where we will be followed by a number of dolphins and sea-turtles in the area. We will have lunch on the island and take a short hike to enjoy more of the simple life and then head back to our camping area.

Sea-Kayak Playa Quesera

The evening will be spent with a bon-fire on the beach and time to talk about the great memories of the trip up until now. (Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner)

Day 7 --- Travel to San Jose (Airport Hotel)

Today is a travel day back to the San Jose area where we will be staying in a hotel close to the airport

to catch your flight home. (Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner)

Day 8 --- Fly Home!

Today you will be trasfered to the airport. (Meals: Breakfast)

Cindy Costa Rica Adventure 2013

noreply@blogger.com (CRR) — Tue, 26 Feb 2013 21:28:00 +0000

Picking Guest up in an Ox-Cart!

Day 1 ------ Arrive & Drive to La Condesa (La Condesa Hotel)

Today you will be met outside the airport by your private naturalist guide and driver. It will be a comfortable modern transportation. All luggage will be taken care. Your job is just to relax, enjoy the Pura Vida environment, and get to know your energetic guide and myself on day one!

This is a great first day and if you arrive on one of the earlier flights we will have time at the La Condesa to give you an orientation of the company, the country, and some fun idea for the week such as games and contests we have to keep everyone on the ball.

All travelers get a journal and booklet that has all the information you need for the week along with a number of games to keep you busy in the bus or just when you relax at the hotel. (Meals: Dinner)

Day 2 ------ Poas Volcano & Coffee Britt Tour (La Condesa Hotel)

Today we will be visiting one of the most scenic volcanos in all of Costa Rica. This is Poas Volcano and a very easy flat hike to the top of the crater where you can see breath-taking views of the Caribbean and Pacific as you look down into the active crater of Poas. This is a great chance to learn about the cloud-forest.

Coffee Tour

After the volcano tour we will make our way to the Cafe Britt Tour where you will get a full lesson on the golden bean of Costa Rica. This is a neat presentation and a very educational visit along with time in a shaded coffee plantation. (Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner)

Day 3 ------ Nature Hike in Ecological Gardens (Sueno Azul)

Today we will be making some local stops and enjoying the authentic feel of Costa Rica. We will visit a local Ecological Garden that is the home of a man who has invited many different animal species to live in his backyard jungle. This is a bit off the main tourist attractions road and we like to visit interesting spots like this to not only help the local economy but also they often turn out to be some of the most memorable visits.

CINDY!!!!!!

In the evening we will be arriving to the Sueno Azul Hotel which is a beautiful hotel surrounded by jungle and not a stair on the entire property making it very easy to navigate around. (Meals: Breakfast & Lunch)

Day 4 ------ Chocolate Tour (Sueno Azul)

Today we'll have more time in the jungle and learning about it. Not only will you see monkeys, sloths, but we will also have the opportunity to learn about the cacao fruit which is made many of us the choco-holics we are.

In the afternoon you can relax at the hotel or we can take you out for some more optional adventures such as a night hike through the jungle! (Meals: Breakfast & Lunch)

Day 5 ------ Travel to La Fortuna (Manoa Resort)

Today we will make our way to the world famous Arenal Volcano. Here is the perfectly cone-shaped volcano. We'll be staying at Manoa Resort where you will have beautiful luxurious rooms with views of the volcano. All the rooms are ground-level.

See you in Costa Rica Cindy!

There are hotsprings on the hotel grounds which are a welcome experience for travelling bones along with relaxing in the pool areas. (Meals: Breakfast & Dinner)

Day 6 ------ Cano Negro (Manoa Resort)

One of our favorite tours is the Cano Negro boat float where you will have the chance to enjoy a easy ride through the wetlands of Cano Negro. If you have not had your full on wildlife yet you will surely enjoy the monkeys, sloths, lizards, birds, and so much more during the float.

In the afternoon you will have the option to enjoy dinner at the hotel or we will take you to of La Fortuna town to dine at one of the many fine restaurants. (Meals: Breakfast & Lunch)

Day 7 ------ Hanging Bridges & Optional Zipline & Organic Farm Finca Don Juan (Manoa Resort)

Arenal Volcano

Today we will have the Hanging Bridges included with a guided hike. You will have the option to also venture into the zipline where you will be put in a harnass and zip through the rainforest canopy. The hanging bridges tour is a much more modified adventure of walking through the tree-tops.

In the evening we will have a very special farewell dinner planned for you as we take you to the finca of a very good friend of ours, Don Juan. Here we will have dinner after touring his farm and learning about the magic of organic farming. We guarantee it will be one of the best meals of the entire week in Costa Rica!

Day 8 ------ Fly Home!

Today we'll drive back to the San Jose Airport for your flight back to Central Florida where you can start planning your next Costa Rica Adventure! (Meals: Breakfast)

Hanging Bridges

Costa Rica Teen Summer Camp CRR LEAD Adventure 2013

noreply@blogger.com (Tom) — Tue, 26 Feb 2013 12:39:00 +0000

Preparing LEADers of all ages

Leadership: Our summer L.E.A.D. programs main focus is leadership. You will learn leadership skills everyday from meeting with local leaders (US Embassy, United Nation University of Peace), participating in adventures (whitewater rafting), and organizing and running a summer camp for local Costa Rican kids. You will return home with leadership skills and strategies you can directly apply to your life.

Experience: Every experience offers a lessons and this trip is full of experiences. You will experience first hand the natural beauty and diversity of Costa Rica- from the tropical forests to the beautiful beaches. During the trip you will also be fully immersed in the culture experiencing the local food, people and traditions. Everyday offers a new adventure and a lesson to be learned.

Awareness: Part of being a good leader is being aware. A secondary goal of our L.E.A.D program is to create awareness. Throughout the many activities you will develop a keen sense of environmental, cultural, social and self-awareness. With such awareness the L.E.A.D. program creates a truly transformative learning environment.

Development: The ultimate goal of the L.E.A.D. program is to offer students leadership skills, experiences, and awareness that will help develop them into a better leader. Creating a better world for tomorrow.

Raft, Sleep Behind Waterfalls, Zipline, Organic Farm, Surf, Volcanoes, + 20 hours of Community Service, Team Building, and a Scavenger Hunt throughout the 10-day Adventure

LEADers Presented with Journals & Itinerary Books

July 22nd - Arrive and Stay in Central Valley (La Condesa Hotel)

Today you will be met by your CRR representative at the gateway airport in Orlando FL. From here it will be a three hour flight to the capital city of San Jose. When the group arrives at the airport they will be met by the rest of the CRR staff. At the first hotel we'll begin with ice-breakers to get to know everyone. Next we'll go over rules and regulations for the week and what kind of adventure and fun to expect during the next 10 days. The LEAD kids will also be given two different projects which they will begin working on. The first is their mini-camp with the local kids and the second is their visit to the orphanage. We will be participating in four different projects but these two will be developed and worked on each evening by the LEAD members where they will come up with activities for how they plan to operate the mini-camp and their visit to the orphanage.

Leadership Skills Applied - Public speaking, conversation, organization, planning, interpersonal

Transformative Learning Experiences - International travel, cultural experience

Become Aware of - Compare/Contrast Costa Rica vs US, interaction with other LEAD members

Relfection in order to Develop - Experiences of first day (travel, first impressions), expectations

Journal Topics - One page on First impressions of people & place and how it feels to be away from home.

Visit to University of Peace

July 23rd - Visit United Nations University of Peace & Travel to Pacific Coast (La Cusinga)

After a good night sleep and a hearty breakfast our Leadership group continue on to the United Nations University of Peace. Here the students will spend the morning getting a tour, history, and lectures from some of the UN professors from all over the world on an introduction to world issues and what leaders of the future can bring to the table to make the world a better place.

After our visit to the University we will be on our way to the southern Pacific and staying in one of Costa Rica's best ecolodges. The ecolodge is called La Cusinga and comes with a great story of a US man who moved down in 1972 and was able to pioneer much of the conservation projects that now make Costa Rica one of the epicenters of ecotourism on the planet. In the evening we will be spending time reflecting on the time spent at the university and each student will have time to journal. (Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner)

Building a Compost

Leadership Skills Applied - Conflict Resolution.

Transformative Learning Experiences - World renowned United Nations University of Peace, Understanding of an Ecolodge

Become Aware of - World Issues, Cause and affect of Peace/Conflict, Conflict Resolutions, Environmental issues

Relfection in order to Develop - Leadership, Peace, Responsibility

Journal Topics - How you feel about the world issues we learned today. Do they make you sad, motivated, discouraged? How leaders can help?

July 24th - Community Service & Surf Classes (La Cusinga) (4-hours Service)

We will wake up to the sounds of the waves of the Pacific crashing just below. When staying at La Cusinga you have some of the best views of the Pacific you can find. With 200 acres of primary rainforest, it is where the jungle meets the sea. In the morning we will be taking part in our first community service project which will be a total of 4 hours. Each child will be making a biodigester food bin for a local family or school. We'll present them and then teach the importance of what can be done by composting food scraps.

Surf Classes

In the afternoon we'll hit the beaches of the Pacific and partake in a surfing class done by the local experts. Surfing will be the beginning of the adventure side of the trip. We'll finish our day on the beach, with a Sunset Dinner right on the Pacific. (Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner)

Leadership Skills Applied - Service, Public Speaking, Teamwork, Organization, Self-confidence

Transformative Learning Experiences - Serving the community, learning a new skill(surfing), appreciation nature(sunset).

Become Aware of - Importance of composting, local school environment, fun in the outdoors.

Relfection in order to Develop - Service, living sustainably, compare/contrast CR schools to US

Journal Topics - Free writing and difficulties of surfing. What was it that motivated you to get up after falling down so many times or what is it that made you get up so many times. Ways you can use the community service project to help back home?

July 25th - Zipline Osa Canopy & Hike into Cave (Sleep Behind Waterfall)

Today we will have breath-taking views of the Pacific coast line from a hipline. We will be zipping through the rainforest canopy at 300 ft high off the ground. This particular zipline is one of our favorites because it offers a Tarzan Swing at the end that is one of the shortest but most fun adventures you will find in all of Costa Rica!

After the zipline we will get some lunch and then begin a hike into the magical land of waterfalls. We will reach an organic garden at the half way point where we will have an afternoon snack and then continue the final leg of the hike into the area where we will have dinner and sleep behind the waterfalls. (Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner)

Waterfall Jump

July 26th - Hike to Cave & Waterfall Rappel include Team Building (Sleep Behind Waterfalls)

Today is full day of fun and adventure in the land of waterfalls. We will start by having breakfast and then make a short hike to an area where we will have the chance to jump off different waterfalls into pristine pools and enjoy the morning swimming in the pools.

The real adventure will begin when we take on the 150ft waterfall. This is a rappel that again will put the kids to the test when they are asked to walk off the edge. It is an amazing experience that builds confidence like no other adventure we have.

In the afternoon we will visit more waterfalls and arrive at an area that is atop a 600ft waterfall where we will be able to watch the sunset over the Pacific. (Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner)

Leadership Skills Applied - Motivation, teamwork, self-confidence, fortitude, commitment, and diligence

Transformative Learning Experiences - Completing the hike, rappelling

Sleeping Behind Waterfalls

Become Aware of - your strength of mind, character and resilience; permaculture

Relfection in order to Develop - Teamwork, fears, strengths and weakness

Journal Topics - Free Writing...

July 27th - Hike to Pools & Travel to Turrialba (Sitio de Mata Homestays)

Today we will head out of the Cavern but we will first visit some more waterfalls. These are some of the best waterfalls in the area because they are home to pristine swimming holes where everyone can just relax for awhile after a few days of hiking.

Here at the waterfall we will be doing different activities to get the kids involved and observing the natural world around them. After the morning in the jungle we will hike out and make the drive to the Turrialba area where we will be staying in the Espino Blanco Lodge which happens to be another eco-lodge surrounded by nature. Some people call this place very luxurious camping which is why the kids love it so much. (Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner)

Leadership Skills Applied - Organization, Planning, Creativity

Transformative Learning Experiences - Being in touch with the natural world

Become Aware of - Nature

Relfection in order to Develop - Nature and expectations for summer camp

Journal Topics - No journal today just briefing on how each member felt before and after the jungle experience. Recap on trip.

Summer Camp for Kids

July 28th - Full Day Summer Camp Service For Locals (Sitio de Mata Homestays) (8-hours Service)

Today is where community service meets FUN! We will be hosting a summer camps for locals kids in a village called Sitio de Mata. We will get to the village in the early morning and the day will be spent at the local soccer field and community center. The campers will be the younger kids of the village and they'll be doing games and educational activities designed by the LEAD kids. This mini-camp happens to always be the highlight of the trip for many students and without question a highlight of the summer for the local kids.

In the evening we will have a camp fiesta with games and competitions for the campers. (Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner)

Leadership Skills Applied - Organization, communication, time management, team work, execution of a plan, interpersonal skills, and enthusiasm.

Transformative Learning Experiences - connecting with children from Costa Rica

Become Aware of - lives of the locals

Relfection in order to Develop - thoughts, feelings of the day and the process

Journal Topics - Highlight of the day, how did local kids benefit, what could have been done more efficiently next time?

July 29th - Enter River Pacuare for full two day Team Building (Pacuare Tent Camp)

LEADers Rafting Pacuare River

After a full day at camp it will be a full day on the river today. The Pacuare River is known by National Geographic as one of the top five commercially rafted rivers on the planet for it's scenery. Today the kids will begin from early morning learning about teamwork. We'll be sleeping overnight in the jungle giving us the opportunity to take our time on the river and focus on different life skills and team building topics.

The evening will include different activities, plus our CRR story teller will induldge us with some of the ancient myths of the nearby indigenous Bribri and Cabecar Tribes. (Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner)

Leadership Skills Applied - Teamwork, communication, motivation

Transformative Learning Experiences - The River

Become Aware of - What nature has to offer; the indigenous tribes

Relfection in order to Develop - Teamwork, indigenous lifestyle

Visiting the Indigenous Communities

Journal Topics - What does it mean to be a team member on a raft? How can this relate to the world working as a team to help with some basic problems of today?

July 30th - Hike to Indigenous Village (Pacuare Camp) (4-Hours Community Service)

Today you will wake up surrounded by tropical lush primary rainforest and the sounds of the Pacuare River. The topics of learning about today will involve the different environmental issues of the tropics and how it can affect the entire life system of Earth. The topics which seem much more real on the river are: Fresh water, soil degradation, climate change, and the amazing wonder of Biomimicry, getting kids excited to learn from nature and not just learn about nature.

Pacuare Tent Lodge

Today is a unique day as we will venture into the lives of an ancient culture as we join the Cabecar Indigenous families deep in their reserve. A local guide and member of the Cabecar community will arrive to our camp and join us as we hike into the nearby community and see and learn what true sustainable living off the Earth looks like for these ancient cultures. (Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner)

Leadership Skills Applied - Teamwork, facing adversity/challenges, decision making

Transformative Learning Experiences - The River; Learning from nature not just about nature

Become Aware of - Biomimicry, challenges for leaders

Relfection in order to Develop - Types of leaders and challenges

Journal Topics - How do you feel that nature knows a lot about things that we have yet to figure out? Have you always respected nature? Can you describe the affect of different everyday things back home that might affect nature in a positive or negative way?

Happy Future LEADers writing in Journals

July 31st - Raft Out Pacuare, Visit Orphanage, & Travel to San Jose (La Condesa)

Today we will be rafitng the most adventurous part of the Pacuare River as we enjoy some great class III & IV rapids. We will make our way also through the most scenic part of the Pacuare and enjoy some hikes around the river bank. We will also be teaching the kids a few of our wilderness survival skills as we show them the basics to getting by in the jungle!

After we take out of the river we will be visiting an orphanage in Guapiles where the kids will have a chance to exchange gifts and spend some quality time as they will surely be remembered. This is a special visit and usually has the largest impact on all of our LEAD Members and a great motivation to try and work to conserve the planet for future generations.

We will then make our way back to San Jose where we will be staying at La Condesa Hotel and have a very exciting last night graduation planned for all of our New LEAD Members! (Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner)

Leadership Skills Applied - Serving, Organization, Courage, Advocating

Transformative Learning Experiences - Reforestation and Zipline

Become Aware of - Importance of Trees, climate, food supply

Relfection in order to Develop - Advocate, Making a difference

Journal Topics - Were you talking a lot or staying quiet before the zipline?

Trip Leader: Tom Ranieri
Environmentalist, dog lover, 12 years owner and operator of Costa Rican Resource

Price: $1778 / student

Includes: Double occupancy lodging, All meals included, all lodging, All LEAD program materials, Emergency care insurance.

Not Included: International Airfare & Exit Tax from Costa Rica $26's

3 Interesting Topics for the Classroom!!!

noreply@blogger.com (CRR) — Thu, 17 Jan 2013 02:19:00 +0000

Foreign Language of Laughter

Scientist all over are beginning to see the evolutionary importance of laughter. Would you guess that it is a language?! Being a social animal laughter is the cue that the company is safe and fun.

I did not like Spanish in high school and after getting immersed in the Costa Rican culture for 14 years I have to say I absolutely love Spanish! The Costa Ricans are considered some of the happiest people on the planet and learning Spanish with them is often pretty easy because they have a great sense of humor and laughter is very prevalent.

I started to think after reading an article in Psychology Today that maybe just a few minutes a day of laughing in class would ease students' nerves to use their new foreign language. This is to also say that if you laugh you can now say your bi-lingual! Ok, that might be stretching it, but it is still an interesting topic. Read below the comments from the article in Psychology Today:

"Given the universality of the sound, our ignorance about the purpose and meaning of laughter is remarkable. We somehow laugh at just the right times, without consciously knowing why we do it. Most people think of laughter as a simple response to comedy, or a cathartic mood-lifter. Instead, after 10 years of research on this little-studied topic, I concluded that laughter is primarily a social vocalization that binds people together. It is a hidden language that we all speak. It is not a learned group reaction but an instinctive behavior programmed by our genes. Laughter bonds us through humor and play."

Chocolate

My mom always says we have to save this planet because it is the only one we know of that has Chocolate. We have started a fund-raiser with a women's group here in Costa Rica. They make the organic chocolate from the cacao tree and our student guests sell the bars. They could not compete with the larger companies of Nestle which are now here in Costa Rica.

A neat lesson might be using Chocolate and this example of this womens group to teach your kids about locally grown food. It is a bit more attractive to talk about than organically grown vegetables for most kids.

Nature Awareness through Mindfulness

With the age of technology we live in and the idea that we are always doing something it is actually very beneficial to your health to stop and do nothing for a bit. There are many great activities to do in the classroom to get kids to slow down (while you have a chance to slow down too as a teacher).

You can find many activities on the web or a great book is Child's Mind: Mindful Practices to help our children become more Focused, Calm, & Relaxed.

Give it a try you will be glad you did and so will your kids. This ultimately is something that can be applied to the classroom and in nature. ENJOY!

Most Important Romance on Earth

noreply@blogger.com (Tom) — Tue, 27 Nov 2012 16:59:00 +0000

Seasons Greetings from CRR

noreply@blogger.com (Tom) — Mon, 23 Apr 2012 13:47:00 +0000

Another digital greeting card by Smilebox

This Year's Favorite Costa Rica Student Adventure

noreply@blogger.com (Tom) — Mon, 15 Aug 2011 14:58:00 +0000

Day 1 ------------ Arrive and drive to La Cusinga (La Cusinga Ecolodge)

Today we will meet you at the airport and take you to one of our favorite spots in all of Costa Rica. The name is La Cusinga and the area the southern Pacific. Here you will find a location that is unmatched by any other place in Costa Rica. This ecolodge sits on a point out over the Pacific that lends itself to the most amazing views you will find. That is why when we stay here with student groups we get the two top suites. They are actually bunks but there are two that fit 15 students each.

La Cusinga is 200 acres of primary rainforest and here we will be surrounded by nature for our stay and it lends itself for a real chance to have some full days of learning. (Meals: Dinner)

Day 2 ------------ Nature Hikes & Intro to Rainforest (La Cusinga Ecolodge)

Learning in the jungle

Today the entire day will be around the grounds of La Cusinga. We will do everything from visiting the different nature trails, the beaches, organic farms, and an evening of bonfire activities. Today is an excellent day to set up an intro of hands on activities and getting kids aware of the rainforest and the tropical region. We have a number of games, scavenger hunts, and activities we will be doing on the nature trails where each student will be spending time observing, noting, and later reflecting on the day in the jungle. (Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner)

Day 3 ------------- Zipline, Banana Plantation, & Night Hike (La Cusinga Ecolodge)

We will start the day out with a little bit of adventure as we enjoy one of the best ziplines in Costa Rica. We will make our way into the mountains where we reach an elevation of 1,000ft and breath-taking views of the coastline below. This is full morning of zipping through the rainforest.

After the zipline we will make our way to the nearby banana plantation where we will get the kids running with over 25 hands of bananas. This will give them a feel for what the journey of banana goes through. We will also talk about the topic of local foods, large monocultures, and some of the difficulties of life on the workers of the plantation.

In the afternoon we will be doing a night hike where we will have the chance to learn about the rainforest during it's night hours. (Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner)

Day 4 ------------ Enter Cave Hiking & Waterfall Rappel (Sleep Behind Waterfall)

Get ready for an adventure as we make our way to the base of a ridge where we will begin our hike into the cave. This is actually just a cavern that is tucked behind a waterfall but without question one of them most unique and beautiful places you will ever see in in your life. The hike is intense but worth it by all means. We will hike for around 2 hours as we make our way up the ridge and then down into the canyon. On our way to the waterfall we will pass by a permaculture garden where we can learn solutions to large monoculture plantations.

Upon arrival to the cavern we will have lunch and then get geared up for the 120ft waterfall rappel. This is a perfect rappel that literally ends right where you will be sleeping. After the rappel we will take one more small hike to the top of one of the tallest waterfall in all of Costa Rica measuring 600ft where we can watch the sunset over the pacific ocean. (Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner)

Day 5 ------------ Leave Cave & Drive to Turrialba (Casa Turire)

You will wake up and the first thing you will see is three waterfalls forming a wall that flow over where we will be sleeping. There is nothing like this that we can compare it to. After breakfast we will then make another hike to some more waterfalls and pools. The kids will have a chance to jump off a 15 ft waterfall into a beautiful pristine pool. After the hike it is back down to the cavern for lunch and then time to hike out. After we hike out of the cave we will make our way to the area of Turrialba by way of the Paramo of Costa Rica which is one of the most unique areas of the tropics. The Paramo is what comes after the cloud-forest in high elevations of the tropics below the snow line.

When we arrive to Turrialba we have a real treat planned for everyone. You will be staying in the Casa Turire hotel. (Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner)

Note: This itinerary would also have the option of doing two nights in the homestays if you wanted to add a night or remove the overnight river trip and just do a day river trip.

Day 6 ------------ Enter Pacuare River (River Tent-Camp)

After a delicious breakfast in your Casa Turire hotel you will make your way back to the jungle. This time your adventure will be by raft. The Pacuare River is listed as one of the top 5 on the planet. We will be starting our adventure in the entrance known as La Cruz and raft down for around two hours stopping for a river lunch along the way. After we finish our lunch we will make our way to the camp site. This is not roughing it by any means and all of your camping gear is set up and meals prepared for you. There are bathrooms and showers at the camp-site. (Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner)

Day 7 ------------ Leave Pacuare & Drive to Airport Hotel (Airport Hotel)

Waking up in the jungle with the sound of the river and surrounded by primary rainforest is a morning you will never forget. We will get some breakfast and geared back up for the most intense two hours of rafting you will have on the river. Today we will take on the Pacuare Canyon which is filled with some of the best rapids in all of Costa Rica.

After we make our way out of the Pacuare canyon we will take out of the river and make the short drive to the area of San Jose putting us close to the airport for a day 8 departure. (Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner)

Day 8 ------------ Fly Home!

Transfer to the airport and Fly Home! You can extend this itinerary more days and include the area of Sarapiqui which is lowland rainforest and the area of Arenal Volcano making it an 11 day trip.

Time to Play Kids

noreply@blogger.com (Tom) — Sun, 08 May 2011 14:09:00 +0000

Growing up and loved basketball and found myself playing almost everyday out in the school yard until I realized I was not going to grow up much taller than 5 ft 7 inches I better look elsewhere for a way to make a living. It is much the same today that kids during their school hours of "recess" have the option to go outside and play on the basketball court, volleyball, or an industrial looking slide and swing. This all caught my attention working in the outdoors now for the last 10 years and being surrounded by kids and nature trying to get kids to make humans part of the landscape of the natural world and not just something we are here to exploit.

The idea of playing outside during school hours was made clearer to me in something called the "loose-parts theory". This theory is to say that playing in a more natural setting like a forest or a field with trees, rivers, or ponds has many more loose-parts than just a basketball court. These loose-parts allow the imagination to soar and begin games invented in the childrens mind.

It was while I was reading the book "Last Child in the Woods" that I learned about a Swedish study that found children on asphalt playgrounds had play that was much more interrupted; they played in short segments. But when in a more natural playgrounds, children invented whole sagas that they carried from day to day to day -- making and collecting meaning. (Source: Richard Louv)

Basically to put it short for kids playing outside in natural settings can have endless positive affects on our society that are just beging to be discovered. Unfortunately one of the reasons kids have to be on artificial playgrounds is because of the ear of law-suits and schools afraid of getting sued for having a kid really enjoy and get the benefits of being outside.

Costa Rica Teen Summer Camps

Toll Free: 1-855-CRR TOUR

La Sabana

noreply@blogger.com (Tom) — Fri, 06 May 2011 16:02:00 +0000

La Sabana City Park in San Jose will be an experiment in clean air. This month workers will plant 5,000 new indigenous trees in the park. Many of the existing trees are exotic and they will be removed from the park. They are diseased or otherwise damaged. Sabana Park is called the green lung of the capital city. The new growth will help Sabana Park continue to do its job.

THE PACUARE RIVER

noreply@blogger.com (Tom) — Mon, 02 May 2011 15:00:00 +0000

The Pacuare River, or the Rio Pacuare, flows for 180 km before it empties into the Caribbean. National Geographic selected the Pacuare as one of the top five rivers in the world for recreational white water rafting. The rainforests and canyons that border the river make for breathtaking scenery. The land is so pristine that you feel this is the way it must have been when Columbus arrived. Indigenous people live along the river. Jaguars, black panthers, racoons, capuchin monkeys and sloths call the shores of the Pacuare River home.