Costa Rica Teen Summer Camp

Costa Rican Resource is offering an Eco-Adventure Teen Summer Camp for young adults that want to get out and appreciate nature and have some fun safe adventures, all while learning safety and ecology from some of the  top teaching professionals in this field. This Costa Rica Summer Camp will be offered with CRR staff members on hand 24 - 7. It is a 11 day course. The campers will receive instruction on living green, intro to whitewater rafting, and Vertical Rescue which will be certified under the Rescue 3 Certificates, an internationally qualified adventure course teaching program. All campers will have a written and a practical test if they interested in receiving the certificate.

Note: The rafting course will be given but will not be certified by Rescue 3. It is just to give the campers some experience on the different events of rafting and also make it fun.

The Vertical Rescue Course (Rappelling Course) will be excellent on a college application.

Our goal with this camp is not just to give the kids a vacation, but also a chance to accomplish through hard work, and knowledge, a love for nature, and how to keep it beautiful. We get the kids out into nature and surround them with it, teach them about it, and then teach them the importance of living simply with a conscience of how to live their day to day life with thoughts of preserving the beauties of nature. We also offer them some personal challenges with the hiking, rafting and rappelling. The sense of accomplishment the individual can feel when completing this program can last a lifetime. 

There will be different Eco-educational activities and three evening lectures teaching the campers about the environment and ways they can help conserve it. 

Requirements for Campers:

* Must abide by CRR Camper Code of Conduct

* Must be able to swim

* Must have the ablility to hike 1 mile of incline

* Minimum age--14 

Day 1: July 1st -------- Arrive Costa Rica San Jose Airport (CRR Base Camp Central Valley)

Today the campers will be met by CRR guides at the airport and take you to the CRR Base Camp in the Central Valley. We will use this time to do some ice-breakers so the entire group can get to know each other. We will also go over the rules and regulations of the camp and the purpose of having Eco-Adventure Summer Camps! (Meals: Lunch & Dinner)

Day 2: July 2nd ----------------  Drive to Turrialba & Visit Village (Turrialba River Lodge)

During Vertical Rescue Course Sleep in the Cavern 

Today we will travel to Turrialba. We will not get an early start as we want the kids to get a good night sleep. When we drive to the river lodge we will be stopping by a local village where we'll lunch and watch the local villagers put on a show for us. In this village we are going to show how the folks use recycled goods in their everyday lives and the amazing mix of simplicity with happiness.  This is a real treat and a chance to enjoy the culture. We will spend the night in a lodge near the river and get ready for our rafting adventure. (Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner)

Day 3: July 3rd --------------- Enter River Pacuare & Intro to Rafting Day Course (Pacuare Camp)

Today we enter what National Geographic has listed as one of the top five rivers in the world. While in the Pacuare area we'll be learning about the rainforest and the bio-diversity of Costa Rica. We will be spending most of the day today going over the basics of river rafting. We'll start with teaching the kids how to handle the raft, how to throw their safety line, and also some experience in the water.  (Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

Pacuare River

Day 4: July 4th ---------------- Rafting Course & Eco Education (Pacuare Camp)

Today we will continue learning about the rainforest and the many different species. We feel that once they learn what there is out there to conserve they will listen to our ways to help live using greener ways of consuming. We will also spend the afternoon going over more rafting techniques, including different types of rescues.  The kids will be sleeping in tents and we will take some nature hikes. (Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner)

Day 5: July 5th ------------- Morning Hikes and Afternoon Education on Rainforest  (Pacuare Camp)

In the morning it is back to the river. We plan on doing some more advanced river rescue. In the afternoon we'll be learning more about the rainforest and the purpose it serves in the world. This will also involve a lecture on the importance of trying to live more green in our everyday lives and ways to make it easy. (Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner)

Pacuare Camp

Day 6: July 6th ------------- Raft Pacuare to take-out (Lodge in Mountains)

Today we will raft out of the Pacuare and take on some of its best class IV rapids. The kids will get a chance to guide some class II rapids and test out their skills.  This is about two hours of rafting today and when we get to the take-out we will dry off, get on the bus and drive over Costa Rica's Talamanca Mountain range. Here we'll stay in a lodge that is at an elevation of around 11,000ft. This is a great experience and the kids can enjoy the fire at the lodge in the evening. (Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner)

Pacuare Camp

Day 7: July 7th ------------- Enter Cave and start Vertical Rescue Course Certified by Rescue 3 (The Cavern)

Today we will enter the cavern and begin our Vertical Rescue Course. The course will begin in the afternoon as we will be spending the morning hiking into the cavern. This is an amazing hike and well worth the effort. When we arrive we will have an nice big meal waiting for us right in the cave and then it is time to learn the ropes and become a rappel expert. (Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner)

Day 8: July 8th ------------- Vertical Rescue Course (The Cavern)

Today is a full day of Vertical Rescue Course. We plan on doing rappels off the many different waterfalls in the area and the kids will have to learn a number of different knots for the course. This is a certified Rescue 3 course and the campers will have a certification that is recognized internationally.  (Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner)

Philip Perez (Rescue 3 Certifier)

Day 9: July 9th ------------- Vertical Rescue Course (The Cavern)

Today the kids will continue their course on Vertical Rescue and also enjoy some hikes to the natural pools in the area.  The course today will get intense also as each camper has to be able to set up their rappel, check equipment, put on harnass, connect themselves, and make the rappel. We will go over a number of different ways for the rappel during this day. (Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner)

Day 10: July 10th ------ Finish Course and Travel to CRR Base Camp near airport

Tom Ranieri (Camp Director)  

We will hike out of the cave today and return to the Central Valley via the Pacific coastline. The kids will have an hour or so to put their feet in the Pacific. This will put us close to the airport for tomorrow's depatures. All the campers will leave with their certification and be listed in the Rescue  3 directory as being certified Vertical Rescue technicians. (Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner)

Day 11: July 11th ----- Fly Home!


After a celebration of being in nature for two weeks we will say our good byes and wish everyone the best of luck with all their new skills.