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Costa Rica: Surf & Sports Service Adventure
Awaken your inner surfer as you learn to ride Costa Rica’s dream waves and connect with the local community through sports.
Highlights
- Learn to surf from seasoned veterans
- Adopt local surf culture and the mindful lifestyle of surfers before you
- Organize and run a sports camp for local children
- Discuss the role that sports play in connecting people across cultures
- Go whitewater rafting and hiking in the lush rainforest
- Complement days of surf and service with yoga classes
- Become a steward of marine conservation and sustainability
Overview
Imagine waking up at dawn to natural light filtering through your bungalow, and a warm sea breeze—it’s time to surf. You’ll learn from seasoned veterans of the local surf community how to paddle out, pop up and trim across Costa Rica’s pristine waves. You’ll also connect deeply with local families of Bahia Ballena, your beachside home, by putting on a sports camp for local children. Consider the role that sports play in Tico society, and spend your days leading an active lifestyle through surfing and yoga, high-energy volunteering and outdoor adventure.
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Community Service
For youth around the world, self esteem and tools for success come not only from learning in school, but also from playing sports and finding passion in after-school activities. You’ll organize a Costa Rica sports camp for the kids of Bahia Ballena, where they can spend time everyday after school building confidence and life skills. Additionally, you’ll work with the local community on infrastructure and community refurbishment projects focused on educating visitors about beach safety and environmental awareness.
Hands-On Learning
Living and volunteering in Bahia Ballena will introduce you to the major role the ocean plays in daily life—not only in Costa Rica, but around the world. Your surf instructors will teach more than the basics of this soul sport. You’ll learn about surfing’s origins, observe a sustainability-driven lifestyle, visit a board shaping bay and absorb discussions and documentaries on ocean conservation and climate change. Organizing sports camp and doing volunteer work in the community will also improve your skills in working with children and cross-cultural communication.
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Adventure
Costa Rica is known for being an outdoor adventurer’s playground, and Bahia Ballena is no exception. In addition to endless opportunities for surfing and helping local youth learn new sports, you’ll also go on a whitewater rafting expedition that will allow you to fully appreciate this region’s rugged, untouched landscape. Practice yoga in an open-air studio, hike through environmentally rich sections of the rainforest, and explore Marino Ballena National Park, established to conserve the rich marine ecosystems that are found inside the park boundaries.
Lodging
The Home Base is a small lodge in Bahia Ballena, surrounded by lush gardens. Students stay in gender-segregated rooms with fans and bathrooms with cold water showers. Meals will be hearty and healthy, consisting mostly of Costa Rican staples: rice and beans, meat, vegetables and lots of tropical fruit.
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Dates & Tuition
Costa Rica: Surf & Sports Service Adventure 10-Day Program
| 2017 Dates |
|---|
| Jul 31 - Aug 9, 2017 |
| Aug 13 - Aug 22, 2017 |
| 2018 Dates |
|---|
| Jun 11 - Jun 20, 2018 |
| Jun 23 - Jul 2, 2018 |
| Jul 5 - Jul 14, 2018 |
| Jul 17 - Jul 26, 2018 |
| Jul 30 - Aug 8, 2018 |
| Aug 12 - Aug 21, 2018 |
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Our 21-day Flagship programs provide the ideal amount of time to satisfy every dimension of the GLA Experience.