The Costa Rica Service Challenge provides an exciting opportunity for Girl Scouts to experience a new country and culture through service projects as well as adventure activities.

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If you’re looking for the ultimate challenge while making a difference, this is the course for you! During your 14 days in tropical Costa Rica you will work to improve the lives of local people and to protect the unique and fragile ecosystem of this beautiful country.

You will participate in two sets of service projects. One project will take place in the indigenous region of Talamanca. While staying in a remote village, you will work with your group to support the local community. Projects may include food distribution, garden building, painting, teaching English, building aqueducts and recycling projects. Learn about native customs, culture, language and food while making an active contribution to the community. 

The other service project will allow you to learn about and protect Costa Rica’s beautiful and interesting ecosystems while working on a sea turtle conservation project on the Pacific coast. Learn about this endangered species while you help with conservation efforts through activities such as nightly patrols, cataloging nests, habitat creation, and (hopefully!) releasing newly hatched baby turtles into the wild. You will learn about Costa Rica’s exotic wildlife and ecosystems and may participate in additional service projects such as beach clean-ups and/or trail preservations.

When you are not engaged in service projects, other activities may include braving rapids on a whitewater rafting adventure, ziplining on a canopy tour, surfing, visiting a local volcano, and soaking in the vibrant culture of Costa Rica’s capital city, San Jose with a visit to an artisan market.

Girl Scouts will be exposed to Costa Rica Outward Bound’s unique approach to outdoor education and personal development. Woven into all activities are discussions and meetings about leadership. Explore how the challenges you meet in and out of the Costa Rican wilderness help you confront challenges that life presents.

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San Jose, Costa Rica
Costa Rica (Activities in San Jose, Cartago, Puntarenas and Limón Provinces) Base Camp is located in San Ramon de Tres Rios; Service project will take place in Talamanca (Limón Province; Due to changing water and weather conditions, we can not specify exactly which river your course will visit.

Be It

• Interest in community service and cultural exchange
• Spanish language skills and willingness to learn very useful
• Ready for a physical fitness challenge
• Intermediate-level swimmer who is comfortable in the water
• A good team player

Plan It

• Session 1; June 22, 2013–July 6, 2013; $2,050
  Must be 13–18 years old at the time of the event.
• Session 2; July 6–20, 2013; $2,050
  Must be 13–18 years old at the time of the event.

Get It

• A packing list will be provided upon acceptance
• Valid current passport

• You will need a tetanus vaccination before arrival

$ It

$200 deposit will be due immediately upon acceptance (to be used toward the total tuition cost of the course)

You will be responsible for providing your own round-trip airfare to San Jose, Costa Rica (SJO airport), as well as bringing your own spending money.

Note:

Please be sure to specify which session(s) you are applying for when filling out your application.

Application Instructions:
	Please be aware that Costa Rica Outward Bound’s offices are located in Costa Rica. Your application will be forwarded from our Miami post office box. You will receive an email from Costa Rica Outward Bound once your application has been received. Therefore, do not send a self-addressed stamped postcard with your application.

Download the Application Form(s):
	destinations_girl_application_2013.pdf destinations_girl_application_2013.doc