Costa Rica Rainforest Outward Bound School
Encyclopedia
Costa Rica Rainforest Outward Bound School (CRROBS) is a non-profit experiential learning
/ outdoor education
organization based in San José, Costa Rica
. It is an offshoot of Outward Bound International (OBI).
The Costa Rica charter combines adventure activities - including hiking
, rafting
, kayaking
, surfing
, rappelling, SCUBA diving
and tree climbing
- with the cultural experience of learning first-hand about the Costa Rican way of life and environment by staying with local families and immersion in wilderness settings. The organisation's aim is to develop 12 character traits:
, Wales
in 1941 by Kurt Hahn
and Lawrence Holt
with the support of the Blue Funnel Line
. Outward Bound grew out of Hahn's work in the development of the Gordonstoun
school and what is now known as the Duke of Edinburgh's Award. Outward Bound's founding mission was to give young seamen
the ability to survive harsh conditions at sea
by teaching confidence and tenacity. Jim Hogan served as warden for the first year of the school.
Fifty years later, in September 1991, a Coloradoan named Jim Rowe traveled by land from home - where he had been working as an instructor for Colorado Outward Bound School (COBS) - to Costa Rica. The first year in Costa Rica he focused on learning first-hand indigenous
culture, rainforest ecology
, and Costa Rican geography
. He returned the second year with a monolithic raft and some SCUBA diving
equipment to begin an adventure activities company, using the same boat to run SCUBA and river trips.
In Rowe's third year he focused more on equipment, river rafting, and mountaineering
. His central location in Quepos
had three uncrowded rivers ideal for rafting. Running day trips on the river helped him build the needed capital and marketing funds to establish a school for running courses more relevant to his philosophical approach to instructing. Rather than running quick commercial trips, he started leading trips whose objectives were to learn through adventure. He founded Save the Rainforest Expeditions School (STRES) to provide an avenue to work with youth applying the same philosophies as he used at COBS. STRES claimed to focus on teaching self-reliance, leadership, compassion, and service in a Costa Rican environment: Outward Bound principles were taught through rainforest adventures and service projects geared toward rainforest conservation as well as indigenous village assistance.
One year later, Rowe applied for and received a provisional charter (a charter that would become a permanent charter after three years) if CRROBS maintained Outward Bound International (OBI) policies and procedures. In September 1997, CRROBS received a full charter from Outward Bound International.
courses, day and weekend courses with Costa Rica's local schools and organizations, custom-made courses, and Iztarú Scouting Camp courses.
Locations include:
Experiential learning
Experiential learning is the process of making meaning from direct experience. Simply put, Experiential Learning is learning from experience. The experience can be staged or left open. Aristotle once said, "For the things we have to learn before we can do them, we learn by doing them." David A...
/ outdoor education
Outdoor education
Outdoor education usually refers to organized learning that takes place in the outdoors. Outdoor education programs sometimes involve residential or journey-based experiences in which students participate in a variety of adventurous challenges in the form of outdoor activities such as hiking,...
organization based in San José, Costa Rica
San José, Costa Rica
San José is the capital and largest city of Costa Rica. Located in the Central Valley, San José is the seat of national government, the focal point of political and economic activity, and the major transportation hub of this Central American nation.Founded in 1738 by order of Cabildo de León, San...
. It is an offshoot of Outward Bound International (OBI).
Mission and philosophy
Learning through experience was the philosophy of the original Outward Bound when it was founded in 1941. It is an educational process based on action and reflection. Experiences are intentionally designed, presented, and reflected upon to instil values and promote skills. The mission of CRROBS is to promote personal, cultural, and environmental integrity through Outward Bound principle-based adventure.The Costa Rica charter combines adventure activities - including hiking
Hiking
Hiking is an outdoor activity which consists of walking in natural environments, often in mountainous or other scenic terrain. People often hike on hiking trails. It is such a popular activity that there are numerous hiking organizations worldwide. The health benefits of different types of hiking...
, rafting
Rafting
Rafting or white water rafting is a challenging recreational outdoor activity using an inflatable raft to navigate a river or other bodies of water. This is usually done on white water or different degrees of rough water, in order to thrill and excite the raft passengers. The development of this...
, kayaking
Kayaking
Kayaking is the use of a kayak for moving across water. Kayaking and canoeing are also known as paddling. Kayaking is distinguished from canoeing by the sitting position of the paddler and the number of blades on the paddle...
, surfing
Surfing
Surfing' is a surface water sport in which the surfer rides a surfboard on the crest and face of a wave which is carrying the surfer towards the shore...
, rappelling, SCUBA diving
Scuba diving
Scuba diving is a form of underwater diving in which a diver uses a scuba set to breathe underwater....
and tree climbing
Tree climbing
Tree climbing is a recreational or functional activity consisting of ascending and moving around in the crown of trees.Use of a rope, helmet, and harness are the minimum requirements to ensure the safety of the climber. Other equipment can also be used depending on the experience and skill of the...
- with the cultural experience of learning first-hand about the Costa Rican way of life and environment by staying with local families and immersion in wilderness settings. The organisation's aim is to develop 12 character traits:
- Active curiosity
- Tenacity & Pursuit
- Undefeatable spirit
- Sensible self-denial
- Compassion
- Sense of community & holism
- Physical fitness
- Dynamic leadership
- Open & effective communication
- Inter-cultural understanding
- Knowledge & respect for the natural environment
- Self-respect
Core principles
The organisation claims that five core principles are central to every Outward Bound course:- Challenge & Adventure
- Compassion & Service
- Social & Environmental Responsibility
- Character Development
- Learning Through Experience
History
The first Outward Bound school was opened in AberdoveyAberdyfi
Aberdyfi , or Aberdovey is a village on the north side of the estuary of the River Dyfi in Gwynedd, on the west coast of Wales....
, Wales
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
in 1941 by Kurt Hahn
Kurt Hahn
Kurt Martin Hahn was a German educator whose philosophies are considered internationally influential.-Biography:...
and Lawrence Holt
Lawrence Holt
Lawrence Holt, from the Blue Funnel Shipping Line, was co-founder of Outward Bound in 1941, along with renowned educator, Kurt Hahn.According to Heathcote , "for five years, Lawrence Holt persuaded his partners to underwrite...
with the support of the Blue Funnel Line
Blue Funnel Line
Alfred Holt and Company, marketed as the Blue Funnel Line, was founded by Alfred Holt on 16 January 1866.The main operating subsidiary was the Ocean Steam Ship Company, which owned and operated the majority of the company's vessels....
. Outward Bound grew out of Hahn's work in the development of the Gordonstoun
Gordonstoun
Gordonstoun School is a co-educational independent school for boarding and day pupils in Moray in North East Scotland. Named after the estate originally owned by Sir Robert Gordon in the 1600s, the school now uses this estate as its campus...
school and what is now known as the Duke of Edinburgh's Award. Outward Bound's founding mission was to give young seamen
Seaman
Seaman is one of the lowest ranks in a Navy. In the Commonwealth it is the lowest rank in the Navy, followed by Able Seaman and Leading Seaman, and followed by the Petty Officer ranks....
the ability to survive harsh conditions at sea
Sea
A sea generally refers to a large body of salt water, but the term is used in other contexts as well. Most commonly, it means a large expanse of saline water connected with an ocean, and is commonly used as a synonym for ocean...
by teaching confidence and tenacity. Jim Hogan served as warden for the first year of the school.
Fifty years later, in September 1991, a Coloradoan named Jim Rowe traveled by land from home - where he had been working as an instructor for Colorado Outward Bound School (COBS) - to Costa Rica. The first year in Costa Rica he focused on learning first-hand indigenous
Indigenous peoples
Indigenous peoples are ethnic groups that are defined as indigenous according to one of the various definitions of the term, there is no universally accepted definition but most of which carry connotations of being the "original inhabitants" of a territory....
culture, rainforest ecology
Ecology
Ecology is the scientific study of the relations that living organisms have with respect to each other and their natural environment. Variables of interest to ecologists include the composition, distribution, amount , number, and changing states of organisms within and among ecosystems...
, and Costa Rican geography
Geography
Geography is the science that studies the lands, features, inhabitants, and phenomena of Earth. A literal translation would be "to describe or write about the Earth". The first person to use the word "geography" was Eratosthenes...
. He returned the second year with a monolithic raft and some SCUBA diving
Scuba diving
Scuba diving is a form of underwater diving in which a diver uses a scuba set to breathe underwater....
equipment to begin an adventure activities company, using the same boat to run SCUBA and river trips.
In Rowe's third year he focused more on equipment, river rafting, and mountaineering
Mountaineering
Mountaineering or mountain climbing is the sport, hobby or profession of hiking, skiing, and climbing mountains. While mountaineering began as attempts to reach the highest point of unclimbed mountains it has branched into specialisations that address different aspects of the mountain and consists...
. His central location in Quepos
Quepos
Quepos is a city in Puntarenas Province, Costa Rica. It is served by the Quepos-La Managua airport. It is located at around . It is home to approximately 14,000 people....
had three uncrowded rivers ideal for rafting. Running day trips on the river helped him build the needed capital and marketing funds to establish a school for running courses more relevant to his philosophical approach to instructing. Rather than running quick commercial trips, he started leading trips whose objectives were to learn through adventure. He founded Save the Rainforest Expeditions School (STRES) to provide an avenue to work with youth applying the same philosophies as he used at COBS. STRES claimed to focus on teaching self-reliance, leadership, compassion, and service in a Costa Rican environment: Outward Bound principles were taught through rainforest adventures and service projects geared toward rainforest conservation as well as indigenous village assistance.
One year later, Rowe applied for and received a provisional charter (a charter that would become a permanent charter after three years) if CRROBS maintained Outward Bound International (OBI) policies and procedures. In September 1997, CRROBS received a full charter from Outward Bound International.
Current
Costa Rica Outward Bound instructed 4,787 students in 2008 and totaled 23,816 SPDs (Student Participation Days). These numbers reflect students who participated in Open Enrollment courses(CRROBS' scheduled courses), Girl ScoutsGirl Scouts of the USA
The Girl Scouts of the United States of America is a youth organization for girls in the United States and American girls living abroad. It describes itself as "the world's preeminent organization dedicated solely to girls". It was founded by Juliette Gordon Low in 1912 and was organized after Low...
courses, day and weekend courses with Costa Rica's local schools and organizations, custom-made courses, and Iztarú Scouting Camp courses.
Course specifics
Costa Rica Rainforest Outward Bound courses must focus on physical challenge, personal development, and safety amidst rainforests, rivers, and beaches. Additionally, there is cultural immersion in remote rainforest villages run by native Costa Ricans. Course categories include:- Adult Adventure
- Custom Courses
- Girl Scouts
- Summer Adventures
- Semester Courses
- Surfing
Locations include:
- Costa RicaCosta RicaCosta Rica , officially the Republic of Costa Rica is a multilingual, multiethnic and multicultural country in Central America, bordered by Nicaragua to the north, Panama to the southeast, the Pacific Ocean to the west and the Caribbean Sea to the east....
: all parts for all courses - PanamaPanamaPanama , officially the Republic of Panama , is the southernmost country of Central America. Situated on the isthmus connecting North and South America, it is bordered by Costa Rica to the northwest, Colombia to the southeast, the Caribbean Sea to the north and the Pacific Ocean to the south. The...
: Bocas del ToroBocas del Toro-Transportation:Bocas del Toro is accessible by air or boat. Most visitors fly into Bocas del Toro "Isla Colón" International Airport from Costa Rica or Panama City. Ferries connect Almirante and Changuinola to Bocas del Toro. The ferry from travels thru a canal built to serve local banana...
for semester courses, courses involving SCUBAScuba divingScuba diving is a form of underwater diving in which a diver uses a scuba set to breathe underwater.... - NicaraguaNicaraguaNicaragua is the largest country in the Central American American isthmus, bordered by Honduras to the north and Costa Rica to the south. The country is situated between 11 and 14 degrees north of the Equator in the Northern Hemisphere, which places it entirely within the tropics. The Pacific Ocean...
: San Juan del SurSan Juan del SurSan Juan del Sur is a municipality and coastal town on the Pacific Ocean, in the Rivas department in south-west Nicaragua. San Juan del Sur is popular among surfers and is a vacation spot for many Nicaraguan families and foreign tourists....
for semester courses
See also
:Category:Outward Bound- Outward Bound International
- Outward Bound SingaporeOutward Bound SingaporeOutward Bound Singapore is part of the network of Outward Bound centres worldwide. While Outward Bound is well-established in many other countries, the Outward Bound centre in Singapore has the distinction of having an 'Excellent' rating for expertise, facilities and safety...
- Outward Bound USAOutward Bound USAOutward Bound USA is the collection of outdoor education organizations in the USA which are officially registered as schools by Outward Bound International. In the U.S., more than 60,000 people participate in its programs every year...