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Northwoods offers seasonal travel study expeditions. We maintain a calendar
of trips, which includes canoeing the Northwest, sailing in the lakes of North
Idaho and the San Juan Islands of the Puget Sound, backpacking in the North
Idaho mountains and British Columbia, hot springs of the Northwest, and a trip
to Costa Rica. Our seasonal calendar also includes a spring mountain bike trip
to Moab, Utah.
The Travel Study Program embraces the idea that young people
learn best when they are fully involved in the experience.
- A joyous existence in which one feels a "zest for life".
- A way of living which maximizes potential.
- A purposeful direction which gives meaning to life.
- An ability to adapt to the challenges of a changing environment.
Travel Studies: Costa Rica By: Dave Yeats,
Northwoods Founder
Since the first Northwoods group traveled to Costa Rica 9 years ago, this
experience has come to define our travel studies curriculum. In some ways,
little has changed. La Tigra still serves as our base, and our relationship with
that community still provides the greatest value to the visiting students and
then, so much has changed.
We have our beautiful tropical hardwood lodge and cozy cabins, flanked by the
Children’s Rainforest Reserve. The fleet of vehicles put either the Pacific or
Caribbean coasts within a half day drive, compared to the two day, four bus and
a ferry, expedition it once was.
Our groups typically travel down for a four month stay, as opposed to the
original six week trips. We now own 100 acres, 30 of which is primary
rainforest, including 10 acres on the Tenorio River in Guanacaste, and 90 acres
bordering the La Tigra River in San Carlos. Both of these properties are
multi-use, with sizeable portions set aside for conservation, arable sections
suitable for food production and reforestation, and a couple of building sites
for future development. We have always been a hands on kind of place, and these
properties open up unlimited opportunities to continue that direction.
There is quite a geographical and cultural contrast between rural Costa Rica,
where we operate in Idaho, and where our students are from. Our purpose in Costa
Rica is to get the kids out and involved in this new community, gain at least a
basic knowledge of the language, and develop relationships with our neighbors
there. Those that live with Host Families often form bonds that last for years.
When I talk to a former student years down the road, they invariably ask about
their friends in Costa Rica. I also have families there telling me about a
recent call they received from a former student.
We encourage our client families to visit Costa Rica during their sons stay.
Our students have the opportunity to plan and guide their families adventure,
and the families have an opportunity to experience a part of Costa Rica rarely
experienced by a typical tourist. Often times, this is the first overwhelmingly
positive experience our families have had together in several years.
I often reflect back on how much my world view expanded when I first traveled
abroad almost 30 years ago. I believe that Northwoods Travel Studies is
providing that same opportunity to our students, allowing them to develop a more
accurate view of where they stand in the world.
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