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Costa Rica Outdoor Leadership

Program Details

This program, in collaboration with Outward Bound Costa Rica, offers an unique opportunity to develop outdoor leadership skills in a breathtaking tropical environment. Through experiential learning, participants will gain hands-on experience in outdoor activities such as river rafting, jungle navigation, and/or snorkeling vibrant coral reefs. The program incorporates activities like rappelling, fostering teamwork and problem-solving in a challenging yet rewarding setting. This immersive experience goes beyond skill development, cultivating a deep respect for the natural world and fostering the growth of effective outdoor leaders. 

Carbon Neutral: Funds from this program will support the purchasing of carbon offsets to reduce the program's carbon footprint.

Selection Criteria:

  • Be 18 years of age or older.
  • Any WSU enrolled student in any major
  • participants enrolling in OCRE 2550 must have completed OCRE 2500.

Physical Fitness: Students will be participating in rigorous outdoor adventure activities while in Costa Rica. We ask that students physically prepare for a variety of activities and come prepared to sleep outside and in rustic accommodations

Destination:

  • Costa Rica 

Program Dates:

February 28th - March 9th, 2025

Cost

Cost: $3,099 (airfare not included)

Deposit: $500 Deposit is due 72 hours after registration. If not paid in that timeframe, you may be dropped from your trip.

Payments can now be made online! Visit this website for instructions on how to pay your deposit and future payments online. Charges should show on your account within 24-48 hours after registration. If you want to pay with cash or check, please pay at the Hurst Center for Lifelong Learning.

Includes: insurance, tuition, domestic transportation, excursions, and some meals.

Not included: airfare, passport, incidentals, excess baggage costs, any unscheduled travel, and some meals.

Itinerary

This is a tentative itinerary and is subject to change as we finalize the details of this trip:

December TBD: pre-departure orientation 

February TBD: pre-departure orientation

February 28th: SLC departure, transfer from San Jose to the Outward Bound base in Tres Rios

February 29th - March 8th: backpacking through the tropical jungle, waterfall rappelling, service, tropical beaches, and whitewater rafting

March 9th: Return to SLC

 

Academic Courses

Students who participate in this study abroad program will be able to register for up to four (4) semester credits through Weber State University by choosing one of the following:

  • OCRE 2550: Leadership & Safety Management for Outdoor Pursuits (4 credits) prerequisite of OCRE 2500 for this course

OR

  • OCRE 2610: Intro to Outdoor Living Skills (2 credits)
  • REC 1310 (1 credit)
  • REC 2920 (1 credit)

Program Directors

  • Jon Griffith is an instructor for the Outdoor and Community Recreation Education Program. His graduate work is in recreation management from Northern Arizona University and his Bachelor's degree is in Natural Resource Management from the University of Maine. Before coming to Weber State, Jon worked in the outdoor industry for over twenty years teaching outdoor education, running an adventure therapy program, and providing technical training and risk management consulting within the outdoor industry. Jon was also an instructor for Outward Bound in the Everglades of Florida.

     jonathangriffith2@weber.edu

  • Eddie Hill is an associate professor in the Outdoor & Community Recreation Education program at Weber State University. He earned his Ph.D. from the University of Utah with a focus on youth development and diabetes management. He has written multiple grants, published extensively, and delivered numerous presentations at professional conferences. Eddie has a strong record of scholarship in the area of positive youth development, outdoor recreation, health & wellness. He is the Director of REACH Weber, a year-round recreation program serving youth with type 1 diabetes and their families. Eddie has over 25 years of experience as a former challenge course facilitator, Outward Bound field staff, and middle school teacher. 

     eddiehill@weber.edu

Trip Cancellations

If Weber State cancels a trip for any reason, all participants will be refunded 100% of funds paid to the school. If a participant withdraws from the program for any reason, they are subject to the refund policy found on the first page of the application.  Deposits are always non-refundable, unless the program is canceled by Weber State.  No refunds will be issued 30 days prior to program start date. 

Refunds will NOT be given to students due to COVID-19 concerns. Before programs were canceled in 2020, every student was given the option to withdraw from programs without penalty due to COVID-19. This year students are applying, cognizant of the pandemic. Weber State will not intentionally place students into high risk situations. We will work together with Program Leaders and Departments on canceling should the destination demonstrate increased risks, be they from COVID or any other concern. As such, students must abide by the standard refund policy.

If you have any questions, feel free to contact the Study Abroad Office at (801) 626-8715.