West Coast Surf & Skate  •  Costa Rica Explorer

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moderate West Coast Surf & Skate itinerary: Ages 12-15 July 13 to 25 $2350

Drop In with the Pros – 6 days/nights

Visalia YMCA’s Element Skate Camp is a place where everyone learns.  How could you not when you are surrounded by pros such as Bucky Lasek, Collin Provost, and Bam Margera.  We will spend time skateboarding on ramps and street courses designed for every level of skater.  Skate staff and professionals are there to help you out whatever your skill level.

Surf’s Up! – 4 days/nights

YMCA Camp Surf will be our host as we learn to ride the waves.  We will spend our days boogie boarding, surfing, and enjoying the California sun.  Camp Surf’s private beach will give us plenty of space and their dining hall will provide our meals.  Our tents will be right on the beach so that the sound of the ocean will lull us to sleep every night after sitting around the fire.  What more could you ask for?

California Culture – 2 Days

We don’t want to miss out on some other great opportunities so we will spend 2 days checking out what Cali has to offer.  One day will be spent a Disney’s California Adventure exploring the rides and attractions with a West Coast twist.  The other day will be spent at Six Flags Magic Mountain.

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*This is an international trip.  ALL U.S. citizens, regardless of age, are required to carry a valid U.S. passport.

Arrival – Sun., June 29

Participants should arrive at Frost Valley at 2:00 pm.  We will spend the rest of the day getting to know each other and checking out gear.

Flying the Friendly Skies – Mon., June 30

Today we will fly to San Jose which is in the central valley of Costa Rica, home to 80% of the country's population and surrounded by mountains.  We’ll spend our first night in country getting acquainted with our guides.

Whitewater Adventure – 1 night

Whitewater rafting is our activity for the day.  This is an excellent way to bring our team together and have some fun.  We’ll tackle the class II and III rapids of the Sarapiqui River with experienced guides.

Sea Turtle Project – 2 nights

The turtle projects are located on the Caribbean coast.  The real work begins at night.  We will patrol the beach in search of nesting sea turtles and hatchlings.  During the day, we may explore the local canals for wildlife, hike in the surrounding rain forest or be involved in volunteer activities such as building a hatchery or cleaning the beach of debris to make it easier for sea turtles to nest or return to the ocean.

Family Stay – 1 night

Several communities around the town of Pital are involved in a project to improve the environment through reforestation and education. During our time here, we will learn firsthand about rural Costa Rican life as we spend the day and night with local families.  We’ll also assist with the reforestation efforts before moving on to our next destination.

Arenal Volcano – 2 nights

The journey from Pital to Arenal takes us to the northern lowlands.  The next 2 nights we will stay in Fortuna at the base of the spectacular Arenal Volcano.  Here we will have the chance to hike to a majestic waterfall and swim in its refreshing pools, and visit an organic farm which is full of surprises.

Macaw Project – 2 nights

After bidding farewell to our host families, we will head for the beaches of the Pacific Coast. Here we will swim, snorkel, and boogie board in the warm waters of the Pacific Ocean, fly through the forest canopy on ziplines, and see (from a distance!) some of the largest crocodiles in Costa Rica.  We will also visit a macaw project where they are working to increase the number of scarlet macaws and protect them from poaching.

Central Valley – 1 night

We will end our time in Costa Rica right back where we started--in the Central Valley. This will be the night to celebrate our accomplishments and reflect on our experiences.

Flight Home – Thu., July 10

Today we’ll fly back to the U.S.  Parents may pick up at the airport today or at Frost Valley on Friday.  (Flight details will be shared with all parents once they are finalized.)

Return to main Adventure Trips Page

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Register online for 2008 Adventure Trips!

For more information, e-mail adventure@FrostValley.org, or

call (845) 985-2291 ext. 265.

Visit our FAQ page!

Want to be a staff member on one of these trips? Frost Valley is always looking for responsible staff, wanting to spend their summer leading exiting trips all over the world!  Apply online today!

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