AAVE: Costa Rica Clasica Program Overview & Recommendation

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Choice Camps Recommendation of AAVE: Costa Rica Clasica

Since 1976, more than 10,000 students from 48 U.S. states and over 40 countries have enjoyed AAVE trips throughout the world. AAVE programs combine adventure travel with service work, language study, and wilderness skills through carefully-crafted itineraries. All AAVE programs include community service projects which contribute to the environment and communities visited.

The "All About Visiting Earth" community consists of teenagers who choose active participation, individual responsibility, and who respect and care about one another. AAVE trips are led by top-notch trip leaders who teach skills that lead to a lifetime of exploration, friendship, enjoyment, and personal growth. For families looking for a summer that will exceed their expectations for leadership, safety, adventure, fun, and depth of programming, AAVE may be the perfect choice.

Trip Description

You start your trip with a language school that gives you the building blocks for an amazing summer. With a maximum class number of five, you meet four hours each afternoon to learn Spanish through conversation, cooking, games, and dance. Feeling comfortable speaking the language enriches your cultural immersion and you partner with Centro Panamericano de Idiomas (CPI) to offer classes for all levels of Spanish students. During this portion of the trip each student stays with his or her own "tico" host family. Mornings are spent exploring the area through outdoor adventure activities such as surfing, sailing, snorkeling and more!

Your next experience is a service project with the Costa Rican Humanitarian Foundation. By volunteering in low-income areas, you experience the life of local families. A new "tico" host family adds more diversity and a different perspective to your trip as you assist in beautifying a local community, planting trees in the rainforest and the preservation of sea turtles on the Pacific coast.

You finish up your trip by spending several days traveling with one thing in mind... adventure! There is barely time to rest between jungle zip-lining, snorkeling, mountain biking, tubing, and sailing. Watch red-hot lava flow down one of the most active volcanoes in the world and raft through Class IV rapids alongside monkeys and toucans. Join AAVE in Costa Rica for the summer of your life!

Staff Overview

AAVE trip leaders are highly motivated role models with extensive experience working with teenagers in adventure environments. All Trip Leaders are certified in the highest levels of first aid, CPR, and lifeguard training. AAVE Trip Leaders are at least 21 years old and are current college students or graduates.

Setting & Accommodations

AAVE’s Costa Rica Clasica is a physically, mentally and culturally adventurous trip. You stay in simple homes with families, local hostels and native hotels; there is no camping or backpacking.

Safety Standards

AAVE Trip Leaders have a minimum certification of Wilderness First Responder or Advanced Wilderness First Aid. Many are certified Adult Wilderness EMTs and life guards.

AAVE is accredited by the American Camp Association and meets more than 300 safety standards set forth by the organization.