New Summit Academy Costa Rica
TESTIMONIALS
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11 May 2005
For families who are interested in finding a unique, enriching, safe,
effective, and caring academic environment for their teenaged sons...
Just under a year ago, my 17-year old son (then 16 years old) was
graduating from an intense, 60-day wilderness program based in
Utah. We had sent our son to Utah as the result of several attempts to
address his apathy, recreational drug use, and sense of entitlement.
Following the wilderness program, we were fully prepared to bring our
son back home for his senior year of high school. However, upon
attending his wilderness program graduation, we quickly realized that
he had acquired many new valuable lifestyle tools and behaviors that
would surely be lost or, at best, devalued if he came back to his old
peer group and environment. It was then that we decided to look for a
boarding school alternative.
We were initially introduced to New Summit Academy in Costa Rica
(along with several other "stateside" boarding schools) through our
educational consultant based in San Francisco. After fully investigating
and interviewing a short list of outstanding schools, we were
convinced that NSA most fully embodied the educational and lifestyle
values we were seeking for our son. These included academic
excellence, personal responsibility and accountability, personal growth
through experiential activities, and respect for nature, others, and self.
The only catch (isn't there always a "catch"?) was that NSA was out of
the country! We had heard horror stories about boarding schools
outside of the US, and our concern was real and completely
understandable.
However, we had also become completely enamored with NSA's
philosophy as well as the dedication, care, and proficiency of the NSA
staff, whom we had, by this time, spoken to several times by phone.
We called current and former NSA student families and became more
and more comfortable with the idea of our son living beyond the
borders of the US. Long story short, we flew down to Costa Rica with
our son for his first day at NSA. I am happy to report it was one of the
best decisions we have ever made.
Our son has thrived at NSA. His GPA has gone from 2.5 to just about
straight A's. He has built homes for the poor, taught local Costa Rican
kids to swim, hiked into rain forests, kayaked amongst whales, worked
in local businesses, and countless other activities he simply would not
have had the chance to experience here at home. Most importantly, he
has learned to value his own life, to fundamentally understand that he
is an integral part of a greater whole...that he indeed matters. In more
tangible terms, our son has recently been accepted to attend several
California universities, based upon the excellent academic program at
NSA (and, of course, his efforts in the NSA program!) as well as the
university entrance exam scores he received while attending NSA.
In summary, I recommend, without reservation, NSA in Costa Rica for
any family seeking a unique, truly life-altering experience for their son.
The staff is completely professional, the academics are top-notch, the
counseling services are incredibly caring and pro-active, the
international experience is irreplaceable, and the gift you will give to
your son is priceless. Please feel free to call me if you have any
questions at all.
Best Regards, Sanders Ergas, CA
sergas@globalmedtechnologies.net
For families who are interested in finding a unique, enriching, safe,
effective, and caring academic environment for their teenaged sons...
Just under a year ago, my 17-year old son (then 16 years old) was
graduating from an intense, 60-day wilderness program based in
Utah. We had sent our son to Utah as the result of several attempts to
address his apathy, recreational drug use, and sense of entitlement.
Following the wilderness program, we were fully prepared to bring our
son back home for his senior year of high school. However, upon
attending his wilderness program graduation, we quickly realized that
he had acquired many new valuable lifestyle tools and behaviors that
would surely be lost or, at best, devalued if he came back to his old
peer group and environment. It was then that we decided to look for a
boarding school alternative.
We were initially introduced to New Summit Academy in Costa Rica
(along with several other "stateside" boarding schools) through our
educational consultant based in San Francisco. After fully investigating
and interviewing a short list of outstanding schools, we were
convinced that NSA most fully embodied the educational and lifestyle
values we were seeking for our son. These included academic
excellence, personal responsibility and accountability, personal growth
through experiential activities, and respect for nature, others, and self.
The only catch (isn't there always a "catch"?) was that NSA was out of
the country! We had heard horror stories about boarding schools
outside of the US, and our concern was real and completely
understandable.
However, we had also become completely enamored with NSA's
philosophy as well as the dedication, care, and proficiency of the NSA
staff, whom we had, by this time, spoken to several times by phone.
We called current and former NSA student families and became more
and more comfortable with the idea of our son living beyond the
borders of the US. Long story short, we flew down to Costa Rica with
our son for his first day at NSA. I am happy to report it was one of the
best decisions we have ever made.
Our son has thrived at NSA. His GPA has gone from 2.5 to just about
straight A's. He has built homes for the poor, taught local Costa Rican
kids to swim, hiked into rain forests, kayaked amongst whales, worked
in local businesses, and countless other activities he simply would not
have had the chance to experience here at home. Most importantly, he
has learned to value his own life, to fundamentally understand that he
is an integral part of a greater whole...that he indeed matters. In more
tangible terms, our son has recently been accepted to attend several
California universities, based upon the excellent academic program at
NSA (and, of course, his efforts in the NSA program!) as well as the
university entrance exam scores he received while attending NSA.
In summary, I recommend, without reservation, NSA in Costa Rica for
any family seeking a unique, truly life-altering experience for their son.
The staff is completely professional, the academics are top-notch, the
counseling services are incredibly caring and pro-active, the
international experience is irreplaceable, and the gift you will give to
your son is priceless. Please feel free to call me if you have any
questions at all.
Best Regards, Sanders Ergas, CA
sergas@globalmedtechnologies.net
June 2005
"Our son recently graduated from New Summit Academy and we are
very proud to say that as a result of his experience with the dedicated
faculty and therapeutic staff there, he has completely turned his life
around.
Although it was a hard decision to send him to a school so far away,
he has benefited tremendously from being in the Costa Rican culture,
seeing a different way of life, and being truly loved by his Costa Rican
host family. It was important for him to have an opportunity to be
outside of the American culture—which has become increasingly
competitive and materialistic recently—and get back in touch with his
basic values. I can't say enough about the energy, enthusiasm and
competence of the staff. They are a wonderful group of people! I have
never seen my son happier or more self-confident, and this was very
far from being true when he started there.
We have absolutely no regrets. It was one of the hardest decisions we
ever had to make, to send him so far away, but it is also one of the
best."
Sincerely,
Kim Kluger-Bell, California
kklugerbell@hotmail.com
"Our son recently graduated from New Summit Academy and we are
very proud to say that as a result of his experience with the dedicated
faculty and therapeutic staff there, he has completely turned his life
around.
Although it was a hard decision to send him to a school so far away,
he has benefited tremendously from being in the Costa Rican culture,
seeing a different way of life, and being truly loved by his Costa Rican
host family. It was important for him to have an opportunity to be
outside of the American culture—which has become increasingly
competitive and materialistic recently—and get back in touch with his
basic values. I can't say enough about the energy, enthusiasm and
competence of the staff. They are a wonderful group of people! I have
never seen my son happier or more self-confident, and this was very
far from being true when he started there.
We have absolutely no regrets. It was one of the hardest decisions we
ever had to make, to send him so far away, but it is also one of the
best."
Sincerely,
Kim Kluger-Bell, California
kklugerbell@hotmail.com
My son just graduated from high school at New Summit Academy after 1 1/2
years in Costa Rica. It has been an amazing experience. He is committed
to his recovery, has much greater emotional stability, is happy and self-
directed, has better relations with the family, and has been accepted to
George Washington University for the fall. He went because he was
depressed, addicted to cocaine, abusing alcohol, not doing well in school,
and not functioning well in the family or in general.
Why New Summit Academy? We looked for a school that was structured
enough for him to learn to succeed, yet that would provide enough
independence at the appropriate time, so that he could learn to manage in
the world after therapeutic boarding school. We looked at Oakley, Carlbrook
and New Summit (then Coronado –- the key people from Coronado
started New Summit). New Summit is excellent in providing structure in the
beginning, with eventual self-reliance. The therapy is supportive and
insightful, yet gives great responsibility to the student. Our family has
experienced a lot of therapy and this was by far the best and most useful.
What about the fact the school was in Costa Rica? That was the scariest
part at the time, but in fact, Costa Rica turned out to be a huge positive. The
culture is gentle and welcoming. My son took advantage of the quarterly
Aventuras and explored some beautiful areas of the country, seeing scarlet
macaws, monkeys, sea turtles, anteaters and dense rain forest. He
became certified as a Wilderness First Responder, in scuba diving, and
received training in white water rafting. He especially enjoyed his home
stay family and loved two university classes he got to take in San Jose. My
son now speaks fluent Spanish. He was accepted at the Elliott School of
International Affairs at George Washington University. Costa Rica turned
out to be a huge advantage of the school.
Some of the things I wanted to know as a prospective parent: the medical
and dental care is wonderful (he had to get his wisdom teeth out and had
an infection that had to be treated). The country is safe, stable and friendly.
The staff is a combination of Americans and Costa Ricans (Ticos). For us,
the travel logistics with American worked well through Dallas/Fort Worth or
Miami, through Phoenix on America West, or through LA on United.
The quality of the therapy, the level of skill and insight, is extraordinary, both
for the student and the family. In addition, my son had great success
academically. The academics are very individualized college prep courses.
He has confidence in his writing ability now which is a huge step. He was
also supported in the college application process and because of his
experiences at NSA, I think his application was unique. He was accepted at
8 of the 9 colleges to which he applied. Since the school is affiliated with
New Summit School in Mississippi, there was no problem with colleges
understanding and accepting his transcript and application.
I loved visiting Costa Rica and find this graduation to be bittersweet. It was
a wonderful, healing, growth experience and I am truly thankful for New
Summit Academy, for Mario, Heather, Cristina, James, Andy and the rest of
the staff.
Jan B., California
years in Costa Rica. It has been an amazing experience. He is committed
to his recovery, has much greater emotional stability, is happy and self-
directed, has better relations with the family, and has been accepted to
George Washington University for the fall. He went because he was
depressed, addicted to cocaine, abusing alcohol, not doing well in school,
and not functioning well in the family or in general.
Why New Summit Academy? We looked for a school that was structured
enough for him to learn to succeed, yet that would provide enough
independence at the appropriate time, so that he could learn to manage in
the world after therapeutic boarding school. We looked at Oakley, Carlbrook
and New Summit (then Coronado –- the key people from Coronado
started New Summit). New Summit is excellent in providing structure in the
beginning, with eventual self-reliance. The therapy is supportive and
insightful, yet gives great responsibility to the student. Our family has
experienced a lot of therapy and this was by far the best and most useful.
What about the fact the school was in Costa Rica? That was the scariest
part at the time, but in fact, Costa Rica turned out to be a huge positive. The
culture is gentle and welcoming. My son took advantage of the quarterly
Aventuras and explored some beautiful areas of the country, seeing scarlet
macaws, monkeys, sea turtles, anteaters and dense rain forest. He
became certified as a Wilderness First Responder, in scuba diving, and
received training in white water rafting. He especially enjoyed his home
stay family and loved two university classes he got to take in San Jose. My
son now speaks fluent Spanish. He was accepted at the Elliott School of
International Affairs at George Washington University. Costa Rica turned
out to be a huge advantage of the school.
Some of the things I wanted to know as a prospective parent: the medical
and dental care is wonderful (he had to get his wisdom teeth out and had
an infection that had to be treated). The country is safe, stable and friendly.
The staff is a combination of Americans and Costa Ricans (Ticos). For us,
the travel logistics with American worked well through Dallas/Fort Worth or
Miami, through Phoenix on America West, or through LA on United.
The quality of the therapy, the level of skill and insight, is extraordinary, both
for the student and the family. In addition, my son had great success
academically. The academics are very individualized college prep courses.
He has confidence in his writing ability now which is a huge step. He was
also supported in the college application process and because of his
experiences at NSA, I think his application was unique. He was accepted at
8 of the 9 colleges to which he applied. Since the school is affiliated with
New Summit School in Mississippi, there was no problem with colleges
understanding and accepting his transcript and application.
I loved visiting Costa Rica and find this graduation to be bittersweet. It was
a wonderful, healing, growth experience and I am truly thankful for New
Summit Academy, for Mario, Heather, Cristina, James, Andy and the rest of
the staff.
Jan B., California
"I hope you will share our experience with other parents. Fourteen months
ago, our son was troubled, not wanting to go to school, dabbling in risky
behaviors and oppositional. When it was clear that he needed something
different than what he had at home, we explored piecing together a
program at home with the best counselors, family counselors and
environmental change. After talking with many parents who had done this
and regretted it --the teens did not change! -- we enrolled our son in New
Summit Academy in Costa Rica. It was very painful to think that he needed
to be away and it seemed hard on him and on our family -- financially and
personally.
Today I realize that was the very best decision we could have made. Every
penny spent and every moment he was missed at home were more than
worth it. What the staff, counselors and teachers did at New Summit
Academy changed my son's life for good. He's now a straight-A student
and he came home with excellent SAT scores. He is calm and peaceful
inside, cooperative at home and seems to have found himself by going
through this exemplary program. In short, he's a happy person now and
has more of the skills he needs to create a happy, healthy, productive life.
Our son left home a troubled teen and came
home a man who had matured 4 years in one year and we have a new
start as a family. I believe the culture of Costa Rica, the environment at
New Summit Academy, the experiential learning, the Harvard-educated
teachers, the Costa Rican counselors and the AMAZING people involved
in this school were the key. Mario, Danny, Heather, James, Roy, Andy and
everyone there helped our son in immeasurable ways. He saw places in
Costa Rica that no tourists ever see. He traveled in Central America and
South America -- even swam across the water from Costa Rica to
Panama. He had hated Spanish in his high
school classes, but after a year at New Summit Academy, his Spanish is
great.
His experiences with his homestay family were incredibly enriching.
Instead of traditional therapy, New Summit Academy integrates these
processes into the student's experience of the day. The counselors
develop relationships with the student during the afternoon and evening,
after the school day is done. The "Aventura's" or experiential education
provides both amazing physical and cultural experiences in the
environment and the ideal experience to open their minds in ways that
traditional therapy does not. Our son was opposed to "programs", but truly
bonded with and felt cared for the people at New Summit Academy. It was
not difficult for his dad and me to visit there and they made every
accommodation so that our experience in Costa Rica was
enriching, too. We fell in love with the country and the people, but more
than anything, we feel forever indebted to this small tribe of people who
are changing the lives of boys and supporting their skills and sense of
motivation, connection and love of life.
I would recommend New Summit Academy to any parent who was
considering sending their teen there. Our educational consultants said it
was head and shoulders above the other schools. They were right!
So please share with your parents two ideas: One, giving a troubled teen
a whole new environment can result in near magical changes in your
child. You are not sending your child away but opening doors to a brighter
future. The other is that if you can possibly find a good fit between your
son's needs and the New Summit Academy program, grab it! The
program and the people are unique and both your life and the life of your
child will be forever enriched.
Kathleen lorimelody@yahoo.com
ago, our son was troubled, not wanting to go to school, dabbling in risky
behaviors and oppositional. When it was clear that he needed something
different than what he had at home, we explored piecing together a
program at home with the best counselors, family counselors and
environmental change. After talking with many parents who had done this
and regretted it --the teens did not change! -- we enrolled our son in New
Summit Academy in Costa Rica. It was very painful to think that he needed
to be away and it seemed hard on him and on our family -- financially and
personally.
Today I realize that was the very best decision we could have made. Every
penny spent and every moment he was missed at home were more than
worth it. What the staff, counselors and teachers did at New Summit
Academy changed my son's life for good. He's now a straight-A student
and he came home with excellent SAT scores. He is calm and peaceful
inside, cooperative at home and seems to have found himself by going
through this exemplary program. In short, he's a happy person now and
has more of the skills he needs to create a happy, healthy, productive life.
Our son left home a troubled teen and came
home a man who had matured 4 years in one year and we have a new
start as a family. I believe the culture of Costa Rica, the environment at
New Summit Academy, the experiential learning, the Harvard-educated
teachers, the Costa Rican counselors and the AMAZING people involved
in this school were the key. Mario, Danny, Heather, James, Roy, Andy and
everyone there helped our son in immeasurable ways. He saw places in
Costa Rica that no tourists ever see. He traveled in Central America and
South America -- even swam across the water from Costa Rica to
Panama. He had hated Spanish in his high
school classes, but after a year at New Summit Academy, his Spanish is
great.
His experiences with his homestay family were incredibly enriching.
Instead of traditional therapy, New Summit Academy integrates these
processes into the student's experience of the day. The counselors
develop relationships with the student during the afternoon and evening,
after the school day is done. The "Aventura's" or experiential education
provides both amazing physical and cultural experiences in the
environment and the ideal experience to open their minds in ways that
traditional therapy does not. Our son was opposed to "programs", but truly
bonded with and felt cared for the people at New Summit Academy. It was
not difficult for his dad and me to visit there and they made every
accommodation so that our experience in Costa Rica was
enriching, too. We fell in love with the country and the people, but more
than anything, we feel forever indebted to this small tribe of people who
are changing the lives of boys and supporting their skills and sense of
motivation, connection and love of life.
I would recommend New Summit Academy to any parent who was
considering sending their teen there. Our educational consultants said it
was head and shoulders above the other schools. They were right!
So please share with your parents two ideas: One, giving a troubled teen
a whole new environment can result in near magical changes in your
child. You are not sending your child away but opening doors to a brighter
future. The other is that if you can possibly find a good fit between your
son's needs and the New Summit Academy program, grab it! The
program and the people are unique and both your life and the life of your
child will be forever enriched.
Kathleen lorimelody@yahoo.com
The amount of dedication that these people have to each and every individual is extraordinary. Throughout my experiences with Andy, Heather,
Mario, and James, I was given the opportunity to thrive academically and emotionally in the healthy atmosphere they provided. With the beautiful
country of Costa Rica as the setting for their school, I was able to culturally enrich my life and studies through interaction with the local people
and environment. Not only did I learn a significant amount of Spanish, but I learned a lot about myself and negative tendencies as a human
being. With the facilitation of my advisors, I recognized the changes and courses of action I needed to make in order to escape these destructive
habits. While accomplishing these necessities of life, I was provided with a superior means of continuing my academic studies and life in order
to fully prepare myself for the adventure that awaits me at university. Looking back on my experiences with these great people, I am sincerely
thankful for their devotion to the betterment of my life, and the others enrolled with me.
--Eric W., 18, Texas and Vietnam
Mario, and James, I was given the opportunity to thrive academically and emotionally in the healthy atmosphere they provided. With the beautiful
country of Costa Rica as the setting for their school, I was able to culturally enrich my life and studies through interaction with the local people
and environment. Not only did I learn a significant amount of Spanish, but I learned a lot about myself and negative tendencies as a human
being. With the facilitation of my advisors, I recognized the changes and courses of action I needed to make in order to escape these destructive
habits. While accomplishing these necessities of life, I was provided with a superior means of continuing my academic studies and life in order
to fully prepare myself for the adventure that awaits me at university. Looking back on my experiences with these great people, I am sincerely
thankful for their devotion to the betterment of my life, and the others enrolled with me.
--Eric W., 18, Texas and Vietnam
From a Student:
15 Nov 2007
In a few weeks he will have been home for 1 year. The transition
went well and although it has not been perfect, we have used the
communication skills we learned from Danny to effectively work
through any issues.
About a month ago, I was asking Tim what he wanted for his
birthday on Dec 11th as he will be turning 18. He said that thought
it would be nice to travel to Costa Rica to visit New Summit
Academy on his 1 year anniversary of graduating from the
program. He wanted to see all of you (Heather, Mario, Danny,
Andy, and Woody) and share his experiences of the past year.
He had looked at the calendar and realized that he has final
exams around that time and it would not be a good time to miss
some days of school. I think it is a testament to you and your team
that he has such great memories and desire to visit you with all of
you. New Summit Academy has left a lasting impression on Tim.
He grew into a man, learned tolerance, patience, anger
management and gained a strong sense of self worth. I am so
glad that I heard about New Summit and that Tim had the chance
to live and learn with all of you for a year. So what is new with
him….?
He is in the final stages of college applications. He UC Irvine, U of
Arizona, U of Colorado – Boulder. He decided against Stanford but
has Berkeley as his first choice. We are still working with Whitney
and she is terrific. Tim has had some challenges with his
courses here in Arizona. His grades are mostly A and B’s which
has frustrated him at times because he wants to get all A’s.
He has been working as a valet parking cars at the Marriott which
he loves. He was recently promoted to supervisor which gave him
some leadership opportunities and a chance to earn more
money. He played football and did well. No injuries and he had
fun. The team was not the best and only won 2 games but Tyler
played a lot and had a good attitude.
As Danny may recall, Tim had a few short term goals for this year.
He wanted to get a car and find a girlfriend, which he did. We still
have debates about curfew and some of my “foolish” rules but
overall we work through these challenges and have reached a
comfortable and reasonable agreement. Happy Thanksgiving & I
will keep all of you in my prayers. \
Best, Tim's mom
In a few weeks he will have been home for 1 year. The transition
went well and although it has not been perfect, we have used the
communication skills we learned from Danny to effectively work
through any issues.
About a month ago, I was asking Tim what he wanted for his
birthday on Dec 11th as he will be turning 18. He said that thought
it would be nice to travel to Costa Rica to visit New Summit
Academy on his 1 year anniversary of graduating from the
program. He wanted to see all of you (Heather, Mario, Danny,
Andy, and Woody) and share his experiences of the past year.
He had looked at the calendar and realized that he has final
exams around that time and it would not be a good time to miss
some days of school. I think it is a testament to you and your team
that he has such great memories and desire to visit you with all of
you. New Summit Academy has left a lasting impression on Tim.
He grew into a man, learned tolerance, patience, anger
management and gained a strong sense of self worth. I am so
glad that I heard about New Summit and that Tim had the chance
to live and learn with all of you for a year. So what is new with
him….?
He is in the final stages of college applications. He UC Irvine, U of
Arizona, U of Colorado – Boulder. He decided against Stanford but
has Berkeley as his first choice. We are still working with Whitney
and she is terrific. Tim has had some challenges with his
courses here in Arizona. His grades are mostly A and B’s which
has frustrated him at times because he wants to get all A’s.
He has been working as a valet parking cars at the Marriott which
he loves. He was recently promoted to supervisor which gave him
some leadership opportunities and a chance to earn more
money. He played football and did well. No injuries and he had
fun. The team was not the best and only won 2 games but Tyler
played a lot and had a good attitude.
As Danny may recall, Tim had a few short term goals for this year.
He wanted to get a car and find a girlfriend, which he did. We still
have debates about curfew and some of my “foolish” rules but
overall we work through these challenges and have reached a
comfortable and reasonable agreement. Happy Thanksgiving & I
will keep all of you in my prayers. \
Best, Tim's mom
From Professionals
June 2009
NSA is a place that I don’t think I’ll ever forget. Just two months ago I
graduated, and can attest to my journey at New Summit Academy being
one of the most memorable and positive experiences in my entire life.
Before coming to the school, I was really skeptical about what it would be
like given that time and time again I would hear horror stories about
restrictive or “level-system” programs. I will be the first to say that NSA is
extremely unique in almost every aspect, and nothing like any other
transitional school.
One of the greatest things about NSA is the fact that since there isn’t
tons of students; you get to know everyone (students and staff both) as if
they were your family. In my case, after lunch a staff member is my history
teacher but at 4:30 they turn into a teammate during a game of ultimate
frisbee. As students, we do virtually everything together as well. You live
together, go to classes together, eat together, and go on trips together.
You really get to know everyone at NSA on a much deeper level than you
would in a traditional public high school, and can feel comfortable going
to virtually anyone for anything.
The academic component of NSA is also something else that can be
held to high regard. Prior to starting, I was lacking credits in several
areas and was initially unsure as to whether or not I would be able to
graduate on track as people I knew at home. When I got there, Martin
helped me figure out what classes I needed to be taking to keep on track,
and in the end, it worked out right on track. All the teachers at NSA are
great and extremely open to offering extra help if you need it. It’s not the
traditional lecture style classroom setting either. From constructing
electrical devices out of old components in Physics, to making a Jon
Stewart-esque TV show in History, there were many times that I
remember studying a concept or subject by doing something hands-on
or out of the box. Another cool part about academics is the fact that each
semester there is an academic field trip. When I was there, as a school
we went to both Nicaragua and Panama City. On each trip, we broke up
into pairs and studied various aspects of both cultures. We interviewed
locals, tried different food, and saw sights like the inside of an active
volcano and the Panama Canal. Academics are something that tie into
many different aspects of the program.
The immersion aspect of the school is likely something that will stay with
me the longest and I can’t say enough about. Each Friday we had a class
called “Global Citizenship” where we would carry out a community
service and work internship, and then on Sundays we would spend the
better part of the day with a Costa Rican family. My homestay family were
some of the most caring people I have ever met in my entire life. On
Sundays, they embraced me as though I truly was a member of the
family, and it gave me an amazing perspective into the culture. I went to
birthday parties with them, festivals in town with them, or played games
at the house with my brother and sister. For me, they literally turned into
my family away from home. I cannot say enough good things about
having gone through the homestay aspect of the program, and they are
some of the people whom I miss most in Costa Rica.
The personal growth component of NSA is something else that is really
unique. Every student has a personal growth advising team that
oversees their individualized goals and accomplishments usually made
up of 2 staff members. Also unlike other programs, the personal growth
aspect is really left up to the discretion of the student, and nobody is
forced to “check-in” or talk to anyone if they don’t feel the present need;
That being said, if you do need to talk to someone, there is always
somebody on campus available. You also aren’t required to talk to
someone on your advising team, either. If for instance you feel more
comfortable talking to a teacher or another student, that’s encouraged,
and it’s another example of how in theory NSA functions as a community
and everyone is helping everyone out. It’s always helpful to keep your
advising team in the loop though, because they are the ones that can
help advocate for you and that talk with your parents at home. This
relaxed approach was something that for me personally was nice,
because I never really liked the idea of having a 1-on-1 structured time to
talk to someone. I was much more comfortable building friendships and
trust with people, and then going to them as I saw fit. In this way, the
personal growth component is much more individualized and serves as
a resource, but not something you’re forced into.
Finally, the aventuras are something unlike anything I had done before.
The 4 main integrated aventuras are about a week long, and you go on
challenging hiking, kayaking, and rafting trips around Costa Rica. Each
trip also has a personal growth and academic componant to it as well,
so they encompass a lot. On the integrated aventuras you kayak the Golfo
Dulce (in the southern part of the country), hike through Corcovado
National Park (according to Nat-geo the most ecologically diverse place
on the planet), hike and raft through the Cloud Forest, and finally climb to
the top of Mt. Chirripo (the tallest peak in Costa Rica). I remember before
each trip being nervous and worried, but ultimately each aventura gives
you a chance to think and connect with everyone on the trip and mark
milestones in your NSA “journey”. There were times when there were
literally monkeys jumping over us in the trees, and again this is
something I couldn’t envision myself experiencing in any other scenario.
Realistically speaking, there are some really good aspects about NSA
and some challenging aspects. There are restrictions to leaving campus,
internet/TV use, cooking, phone calls, and other things that you might
normally take for granted at home. Some rules can be bothersome or
seem somewhat childish, but ultimately if you go through the appropriate
steps you can earn create opportunities that can make your stay at NSA
easier. All of the staff and your advisors are open-minded and if you show
the initiative and have the patience they are willing to help you out as
much as they can.
New Summit Academy is truly a unique community of students and staff,
and a place that really helped me to refocus and put myself on a positive
track. I have not been gone long, and already miss everyone I met
through NSA. It helped me a lot, and I know that it is a year that I will
remember for the rest of my life.
-John G // Class of ‘09
NSA is a place that I don’t think I’ll ever forget. Just two months ago I
graduated, and can attest to my journey at New Summit Academy being
one of the most memorable and positive experiences in my entire life.
Before coming to the school, I was really skeptical about what it would be
like given that time and time again I would hear horror stories about
restrictive or “level-system” programs. I will be the first to say that NSA is
extremely unique in almost every aspect, and nothing like any other
transitional school.
One of the greatest things about NSA is the fact that since there isn’t
tons of students; you get to know everyone (students and staff both) as if
they were your family. In my case, after lunch a staff member is my history
teacher but at 4:30 they turn into a teammate during a game of ultimate
frisbee. As students, we do virtually everything together as well. You live
together, go to classes together, eat together, and go on trips together.
You really get to know everyone at NSA on a much deeper level than you
would in a traditional public high school, and can feel comfortable going
to virtually anyone for anything.
The academic component of NSA is also something else that can be
held to high regard. Prior to starting, I was lacking credits in several
areas and was initially unsure as to whether or not I would be able to
graduate on track as people I knew at home. When I got there, Martin
helped me figure out what classes I needed to be taking to keep on track,
and in the end, it worked out right on track. All the teachers at NSA are
great and extremely open to offering extra help if you need it. It’s not the
traditional lecture style classroom setting either. From constructing
electrical devices out of old components in Physics, to making a Jon
Stewart-esque TV show in History, there were many times that I
remember studying a concept or subject by doing something hands-on
or out of the box. Another cool part about academics is the fact that each
semester there is an academic field trip. When I was there, as a school
we went to both Nicaragua and Panama City. On each trip, we broke up
into pairs and studied various aspects of both cultures. We interviewed
locals, tried different food, and saw sights like the inside of an active
volcano and the Panama Canal. Academics are something that tie into
many different aspects of the program.
The immersion aspect of the school is likely something that will stay with
me the longest and I can’t say enough about. Each Friday we had a class
called “Global Citizenship” where we would carry out a community
service and work internship, and then on Sundays we would spend the
better part of the day with a Costa Rican family. My homestay family were
some of the most caring people I have ever met in my entire life. On
Sundays, they embraced me as though I truly was a member of the
family, and it gave me an amazing perspective into the culture. I went to
birthday parties with them, festivals in town with them, or played games
at the house with my brother and sister. For me, they literally turned into
my family away from home. I cannot say enough good things about
having gone through the homestay aspect of the program, and they are
some of the people whom I miss most in Costa Rica.
The personal growth component of NSA is something else that is really
unique. Every student has a personal growth advising team that
oversees their individualized goals and accomplishments usually made
up of 2 staff members. Also unlike other programs, the personal growth
aspect is really left up to the discretion of the student, and nobody is
forced to “check-in” or talk to anyone if they don’t feel the present need;
That being said, if you do need to talk to someone, there is always
somebody on campus available. You also aren’t required to talk to
someone on your advising team, either. If for instance you feel more
comfortable talking to a teacher or another student, that’s encouraged,
and it’s another example of how in theory NSA functions as a community
and everyone is helping everyone out. It’s always helpful to keep your
advising team in the loop though, because they are the ones that can
help advocate for you and that talk with your parents at home. This
relaxed approach was something that for me personally was nice,
because I never really liked the idea of having a 1-on-1 structured time to
talk to someone. I was much more comfortable building friendships and
trust with people, and then going to them as I saw fit. In this way, the
personal growth component is much more individualized and serves as
a resource, but not something you’re forced into.
Finally, the aventuras are something unlike anything I had done before.
The 4 main integrated aventuras are about a week long, and you go on
challenging hiking, kayaking, and rafting trips around Costa Rica. Each
trip also has a personal growth and academic componant to it as well,
so they encompass a lot. On the integrated aventuras you kayak the Golfo
Dulce (in the southern part of the country), hike through Corcovado
National Park (according to Nat-geo the most ecologically diverse place
on the planet), hike and raft through the Cloud Forest, and finally climb to
the top of Mt. Chirripo (the tallest peak in Costa Rica). I remember before
each trip being nervous and worried, but ultimately each aventura gives
you a chance to think and connect with everyone on the trip and mark
milestones in your NSA “journey”. There were times when there were
literally monkeys jumping over us in the trees, and again this is
something I couldn’t envision myself experiencing in any other scenario.
Realistically speaking, there are some really good aspects about NSA
and some challenging aspects. There are restrictions to leaving campus,
internet/TV use, cooking, phone calls, and other things that you might
normally take for granted at home. Some rules can be bothersome or
seem somewhat childish, but ultimately if you go through the appropriate
steps you can earn create opportunities that can make your stay at NSA
easier. All of the staff and your advisors are open-minded and if you show
the initiative and have the patience they are willing to help you out as
much as they can.
New Summit Academy is truly a unique community of students and staff,
and a place that really helped me to refocus and put myself on a positive
track. I have not been gone long, and already miss everyone I met
through NSA. It helped me a lot, and I know that it is a year that I will
remember for the rest of my life.
-John G // Class of ‘09
From a Recent Graduate:
From a Parent:
From Parents:
September 2009
We landed in San Jose with our son, made our way through
customs, and saw a kind looking woman holding a sign with our
name on it. She greeted us warmly and introduced us to the school
driver. We piled our luggage into the van, and set off to see New
Summit Academy.
We could never have imagined a warmer greeting at any stateside
school. Everyone came to us, welcomed us and especially our son,
and helped him feel part of the community right away. The boys were
away on an aventura when we arrived, so we had a few hours before
they returned to see the campus, help him settle into his room and
speak with the staff. We felt so comfortable there, and when we said
goodbye the next day, as difficult as it was to leave our son so far
away, we knew that we were doing the best thing possible for him
and that he was in very good hands.
Like every student at NSA, our son had a story. His was one of
academic failure, which was quickly cutting off many avenues that
could lead to a productive, positive future. Like most NSA students,
he spent time in a wilderness program. During that time learned
some invaluable things about himself. We learned about NSA
during the program, and he became interested and enthusiastic
about the school. After he arrived and settled in, he did experience
some regression while he got accustomed to things and adjusted to
his new environment. But after his first aventura, a scuba diving trip
in Panama during which he became certified in open water diving,
he came back with a new determination to try harder and succeed.
And indeed he did, working hard, improving his grades, getting
involved in student government, trying new sports, including surfing,
and eventually coming to terms with the fact that he did have a future
and it was up to him to make something of it.
Now our son is about to graduate and come home. He is organizing
his plans for his next steps. He’s thinking carefully, looking at
options, and he is genuinely excited about everything he has to look
forward to. He comes home with many new tools: he is comfortable
speaking Spanish, he knows how to manage international travel on
his own, he’s certified in CPR and wilderness first aid…and he
speaks confidently, with a maturity and wisdom that we had not
heard from him before. We know that his road ahead, will not be
easy, but he is poised to set goals and accomplish them,
something we could not imagine one year ago, when our adventure
first started.
We landed in San Jose with our son, made our way through
customs, and saw a kind looking woman holding a sign with our
name on it. She greeted us warmly and introduced us to the school
driver. We piled our luggage into the van, and set off to see New
Summit Academy.
We could never have imagined a warmer greeting at any stateside
school. Everyone came to us, welcomed us and especially our son,
and helped him feel part of the community right away. The boys were
away on an aventura when we arrived, so we had a few hours before
they returned to see the campus, help him settle into his room and
speak with the staff. We felt so comfortable there, and when we said
goodbye the next day, as difficult as it was to leave our son so far
away, we knew that we were doing the best thing possible for him
and that he was in very good hands.
Like every student at NSA, our son had a story. His was one of
academic failure, which was quickly cutting off many avenues that
could lead to a productive, positive future. Like most NSA students,
he spent time in a wilderness program. During that time learned
some invaluable things about himself. We learned about NSA
during the program, and he became interested and enthusiastic
about the school. After he arrived and settled in, he did experience
some regression while he got accustomed to things and adjusted to
his new environment. But after his first aventura, a scuba diving trip
in Panama during which he became certified in open water diving,
he came back with a new determination to try harder and succeed.
And indeed he did, working hard, improving his grades, getting
involved in student government, trying new sports, including surfing,
and eventually coming to terms with the fact that he did have a future
and it was up to him to make something of it.
Now our son is about to graduate and come home. He is organizing
his plans for his next steps. He’s thinking carefully, looking at
options, and he is genuinely excited about everything he has to look
forward to. He comes home with many new tools: he is comfortable
speaking Spanish, he knows how to manage international travel on
his own, he’s certified in CPR and wilderness first aid…and he
speaks confidently, with a maturity and wisdom that we had not
heard from him before. We know that his road ahead, will not be
easy, but he is poised to set goals and accomplish them,
something we could not imagine one year ago, when our adventure
first started.
From a recent family: