11 May 2005 PARENT
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 PARENT
"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
PARENT
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.
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
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.
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
PARENT
"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
"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
STUDENT
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
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
15 Nov 2007 PARENT
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
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June 2009 STUDENT
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
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.