EXPERIENTIAL EDUCATION TEAM
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Andy Myers, BS Experiential Education Director, Co-OwnerAndy received his Bachelor’s of Science degree in Environmental Policy and Behavior from the University of Michigan School of Natural Resources and Environment. As well, Andy was the Trip Coordinator for the University of Michigan’s Outdoor Adventure Program, where he planned, organized and led backpacking, rock climbing and sea kayaking trips for participants of all ages. His experience also includes working as a High-Ropes Course Facilitator at University of Michigan’s Challenge Program, where group and team dynamics are the focus. He has several years of extensive experience with at-risk high school students in environmental education and in therapeutic residential settings. Andy served as the Experiential Education Director at Coronado Academy after working as the Assistant Director for the Costa Rica Program of the Academy of Swift River (a satellite program of an emotional growth boarding school based in Massachusetts). Andy is bilingual and has lived in Costa Rica since 2001.
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Andy’s work is his passion. He views his work with adolescents as a unique opportunity to positively impact the future of our global community. Andy speaks fluent Spanish and has traveled extensively throughout Latin America, experiencing the warmth of the Costa Rican culture first-hand. He holds a position on the Board of Costa Rica Rainforest Outward Bound, overseeing safety of their courses in Costa Rica. As Experiential Education Director of New Summit Academy, Andy organizes on and off campus recreation activities, “Aventuras”, organized sports and cultural immersion opportunities.
“I believe that education is a process of living and not a preparation for future living.” –John Dewey, from a pamphlet published by E.L. Kellogg and Co.(1897)
“I believe that education is a process of living and not a preparation for future living.” –John Dewey, from a pamphlet published by E.L. Kellogg and Co.(1897)
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Eric Cano, Experiential Education Assistant Director, Aventura CoordinatorEric has been a part of the NSA team since 2006. In addition to leading adventure trips through the cloud forest and Chirripo as well as recreational trips all over Central America, Eric has been involved in our home stay program and service learning objectives. Off campus, Eric has extensive experience in white water kayaking, mountain biking, rock climbing, hiking, camping, guiding, and many other outdoor adventures. He has been studying tourism and psychology at the university level and is directly applying this education to his work at NSA.
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In his free time, Eric enjoys participating in adventure based races throughout Latin America. He has a long history of success on Costa Rican national teams as well as individual races. Eric also enjoys spending time with his dogs, Lucy and Bruno, who keep him in shape by burning calories on their daily runs.
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Tom Hutton, Shift Leader, Experiential EducationTom was born and raised in Northwestern Illinois. He earned a BA in Training & Development from Almeda University and worked in Manufacturing Engineering for 14 years. In 1996, Tom moved to Costa Rica where he and his wife Ana have two children, Johan and Maggie.
Before NSA, Tom’s adventurous and athletic personality has lead him to guide tours (via foot, bike, car, kayak, and boat) in interesting Costa Rican places such as the rainforest and the Pacific Ocean. Tom also worked for the Academy at Swift River’s Costa Rican program for 4 years. Tom is an avid mountain biker and raced as a NORBA expert for 8 years. He brings this love of mountain biking as he leads the mountain biking club at NSA. Tom’s strengths lie in his athletic pursuits, his organizational abilities, his love of the Costa Rican culture, and his detail-oriented risk management skills. |
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Miguel Varela, Experiential Education Milieu Staff & Shift LeaderMiguel was born in Buenos Aires, Argentina. He played sports his whole life, both soccer and rugby as a young boy and got to play second division in rugby. Miguel went to the Argentinean school for gastronomy for one year and then realized that it was not his path. From then on he traveled and worked in Argentina, Brazil and Bolivia. In 2004 he moved to the beach of Costa Rica looking for peaceful living. In 2005 at the beach of Costa Rica he met the woman who is now his wife and he is now father of 5 children.
He came to New Summit Academy because he met Andy Myers when working at a restaurant and he offered him a job as a an EE mentor. From there I have gained experience and I became a shift leader, and a trip leader in the activities, like the Aventuras (Integrated Aventuras and Recreational Aventuras). Miguel also takes the important role of being the homestay coordinator and leads the activities of cultural exchange between the students and the local families. |
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Frank Guerrero, Experiential Education MentorFrank was born in the Dominican Republic and moved to Costa Rica when he was 13 years old. Frank presently lives in Costa Rica, surrounded by his many friends.
Frank got his High School degree from the "Colegio Nuevas Oportunidades" in Atenas. Since then he has received other certificates as a Computer Operator for example. One of his passions is cooking; in the past he has worked as a cook in various restaurants throughout the whole country. Frank is presently studying to become a chef. |
Frank's human warmth, his service minded way of being and his ease for the interpersonal relationships were also seen by other business people that in the determined moments gave him the opportunity to work as a receptionist in a prestigious hotel. In this hotel is where he learned the value of working as a team.
Later in the year 2013, Frank coincides with the interests of NSA and he starts to work as a EE Mentor. He is passionate about working with young people, taking advantage of every situation, in order to be able to teach them useful tools that will help them confront the challenges that they are presented with in life, and with that promote positive attitudes like tolerance towards others despite their differences.
Presently Frank leads the cooking club at NSA where he has motivated many students to learn this art. In addition, Frank has shown a high achievement in the practice of various sports, like soccer and basketball among others.
Later in the year 2013, Frank coincides with the interests of NSA and he starts to work as a EE Mentor. He is passionate about working with young people, taking advantage of every situation, in order to be able to teach them useful tools that will help them confront the challenges that they are presented with in life, and with that promote positive attitudes like tolerance towards others despite their differences.
Presently Frank leads the cooking club at NSA where he has motivated many students to learn this art. In addition, Frank has shown a high achievement in the practice of various sports, like soccer and basketball among others.
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Jairo Pichardo, EE Mentor, Aventura GuideJairo is a proud Tico (Costa Rican) and a wonderful nature guide and mentor for NSA students. His quiet and mature nature has a calming and inviting effect on students. His risk management in the wilderness of Costa Rica ensures safety for all.
Jairo enjoys learning and guiding NSA students. Jairo is a special soul who we hope continues to share his wisdom and guidance for years to come at NSA. |
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Jorge Quiros, EE MentorJorge Quiroz grew up in Atenas and currently lives here, but has also lived in some other areas of Costa Rica. Jorge graduated from INA (Instituto Nacional de Aprendizaje, or the National learning Institute), as an English-speaking call center executive in 2011. He is a very service-oriented person and loves to help others and also likes meeting new people and sharing new experiences with them. He aspires to set an example for others around him and is always supportive of his friends. Jorge hopes to learn from the students, to get more experience and build his leadership skills.
In his free time, Jorge likes to go to the gym and participate in playing basketball or any outdoor activities with his friends. |
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Rebecca Brewster, EE MentorBecca was born and raised in Redding, CT and continued on to Wheaton College in Norton, MA where she received her B.A. in Sociology, played Lacrosse and eventually Rugby. Her appreciation for the benefits of cultural immersion developed during her college Study Abroad homestay experience in Fiji. After college, she moved to the U.S. Virgin Islands where she spent the next 2 years working in tourism. She worked as a chef-mate on a charter yacht guiding tourists throughout the U.S. and British Virgin Islands. After finishing up her boating experience, she moved to New York City to get a taste of the Startup world. She realized that the city life was not for her and moved to Colorado to pursue a more satisfying career in Wilderness Therapy. Becca worked as a guide at Open Sky Wilderness for about 2.5 years in the backcountry of Colorado and Utah guiding adolescents and young adults. She joined the NSA community in January 2018 to work with a similar population aiding in their transition out of the Wilderness experience.
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In her time off, Becca enjoys spending her time outside exploring her surrounding areas through hiking, traveling and finding the nearest body of water. She's currently learning to surf, practicing her Spanish, and adjusting to living inside.
Roger Sanchez, MA, EE Mentor
Roger has been working with international students in different parts of the world (Costa Rica, Guatemala, Mexico and Kenya) for the last 15 years. He has been involved in counseling students for personal growth, to avoid/stop addictions and gaining self-esteem and confidence. He played an active role in developing approaches to learning and implementing the International Baccalaureate Programme in the organization he worked for previously. He conducted Spanish and Theory of Knowledge classes, supervised Extended Essay and Personal Project for Business and Management Studies, Psychology and Spanish. He was actively involved in clubs and adventures as part of the Creativity, Activity and Service (CAS), a core subject of the IBDP (International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme). He holds a Bachelor’s degree in International Relations and a Master’s degree in Social Ministry.
Roger strongly believes that students are more likely to succeed when realistic goals are set and they work according to their own convictions.
Roger has built his character and personality by interacting with several different cultures and assimilating the values, practices, spirituality and languages by immersing with the people he has lived with.
In his free time, Roger loves playing soccer, basketball, chess, listening to traditional and classic music, reading and learning about different cultures.
Roger returned to Costa Rica in December 2017, after having lived in East Africa for almost 10 years, in order to start his new job position as EE Mentor at NSA. He is married to a Burundian and a proud father of two.