All Categories - New Summit Academy Costa Rica

Is a Gap Year for us?

6/8/2022

What if you were guaranteed immense clarity and direction just from taking a simple year off of school to travel abroad? What if it could propel you way farther than jumping straight into college? Would you do it without hesitation?

Danny Recio, Director and Founder of The Bridge Gap Program, took a gap year in South Africa after high school. It was during his time there where he had a “coming of age” experience and found his calling in working with people. All because of his time abroad, Danny went on to start gap year programs - a therapeutic option called The Bridge (a therapeutic community for young men) and a more traditional coed gap program (Si! Gap Program) in Costa Rica, guiding them along their own coming of age experiences.

In this episode of Success is Subjective, Danny joins Joanna to share his journey as he traveled as a young adult, exploring different cultures and how his gap year experience has stuck with him, even a decade later. Listen in for Danny’s insight on the impact the right gap year program can have on a young adult, possibly changing the entire trajectory of their life.

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/episode-118-making-the-most-of-your-young-adulthood/id1499891712?i=1000550592741

What You Will Learn

What it was like growing up and going to school in Costa Rica
Danny’s gap year in South Africa
How impactful and helpful taking a gap year can be
When Danny became interested in psychology
Danny’s experience in college in Costa Rica vs the U.S.
Danny’s insight on what can be really helpful for young adults as they navigate their identity and the world around them
How The Bridge Gap Program came about
Danny’s advice on goal setting
Connect with Danny Recio at his Bridge email or his NSA email

Kayaking into the sunset at NSA...

3/27/2021

Our newest student cohort embarked on a beautiful trip kayaking in the Osa Penninsula for a week last week... #aventura #riteofpassage #nsacr

Aventura #2 ~ the Charm of Corcovado

3/26/2021

Another wonderful rite of passage trip for the Corcovado cohort. #costarica #aventura #corcovado

Costa Rica in bloom...

3/10/2021

Staff Training - DEI sharing & collaboration

2/26/2021

Staff training and collaboration was a highlight this week as we explored DEI and our honest and authentic personal, professional and programmatic experiences within the systems of privilege and opportunity (or lack of). We are so proud to be a part of a team that continues to embark on our own personal and professional growth journeys to shift communities to become more inclusive and supportive.

Surf Club back in business!

2/23/2021

Enjoy some photos from our recent surf lessons and surf outings!

Staying Safe at NSA - Summertime is coming!

11/15/2020

As we reopen, we are taking all precautions to prevent the spread of COVID-19 on our campus. Luckily, the rainy season is ending and we will be soon entering the dry season. What does that mean? That we will be able to be outdoors as much as possible!

Learning more about the aerosol spread of the virus has encouraged us to take many precautions such as:

Classroom time and therapeutic groups conducted in outdoor ranchos and covered (but open-air) spaces.
Social distance spacing at meal tables (in our open-air dining hall).
Mask wearing by all staff at all times and students as well when in off campus situations.
Outdoor recreation and cultural immersion will only be implemented in outdoor activities with proper social distancing.
Campus modifications: More night-time lighting to allow for more time spent outdoors after dark, more fans for better ventilation, designating bathrooms to specific groups of people, and spreading out dorm placements in a way that provides ample personal air space but also does not leave students isolated or lonely.

We're excited to reopen and feel optimistic about all that Costa Rica and NSA has to offer during this stressful global pandemic.

NSA 4.0 - Our latest release coming December 1!

11/12/2020

December 1 is our 4th album release in almost 16 years! We've sold some tickets for our December concert and are fine-tuning our playlists with the band, back up singers, stage hands and all the rest! Let's take a look back at the first 3 albums and why you're going to love the 4th even more...

NSA 1.0 was released on January 1, 2005, when NSA first opened its doors to 11 students and their families. Young, inspired, energetic and ambitious, we pumped ourselves up with hits like:
- Michael Jackson's "Wanna Be Startin' Something,"
- "Let's Get it Started" by the Black Eyed Peas, &
- "Go Your Own Way" by Fleetwood Mac.

NSA 2.0 was released in 2012 as we moved into our newly built campus and opened our young adult Bridge program. We psyched ourselves up with:
- the Jefferson's theme song, "Moving On Up"
- and then slowed it down with hits like "Bridge Over Troubled Water" by Simon & Garfunkel &
- "Home" by Phillip Phillips

NSA 3.0 - The 2020 COVID COHORT! The COVID lockdown brought out our inner divas as we discoed our way through
- "Stayin' Alive" by the Bee Gees,
- Gloria Gaynor's "I Will Survive" and
- REM's "It's the End of the World as We Know It (and I Feel Fine)"
... all while playing corn hole, horseshoes, ladder golf, and gathering to make S'mores around our fire pit.

NSA 4.0 - Now, as we prepare for our post-covid-lockdown December 1st release, we are inspired to begin again - with a return to our roots, an even more powerful purpose, and lots of inspiration. Listen to our rendition of
- "Don't Stop Believin'" (no, it's not as good as the Glee cast!),
- "I'll Rise" by Ben Harper (a la Maya Angelou)
- "Stronger" by Kelly Clarkson, &
- "Here Comes the Sun" by the Beatles

One of the the things of which we are proud is our commitment to life-long learning, and that isn't only for our students! Each version of NSA is a result of a reflective, systemic process of self-examination, feedback from our stakeholders, and research on best practices.

NSA 4.0 is a result of this process in our team as we decided to take advantage of the opportunity that the COVID hibernation brought us. You will not be disappointed as NSA 4.0 brings to the forefront:

even more intentional integration within our program,
relationship-based humility in our activities and cultural immersion,
a continued commitment to diversity among our staff and students,
a renewed commitment to open, mindful communication and collaboration,
Dr. Danny Recio's new position dedicated to tending the fire of a healthy community culture at both NSA & The Bridge,
the same high quality service and connection you are used to, and
an exciting revamp of the weekly schedule to empower students to take more ownership in building their own healthy lifestyles and create more space for experiential learning!

From Solos to SnapChat: Guiding Re-entry into a Technological World

5/9/2020

Martin Naffziger, M.Ed., and Dr. Heather Tracy, Ed.D., presented in early 2020 at the annual NATSAP conference. The topic? Once through wilderness, how do we guide students back into the realities of our technological world?

Dr. Tracy presented the latest research on the positive and negative effects of technology use as well as presented a framework for how to assess and discuss intentionally moderate use.

Martin Naffziger then outlined how New Summit Academy re-introduces technology into student lives in an intentionally gradual way using process-based scaffolding. Enjoy!

The Vibe of Family...

5/8/2020

NSA was one of 4 therapeutic boarding schools that our Ed Consultant recommended. We were hesitant at first because of the distance and were concerned with the ease of getting our son back and forth (as well as ourselves) for visits. We quickly realized it was faster to get to Costa Rica than it was to some of the schools in Utah given they’re so far from the airport.

My husband and I said no less than 10 times - “thank god we picked NSA.” It was amazing and we credit that school with saving our son. He had issues with severe anxiety and low self esteem.

The entire staff was amazing. The teachers weren’t just teachers - they helped to counsel our son. The therapists were amazing. Everyone from the chef to the security felt like family to our son. He mentioned every single person in his graduation speech. He cried his eyes out when he had to leave everyone because he loved them so much and they loved him. He plans to go back as a mentor! That speaks volumes to the school.

We chose NSA because the other schools seemed like they also had good therapists and education ...but NSA had the best vibe. The others seemed too restrictive and more prison-like. And let’s face it - being in a lush environment is therapeutic in itself. Our son definitely wanted to be home, but he also knew the other places he could have gone would have been so much worse.

He’s been home a year now, and things are going really well. We still are so thankful we found and chose NSA and we’re not convinced things would have gone this well if we had chosen one of the other schools that were recommended.

This website was made by a collaborative effort between two students (SK and JA) and NSA staff.
All pictures are real photographs taken from student experiences at NSA. Thank you for taking the time to peruse our site!
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