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As a part of New Summit Academy’s program graduation requirements, students have the opportunity to earn certifications in a variety of areas, including this spring’s Wilderness Advanced First Aid (WAFA) certification.
For over a decade, our school has teamed up with professionals from the Wilderness Medicine Institute to engage our students in a weeklong, professional-level course. Throughout the week, students and staff learn side-by-side how to prevent, assess and treat medical issues when far from civilization.
Classes are rigorous and challenging, but students respond well to the fact that each lesson is reinforced with hands-on “scenarios” where knowledge can be put into immediate practice. For the entire week, our campus becomes the backdrop for wilderness emergency simulations, and students can be found following the patient assessment system, dressing wounds, setting broken bones, and practicing evacuation techniques.
A culminating (and always exciting) simulation involves a half-day, off campus scenario dreamed up by the WMI team. This year’s simulation challenged students to assess and treat patients in the wilderness after a hot air balloon accident! After learning and practicing wilderness medicine techniques for the week, and after successfully passing both a written and practical examination, students are proud to show off their WAFA certifications. Congratulations to everyone involved!
For over a decade, our school has teamed up with professionals from the Wilderness Medicine Institute to engage our students in a weeklong, professional-level course. Throughout the week, students and staff learn side-by-side how to prevent, assess and treat medical issues when far from civilization.
Classes are rigorous and challenging, but students respond well to the fact that each lesson is reinforced with hands-on “scenarios” where knowledge can be put into immediate practice. For the entire week, our campus becomes the backdrop for wilderness emergency simulations, and students can be found following the patient assessment system, dressing wounds, setting broken bones, and practicing evacuation techniques.
A culminating (and always exciting) simulation involves a half-day, off campus scenario dreamed up by the WMI team. This year’s simulation challenged students to assess and treat patients in the wilderness after a hot air balloon accident! After learning and practicing wilderness medicine techniques for the week, and after successfully passing both a written and practical examination, students are proud to show off their WAFA certifications. Congratulations to everyone involved!
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After a challenging quarter at NSA, students and staff are ready for some rest and relaxation. This spring, after we celebrate our graduation ceremony, students will travel north to the Arenal and Sarapiqui region for some well-deserved fun.
The trip will begin with a swim at the La Fortuna waterfall, a 75-meter tall cascade famous for its two natural swimming pools.
The Spring Break itinerary is packed with lots of aventure as well, including hiking the trails around the base of Arenal Volcano, zip-lining, whitewater rafting, a sunset cruise on Lake Arenal, and relaxing soaks in thermal hot springs.
With hope, everyone will return to campus recharged and ready for the upcoming Wilderness Advanced First Aid (WAFA) course.
Keep an eye out for photos from the course and the trip in the upcoming edition!
The trip will begin with a swim at the La Fortuna waterfall, a 75-meter tall cascade famous for its two natural swimming pools.
The Spring Break itinerary is packed with lots of aventure as well, including hiking the trails around the base of Arenal Volcano, zip-lining, whitewater rafting, a sunset cruise on Lake Arenal, and relaxing soaks in thermal hot springs.
With hope, everyone will return to campus recharged and ready for the upcoming Wilderness Advanced First Aid (WAFA) course.
Keep an eye out for photos from the course and the trip in the upcoming edition!
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NSA’s academic classes use a project-based model to engage students in true, deeper learning. Project-based learning sets a collaborative goal for the quarter or semester, and uses learning objectives as steps to reach that goal.
In this model, teachers serve as guides and facilitators, and students take ownership of their learning because they believe in the goal they helped to create, and see relevance in daily steps in the context of the final product.
In Juan Diego’s Biotechnology class this quarter, students are studying how Science and cooking combine by using microorganisms to our benefit. As part of their overall project, students captured live yeast from the air (experimenting with various mixtures of flour, sugar and acids) until they produced the best results. After a week, students had an active sourdough starter, which they used to make pizza crust, enjoying their creations at lunch to the envy of their peers.
Proof that Science can be delicious!
In this model, teachers serve as guides and facilitators, and students take ownership of their learning because they believe in the goal they helped to create, and see relevance in daily steps in the context of the final product.
In Juan Diego’s Biotechnology class this quarter, students are studying how Science and cooking combine by using microorganisms to our benefit. As part of their overall project, students captured live yeast from the air (experimenting with various mixtures of flour, sugar and acids) until they produced the best results. After a week, students had an active sourdough starter, which they used to make pizza crust, enjoying their creations at lunch to the envy of their peers.
Proof that Science can be delicious!
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Cultural Immersion plays a key role in our students’ experiences at New Summit Academy, promoting relationship development, appreciation of others’ cultures and customs, health risk-taking, and reciprocity – so much of what we strive to develop.
One of the most memorable cultural experiences for our students is their participation in the Homestay program, spending Sundays with local families, and joining them in activities ranging from cooking at home to attending soccer games, birthday parties, and afternoons at the beach.
These volunteer families take our students into their homes and lives out of the goodness of their hearts, so our community gives a little bit back to them with our popular Homestay picnics.
This quarter, a summer day in the Caribbean was the theme of the Homestay picnic, complete with team-building games (with lots of water balloons!) fun decorations, music, and a traditional Caribbean lunch of rice and beans cooked in coconut milk!
One of the most memorable cultural experiences for our students is their participation in the Homestay program, spending Sundays with local families, and joining them in activities ranging from cooking at home to attending soccer games, birthday parties, and afternoons at the beach.
These volunteer families take our students into their homes and lives out of the goodness of their hearts, so our community gives a little bit back to them with our popular Homestay picnics.
This quarter, a summer day in the Caribbean was the theme of the Homestay picnic, complete with team-building games (with lots of water balloons!) fun decorations, music, and a traditional Caribbean lunch of rice and beans cooked in coconut milk!
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A key part of NSA’s mission to nurture students toward becoming more relationship-based, goal-driven, resourceful global citizens is the idea of giving back to people and communities. During their stays, our students engage in countless opportunities to give back, from mentoring new students to volunteering at Hogar de Vida.
Our students work side-by-side with the Osa Conservation preserving turtle habitats, beautify local schools, and teach free English lessons in town. And something seems to stick, because our school is lucky enough to have graduates continually expressing that they want to give back by becoming interns, contributing to a program that once guided them.
Read for yourselves from a recent letter written by a 2014 graduate:
Hey Martin-
I was checking out the NSA website a second ago and felt compelled to email. Partly to thank you and also update you on my life.
I am in my second semester of my sophomore year at UNCW. I am on track to be a Psych Major/Spanish Double and or Minor (depending on the next few semesters). I work in the summers as a surf instructor and the rest of the year as a Manny (male nanny) for a family with a 9 year old boy and a 13 year old boy. I know GPA does not indicate everything but I have a steady 3.0. In July I will study abroad in Port Elizabeth South Africa for the semester.
How is New Summit Academy? Has the profile of students been changing at all? Mike W. and I keep in touch a good deal and he spoke very fondly of his time at NSA, especially working with you. I hope to come back at some point and work with NSA. It says something about the program that some students are compelled to come back and work with the students.
I am very thankful for my experience at NSA. It was an ineffable experience at certain points but my overall feelings remain positive and grateful. Choosing to take a year off was a very hard decision but a pivotal decision that I hold to my identity/sense of self. I always enjoyed talking travel with you and all you encouraged me to do.
I know you are very busy but I thought that I would extend this to you.
Sincerely,
Griffin
Our students work side-by-side with the Osa Conservation preserving turtle habitats, beautify local schools, and teach free English lessons in town. And something seems to stick, because our school is lucky enough to have graduates continually expressing that they want to give back by becoming interns, contributing to a program that once guided them.
Read for yourselves from a recent letter written by a 2014 graduate:
Hey Martin-
I was checking out the NSA website a second ago and felt compelled to email. Partly to thank you and also update you on my life.
I am in my second semester of my sophomore year at UNCW. I am on track to be a Psych Major/Spanish Double and or Minor (depending on the next few semesters). I work in the summers as a surf instructor and the rest of the year as a Manny (male nanny) for a family with a 9 year old boy and a 13 year old boy. I know GPA does not indicate everything but I have a steady 3.0. In July I will study abroad in Port Elizabeth South Africa for the semester.
How is New Summit Academy? Has the profile of students been changing at all? Mike W. and I keep in touch a good deal and he spoke very fondly of his time at NSA, especially working with you. I hope to come back at some point and work with NSA. It says something about the program that some students are compelled to come back and work with the students.
I am very thankful for my experience at NSA. It was an ineffable experience at certain points but my overall feelings remain positive and grateful. Choosing to take a year off was a very hard decision but a pivotal decision that I hold to my identity/sense of self. I always enjoyed talking travel with you and all you encouraged me to do.
I know you are very busy but I thought that I would extend this to you.
Sincerely,
Griffin
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February and March have been exciting months for our senior students and our faculty, as the hard work of college applications is starting to pay off. Our seniors have received decisions from just under half of the schools to which they’ve applied, and the results are fantastic! So far, 94% of schools applied to have made offers of admission. Amazing programs, Colleges That Change Lives, and top universities want our students, and are offering merit scholarships to make them even more appealing.
Schools such as Pace University, Juniata College, Whittier, Rollins, and Loyola Marymount have – to date – offered our students a total of more than $688,000.00 in merit scholarships! Congratulations, seniors, on your well-deserved success!
Schools such as Pace University, Juniata College, Whittier, Rollins, and Loyola Marymount have – to date – offered our students a total of more than $688,000.00 in merit scholarships! Congratulations, seniors, on your well-deserved success!