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When families first hear “therapeutic boarding school in Costa Rica,” the most common reaction is: “Why Costa Rica?”
The answer? Because Costa Rica doesn’t just support healing; it embodies it.
At New Summit Academy, our students experience the therapeutic benefits of this vibrant country every single day. From the culture and climate to the pace of life and opportunities for adventure, Costa Rica offers a unique blend of safety, growth, and connection that simply can’t be replicated elsewhere.
The answer? Because Costa Rica doesn’t just support healing; it embodies it.
At New Summit Academy, our students experience the therapeutic benefits of this vibrant country every single day. From the culture and climate to the pace of life and opportunities for adventure, Costa Rica offers a unique blend of safety, growth, and connection that simply can’t be replicated elsewhere.
Here’s why Costa Rica is the best country for therapeutic support, and why families from around the world choose to send their sons here.
1. The Culture Itself Is Therapeutic
Costa Rica has earned its reputation as one of the happiest, most peaceful countries in the world. The culture is built around connection, presence, and community - values that many students in high-pressure environments desperately need to reconnect with.
Here, students learn to:
Costa Rica’s famous saying, “Pura Vida” (pure life), isn’t just a slogan. It’s a way of living that encourages thriving over just surviving.
2. Immersive Nature = Natural Regulation
From mountain cloud forests to tropical beaches, Costa Rica is one of the most biodiverse places on the planet, and our campus is nestled right in the heart of it.
This natural immersion supports:
Whether surfing, hiking, kayaking, or simply studying under a mango tree, students experience the therapeutic impact of nature every day.
1. The Culture Itself Is Therapeutic
Costa Rica has earned its reputation as one of the happiest, most peaceful countries in the world. The culture is built around connection, presence, and community - values that many students in high-pressure environments desperately need to reconnect with.
Here, students learn to:
- Slow down and be present
- Prioritize relationships and wellbeing
- See themselves through a strengths-based lens, not a diagnostic one
Costa Rica’s famous saying, “Pura Vida” (pure life), isn’t just a slogan. It’s a way of living that encourages thriving over just surviving.
2. Immersive Nature = Natural Regulation
From mountain cloud forests to tropical beaches, Costa Rica is one of the most biodiverse places on the planet, and our campus is nestled right in the heart of it.
This natural immersion supports:
- Reduced stress and anxiety
- Increased mindfulness and emotional regulation
- Greater connection to self and the world
Whether surfing, hiking, kayaking, or simply studying under a mango tree, students experience the therapeutic impact of nature every day.
3. A Safe, Accessible Location (Closer Than You Think)
Despite being abroad, Costa Rica is just a short flight from major U.S. cities. With direct flights from New York, Miami, Houston, Atlanta, and Los Angeles - and only a 25-minute drive from the airport to our campus - it’s more accessible than many stateside programs.
Families are often surprised by how easy it is to stay connected, with scheduled home visits every 8-9 weeks and regular communication throughout their enrollment.
Despite being abroad, Costa Rica is just a short flight from major U.S. cities. With direct flights from New York, Miami, Houston, Atlanta, and Los Angeles - and only a 25-minute drive from the airport to our campus - it’s more accessible than many stateside programs.
Families are often surprised by how easy it is to stay connected, with scheduled home visits every 8-9 weeks and regular communication throughout their enrollment.
4. Integrated Cultural Experiences Build Identity
Therapeutic growth isn’t just about introspection. It’s about seeing the world differently, and seeing yourself differently within it.
Through:
New Summit Academy students develop empathy, perspective-taking, and a stronger sense of identity.
5. It’s Not Just Therapy. It’s Transformation
In Costa Rica, therapeutic support doesn’t mean sitting in a therapist’s office five days a week.
It means:
Our model of Supportive Immersion means that students are constantly growing through daily experiences - from leadership roles and travel to music, academics, and sports - all in a culture that encourages them to be their authentic selves.
Costa Rica Isn’t a Detour. It’s a Direction.
When students feel overwhelmed, anxious, or burned out, they don’t need to be “sent away.” They need a pause, a reset, and a new environment that helps them reconnect with who they are. Costa Rica offers all of that and more.
Is your son ready for a fresh start in a place designed for growth?
Learn how New Summit Academy Costa Rica combines academic excellence, personal development, and the natural therapeutic power of this remarkable country.
Therapeutic growth isn’t just about introspection. It’s about seeing the world differently, and seeing yourself differently within it.
Through:
- Homestays with Costa Rican families
- Service projects in local communities
- Cross-cultural friendships and language immersion
New Summit Academy students develop empathy, perspective-taking, and a stronger sense of identity.
5. It’s Not Just Therapy. It’s Transformation
In Costa Rica, therapeutic support doesn’t mean sitting in a therapist’s office five days a week.
It means:
- Building a healthy lifestyle
- Practicing new skills in real time
- Working with mentors who truly know and care about each student
Our model of Supportive Immersion means that students are constantly growing through daily experiences - from leadership roles and travel to music, academics, and sports - all in a culture that encourages them to be their authentic selves.
Costa Rica Isn’t a Detour. It’s a Direction.
When students feel overwhelmed, anxious, or burned out, they don’t need to be “sent away.” They need a pause, a reset, and a new environment that helps them reconnect with who they are. Costa Rica offers all of that and more.
Is your son ready for a fresh start in a place designed for growth?
Learn how New Summit Academy Costa Rica combines academic excellence, personal development, and the natural therapeutic power of this remarkable country.
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Our music electives and art programs provide our students with a unique opportunity to explore their emotions, express themselves authentically, and embark on a journey of self-discovery.
We recently had a visit from the wonderful Tracy Hopkins. After her visit, she left us with not only sweet memories but also heartwarming words we want to share with you:
We recently had a visit from the wonderful Tracy Hopkins. After her visit, she left us with not only sweet memories but also heartwarming words we want to share with you:
"In the middle of the Howler Studio at New Summit Academy Costa Rica, I found myself moved to tears. It was a profound moment, one where the heartstrings of empathy and understanding were delicately plucked by the soulful melody of a young man's song, penned from the depths of his own experiences." - Tracy
"As he sang, he shared of the quest for belonging, a yearning to illuminate his inner light amidst the shadows of uncertainty. It became clear to me that he, like so many others, was on a profound journey of self-discovery and connection, navigating the perplexity of human existence with courage and vulnerability." - Tracy
"Students seamlessly integrate into an environment that encourages introspection, fosters genuine connections, and nurtures personal growth through collective contribution." - Tracy
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New Representatives
As we begin a new quarter the students held student council elections!
Before the voting started the students opened up a space to discuss their goals for the quarter through speeches, showing a great deal of leadership, unity and positive change in the school community.
Before the voting started the students opened up a space to discuss their goals for the quarter through speeches, showing a great deal of leadership, unity and positive change in the school community.
Congratulations to the new members of our student council!
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🏫 "I am thankful that - as stressful as it can be - I am able to provide guidance for our students' next steps after high school. We just received our first fall 2024 college acceptance with an offer of $28,000 a year in merit scholarships!" - Martin, Director of Learning & College Counselor
🤩 "I’m thankful to have the chance to work and share experiences with the best team of persons who every day give the best of themselves to inspire and transform the life of our students and their families." - Diego, HR Director
👨👩👧👦 I'm thankful for my family, for my sons, daughters, and my grandson, their health and wellbeing for the new summit academy family, as well for our students and their families. Happy Thanksgiving!" - Miguel, Trip Leader & EE Mentor
🙏 “I’m thankful for having the opportunity to use my talents to help, mentor and learn along side teenagers. My life’s work is so meaningful to me; I feel blessed” - Juan Diego, Science Teacher & Fitness Coordinator
🕊️ “This Thanksgiving I am incredibly grateful for many and all the blessings in my life. First and foremost, my darling wife Bonnie and my family; four grown adult children and three grandkids. I am thankful that my family in Israel are safe and pray that the terrible war ends for all the people involved and who are in harms way. I am thankful for living in this wonderful country of Costa Rica and especially having the blessing of working at NSA. I love each and every person at the school and I am thankful that it has given me a driving purpose in my golden years." - Stephen, Film & Photography Teacher
💝"In this time of reflection and great changes, I want to thank our creator and life: for the people you put in our lives, for the experiences we have had (good and not so good, which make us grow), for the blessing of working in a place that serves as help and transformation for many, and especially and always in my heart for my family and especially my parents who taught me the values that I live and to be the woman that I am." 🙌🏻🙏🏻
🤩 "I’m thankful to have the chance to work and share experiences with the best team of persons who every day give the best of themselves to inspire and transform the life of our students and their families." - Diego, HR Director
👨👩👧👦 I'm thankful for my family, for my sons, daughters, and my grandson, their health and wellbeing for the new summit academy family, as well for our students and their families. Happy Thanksgiving!" - Miguel, Trip Leader & EE Mentor
🙏 “I’m thankful for having the opportunity to use my talents to help, mentor and learn along side teenagers. My life’s work is so meaningful to me; I feel blessed” - Juan Diego, Science Teacher & Fitness Coordinator
🕊️ “This Thanksgiving I am incredibly grateful for many and all the blessings in my life. First and foremost, my darling wife Bonnie and my family; four grown adult children and three grandkids. I am thankful that my family in Israel are safe and pray that the terrible war ends for all the people involved and who are in harms way. I am thankful for living in this wonderful country of Costa Rica and especially having the blessing of working at NSA. I love each and every person at the school and I am thankful that it has given me a driving purpose in my golden years." - Stephen, Film & Photography Teacher
💝"In this time of reflection and great changes, I want to thank our creator and life: for the people you put in our lives, for the experiences we have had (good and not so good, which make us grow), for the blessing of working in a place that serves as help and transformation for many, and especially and always in my heart for my family and especially my parents who taught me the values that I live and to be the woman that I am." 🙌🏻🙏🏻
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With the goal of empowering parents to understand and support their child's journey as well as strengthen the foundation of family dynamics and the home environment, parents embark on their own journey with NSA support.
Here are a few examples of what our parents engage in!
- 2 weekly Zoom Parent Education & Support Groups
- 1 on 1 Parent Plan Coaching with Clinical Director Mario Duran
- Parent Workshops on-site with sessions, seminars & parent-teacher conferences
- Weekly Individual Calls with students, therapists and family sessions
- Flexible family visits in Costa Rica (with pre- & post-visit family therapy sessions)
- Home Visits to the USA 6 weeks per year (to practice skills being learned)
Family Workshops (New Families & Transition Families)
Our families have the opportunity to attend our new family workshop at the beginning of their son's process, as well as the transition workshop during their son's final quarter at NSA.
Our therapeutic team has created a well-balanced two- to three-day workshop where they facilitate presentations, group activities, individual sessions, construction of goal plans, alumni meetings, among other things!
Our therapeutic team has created a well-balanced two- to three-day workshop where they facilitate presentations, group activities, individual sessions, construction of goal plans, alumni meetings, among other things!
Here are a few highlights and learnings from our parents:
- "Working with the NSA team - always professional, insightful, and supportive."
- "We appreciated the family sessions on both days that helped to identify the heart of the issues within our family, and the support during the breakout session to work on our transitions plan."
- "Learning to prioritize my relationship with my son over control - the importance of proactive support vs reactive support for him."
- "The chance for students and parents to gain insights from the experiences of alumni was amazing."
- "The ability to connect with NSA staff on such a personal level was extremely important to us. From Ignacio's powerful family sessions to the roundtable with Jon's teachers, it helped us see he was in good hands and we had all the support we could ask for."
- "The parendectomy, where parents and students exchanged experiences and shared feedback, showed us that there were others who shared many of the challenges that our family does, yet were learning ways to cope and adjust just as we hoped we would."
As students evolve, so do their families!
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While Halloween is widely celebrated in the United States, have you ever wondered what it's like to embrace this spooky tradition in a Latin country like Costa Rica? 🎃🌴
We organized a Halloween Celebration party with our Homestay Families and Costa Rican friends. Our students got to share some of their Halloween traditions with the Ticos mixed with the Latin dance element that cannot be missed at a Costa Rican party!
From all of us here at New Summit, we wish you a spooky and unforgettable Halloween, no matter where you are in the world. Stay safe, embrace the spirit of the season, and remember to enjoy the Pura Vida spirit of Costa Rica this October! 🎃🌴
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One of our recent graduates from August 2023 tells us about his experience at NSA and shares advice for future students.
The Experience
- “I’d become a lot more patient with the people around me, myself, and a lot more comfortable with my life as it is in general."
- "I've had a favorite part since I got here! The way people live and their culture. People enjoy the free time that they have in a way I was not used to back home."
- "NSA was that little area for me to cultivate the things that I needed to work on."
What advice would you give to others?
- “It’s a good place for you to develop who you really are and not worry about all the external consequences of what other people want you to be.”
- "The community is really awesome to be around."
- “I would challenge everybody to be their best selves.”
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Congrats!! This past week our students and staff earned their WFA certifications.
Throughout the week-long course, our dedicated WFA instructors teach students how to recognize and respond to situations that include:
- Risk Management and Assessment
- Patient Assessment Techniques
- Injury Management
- Common Wilderness Medical Problems
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Dr. Danny Recio & Dr. Heather Tracy, 2022
Mental health is a hot topic at all levels of education, and higher ed is no exception.
Check out Dr. Danny Recio & Dr. Heather Tracy’s article published in the well respected EAIE FORUM magazine last summer of 2023. Finding the path to mental fitness: From languishing to flourishing is a worthy read!
Check out Dr. Danny Recio & Dr. Heather Tracy’s article published in the well respected EAIE FORUM magazine last summer of 2023. Finding the path to mental fitness: From languishing to flourishing is a worthy read!
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From a current NSA parent:
- For me, the power and strength in the family support at NSA is one area that I feel parents would like to know about when they’re seeking a program.
- I would also be honored to speak about any area you’d like to highlight as all aspects of NSA are an A+ to me!
- I also wanted to mention that the support I feel from other parents in my cohort is profound! That’s a result of the Tuesday and Wednesday parent coaching meetings with Mario as well as the Transition Workshop Weekend.