Blog Archives - New Summit Academy Costa Rica

Orientation at New Summit Academy

5/31/2017

Students arriving at NSA for the first time have a great deal to process: new peers, new teachers, new rules and expectations – even a new country. In order to provide the most support possible during transition into the New Summit Academy community, our Orientation program guides each student as he immerses into a new, exciting experience.

Orientation begins with meeting a mentor: a senior student who serves as a “go-to” person for any questions or needs. That mentor accompanies his mentee on a weekend-long Orientation Aventura, where peers and staff introduce new students to the NSA handbook, explain how the program functions, and answer any questions that arrive. Upon returning to campus, new students complete a series of meetings, steps, readings and more in order to quickly and comfortably become part of our community -- ready to set goals to continue on the path to success.

Final College Application Update for Fall of 2017

5/17/2017

As the college search and application process at NSA for the fall of 2017 wraps up (and the process for 2018 begins!), our community would like to share some facts and statistics about our graduating class of seniors, off to some amazing opportunities:

-Percent of seniors who were accepted & enrolled: 100%
-Percent of schools offering admission: 77%
-Percent of waitlisted students being admitted: 75%
-Percent of students offered merit scholarships: 73%
-Average merit scholarship offered: $53,904.73
-Total amount of merit scholarships offered: $1,132,384.00

Congratulations, seniors, we look forward to your many future successes!

NSA's Aventura Program: There’s Nothing Else Like it on Earth!

5/16/2017

Throughout each student’s stay at New Summit Academy, the Integrated Aventuras serve as a means to connect with therapists, Experiential Education mentors, and teachers while working on personal growth goals, and enjoying total immersion in the natural wonders of Costa Rica. Students recently returned from three different Aventuras, and have brought their stories back to campus with them.

Community Service Aventura with Osa Conservation

5/15/2017

On the first Integrated Aventura of a career at NSA, students developed their work ethic and gave back with noticeable enthusiasm while weeding rows of lemongrass, cabbage, lettuce, and pineapple; creating organic fertilizer using discarded mangoes, and making a natural mulch using mango tree leaves at the permaculture-based organic farm Osa Verde.

Each night, students and staff engaged in presentations from scientists conducting on-site conservation work. On the fourth day, students released over a hundred freshly hatched baby Olive Ridley turtles into a stormy sea!

Corcovado Aventura in the Rainforest

5/13/2017

Students took to the trails of Corcovado National Park ready to explore the most biologically intense place on earth. The group's student documentarian recorded footage for a short film, while other students took turns in the role of Student Naturalist, spotting and identifying Baird's tapirs, anteaters, and caimans in the wild.

Biologists from the University of Costa Rica shared the results of a ten-year study about the diverse species of fungi endemic to the park, enhancing class discussions about the symbiotic relationships of rainforest organisms.

Kayak Aventura in the Golfo Dulce

5/12/2017

The highlight of this once-in-a-lifetime paddle around the protected waters of southern Costa Rica was the cohesion of the group, and the good vibes and energy that arose from the interactions between students and staff during the trip. Student feedback for staff was all positive, and they expressed how much they appreciated sharing the experience.

Students battled rough seas at times, but sightings of sea turtles, studying the mangroves in an estuary, and watching our Science teacher JD fall out of his kayak made the trip worth it!

NSA’s Transition Program

5/1/2017

As NSA's June graduation rapidly approaches, our integrated Transition team is working diligently with students and their families to prepare everyone for life post-graduation. And as students near their final quarter with us, they begin to work with their families on their Transition Plan: a comprehensive detailing of expectations, rules, education, home life, budgets and more.

Along with working on Transition Plans, this quarter engages students in life-skills workshops each week, including Getting Started at College, Real-World Budgeting, Meal-Planning, Car Maintenance, and Sex and Dating. As we near graduation, plans are refined, feedback is incorporated, and each student must have his plan approved by his Transition team before his final Aventura summiting Chirripo and graduating the program.

Upcoming Integrated Aventuras

5/1/2017

Mid-quarter sees students and staff excited and getting ready to venture off-campus on one of our signature Integrated Aventuras. These trips – program requirements and key experiences for NSA students – are truly integrated and intentionally designed to foster growth in Academics, Experiential Education, and Personal Growth.

This month, depending upon their progress within the program, students and staff will be hiking the wild rainforests of Corcovado National Park, working to save endangered sea turtles with Osa Conservation, or kayaking the pristine waters of the Golfo Dulce.

Keep an eye out for photos and stories from these once-in-a-lifetime opportunities in the coming issue!