Category: Skill Building - 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

Surf Club back in business!

2/23/2021

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

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!

WAFA certification an annual event at NSA!

5/7/2020

Costa Rica? No Way! Yes Way! (a parent's perspective)

4/26/2020

We eagerly awaited our educational consultant’s recommendation for after care programs for my son who was on track to complete his wilderness program. Our son had made significant progress in wilderness, but we believed his therapist and other experts who assured us that his work was far from done and that after care was the necessary next step. Our EC provided three choices... one a more innovative program in Costa Rica. Costa Rica?!? You have to be kidding us! No way are we sending our 16 year-old kid to a foreign country when he’s barely out of crisis mode. No. Way. Give it a look, our EC counseled. Talk to them, I think it might be a good fit for your son. We were paying him for his advice, so we agreed. Why not?

After calls with all programs, we chose to divide and conquer visiting two schools. I toured the school in the mid-west. The program seemed solid and the staff engaging. The location was remote, mountainous, and beautiful, but cold. I could see him here, I thought. This could work. When I compared notes with my son’s dad, however, the differences in our impressions were striking.

He talked about being greeted by staff with hugs, how a white board marked out all activities for the week, from therapeutic groups and excursions for surfing, down to who had a dentist appointment on Wednesday. He talked about close, individual engagement, comprehensive personal growth plans, and tailored learning programs. And he talked about the beautiful outdoor setting, with an open air gym and dining hall, not to mention delicious food. The comparison between the two schools was hardly fair. But could we send our son off to another country during this difficult period in his development? Ultimately, we decided yes. And we are forever grateful that we made this choice.

These are some of the factors that got us “over the hump” about sending our son to a school in a foreign country:

Costa Rica is a safe country (they haven’t had a military since 1948) and NSA provides a safe, fenced in campus with 24/7 security guards
Studying in a foreign country might give our son a sense of personal achievement distinct from his peers back in the States
Living in another culture might widen his world and personal vision beyond the generally homogenous culture to be found in our upper middle class major metropolitan environs
The temperate weather and activity options were better suited to our son who did not participate in snow sports and we knew physical activity would be a big factor in his progress and process (more on this later)
NSA only admits students who want to be there. They will not take your son "kicking and screaming,” so if he attended NSA, he would have to invest in the program
NSA does not follow a rigid set of levels in its program; there is room for adaption, modification and self-advocacy, but there are also rules and community norms that must be followed
An all-boys school would eliminate distractions
NSA was willing to allow visits on an ad hoc basis and did not adhere to a strict visitation schedule
Travel time from the east coast to Costa Rica was no different or even faster than flights to the midwest which are plagued by delays in the winter
And I can’t emphasize enough how warm and caring the staff at NSA are. This is a place where EVERY staff member is invested in the care of your son.

Ultimately, we left it up to our son. If he didn’t want to go to NSA and would not invest in the program, their program would not be a good fit for him. We described both programs to him, but expressed our preference for NSA and gave him our reasons why. He spoke with students and staff at both schools. He too expressed concern about the international element. And, at the end of the day, he chose NSA.
I cannot describe our entire experience at NSA but I offer a few highlights:

NSA paired our son with two therapists who were SPOT ON for him. They related to him immediately and he to them. They were young and cool - one with more experience, one newer in his role. Both “got” our son. They called him on his BS. They established trust with him and eventually he began to reach out for their advice and counsel independently. They pushed him to open up despite his resistance to show emotion. They were straight shooters and consistently worked with our son on the challenges that would face him when he left the safe bubble of NSA. Under their guidance, he leaves NSA with remarkable personal insights into his own areas for growth and has made substantial progress in addressing each area. His “toolbox” for navigating the “real world” is so much better equipped as a result of his work with the entire team at NSA. As parents, they pushed us to be better communicators, listeners, and collaborators with our son. Ultimately, they helped us become better parents.
NSA gave our son the space, motivation and encouragement to stick with a goal - to improve his physical fitness. Although he had always been athletic, during his year at NSA, our son put on 30 lbs of muscle working out almost every day. But this was about so much more than just a physical transformation. He learned to work hard and not to give up (as he had with so many of his other good intentions). He learned to be a leader by encouraging others to join him in his physical pursuits. He learned that exercise is a healthy coping mechanism for stress and anxiety. And he developed a self-confidence which had been sorely lacking at home.
NSA gave our son the support and tools to excel academically. The English teacher became a close confidant. The science teacher met students before class to workout in the gym. The culinary arts teacher introduced our son to a newfound joy of cooking. The academic team built the scaffolding for success. All of these folks are exceptional. In addition to academic achievement, however, our son developed a number of key skills that will help him moving forward in his educational journey, including self-advocacy skills (seeking out support when needed - a 180 degree turnaround from his tendencies before NSA); resiliency (getting back on track after academic lapses instead of giving up); and academic risk-taking (trying more difficult courses, even if it ultimately didn't work out).
NSA adapted on the fly. When a family emergency arose, they quickly pivoted to allow our son to come home for an early unscheduled visit, which caused a bump in the road but also provide the opportunity for all of us to learn how to handle the unexpected stresses that happen in life.
NSA created a safe bubble for its students during the COVIC19 pandemic. While other families in the US were scrambling to adapt programs for remote learning, NSA’s foresight to create an early self-quarantine allowed the boys to continue their education, activities, therapeutic work, and socialization without social distancing.

As we near his graduation date, some 13 months after he enrolled at NSA, we know whole-heartedly that we made the right choice. Our son is so much better for the time he spent at NSA, as are we.

Why Hogar de Vida?

1/26/2020

Hogar de Vida is an orphanage right down our street, but it's more than that. It's a place of hope and growth for everyone involved.

It doesn't matter whether you are a director, accountant, teacher, or student at NSA... you all share a common goal of spreading 'love' and 'joy.'

We asked some of our students and staff, "What makes Hogar de Vida so special?" ...and this is what some of them said.

"It's not about material possession, it’s not about who’s cool or not, it’s about connecting one-on-one with another human being who wants to be loved and accepted. Both our students and the little kids get that feeling from their interaction." - NSA Staff

"One big community working together towards a better cause - that's the beauty of Hogar de Vida!" - NSA Staff

"It makes me feel like a parent for a day. It's really cool to see their faces light up when they see us, and it's the same both ways, my face also lights up. I'm very happy when I go there." - NSA Student

"It was my first time going to an orphanage, people made it seem a lot harder than it was, I’m somewhat good with kids, but especially with my Hogar de Vida ‘son.’ A previous student had him before me, and no one really ‘wanted him’ - he would spit on me or climb up from behind, mess around... But it takes time. If you show them that you care and you want to be around them, even just the vibe of that, they will pick up on it. And he just became a whole new person - he comes up and grabs my hand; I'm now his best friend and he's mine." - NSA Student

"The experience as a whole - it not only helps me as a person but also them. They get to interact with people that are older and a positive influence on their life, which they might’ve not had in the past." - NSA Student

"They don’t think anyone besides the ‘tias’ would care for them. As some of us are young men, or getting to be there, it’s very positive for them to get and see positive 'male' examples, and we as students get to build our identity in a way too." - NSA Student

"For someone who struggles with comfortability around little kids, it’s honestly still pretty fun to see everyone having a fantastic time, and even if you aren’t a great fan of little kids, you can still help out. I still enjoy seeing them have fun." - NSA Student

Thanksgiving at New Summit Academy

11/27/2019

This holiday week, most of our students are spending Thanksgiving with their families. Those students spending the holiday with New Summit Academy have a week full of fun and celebration!

Activities include:

Go Karting
Stand-Up Paddle Boarding
Whitewater Rafting
Hiking in the Cloud Forest
Swimming and Surfing at the Beach

And, of course, students and staff will collaborate in preparing and sitting down to a delicious, traditional Thanksgiving dinner!

Happy Thanksgiving to all of our extended family at New Summit Academy!

August Experiential Session Part I: WAFA

8/21/2019

This past week, our students have been engaged alongside out staff in working toward earning their Wilderness Advanced First Aid (WAFA) certifications.

New Summit Academy has been pairing with the Wilderness Medicine Institute for years in facilitating this professional-level certification for students and staff as an opportunity to truly challenge themselves in an experiential, hands-on curriculum, as well as to help with our risk management during Integrated, Recreational, and International Aventuras.

Throughout the week-long course, our dedicated WAFA instructors teach students how to recognize and respond to a variety of situations that include:

- Risk management and assessment
- Patient assessment techniques
- Injury management
- Common wilderness medical problems

Each time students learned classroom content, everyone sprang into action, with half of our students and staff simulating medical emergencies on campus, and the other half acting as the first-aid responders, with the support of our teachers and instructors throughout the process. This is true (and very valuable) experiential education!

August Experiential Session at New Summit Academy

8/13/2019

This month brings exciting, hands-on experiential learning for our students and staff!

Below is a quick introduction to the once-in-a-lifetime opportunities that our community will be engaging in during the coming weeks:

Wilderness Advanced First Aid & CPR Certification
Students and staff will work together in this week-long, professional-level certification program, guided by the Wilderness Medicine Institute. Lessons on risk management and prevention, site surveys, CPR, and emergency treatment will be paired with hands-on simulated emergency scenarios where students will put their knowledge into action.

South Africa International Aventura
Some of our more senior students will travel to South Africa for what is sure to be a life-changing adventure. After getting to know Cape Town and introductions to local communities, students will participate in wildlife safaris, team-building exercises with local nonprofits, visits to museums and historical sites, and even a workshop with a local artist on using graffiti to bring positive change to communities!

Peru International Aventura
Many of our NSA students will travel to Peru to experience the Sacred Valley as few visitors ever get to do. The journey begins with an introduction to the ancient city of Cuzco and exploring the Incan site of Machu Picchu and Pisac. Students will then raft the Apurimac River before hiking the challenging but stunningly beautiful Ausangate Trek!

Costa Rica Orientation Aventura
Our newest NSA students will spend a week on two separate trips, with some relax time on campus in-between, getting to know the beauty and fun that Costa Rica has to offer. The first leg will introduce students to the Pacific Coast, where they will spend time on the beaches and sea kayaking. White water rafting on the world-famous Sarapiqui and zip-lining through the rainforests of Arenal make up the second trip. What a way to start at NSA!

SCUBA Certification in Bocas del Toro
To round out the August Experiential Session, a group of students and staff will travel to the archipelago of Bocas del Toro in Panama to earn their SCUBA Certifications. Bocas is world-renowned for its stunning beaches, coral reefs, and populations of marine mammals. This Aventura is sure to be remembered!

No other school on the planet engages its students in experiential learning like New Summit Academy!

Sneak Peek at our August Experiential Session

7/30/2019

This month, NSA will celebrate the graduation of four young men, ready to venture into the world and experience continued success.

After graduation, our students and staff will engage in a month of experiential learning, including the Wilderness Advanced First Aid (WAFA) certification course, international Aventuras to Peru and South Africa, and a SCUBA certification in Bocas del Toro, Panama.

Stay tuned for more updates on these once-in-a-lifetime opportunities!

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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