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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.
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
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
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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!
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!
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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.
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.
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Our son finished his freshman year at NSA almost a year ago. We can’t say enough to thank the team for what they did for our son and for our family! For a place of healing and growth it is the perfect setting with fresh air, fresh food, and surrounded by nature.
This is a TOP NOTCH boarding school – academically, socially, and emotionally. NSA is a warm and loving community with gifted educators and therapists. NSA is ahead of the curve with innovative learning that extends beyond the classroom to life skills and exploration of who the students are in relation to the world around them.
Nearly every day, we still hear stories from our son about the friends and staff who challenged him daily to know himself and be the best version of himself. NSA is an incredible team of people who have created a program that is truly a game-changer and a life-changer!
This is a TOP NOTCH boarding school – academically, socially, and emotionally. NSA is a warm and loving community with gifted educators and therapists. NSA is ahead of the curve with innovative learning that extends beyond the classroom to life skills and exploration of who the students are in relation to the world around them.
Nearly every day, we still hear stories from our son about the friends and staff who challenged him daily to know himself and be the best version of himself. NSA is an incredible team of people who have created a program that is truly a game-changer and a life-changer!
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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:
I cannot describe our entire experience at NSA but I offer a few highlights:
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.
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.
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Presentation by Dr. Danny Recio & Dr. Heather Tracy at the Young Adult Transition Association conference in Coeur d'Alene, ID, in October 2017.
Learn more about 5 societal and cultural trends affecting youth development and how Supportive Immersion methods develop the PROPS which lead to self-generation and therefore integrative growth.
Learn more about 5 societal and cultural trends affecting youth development and how Supportive Immersion methods develop the PROPS which lead to self-generation and therefore integrative growth.
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http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2016/03/16/the-best-way-to-fight-with-a-teenager/?_r=0
This is a great article about the different "responses" or "reactions" we can have to conflict as parents and adolescents. The main point is to take a problem-solving approach (instead of attacking, complying or withdrawing). The problem-solving approach has the best effects on mental health, identity, resilience, confidence, relationships and future outcomes.
This is a great article about the different "responses" or "reactions" we can have to conflict as parents and adolescents. The main point is to take a problem-solving approach (instead of attacking, complying or withdrawing). The problem-solving approach has the best effects on mental health, identity, resilience, confidence, relationships and future outcomes.
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by Dr. Heather Tracy, EdD
One reflection that resonated with several parents during this Thanksgiving's parent workshop was the idea of redefining "success." I encourage to you think about these questions and analyze how you have communicated (either implicitly or explicitly) your own definition of success to yourself, your son, your family and your friends.
If we all stick to one definition of success that is defined FOR us by society or our communities... then where is the room for unique talents and strengths? We cannot ALL be "successful" according to the mainstream's competitive definition. It is not even rationally possible if we all attempt the same goal within the same parameters. Someone has to "lose" and we don't all get a trophy. However, we all have something to contribute in our own way.
Part of NSA's philosophical foundation is based on Howard Gardner's Theory of Multiple Intelligences. This theory posits that we all have 8-9 aptitudes for learning, but we all exhibit those aptitudes at different levels...which is what makes us unique and different. We can all learn in various ways, but our strengths and challenges create a unique learning profile and approach that is not often validated or harnessed in traditional classrooms or work settings. Part of what NSA does is help students understand their unique profile so that they can better engage in learning and envision their own unique way of contributing to truth, goodness, and beauty to produce meaningful contributions to their lives, communities, and the world at large.
So... What is success to you? What is success to your son? What CAN success be? What forms does it take? How do we readjust our definitions of success so that we all, like a group of puzzle pieces, can have our own unique shapes and colors can collaborate to create and contribute to one "whole"?
If we all stick to one definition of success that is defined FOR us by society or our communities... then where is the room for unique talents and strengths? We cannot ALL be "successful" according to the mainstream's competitive definition. It is not even rationally possible if we all attempt the same goal within the same parameters. Someone has to "lose" and we don't all get a trophy. However, we all have something to contribute in our own way.
Part of NSA's philosophical foundation is based on Howard Gardner's Theory of Multiple Intelligences. This theory posits that we all have 8-9 aptitudes for learning, but we all exhibit those aptitudes at different levels...which is what makes us unique and different. We can all learn in various ways, but our strengths and challenges create a unique learning profile and approach that is not often validated or harnessed in traditional classrooms or work settings. Part of what NSA does is help students understand their unique profile so that they can better engage in learning and envision their own unique way of contributing to truth, goodness, and beauty to produce meaningful contributions to their lives, communities, and the world at large.
So... What is success to you? What is success to your son? What CAN success be? What forms does it take? How do we readjust our definitions of success so that we all, like a group of puzzle pieces, can have our own unique shapes and colors can collaborate to create and contribute to one "whole"?