Puerto Rico 2011

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Puerto Rico is a proud island nation rich with cultural traditions, abundant wildlife, stunning beaches, and the only tropical rainforest in the U.S. National Park system. Rhythm and music, Caribbean Spanish, breathtaking natural beauty, and delicious traditional cooking make Puerto Rico an exciting first-step international summer travel destination. This program offers students the perfect combination of fun in the sun, outdoor adventure, leadership training, and cultural exploration.

PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS

• Night kayak on the BioBay
  
  
•  Snorkeling on the island of Vieques
  
  

• Canyoning, hiking, climbing, and zipline adventure in the Toro Negro Rainforest

• Surf with the Master—Tupi Cabrera

• Fun and rewarding community service projects in Utuado, Toro Negro, and Aguadilla
  

• Design and lead a Windsor Mountain Friendship Camp with Puerto Rican kids

• Get a taste of "real life in Puerto Rico" by participating in fun activities with Puerto Rican peers

2011 ITINERARY

Days 1-2: Arrive into San Juan. Meet your group and leaders and review learning goals for the trip. Take an afternoon to explore Old San Juan.

Days 3-5: Service and Adventure on Vieques. Enjoy snorkeling, swimming and kayaking on a bioluminescent bay, gain knowledge about the history and current events of Vieques, and learn about Puerto Rican culture by volunteering in a community center for the elderly.

Days 6-15: Travel to the small town of Utuado. Meet new people, try new foods, learn to work efficiently as a group. Visit beaches, coastal cliffs, lighthouses, a dry forest reserve and various villages. Learn about day to day life in Puerto Rico. Based on your new knowledge about the island, its people, and culture, work together as a team to design and lead Camp Windsor Mountain! Supplementary activities include snorkeling, scavenger hunts, service learning projects, beach days, and a weekend canyoning and zipline adventure on the Organic Tanama River.

Days 16-23: Travel to Aguadilla. Settle in at Tupi’s place and spend two days taking surf lessons! Based on your experiences in Utuado, revise and improve your Friendship Camp plan, then lead Camp Windsor Mountain 2.0 for a great new group of kids from the Boys and Girls Club of Aguadilla.

Day 24-26: Travel to San Juan for program wrap-up. Reflect on the entire Bridge Puerto Rico experience in Old San Juan, a preserved 16th century Spanish city with cobblestone streets and traditional Spanish architecture. Practice new language skills one last time, have fun sightseeing, and enjoy a delicious final banquet. Get on the plane and fly home!

WHO SHOULD PARTICIPATE?

Teenagers who want to have an amazingly fun summer exploring all that Puerto Rico has to offer! This program is designed for students interested in traveling to an exciting destination to test their limits and experience a vibrant and beautiful culture. Outdoor adventure activities, cross-cultural experiences, community service learning, and language opportunities are just the beginning—what you’ll remember the most is the friends you make. We are particularly interested in including motivated students who have a passion for working with kids, and are eager to teach and share creative activities and games in a summer camp setting. Students should join this program ready to immerse themselves in Puerto Rican culture as they work closely with Spanish speaking peers, take risks during adventure activities, work on community service projects, and discover the natural beauty of the island. Students should arrive with an open mind, be prepared to meet new people, try wonderful new foods, and experience a new culture.

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2011 details for this program are subject to change as new developments and opportunities arise. If you would like more information or have specific questions please contact Angus Whyte, Summer Travel Program Director, directly by email  or phone at   404-549-9197.