Arlington — Julianne Meany, a 16-year-old Girl Scout from Arlington and member of the Girl Scouts of the Nation’s Capital Council, completed Outward Bound Costa Rica’s Rainforest, River, and Reef Destination. The course included a seven-day tropical rainforest trek, cultural immersion with traditional Costa Rican families, and adventure activities.
Julianne and her group hiked their way through untouched rainforest to the remote village of Piedras Blancas, passing waterfalls and cloud forests. In the village, the group stayed with local families, practicing their Spanish skills and learning about traditions through hands-on activities such as harvesting sugar cane. Julianne also rappelled an 80-foot waterfall.
The group then headed to Manuel Antonio National Park, where they learned about the local wildlife and enjoyed the beach. They finished up the course with a day of rafting whitewater rapids on the Pejibaye River, a zipline canopy tour in the rainforest, and a visit to the vibrant artisan market of San Jose.
The group also spent a day of volunteering in a nature reserve near Outward Bound Costa Rica’s rainforest base, where they maintained trails used by the local community.
See www.outwardboundcostarica.org.