Dear Parents, Teachers and Teen Travelers,


Thirty four years ago when my family arrived in Costa Rica, it was a country unheard of and often confused with an island in the Caribbean. Today, it is a global destination and tourism is the leading source of income for the country. Why? Because Costa Rica is the BEST location for adventure, education and having loads of fun! As a first generation child of a US migrant family re-established abroad, I experienced first-hand the benefits of an international education, adventurous lifestyle and exotic background. 
 
I established Adventures Under the Sun as a way to provide young people with an opportunity to come witness and experience the same things in Costa Rica that shaped my life. Here, students will learn about some of the most incredible environmental wonders while also learning about themselves and others. Understanding ourselves, our surroundings and the many cultures whose paths we will cross in life are key components for the successful development of the young people who will lead our world into the future. Costa Rica and Adventures under the Sun are only two of the many influences that will impact the participants of our programs. My hope is that a trip with AUSUN will have a lasting impact on the participants, developing in each a sense of adventure; a commitment to protection of their environment, no matter where it is; a profound respect for their peers of similar and different cultures; and most importantly, a strong sense of self. Let AUSUN show you how the world can change you, so that you, in turn, can change the world.

Pura Vida!
Melida Barbee