News Blog and Testimonials

Some of our customers` testimonials

Dear AUSUN Guides (Diego and Maren),
Thank you so much for everything you  did for us on the trip.  From the Quaker Meeting of Worship in Monteverde to swimming in "El Caribe", and everything in between, this was an unforgetable experience for all involved, thanks in no small part to the incredible work you both do.  Your flixibility, senses of humour, and patience greatly contributed to the success of the trip, and your love for Costa Rica and knowledge of your country were evident throughout out time together.  Thank you again for an amazing week!  
- Los estudiantes y profesores de Sandy Spring Friends School, MD, March 2009

I was in the first Osa trip you guys did, with Melida and Javier. I was 12 back then, and I guess I wasn't "mature" enough to really come to admire what you did for all of us out there in the wild. I remember at Mogos, Javier and I were having a little chat about the place in general. I told him I really hated the place, and that I wouldn't recommend it to anybody. Javier didn't hesitate to reply the following, "...you might hate this place now, but in a couple of years you'll be coming back over and over again...", and it happened. About 2 years after the OSA trip, I began to feel flow in me telling me or influencing me to become a biologist and/or even a Park Ranger. Though I never went back to Osa until this past February, I was always dying to go back. When I turned 18 I booked a whole 3 weeks as a volunteer at Corcovado. No doubt the BEST experience of my life. 
- Tomás Artavia Guzmán

"Thank                      you for leading us on our adventure in Costa Rica . From the                      minute you met us at the airport I knew that we were in good                      hands. Your self-discipline, enthusiasm, love for the culture,                      organization and ability to meet this age (14) child with                      firmness , insight, humor and goodwill, made the trip everything                      and more than I could have hoped for. For some it was tremendously                      enriching; for others, it was transformative. The group really                      became galvanized in the course of the 9 days. The trip itself                      was very well thought out, with the first part keeping us                      moving through all kinds of experiences. Even the biggest                      sleepyheads managed to get packed and onto the bus by 7AM.                      each day. This seemingly very small aspect was actually quite                      large for several of the children, and is but one incidence                      of opportunities for growth built into the trip. Another was                      having to downsize their packs in order to do the hike in                      to Punta Mona, having to decide what they really needed, and                      what they didn't. It was a gift to be introduced to Costa                      Rican culture through such activities as cooking, dancing                      and visits to the botanical gardens. The more physically challenging,                      yet safely organized activities such as rafting, horseback                      riding and canopy tour, helped the children to confront fears                      and to take on challenges which built their confidence. The                      social aspects of the trip were very healthy. Feelings could                      be explored among them in a way not really possible in a classroom                      setting. Evening talk circles set the tenor for communication.

Our hike to Punta Mona was a real highlight,                      too. The days there were spacious, and gave the children a                      chance to relax and to experience themselves in relation to                      the group. Even the major storm that struck was a gift, forcing                      us to confront our prejudice that rain is not desireable on                      a trip. It was beautiful. They also valued their encounters                      with volunteers on the farm as well as with local people.                      They really appreciated the opportunity to use the Spanish                      they have been studying all these years in the classroom.                      Relating to you two was a very important part of the trip                      for them as well as for the adults. I really appreciated how                    well we all worked together, how open you were to our needs                      and suggestions, weaving them into the program.."  

Gracias por todos, amigos, Love,                      Howard.

By:                      Howard Schrager, 8th Grade Teacher, Santa                      Cruz, CA Waldorf School

“Arriesgarse y llegar a tu limite                      vale la pena con AUSun.” 
 – Mariela Murillo (15), British School                      Costa Rica, OSA III 04

“I, personally, am a very closed-minded                      person who has trouble being in new situations, but on our                      trip I felt extraordinarily happy with what we accomplished                      on a daily basis.”
 – Anonymous on an OSA Program

“After my trip with AUSun, I feel                      I have gained a better perspective of the world, and my own                      life. I also appreciate the outdoors and wildlife much more.”
 – Becky Harnick (16), SIDWELL FRIENDS                      Summer Program

“It                      was a great experience that I am glad I’ve done. I would                      definitely do it again.”
 – Eli Borek (15), SIDWELL FRIENDS Summer                      Program