AAVE Trip BLOG » 2006 » July
July 31, 2006
Mexico Teen Dive Camp
Posted by admin in : General AAVE Trip BLOG, Surf Camp , add a comment
Hey Abbott,
Just wanted to let you know that things are going well with Scuba school deep in the heart of Baja Sur.
Stephanie Gaspar, who couldn’t dive because of ashma, went on a wave runner/banana boat instead two days ago and loved it. We did some painting this morning and are keeping her pretty busy and satisfied. We’re going snorkeling together. She is a great help~!
Scuba class/dives are super long days. Today should be the last day of diving and then on Tuesday morning, they’re taking the exam and we head to Abreojos on the pacific side for SURFING! and much cooler temps.
It is very possible one or two students will not pass the test as the course is a very demanding mentally and physically. Mick is a great teacher who takes the lessons appropriately seriously.
I’m really pleased with our group and I feel that they are having a great time and enjoying each other and the trip. Mick the dive master is working really hard and being patient with all of them.
Have a great Monday!
APRIL, Ryan, Mike & Mark
July 30, 2006
Costa Rica Teen Camp update
Posted by admin in : Costa Rica Clasica, General AAVE Trip BLOG , add a comment
Hey Abbott,
I’m just e-mailing to check in. Things are going well. We are in Arenal right now and after a torrential downpour yesterday the skies cleared and we saw the volcano erupt last night. Today we spent time at an awesome waterfall and caves (which the kids didn’t really enjoy) but were cool anyway.
Everyone is doing great, really starting to bond and mix, use their Spanish and behave as one group. We go to the beach tomorrow, so everyone’s pretty psyched about that.
Hope everything is going well for you. Talk to you soon!
Heather and Johnny
July 29, 2006
Surf Teen Camp!
Posted by admin in : General AAVE Trip BLOG, Surf Camp , add a comment
Dear Surf Scuba Safari families,
We are pleased to report that things are running smoothly in Baja and all campers are having fun. This is a great group, everyone is working together to achieve our PADI certification, cook meals, organize activities and survive the 100+ degree heat and play lots of games. Needless to say we enjoy our time in the water.
Mulege is the town where we are staying for six days. It is a real desert oasis village situated on the Sea of Cortez between two hills, in a valley by a stream near our campsite with SHOWERS! Huge palm trees, orchards and bougainvilleas are common and add a tangle of colors to this stark desertscape. We spend a lot of time at the beach. While one group is in the water diving, the other swim, snorkel sea kayak and hung out.
Mick our dive master is organized and on top of everything, His instruction is top-notch and he makes the extra effort to ensure that each student is up to speed and fully understands each concept. He is getting support from his son Matthew throughout.
In general, the campers have been very satisfied. Most nights we are out in Mulege
after long days of diving. This provides the campers with free time for shopping, internet, and just the chance to wander the town and enjoy themselves. The four of leaders have worked together very well and we maintain a high level of communication.
Thanks again parents for sending these great kids, these guys are super-stars!
Talk to you soon!
April, Ryan, Mike and Mark, from the most rugged, peaceful and beautiful desert in the world!
Pura Vida!
Posted by hnwhelpley in : Costa Rica Clasica, General AAVE Trip BLOG , add a comment
Hello to families Back Home!
Costa Rica Classica #2A is doing great in Monteverde! Famous for the lush “Cloud Forest”. our group loved the canopy tour this morning–they had no fear over flying a half mile, a hundred of feet above the ground! It was awesome!
Today was our last day of classes and tomorrow we tour a traditional farm and make candy made from sugar cane grown right on the farm. If we´re lucky, we´ll get to see the tree sloths that live near the farm! Saturday we head to Arenal, the land of volcanoes and hotsprings. Arenal is constantly erupting, so cross your fingers for a clear night and maybe we´ll be able to see the lava flow down the mountain!
The group is great and our Spanish is improving by leaps, bounds, tenses and idioms.
Talk to you soon!
Heather, Johnny from the most peaceful and beautiful country in the world!
Camp Scuba Padi Australia
Posted by admin in : Australia, General AAVE Trip BLOG , add a comment
Dan Down Under with an update,
The Great Barrier Reef dive trip was amazing. So much wildlife made for fantastic adventure to what seems like a whole new world . . . good weather made for some great sunsets out over the Pacific.
My favorite part was the night dive. Everyone is having a good time and its a great group! They are bonding really well and have taken on a lot of responsibility already. If you haven’t heard from them yet, they will try to call or email in the next day or so. If you don’t hear from them, its the time difference and probably because they are having too much fun.
We are about to go sea kayaking around some islands so I have to go. I will try to get another update in a few days. Again, if you have any questions, please let me know.
Thanks again, Dan Zahn
July 27, 2006
Monteverde, COSTA RICA camp and school start!!!
Posted by hnwhelpley in : Costa Rica Clasica, General AAVE Trip BLOG , 1 comment so far
Hello everyone!
Our Costa Rica 2A group is having a great time so far! We had our first classes yesterday and everyone spent their first night in homestays with their Tica families.
Elliot arrived late last night and now our group is complete! We planted over 60 trees this morning in an ecological sanctuary and tomorrow we are going for a hike in the cloud forest! Thursday we do our canopy tour–we will soar hundreds of feet above the ground on ziplines! It will be awesome! The group is quickly getting used to the rice and beans they see at every meal and everyone is getting along well.
We are jumping into our Spanish language with our teachers, host family and of course the beautiful people of Costa Rica.
I’ll try to check in again soon!
Pura Vida,
Heather & Johnny
Peru-The big arrival day
Posted by tracy in : General AAVE Trip BLOG, Peru & Machu Picchu , 1 comment so far
Today we pick all of you up at the airport. We are very excited to meet you and get you all going on this exciting trip! Tomorrow we already fly to the historic mountain city of Arequipa. The people there love to the national speciality eat guinea pig…maybe everyone will try some! Yes, this is a different world!
Tracy & Chris
goodbyes to teen camp in Peru
Posted by tracy in : General AAVE Trip BLOG, Peru & Machu Picchu , 2 comments
Wow, Incredible variety and nothing like home! The trip ended with 4 days in the humid Amazon by Puerto Maldonado. One of the best parts of the trip was our day in the river in the Amazon playing in the water and coating ourselves with mud. We had an exciting mud fight. The giant scorpion spider that we saw made us all happy that we slept under mosquito nets to keep such things out of our beds!
I hope everyone had a safe and fun trip home. I miss you all already. Lyn and I constantly reflected on the trip and talked about how amazing you guys are.
Enjoy the rest of your summer! See you next summer!
Lots of love,
Tracy & Chris
Snorkel & Jungle Exploration: Teen Summer Adventure!
Posted by Heidi in : Ecuador & Galapagos, General AAVE Trip BLOG , add a comment
Ecuador Summer 2006
Well the time flew by faster than you can say blue footed booby, but the Ecuador and Galapagos trip ended yesterday.
Although we were all sad to end the trip and say goodbye to eachother, we ended a wonderful trip with amazing success. We had a spectacular week in the Galapagos Islands. The islands were crawling with wildlife we had never seen before, making us feel like we were in a zoo with no fences as the animals would walk right up to you! We saw many sea lions, birds inluding finches, boobies, frigate birds, flamingos etc., iguanas, Galapagos tortoises, dolphins and then even more sea lions.
By horseback we traveled to an active volcano, and we snorkled and sea kayaked the days away. On to our ship the Guantanamera, we enjoyed the lazy boat life and were able to travel to a few of the islands to learn about the wildlife and enjoy snorkling with sea lions, sea turtles, fish, and even sharks! Although it is sad to say goodbye to all, everyone should be proud of all they accomplished this month!
Adios,
Heidi and Chris
BOLD WEST 1A
Posted by mallormc in : Bold West, General AAVE Trip BLOG , add a comment
PS: WE LOVE THIS GROUP!!!!