Costa Rica 5-Week Supported Summer Camp for Teen Girls
Adventure Travel, Spanish Immersion, Wildlife, Volunteering, Internship
What's the vibe?
Summer Camp ~ Study Abroad ~ Slumber Party
Welcome to the ultimate summer camp for teen girls with mental health support—an experience that’s equal parts silly, exciting, and transformative. A small, supportive group of up to 10 girls live together in a beautiful villa, learning essential life skills, navigating shared living, and forming lifelong friendships all set against the stunning backdrop of Costa Rica. Each day on summer camp is filled with water gun fights, paint battles, slumber parties, karaoke nights, and poolside fun.
This adventure camp combines cultural immersion, meaningful volunteering, dynamic internships, and thrilling excursions. With a therapeutic coach doubling as a camp counselor, girls receive in-the-moment coaching, wellness lessons, and personal development support, fostering confidence, resilience, and emotional well-being. In summary, it’s the summer of a lifetime—filled with laughter, growth, and unforgettable memories.
Program Length:
5 Weeks
Teen Girls Ages 14-17
Groups of 5-11
Program Dates:
June 27- July 31, 2027
3 Staff for up to 11 Students
$15,000 USD
flights & insurance not included
On-Site Wellness Coach
Want more information?
Download our info packed Program Guide!
WE LIVE HERE!
A gorgeous villa with a pool, a hot tub, banana trees, wild toucans everywhere, a view of the valley, and 2 sets of waterfalls in our front and back yard! What's more, sometimes monkeys and sloths can be found in the trees! It's an idyllic location for a summer camp.
WE DO EPIC ADVENTURES!
Surf Lessons • White Water Rafting • Jungle Hiking • Waterfall Rappelling • Wildlife Sanctuary • Flying Trapeze
Overnight Sea Kayaking • Coffee Farm • Manuel Antonio National Park • Chocolate Farm • Nauyaca Waterfalls
WE GOT IT ALL!
Summer Camp: A week in the life
Our summer camp program has a weekly schedule with each day designed to develop our students sense of self, belonging, capability, and purpose- and of course have an absolutely life changing adventure.
Sunday
Life Skills Day
Monday
Volunteer Day
Tuesday
ESL Internship Day with elementary school
Wednesday
Wellness Day
Thursday
Cultural Immersion
Friday
Adventure Excursion
Saturday
Adventure Excursion
We live..
in a beautiful Costa Rican villa, nestled into jungle like settings. Our home has a pool, waterfalls, games and an exotic garden! We all live together in a shared home and are all equally responsible for taking care of the house and of ourselves. One day a week we clean the house, do laundry, prep and cook in the kitchen, budget, meal plan, and grocery shop in a local grocery store with foreign cash. As a result, we learn how to live independently.
We like...
to get our hands muddy and work together as a team to build a long-term project. Naturally, over the course of the weeks little by little we see our project grow and learn that to accomplish big things, all it takes is one step at a time. It also helps to work together with many friends and see all that we can accomplish if we work together.
Our internship...
consists of one day a week on an ESL (English as a Second Language) program. Whilst on summer program we work with local elementary school students who are learning English and are eager to learn and practice with native English speakers. We will speak English with them, and in return they will speak Spanish with us. Of course we play a lot of games too!
Our Wellness Coach
leads a playful, meaningful Wellness Workshop and build the kind of honest, supportive friendships that can get surprisingly deep. Students also have the option to continue telehealth sessions with their therapist from home during the program.
Rooted Life Adventures...
work with local organizations to curate intentional cultural immersion activities where students can learn about diverse values, worldviews, skills, and life habits. We visit traditional coffee, chocolate, and dairy farms. Students learn about rehabilitating monkeys and sloths at animal sanctuaries, shop local farmers markets, take traditional cooking lessons, and more!
Adventuring in...
Costa Rica is a lot of fun! We work our way through the long list of activities by dedicating two days a week to this subject. Outdoor adventures are a brilliant way to push students out of their comfort zone, test capabilities and expand their horizons. As a result, we see an increase in confidence and students learn new things about themselves and may even pick up a new hobby!
Some of the...
adventures we take part in are surf lessons, waterfall rappelling, flying trapeze, white water rafting, overnight kayaking excursions, swimming in waterfalls, jungle hikes in national parks (where we discover some of Costa Rica's native animals) and beach time! The clear warm waters of Costa Rica swimming holes and beaches make watersports really approachable to most students, and we're able to accommodate all abilities.
Why Rooted Life Adventures Costa Rica Summer Camp is the Perfect Choice for You
Rooted Life Adventures Costa Rica Summer Program is a "No-Brainer"
Let’s be real—if you’re looking for the ultimate summer camp, Rooted Life Adventures is IT. We’ve got a little bit of everything you want.
First off, we're a summer camp at heart
Think pool time, silly games, and camp counselors who are equal parts fun and supportive. But because we’re in a cozy house with a small group, it’s even better—it’s like living in the ultimate slumber party. Nights are filled with karaoke battles, spa nights, movie marathons, and belly laughs that go on forever.
But it's not just fun and games - we make it meaningful
You’ll roll up your sleeves for volunteer work that feels like real accomplishment. Yeah, it’s muddy and sweaty, but when you’re done, you’ll stand back and think, “I did that.” Our students love getting stuck into projects abroad! Then there’s our wholesome internship at the sweetest elementary school, where you’ll play with adorable kids, help teach English, and practice your Spanish. Between the games and projects, it’s pure joy—like something straight out of a feel-good movie. By the end of the summer, it feels like home.
And we don't shy away from the deep stuff, either
We get it—it’s hard being a teen girl. Here, you can talk about the real stuff, the things that are hard to share back home. Maybe your friends wouldn’t get it, but the girls here do. They know what it’s like, and they’re here to listen and help. It’s a safe space to be real, feel understood, and work through it together.
The vibe? Playful and full of life.
The house is always buzzing with music, art, and creative energy. And whenever things get tricky—if you’re feeling homesick, stuck, or just having a day—we’ve got you. Our live-in therapeutic coach is there to gently guide you through, no pressure, no judgment.
Oh, and let's talk independence
This is YOUR house. You and your crew handle the grocery list, the shopping, the cleaning, and the cooking. Of course, we’re here to help, but it’s your chance to run the show and make it your home.
And friends - oh my gosh, the friends
You’ll live with a group of girls who are down for everything. Big enough to bring all kinds of personalities, small enough that no one gets left out.
Costa Rica itself? Absolute jungle princess vibes
Picture waking up in a lush jungle villa, sipping fresh mango smoothies, and spotting sloths and monkeys on the regular. It’s magical. You’ll surf, hike waterfalls, try the flying trapeze (YES, really), and when the adventure’s over, you’ll come home to your dreamy villa and crash in the comfiest beds.
Practical Reasons to Choose Us
Here’s what you’ll actually get out of this:
- Volunteer Credit: Earn 30 hours of volunteer service you can use for school or your resume.
- ESL Internship: A certificate for helping adorable local kids learn English.
- Friends for Life: Laugh, bond, and grow with a group of amazing girls.
- Bucket-List Adventures: Surf lessons, jungle hikes, and so many wild stories to tell.
- Independence Skills: Learn how to budget, grocery shop, cook, clean, party plan, and handle life like a pro.
- Structure & Purpose: Say goodbye to summer scrolling—this is full of adventure and meaning.
- Parent Bragging Rights: Weekly photo updates of your kids doing things they didn’t even know they could.
Spend your summer laughing, growing, and thriving with friends who have your back. Rooted Life Adventures is everything you want, plus the support you didn’t even know you needed.
Basically, this program is teen-girl clickbait: animals, waterfalls, games, adorable kids, tropical paradise, arts & crafts, and slumber-party fun—with a side of growth and independence.
Program Components
A key component of our program is learning the confidence and skills to live independently away from home. One day per week is dedicated to life skills - cleaning, laundry, meal planning, grocery shopping, budgeting, culinary skills.
Together these students take on learning how to share a home, be good roommates, good housemates, and share responsibility in household chores. Students not only get cleaning lessons, but also are split into cooking groups where they take on the challenge of meal planning for the week, breaking down the meals into a grocery list, grocery shopping, making and keeping a grocery budget, and passing off to the next group. Each night the students cook dinner together with music on, learn the joy of creating their own meals, and sit down to a big “family” dinner.
Tackling the deep loneliness that post-COVID, social media influenced students often experience. Community is a key element in our programs, creating the most crucial lifelong skill that every student needs.
Community
Living together in a house naturally engages the students in conflict resolution, problem solving, empathy, and communication skills. This also creates close peer to peer learning and the sense of belonging that comes from building and contributing to a supportive community. Our programs are mostly technology free which offers a well deserved break from a screen and leaves nothing but space for face to face encounters. Throughout the week the group heads out as a team taking on adventures and every evening at dinner students share affirmations celebrating each other for overcoming the day's challenges. After dinner the students take to evening games, dancing, karaoke nights, and hilarious retelling of stories from earlier that day.
The program also utilises “captain of the day” to engage in individual leadership skills as well as small groups to foster peer to peer discussion and accountability. Our program instructors facilitate endless group games like capture the flag in the backyard or after a long day of activities the group has the chance to lay by the pool. By the end of the program the students have created deep meaningful friendships that often continue long after the program is over.
We partner with local organizations to create meaningful service opportunities where students learn about environmental sustainability and give back to the local community, connect with nature, and create a sense of belonging in the world. Students complete 30 Volunteer Hours.
Volunteer Service Learning At The Homestead
At home, the students will partner together as a group to repair the trails to the waterfalls leaving their home better than how they found it. They will also learn all of the aspects of how to care for the neighbours horses by feeding them, cleaning their stalls, brushing them, and taking them on walks. At the end, the students will be able to stand back and admire their work and realise how much can be accomplished with a team.
Our programs offer a range of thrilling adventures to stretch out of the comfort zone, build new capabilities and confidence, and make for some really good stories! Two adventure days every week.
- Surf Lessons
- Waterfall Rappelling
- White Water Rafting
- Overnight Kayaking Excursion
- Flying Trapeze
- Swim at the base of Costa Rica's most beautiful waterfall
- Jungle Hikes with Sloths, Monkeys, and Toucans
- Explore Costa Rica’s beautiful beaches
We work with local organizations to curate intentional cultural immersion activities where students can learn about diverse values, worldviews, skills, and life habits. Through this, students expand their worldview and enjoy a global perspective and new lens to view their lives at home. In Costa Rica the national greeting is “Pura Vida” which directly translates to “Pure Life.” While on the program, students will come to understand how this motto really sets the tone for Costa Rican values and experience it themselves.
Master Chef
One of the best ways to experience another culture is through food! Once a week a native Costa Rican woman will come to the house and gather the students to give traditional Costa Rican Cooking Lessons. The students will taste new tropical fruits, experiment with new spices, and apply new methods to create homemade empanadas, ceviche, patacones and more. Students should come back and be able to share at least one new recipe with their families!
Spanish Immersion
Students team up with a local school to practise Spanish in everyday experiential ways. Whether playing soccer or taking on arts and crafts with local kids, the students get to experience life in another country all while honing their accents!
Wellness Workshops
Weekly workshops include group discussions and games around the meaning and purpose of the 7 dimensions of wellness: Emotional, Academic/Intellectual, Financial, Spiritual, Environmental, Physical, Social.
These workshops focus on peer-to-peer learning, allowing for group discussion and games around the meaning and purpose of each area of wellness and possible tools to be used to attend to each area of wellness. Students will discuss how each area of wellness affects them and bring optional new skills to incorporate into daily life. The workshop will end with a hands-on activity applying the new skills learned.
Core Curriculum
Living together teaches conflict resolution, problem solving + empathy. This is supported by our psychoeducational core curriculum focusing on weekly lessons focused on inter/intra-personal relationship skills, personal values, and tangible coping skills that will create long lasting connections to themselves, their communities, and their goals.
- Effective Communication Skills
- Self Awareness & Tuning Into Feelings
- Conflict Resolution & Relationship Building
- Coping Skills
- Core Beliefs and Values
- Personal Responsibility & Leadership
- Resilience & Reintegration
Join us for an ESL Internship whilst in Costa Rica! We work with local elementary school students who are learning English and are eager to learn and practice with native English speakers. We will speak English with them, and in return they will speak Spanish with us! This is suitable for all Rooted Life Adventures students, regardless of existing Spanish language proficiency. In addition to engaging in conversation and classroom activities, we will also enjoy arts and crafts together, play games and just be silly - it's the best way to learn!
Wrap-around support is achieved by bringing all student supports into the experience.
On Site Wellness Director
On our programs a therapist serves as our Wellness Director and lives on site 24/7 with the student’s for the entirety of the program. The Wellness Director supports the group’s collective program journey by integrating intentional wellness practices into the daily routine as well as facilitates weekly group core sessions and wellness workshops. Our Wellness Director does not provide any clinical or medical services, however, they will coordinate weekly with each family's home therapist to facilitate each student's individual growth.
At-Home Family Talk Therapist
We believe in partnering with a family’s current at home therapist. Families have already spent careful time and attention to selecting the right clinical therapist for them, someone they have been diligently working with, and knows the student well. We believe this is the best person to support the student through the program as well as sustain their learning while integrating back home. Prior to the program, the student’s therapist will be contacted by our team and be intimately involved through the intake and goal setting process. During the program one full day per week is reserved for student wellness practices, during which each student will have a weekly appointment with their at-home therapist virtually to discuss their program experience, learning, challenges, and goals. Our program’s Wellness Director will be in contact with each student’s home therapist for holistic care and to fully support each individual student’s inner journey.
Parent Involvement
It is pivotal that parents and guardians are involved in the growth process. Parents are engaged from the start in the intake process, assisting with preparation and goals setting. During the program, our Wellness Director will communicate with parents weekly regarding the group and individual student journey. In addition parents can participate in an optional weekly parent course that mirrors the student curriculum so that everyone is on the same page when the students return home. After the program, parents and at-home therapists will be essential in reintegrating the student back home and supporting the sustainability of the student’s growth at home and help apply that growth to future chapters of their lives.
Program Instructors
On program there are 2 program instructors who are experts in experiential education and travel who live with the group for the entire program. These instructors participate in every activity with the students and help them work towards the program goals providing consistent individual and group support.
Peer Group Support
Peer to peer learning and support is key for personal development. Students utilise small groups throughout the program for self learning, discussion, and accountability.
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