New Summit Academy Presents Summit to Summit Bridge

New Summit Academy Costa Rica is proud to present our new "Summit to Summit Bridge Program" that opened in July 2012. Summit to Summit is a gap program with therapeutic support, for 8-10 young men age 18-22. Residents stay approximately 6-12 months in the program and have either completed high school or are very near completion.

Summit to Summit is appropriate for young men struggling with anxiety and/or mood disorders; Executive Functioning (goal development and follow-through, organization, time management, decision-making, etc.), identity development, self-esteem and confidence; independence, self-sufficiency and self-management; social anxiety, skills, or social confidence; entitlement and responsibility; nontraditional learning styles; family conflict; unhealthy coping mechanisms (i.e. isolation, substance experimentation, and video-gaming).

Typically residents are motivated to build a "successful" life for self, through college or a productive occupation. They are curious and open to cross-cultural experiences, and have a desire for personal growth and self-sufficiency. Those with nontraditional preferred learning styles. i.e. artistic, musical, visual, multimedia, active, experiential can really excel in the Summit to Summit Bridge Program. Additional qualities include introspective, empathetic, caring; those interested in positive social interactions and teamwork; as well as being accountable and honest.

The Main Objectives at Summit to Summit provide and enriching and holistic educational experience for young men. These objectives are:

To develop internal and external resources and support systems to provide a stronger foundation for a more stable core sense of self.

To explore their personal and professional paths by providing a variety of multicultural, academic, vocational, emotional and social learning experiences.

Discover how they can contribute to their communities in a productive and positive way.

The program offers Academic and Vocational Training, Vocational planning and coordination of logistics for transition planning (college &/or vocational) and Internships with bilingual experts in chosen field.

Current options include Language, culture, education and tourism, Culinary arts, Health and nutrition, Animal sciences and Veterinary medicine, Agricultural &/or Environmental studies, IT and Computer education, Option to take online classes related to internship, Multimedia training as a part of the individual and group reflective portfolio projects.

Personal Growth includes: Individual therapy and goal plans, group therapy, community development, young adult skills workshops, family communication via telephone.
Residents also participate in Experiential Education including cultural activities and trips, mandatory Spanish lessons and multimedia training, collaborative learning, including independent living skills like budgeting, cooking, and group community roles), community Service activities are required on both an individual and group level, quarterly integrated Aventuras are designed for community-based application of learning and an exploratory group service learning project.

What does graduating the bridge program mean?
Summit to Summit has three facets which allow students to gain different skills. Students may go from one facet to the other at various points in their process, either because it suits their growth process, or because it suits their goal plan. Nevertheless, students must always begin with raiz, and from there move to tronco, and from there to ramas, because one sets the stage for the other.

Successfully completing the Summit to Summit program implies that the student has:

Actively participated in numerous life-changing activities, and has acquired and practiced useful skills through them.

Demonstrated consistency and mastery of his actions toward a healthy lifestyle, involving all the values, dimensions of success, as well as goals of the program.

Prepared to carry this success on to his next step, by making and documenting solid, realistic plans as well as learning the necessary skills needed to make this plan work.

The graduation requirements are:

150 hours of community service;

Two full active participations in the documentary group project; Completed transition documents;

A "Semilla" project for the S2S community or a community in Costa Rica, and a "Semilla" plan for after S2S;

At least two successful quarters at different internships as an apprentice, or one successful one as an assistant.

For more information, contact Heather Tracy.

Summit to Summit Bridge Program is a gap program with therapeutic support, for young men age 18-22.