Looking for Gap Year travel inspiration to beat those post summer blues? Wanting to do something truly amazing this Autumn that will also look great on your resume? Wanting to share the journey with a new group of friends? If you answered yes to any of the above, then a group travel program could be the perfect way to kick … Read More
Expedition Leader Training – Is this for real?!
Hello! I’m Jade, one of the instructors on the Gapforce Expedition Leader Training course. In the 13 years that I’ve been running this course, the number one question I get asked at the start of the training is… “Is this for real?! Could this actually lead to me getting a job in the expedition industry? Can you really make a … Read More
How to Survive in the Jungle with only a Machete and a Penknife
Alex shares his summary of the belt week episode of our Expedition Leader Training program. Deep in the Costa Rican jungle, the trainee Expedition Leaders are left alone with just a few items. Here’s how they survive. Contents of a belt kit Machete 2×1 litre water bottle Notebook and pen Small personal medical kit Penknife Headtorch Lighter (taken away at 3pm on day 1) Method Find an … Read More
Training Marine Conservationists in the Costa Rican Jungle
Ryan shares the latest adventure from our Expedition Leader Training program in the jungle. About a month into our time in Costa Rica we were tasked with training a group of marine conservationists. The 5 of them were on holiday and were eager to discover what jungle life was like. The 4 of us T.E.L.s (Trainee Expedition Leaders) hadn’t taught jungle skills before so … Read More
Trekking Through Deep Untouched Jungle
Ryan shares his summary of the trek week of our Expedition Leader Training program. We aimed to challenge ourselves on trek. We set out to travel through Bri land – through rivers and into deep, untouched jungle. Our first day began with a boat ride across the Sixaola River and then trekked for the next six hours – most of which was in the Bris River. … Read More
Learning about Mountain Rescue in Wales
Our new group of Trainee Expedition Leaders have started their Expedition Leader Training program in Wales. Read on to hear an update from Ryan about what the team have been up to so far. The first day the 5 of us and Elliot met at the bunkhouse, shared food and got to know each other. For the next few days we learned … Read More
We All Kind Of Look Like Zombies
Our time in Costa Rica is coming to an end, but the work has not. The last two weeks have been jam packed with expedition medicine, scenarios, teaching jungle survival, and trying to maintain a level of normal consciousness at this point in the course. I really enjoyed learning the medicine, evacuation, about the human body…
Just A Machete, Knife and Lighter
Time flies when you are having fun. Yes I am talking about our time in the jungle. After our introduction to jungle at swamp camp going to Doug’s land for the second time came with no grudging or moaning from anyone on our team. Doug’s land is like a little slice of paradise compared to swamp camp. Although I am glad we spent time there and can see both sides of the spectrum…
Recce And Water Rescue
As we headed of out of Puerto Vijeo on our way to recce turtle conservation projects, Meagan and I to Nicoya peninsula and Sean and Tim to Tortuaguero there was a feeling of accomplishment and excitement for the days to follow. Meagan and I headed first to Ostional…
Julius October ELT Blog
The day at last arrived for the new group to come. The weeks of lesson planning and juggling of timetables were finally about to be put to the test. I had been placed in charge of arrival day, simultaneously the hardest day to predict due to Costa Rica’s roads making it close to impossble to guess when they would actually … Read More