Broadreach Summer Adventures for Teenagers, Raleigh, NC

My name is Parker Stiewe and I went on the Caribbean Underwater Discoveries trip this summer. Broadreach made my summer one of the most memorable and fun summers and I met some of my closest friends though the program. I would highly recommend this trip and others through the program because all the staff are amazing and the people are as well.

My name is Hannah Sewell, I am a junior in high school and for the past two summers I have traveled abroad with Broadbeach. I was hesitant to go away from my home with all new people at first but in the end, it was one of the best choices Ive made. Broadbeach provides opportunities and an action packed trip that you can't get anywhere else. I have met some of my best friends through these trips and found out more about myself than I ever imagined. With Broadreach you are in a safe family like environment and are free to be yourself. You get pushed to try new things and take risks. Last summer I went to Iceland and got to travel around the whole country. It was an amazing place and I learned a lot about photography through the photography class. It was a very hands on coarse where the students get to really jump in and focus on what they're interested in. If you're hesitant about going away this summer, don't be. Broadbeach was one of the best decisions I've made and i can't imagine my life without it.

My name is Parker Stiewe and I went on the Caribbean Underwater Discoveries trip this summer. Broadreach made my summer one of the most memorable and fun summers and I met some of my closest friends though the program. I would highly recommend this trip and others through the program because all the staff are amazing and the people are as well.

My name is Hannah Sewell, I am a junior in high school and for the past two summers I have traveled abroad with Broadbeach. I was hesitant to go away from my home with all new people at first but in the end, it was one of the best choices Ive made. Broadbeach provides opportunities and an action packed trip that you can't get anywhere else. I have met some of my best friends through these trips and found out more about myself than I ever imagined. With Broadreach you are in a safe family like environment and are free to be yourself. You get pushed to try new things and take risks. Last summer I went to Iceland and got to travel around the whole country. It was an amazing place and I learned a lot about photography through the photography class. It was a very hands on coarse where the students get to really jump in and focus on what they're interested in. If you're hesitant about going away this summer, don't be. Broadbeach was one of the best decisions I've made and i can't imagine my life without it.

My name is Caroline Baehr, I am a senior in high school, and this past summer I went on the Caribbean Underwater Discoveries trip. This trip was AMAZING! This was my second Broadreach trip, my first was the Caribbean Arc sailing trip. Broadreach is an amazing program that gives you the opportunity to be a traveler rather than a tourist. You get to see, touch, and experience things that are unbelievable. After both of my Broadreach trips I came back a better person, one who wanted to learn and explore. I have kept in touch with the friends I made on both of the trips. The Caribbean Underwater discoveries trip was incredible. I love diving and I love to learn about the sea, on this trip I got to do both. Half of our boat received their Open Water Diver certificate and the other half, myself included, received the Advanced Open Water Diver certificate. The leaders cooperated with those who had never been diving in their life, and those that had already received their open water diver. This trip is very hands on, you will never be bored. The staff is so kind and know what they are doing, I never felt uncomfortable or unsafe on both of my trips. Broadreach also gave my trip the opportunity to give back to the communities that we visited. We got to participate in community service and really get to understand the different culture and way of life. This trip was so amazing, I have written college essays on it, wrote about it in my journal, and took a million pictures so I would never forget it. I recommend this to anyone who wants to have an adventure of a lifetime.

The Broadreach College Fiji Shark Behavior and Conservation Course was mind-blowing. I have never been so challenged and stimulated to grow as a person and a student. This course presented me with an entirely different concept of what learning should be like, and I will never forget the many experiences I shared with my new friends. Our leaders were fun, caring, and knowledgeable; they have even continued to help me with my questions and ambitions since the end of program. My enrollment in this Broadreach course was the best decision I could have made.

I went on a Broadreach College trip to the Caribbean this past summer to study leadership and sailing. I can't say enough great things about the program. The staff were very well trained and all super excited to be there and teach us what they loved. We got to do so much exploring on all of the Islands thanks to the amazing work of Broadreach and the connections they have. I would highly recommend this or any other Broadreach trip to anyone I know. It is a once in a lifetime experience you won't forget!

I went on a Broadreach trip to Spain this past summer and it was arguably one of the best experiences of my life. The staff was so nice and easy to work with and the other campers were amazing. I would 100% recommend looking into going on Broadreach trip. You won't regret it.

I went on the college Marine Mammals Program in Vancouver Island, and it was one of the best experiences of my life. We kayaked with humpback whales, had celebrations (class) next to the beach almost every day, and became a family just having fun and exploring a new place. Every day had something new in store, and we were quite literally never bored. This program, and any program in Broadreach, is worth every penny because every person who organizes the trips, and every instructor who adventures with the students, all of them put their heart and soul into making sure us students have the trip of a lifetime

Broadreach is awesome! It was one of the most amazing experiences I have ever had! I met so many people and learned skills from Scuba diving, sailing, and I got college credits! I had an amazing summer!

I went on the Fiji Shark Behavior and Conservation study abroad trip for college students, and it was an amazing experience. Not only did I take a college level course (for credit!) and learn a lot, but I met wonderful people through Broadreach both on my trip and in the local Fijian community. Diving with sharks everyday and living in paradise was an absolute dream. I obtained two more SCUBA certifications on the trip through PADI, and many of my friends received their Advanced Open Water certification if they were not certified prior to the trip. The structure of the program was set to really focus on the goals of the students and make the trip everything the students wanted and more. I learned so much about the native shark populations and local Fijian culture and traditions. I feel that I am well traveled now from the trip and have gained leadership and teamwork skills. I also made friends for life with my fellow students, instructors, and local community! Definitely an amazing program filled with rewarding opportunities focusing on education, friendships, and exploring new places and cultures!

I've been on two broadreach trips. The first was the 12 day marine biology trip in the Caribbean. I had the best time! I was already scuba certified, so I was able to get my advance certification in addition to three specialty certifications. I had two instructors, both of whom worked really hard to insure that we were safe and having fun. My group bonded very well, it has been a year and we all still talk all the time. Although I had my reservations about living on a boat, it really enhanced the trip and made it even better. This past summer, I went on the Fiji Shark Studies trip. This trip was incredible, and if you have an interest in sharks, I strongly recommend it. The living situation was super nice, and although we packed a lot in during the three weeks of the program, it still was relaxed. The diving on Shark Reef Marine Reserve is unbelievable amazing. Everyone at the dive shop was very friendly and helpful. The Broadreach instructors were also really nice and created a fun and safe learning environment. After my experiences with Broadreach, I would definitely recommend it.

This past summer was absolutely life changing, all because of an amazing Broadreach trip! I went on the 12-day Caribbean marine biology adventure and it was by far the best two weeks of my life. As soon as I arrived in the Caribbean the broadreach staff was so incredibly welcoming and helped to start the trip off on the best note!! While on the trip I not only learned an incredible amount about marine biology, but I also got scuba certified and learned to sail! As a crew we did so many adventurous things yet everything always felt so so safe and I was comfortable trying new things! As a whole I would highly recommend this trip for anyone looking for an amazing opportunity and change of pace for their summer! I will never forget all the new people I meet and experiences I had thanks to Broadreach!!!

Broadreach is amazing, to put it simply. Every year I meet amazing new friends, from the campers who I still talk to many years after my first trip. To the staff and instructors who remain personal role models to me, yet also such good friends. The past three years I've gotten my rescue diver and my emergency first response card, not to mention all my diving specialties. I've learned more about the importance of different types of animals, and how we can help preserve our planet. I can say without any doubt Broadreach is something I'll never forget, and can guarantee you will enjoy it too.

Fiji Advanced Scuba is an amazing program. Fiji has beautiful diving and the locations you stay are clean, quaint and gorgeous! Getting to eat fresh fish, homemade bread, samosas and all the other amazing food makes the trip so worth it. You can push past your own boundaries whether it's getting your scuba certs, spending the nights in the village or drinking Kava. The soft corals, locals, and lifestyle are so unique to Fiji that there is really no better way to experience Fiji than this Broadreach trip.

I went on the Costa Rica Field Biology 12-day Adventure in the summer of 2015. It was one of the best experiences of my life and inspired me to really want to explore the world. With a small group of nine students from different places in the US, and two dedicated, smart, responsible, loving, and super fun instructors, my new best friends and I explored Costa Rica. For the first part of our journey we lived in cabins for one night in Baru farms where we learned from the locals all of the different plants, how to repel down a waterfall, and we swam in a few pools from the waterfall. On the next leg of our journey we stayed in cabins with an extraordinary view of the misty mountains in Chirripo National Park, Cloud Forest. There we learned how to set up camera traps and watched recently taken footage of the big cats and boars that live there. We saw countless butterflies and hummingbirds, helped replant a clear cut cow pasture, cooked our own meals, tasted all of the beautiful fruits and vegetables from a local women's garden, and so much more. The final part of our adventure was spent on the coast at Drake Bay biological station where we got close with our biologist 'mom,' Nancy, saw so many dolphins, snorkeled at Caño Island, hiked, learned about the bats, and again much, much more. This trip was fantastic, allowed me to make life long friends, and showed me the importance of traveling the world to explore different cultures.

I went on the Carribean Arc Sailing Voyage this past summer and it was one of the most incredible experiences of my life. I had always been interested in learning how to sail on a large sailboat, so when I found this program I thought it was a dream come true. I had some reservations about the trip, and indeed life onboard isn't always glamorous, there's a rather distinct lack of some of the creature comforts that we are accustomed to such as unlimited fresh water and phone charging. With that being said, I had more fun than I've ever had in my life. Between being able to just jump off the back of the boat and swim and more perfectly ripe mangos than you ever needed to being to explore over a dozen Carribean Islands, the trip was like something off the back of a postcard. I was also able to accomplish my original goal, learning how to sail. We didn't just get to run around and pretend we knew how to sail, we were truly taught what we need to know, and by the end of the trip I was confident in my skills. Both of my instructors for the trip were wonderful, I couldn't have asked for a better set of people. I also had the opportunity to make some incredible friends, some of whom I hope to stay in touch with for a lifetime. I would recommend this trip to anyone, it changed my life.

This summer, I attended the month long Costa Rica Veterinary Medicine program and it was one of the best decisions I have ever made. This program had a very interactive method of teaching that exposes you to multiple areas of veterinary medicine. The trip allowed us to work in clinic settings, dealing with dogs and cats; different farms where we worked with dairy cows and meat cows; as well as many wildlife centers that dealt with a variety of animals, such as sea turtles, coatis, and several monkeys. Not only did we get to work with many amazing creatures, we also got to learn from our amazing, parent-like instructors who were kind, patient, and incredibly knowledgeable. It was a pleasure working with other students from all around the country that shared the same passion and love for animals. Learning how to handle different veterinary experiences and doing various fun activities, such as river rafting, zip-lining, and hot springs, created a strong bond that we share to this day.

I had the time of my life! I went on the Caribbean Underwater Discoveries Voyage and it was amazing. You get to experience a whole new side of life and Broadreach offers an experience no teenager can find anywhere else. If you are looking to spend your summer doing something really cool this is it! I was able to meet so many amazing people and the staff were so knowledgable and made you feel at home. My flight home was even canceled and Broadreach was there with me every step of the way to make sure I got home alright. I love Broadreach and I love what Broadreach taught me. I would go again in a heartbeat. Thank you Broadreach for the best summer ever!

I had a great experience on the 12-day Costa Rica Spanish Immersion trip. The trip had a perfect mixture of team-building, adventurous Eco-tourism, service, and academic rigor. The leaders were attentive, and were very approachable in any situation. At the Spanish school that we visited, Montaña Linda, we were separated into classes of two, based on skill level and areas that both students needed attention on. We went on various trips into town and talked to the friendly locals. I talked with my teacher and my classmate in Spanish more than I had ever done so before. Was it perfect? Probably not. But did I at least gain enough confidence to try? Absolutely. Overall that's what this trip taught me. Whether it's rafting the Sarapiquí, speaking to a local, or dancing the merengue, you will definetly gain confidence in all aspects of your life.

I attended the 21-day Costa Rica Veterinary Experience program. This program is for aspiring veterinarians who want real hands-on experience. I spent months searching for a trip like this one, and found nothing remotely similar. It is the only interactive teen veterinary program I found. I have been on multiple teen tours, but the counselors on this trip were especially energetic, kind, and knowledgeable. A trip is much more enjoyable when the counselors are awesome, and Broadreach did a great job. The interactive experiences we had were incredible. We worked with farm animals, marine animals, wildlife, and domestic animals. This included working with sea turtles, spider monkeys, owls, dogs, and many more creatures. If you have any interest in becoming a veterinarian, I highly recommend this trip, as it was one of the best experiences of my life!

I had the privlage of going on the Caribbean Underwater Discoveries voyage this past summer and I have to say it was THE most amazing 21 days of my life! I met so many amazing people, i have defintly made some friends for life! My intructors were fantasic! Overall the 15 people on my boat became a second family. We all bonded within the first 2 days of the trip. The islands were breathtaking! Theres such diversity on every island you visit. The diving was probably the most amazing experience I have ever had. Words cannot describe the feeling you get decending under the water for the first time, or how beautiful it is so scuba diver beside wild sea turtles. If you seek adventure and friendship, this is definatly the trip for you! I would recommend this trip to anyone in a heart beat. This trip opened me up to many new things, and I felt like I actually belonged somewhere. I highly encourage anyone who loves the ocean to go on this trip

It is impossible to describe in words how life changing my 17-day trip to Panama was, but I will try my hardest. As I boarded the plane from Ohio to Panama, double, triple even quadruple checking my luggage, I left my friends and family for an experience unknown. I arrived to meet 5 complete strangers who ended up becoming my 5 best friends. The Panama eco adventure was my second Broadreach trip. Both trips were completely terrific yet very unique due to the activities and people. While the people on my trip to Panama were very different from people I generally hangout with in my day- to- day life, being on a trip in a new and foreign land removed any barriers and made connection a must. Within the first 24 hours, I trusted these new life long friends and I learned so much from these people. We stay in contact to this day. I cannot say enough about my counselors, as they were inspiring and wonderful in every way. I never felt unsafe, alone, or board. In any situation we seemed to get ourselves into, such as loosing my luggage or getting the flu on trip, they dealt with each incident perfectly. We started on one coast of Panama and ended on the other. I truly felt like I got a full experience in Panama. We began our scuba lessons while surfing, hiking, and exploring new Panamanian territory. I was definitely not the best at scuba diving but with my incredibly trustworthy master dive instructor I became very good and my fear of the ocean vanished. I have used my scuba certification for many more underwater explorations and being certified has been such a bragging right as well. When not seeing foreign fish, whale sharks, and coral of all types we helped out in the local community by building a road and got to play with all the village children. When we weren’t diving or volunteering, we were exploring and shopping in town. As we continued our adventure across Panama, we went rock climbing, explored rainforests, went white water rafting and ate plenty of mouth watering local food. We finished our adventure at SIMCA, which was by far my favorite place. We visited private islands, played in large crashing waves, and did the best scuba diving and snorkeling. The day we all left Panama, my whole group started crying. The memories we made are unimaginable and leaving people who become your family is very difficult. As we said our goodbyes and I hopped on the plane, I looked back with a sense of true gratitude for my experiences and the friends I made while on the trip. The first thing I did when I arrived home from Panama after calling my camp friends, was check out the Broadreach adventures I can do this year!

This summer I went on the Bahamas Marine Biology 12-Day Adventure and it ended up being the highlight to my entire year. Not only did I learn so much about marine life and how to take care of it, but I learned that I have a great passion for science, animals, and especially marine biology. Some standout moments from my trip were getting to snorkle in the beautiful waters of the Bahamas, getting to explore a cave, having the chance to do some community service by cleaning up beaches on the island, and immersing myself the the Bahimian culture and meeting the very friendly islanders. This was my second Broadreach trip, but my first trip without going with a friend. However, by the end of the day my whole group was practically best friends, and by the end of the trip, I ended up getting to be closer with my group than some of my friends back home, and this is including the instructors! Although my trip was only 12 short days out of my summer, they're days that I will never forget

This past summer I participated in Broadreach's 12-Day Marine Biology trip to the Caribbean. I had rather high expectations going into this trip, and I was completely blown away. It was nothing I could have ever imagined. Living on a boat for almost two weeks with complete strangers had its challenges at first. But these "strangers" very quickly began to feel like family. I have formed life long friendships from my Broadreach trip and can not thank them enough for the experiences I was able to have. The spots we had the privilege to dive in were beautiful and would leave you breathless. The overall curriculum was perfect, we learned a lot while having tons of fun. I wouldn't trade the experience I had for anything and highly recommend anyone who is just thinking about going on a Broadreach trip to take the opportunity and do it. You will not regret it!

Broadreach is incredible. The privilege of such an experience is one I do not take for granted, but I did take advantage of. Prior to my trip, I had had five years of Spanish language and felt prepared to travel, but my ability to use the Spanish language and my knowledge leaving the trip far exceeded my expectations by exceeding what I had previously learned in five years. My only regret is not convincing my parents to send me on one a year or two sooner because I would have no doubt returned for a similar trip, if not longer! P.S. I talk to my three best friends from the trip almost every day.

This summer I went on the Caribbean Grenadines Advance Scuba Voyage. This trip enhanced my passion and love for diving and opened my eyes to new experiences that would be impossible to see otherwise. I got extremely lucky with my instructors and skipper who were each responsible, fun, enthusiastic and open minded people. Most importantly, due to the closeness of living on a boat, within a short number of days, my boat became a family. I loved learning about each of their home lives as well as learning about them as people. Overall, I would recommend this amazing once in a life time trip to anyone and everyone. It was honestly a life changing, incredible experience.

This summer I went on the Caribbean Grenadines Advance Scuba Voyage. This trip enhanced my passion and love for diving and opened my eyes to new experiences that would be impossible to see otherwise. I got extremely lucky with my instructors and skipper who were each responsible, fun, enthusiastic and open minded people. Most importantly, due to the closeness of living on a boat, within a short number of days, my boat became a family. I loved learning about each of their home lives as well as learning about them as people. Overall, I would recommend this amazing once in a life time trip to anyone and everyone. It was honestly a life changing, incredible experience.

This past summer, I attended the Bonaire Advanced Scuba 12-Day Adventure, and I could not believe how much the group accomplished in such a short period of time. Getting there was a little tricky, but as soon as I reached the island of Bonaire everything went smoothly. We stayed on a beautiful house right on the beach, and were able to get to any part of the island on our white pick-up trucks. The course was very intense, since the group received so many certifications we spent hours in and out of the water training to reach our next level as divers. It was a lot of work, but we also had a lot of fun. Bonaire was a wonderful place to go diving in, it had many walls, with vibrant sea life and diverse corals. We also explored the Hilma Hooker, a really neat wreck down there. The few times we were out of the water were also great, we visited the donkey sanctuary (literally the happiest place on earth), went hiking, and got to try out windsurfing. The trip could not have been

My experience on the Caribbean Marine Biology 12 day trip this July is an experience that crosses my mind almost everyday. The people that I met on the trip are people that I know will be in my life for a long time, including my instructors. I also couldn't get enough of where we were. The location and all the destinations we sailed to made the trip that much more fun. There was no judgement about who you were and being with people that loved all the things I did gave me confidence that I never knew I had. If I could go on this trip again I would sign up in a heart beat. I felt right at home and even though we were having crazy experiences every minute such as, watching a barracuda swim under our boat or diving after silverware and head lights, I was never tired or sick of anyone on my boat. This program is also so jam packed and fun that time flies and 12 days seems very short, but the amount of things we did in that time I don't do in a month. I loved my Broadreach experience.