Choose Your Own Adventure for Spring Break

Xtreme Adrenaline: Costa Rica Rainforest Outward Bound
Finals are over, the tension built up over the past few weeks needs to be released. Why not strap into a kayak and throw yourself down some hurtling white-water in Costa Rica? Getting a B+ or A- won't seem so important when the adrenaline rush is so high you just want to come back alive. Costa Rica Rainforest Outward Bound (www.crrobs.org) is the jungle outpost of the internationally famous leadership and adrenaline school. Starting in San Jose, you'll spend your Spring Break hiking forty miles through lush cloudforest, climbing in the rainforest canopy, spelunking, rappelling over waterfalls, surfing perfect breaks at Playa El Rey, kayaking warm whitewater rivers, learning leadership skills, and reminding yourself why it's so so good to be alive (at the end of the day.) The 15-day Multi-Element course with CRROBS costs $1695, and ten day treks are also available. See www.crrobs.org.
By Jeff Booth

Educational Break from your Education: Ecovolunteer in Malaysia
After catching winks in the library five nights in a row during finals, you probably wouldn't mind stretching out on a clean, white beach where the memory of that heinous English exam will surely stop haunting you. But wouldn't you feel better about taking time off if you did something altruistic - and got to go to the beach? Helping save the Painted Terrapin turtle in Malaysia lets you combine the generosity deep in your soul with the exotic wilderness of the Malaysian coast. In the Setiu-Chalok-Bari Basin, the Terrapin population is severely threatened by coastal development and inadequate hatching operations. Dams and sand mining are killing these turtles off without giving them a chance to safely hatch their young. Join a team of conservationists to monitor and research the Terrapin population, map their territory, and care for their eggs in the hatchery. Your karma's gonna be in good shape after this one. A two-week stay at the Terrapin camp is around $530, including all meals and living quarters. Air transportation to Malaysia can be arranged for about $800-1300. Details on this and other ecological volunteer projects can be found at www.ecovolunteer.org.
By Trisha Kirk

Traditional Debauchery: San Felipe, Mexico
Mexico's San Felipe, which lies on the northern coast of the Sea of Cortez is the favored breeding ground for thousands of American students during spring break. One of the most popular outdoor activities (besides beer boat races in the pool) is cruising around on All Terrain Vehicles (ATVs) which can be rented from Bahia ATV on Malecon Road #122. Be sure not to ride them on the dunes, unless you are prepared to pay the $100.00 fine. Pretty much just stay in town and get hammered, beware of mechanical bulls, and eat a lot of tacos. Forget the responsible, eco-tourist deal and get your groove on to overplayed top forty songs in the dirtiest clubs south of the border and remember the phrase "Dos mas cervesas por favor, senor."
By Richard Steel