Program Reviews

Costa Rica & Panama Primate Studies was an experience I would not be the same without. The academic course was incredibly interesting and not only taught me a great deal about primates and rainforest ecology, but also about my own desire to learn. I loved the community service activities we did, and I truly feel like I made a difference. The leader of the day program was an amazing opportunity to test out a leadership position and learn how to make decisions to benefit the whole group. The work we did at the wildlife sanctuary was my favorite part because it was so hands on. This experience has helped me to realize what I want to do with my life, which is to be a zoologist.

The trip was a life changing experience. Diving exposes you to a whole new world. You and your crew mates will become great friends. Everyone had a great time and got along perfectly. If you have the opportunity to participate in a program definitely go.

I have been on two Broadreach trips in the past two years. I can honestly say that my Broadreach experiences have been the most amazing and life changing experience of my life. From spending the day at a hidden beach to become EFR and Rescue Diver certified Broadreach knows how to make a trip amazing. Needless to say that the day is filled from 5am to 11pm most days and since you're on a boat you never know the date. Don't be nervous though, you never feel tired because you are having too much fun! The people that are constantly around you become more then friends, but a family. After the awkward first day of not knowing anyone everyone starts to open up and bond. Even after leaving Broadreach you stay in touch and find times to video chat even though some people live on the West coast and the others on the East. The friendship that you make never goes away because you share so many great memories with people that it is physically impossible to forget. Even your group leaders keep in touch with you! Broadreach is an experience that has made me who I am, a girl who loves to spend her time learning about the ocean and blowing bubbles. I highly recommend Broadreach to any teenager who is looking for a fun, educational way to spend their summer, especially if they have a love for something. My experiences on Broadreach adventures have been so great that I wouldn't give anything in the world to exchange them. Not a day goes by where I don't think about some memory from one of my trips or dream of the next exotic location that I will travel to.

Being a small town kentucky girl,i never would have imagined that i would be 50 feet below in the beautiful waters of belize swimmng with rays and reef sharks,ziplining through a rainforest canopy in costa rica,or surfing on the sandy shores of panama.Not only did broadreach give me all of these unforgettable memories and experiences and more,but it brought me back home to the bluegrass state a completly different person.

As a small town kentucky girl,i never thought in all my life that i would be thousands of miles away in a ocean, 40 feet down with reef sharks and rays,nor did i think i would even be close to the edge of a 100 foot cliff better yet propelling down it in costa rica! Aside from offering breathtaking trips and adventures,and awesome leaders to help you,what broadreach ultimately provided for me was courage,the courage I thought id NEVER find in myself.When given the choice to travel to three beautiful countries with people whom i had never met,to say the least i was a little skeptical,as im sure most would be.For this country girl after 21 days i came back to little town with no doubt what so ever and a level set mind,that NOW i could do whatever i wanted and nothing could hold me back,strangers that now felt like family & memories that would last a lifetime.Broadreach changed my life & that is no cliche.

My Broadreach trip was, for the second year in a row, everything I expected and more. My three weeks in Fiji were absolutely the best three weeks of my life. Diving with bull sharks up close was absolutely exhilarating and definitely not something you can experience just anywhere. Every single dive was a new adventure and I was never disappointed. Not only did we see dozens of bull sharks feet away, but we also saw moral eels, see turtles, and tons of reef fish. We conducted real research on the sharks for our research papers. I also got to interact with locals in a non-touristy fashion and really get to know the Fijians, many of which I am still in contact with. Even the academics were fun, since our teacher on the trip was qualified and engaging. I wish everyday that I could be back in Fiji. I definitely, definitely recommend Broadreach to anyone who has a love for the ocean or adventures, and I cannot wait for next year.

The Shark Studies trip is one of the best summer programs available to teens. This academic trip isn't just a bunch of book-work looking at pictures of sharks, but daily face to face encounters with several types of sharks while collecting data. I enjoyed every part of the academics because it was fun and a topic that I enjoyed. I learned all about shark biology, behavior, conservation, and also about the Fijian culture. One of my favorite parts of the trip was our homestay on the island of Beqa. We learned so much from our families and how to live the Fijian's simple way of life. My instructors were so much fun and were always there whenever we needed help. I recommend this trip to anyone who loves to dive and also wants to know more about sharks.

Over this past summer I had a unique experience traveling through the Caribbean on a “live aboard yacht” for 3 weeks. On this trip of a lifetime, I got my advanced open water scuba certification and my International Yacht Training certification. I also learned so much about the history of the islands we visited and their various cultures. I really enjoyed visiting new places and getting to do community service on one of the islands. I did community service in St. Eustatius. The service I did was “scrub-mooring balls.” This process entailed diving while scrubbing the mooring line with a wire brush. Cleaning these items helps them last longer and keeps the surrounding waters cleaner. I thought it was a cool and really exciting experience because while bettering the St. Eustatius Ocean, it allowed me to give back to the island, especially after having such a rewarding experience. Another part of this trip that was quite unique was that I lived in very small quarters with 12 other students from all over the United States, and I made 12 great friends that I will have for the rest of my life. I really enjoy meeting new people and I felt that going on this trip I would make some great new friends. Making new friends is a skill that I felt that I have always been good at. I think this skill is very important because it gives me the opportunity to go anywhere and always feel comfortable. This trip also strengthened my love for travel. I truly enjoyed traveling around the Caribbean and I hope to travel all around the world and experience what the world has to offer. Another amazing part of this trip was the staff. They were the most caring, loving and interesting people I have ever met. While having fun they did an amazing job of being safe and teaching us things in a fun environment. The staff far pasted my expectations and I couldn’t have asked for better instructors. On a day to day basic the program entailed one major thing, which was DIVING. The whole group learned together, worked together and failed together. I believe that working together was the one thing that made our group a family. I would definitely recommend this program for anyone who wants to learn, grow and have an unforgettable adventure. GO BROADREACH