The Rest of the Crew

Brian

Brian Benson, General Manager and Community Service Director, first set foot in Costa Rica in 1997 and has been working in Educational Tourism with CRA since 2003. Brian was part of the Outings Department at Marin Academy, in the Bay area of San Francisco, when he became an Educational Facilitator for CRA in the early days. Since then he has been an integral part of the focus on sustainable community service projects and logistics for all CRA tours. Brian is a true believer in the power of education through travel and service. When you see real results through action, your heart is touched. Brian enjoys riding all kinds of bicycles, surfing, music, poetry, and traveling with his wife Yency.

Wendy

Wendy Brown, CRA’s Sales and Marketing Associate and Assistant Guide, is from Philadelphia. After finishing her BA in communication and sociology from the College of Charleston, she joined our team in May 2011. With experience in rustic travel, service learning, and studies abroad in Thailand, Costa Rica, Italy, and the United States, Wendy has developed a passion for helping others to connect globally. She believes the greatest education is gained outside of the classroom, through experiences and through challenging oneself. She firmly believes in taking advantage of every opportunity and approaching new experiences with a positive attitude. She has a passion for working with children and she enjoys spending time in the natural world, especially all water activities.

Andrea

Andrea Chaverri, Trip Logistics Coordinator, had the opportunity to do an internship in 2006 with Costa Rican Adventures. Later that year Andrea began working as an Educational Facilitator (assistant guide). In 2008 Andrea became an integral part of the Costa Rica office as Trip Logistics Coordinator. She studied tourism at el Colegio Universitario de Cartago. She has her BA in Management and Protection of Natural Resources in the Universidad Estatal a Distancia. Andrea loves nature and believes strongly that everything we do has an effect on the world. She loves her job, and loves to learn about diverse cultures and alternative technologies for the protection of the environment. She loves dancing, spending time outdoors, extreme sports, and meeting people from different places. She rides mountain bikes, spends lots of time with her wonderful family, and is engaged to be married in 2012.

Marlen

Marlen Rojas Montero, Reservations Coordinator, is a true nature lover since the day she was born, always trying to make a difference for herself and the people around her. In love with Costa Rica, she has traveled extensively in her native country and is always eager to learn more about the best way of using the natural resources. Marlen has a degree in ecotourism and is now at the final stage of an advanced degree in management and protection of natural resources. She has more than 10 years of experience working in various areas of the tourism industry. Marlen loves to travel, watch movies, and spend time with her family.

Carolyne

Carolyne Totherow, Director of Communications, was a teacher for over ten years before joining the CRA team. She first chaperoned an EcoClassroom tour in 2005 and loved it so much that she returned in 2006 and 2007. Carolyne brings with her varied experience in the educational field, including years of experience as a residential camp counselor and camp director. She has taught and/or coached in almost every grade level from K-12. Carolyne believes that the best part about a CRA trip is the bonds that form among the group members and the change in perspective that happens for our travelers. Carolyne enjoys meeting new people, sports of all kinds, and time with her family.

Audrey

Audrey Ziomek is Costa Rican Adventures’ Environmental Educator and Director of Summer Programs. She first travelled with CRA as a student in 2002 and 2003, and as a chaperone in 2008. After graduating with a BA in Biological Anthropology, Audrey worked in Peru, El Salvador, and Honduras with Non-Governmental Organizations focused on conservation, development, and education. She received her Masters Degree in Environmental Studies and wrote her thesis on the Costa Rican Adventures’ Story Approach teaching method. Audrey believes that educational adventure journeys that challenge students can be life changing and formative experiences. She feels that CRA’s emphasis on community service and sustainable solutions can help trip participants take positive action in their home communities. She loves travel, music, and exploring new places.