CORPORATE
IMPACT EXPERIENCE
A five-day Costa Rica experience combining Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, surfing, community service, and meaningful cultural connection. Designed for employees using Volunteer Time Off and company donation matching programs.
Serve With HeroKids
Assist local instructors, mentor children through Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, and support year-round youth development programs.
Jiu-Jitsu & Surf
Train Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, learn to surf, build resilience, and connect through shared physical challenge.
Oceanview Stay
Four nights at Wyndham Tamarindo, breakfast, transportation, laundry service, and Pacific Ocean views included.
What You’ll Actually Do
This is a structured volunteer and wellness experience built for employees using Volunteer Time Off and company donation matching.
Serve With HeroKids
Assist youth classes, help with games and drills, organize gear, and mentor local children through Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.
Train Jiu-Jitsu
Participate in beginner-friendly Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu sessions focused on resilience, teamwork, confidence, and connection.
Surf & Explore
Learn to surf, experience Tamarindo, enjoy the ocean, and connect with your team outside the normal workplace setting.
Additional Service Options
Depending on scheduling, participants may also support CEPIA after-school programs, Clean Wave beach cleanups, or Halfway Home animal rescue.
Five Days of Impact, Wellness & Costa Rica
A structured sample itinerary designed to support Volunteer Time Off requests, donation matching, and meaningful employee engagement.
Arrival + Orientation
Airport transfers, Wyndham Tamarindo check-in, welcome reception, nonprofit orientation, VTO overview, and sunset dinner.
HeroKids + Jiu-Jitsu
Breakfast, beginner-friendly Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, HeroKids volunteer session, youth mentorship activities, and group dinner.
Surf + Community Service
Surf lesson, beach time, optional Clean Wave beach cleanup, local community experience, and evening reflection.
Partner Volunteer Day
Service project with HeroKids or a local partner such as CEPIA, Clean Wave, or Halfway Home, followed by celebration dinner.
Reflection + Departure
Breakfast, final reflection, volunteer hour confirmation, donation receipt support, checkout, and airport transfers.
Hero Academy can provide service-hour documentation, nonprofit verification, project summaries, and donation receipts for employer matching programs.
Participants may complete approximately 20+ service and impact hours through HeroKids programming, youth mentorship, and partner nonprofit projects.
Your participation helps fund free youth programs in Costa Rica.
Since 2016, HeroKids has provided free training, mentorship, transportation support, uniforms, equipment, and a safe community for local children in Tamarindo and surrounding areas.
Free youth training through Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and other movement-based programs.
Mentorship and leadership from coaches, volunteers, visitors, and older students.
Transportation, uniforms, and gear to help remove barriers for local families.
Volunteer documentation available for employees submitting VTO or matching requests.
Local projects employees can support.
The core volunteer experience is built around HeroKids, with optional service projects available through trusted Tamarindo-area nonprofit partners when scheduling allows.
HeroKids
Assist youth Jiu-Jitsu classes, help with games and drills, organize equipment, and mentor local children through sports-based development.
CEPIA
Support after-school activities, youth enrichment, English practice, education projects, and family-focused community programming.
The Clean Wave
Participate in beach cleanups, plastic removal, local sustainability projects, and coastal conservation efforts.
Halfway Home
Volunteer with animal rescue support, dog walking, enrichment activities, facility help, and basic care projects.
Built for employees who want service, wellness, and travel to connect.
No martial arts, surfing, volunteer, or Costa Rica experience required. This is designed for employees, teams, ERGs, and companies looking for a meaningful VTO-friendly impact experience.
Corporate Employees
Ideal for employees using Volunteer Time Off, donation matching, or company-supported service benefits.
Service-Minded Teams
Built for people who want hands-on community involvement instead of passive travel.
Beginners Welcome
Jiu-Jitsu and surf sessions are beginner-friendly and focused on confidence, wellness, and connection.
Culture + Connection
Experience Costa Rica through local community programs, youth mentorship, nature, food, and shared adventure.
This is a good fit if you want:
- Hands-on volunteer service
- A structured VTO-friendly experience
- Company donation match impact
- Wellness, movement, and adventure
- Real connection with local programs
This may not be a fit if you want:
- A luxury vacation with no service component
- A competitive martial arts camp
- A passive resort-only itinerary
- A large corporate conference environment
- A fully customizable private vacation
Designed to unlock your employer match.
This experience is intentionally priced around employee donation matching programs. A $1,000 contribution can become $2,000 in impact when matched by your employer.
Reserve your spot in the Costa Rica Corporate Impact Experience.
Submit your donation receipt through your company matching gift program.
Supports HeroKids youth programs, transportation, uniforms, mentorship, and community service.
What’s Included
Four nights at Wyndham Tamarindo included.
Your experience includes four nights at Wyndham Tamarindo, an oceanview hotel that serves as the group home base throughout the trip.
- ✓ Comfortable group home base for the full experience
- ✓ Close to Hero Academy, Tamarindo, and partner projects
- ✓ Easy access to beaches, restaurants, surf, and sunsets
- ✓ Local support with transportation, logistics, and recommendations
Built to make approval easier.
This experience is designed to help employees clearly explain the volunteer, nonprofit, matching gift, and wellness components to their employer.
Can I use Volunteer Time Off?
Many companies allow employees to use VTO for nonprofit service. Hero Academy can provide volunteer-hour confirmation and project descriptions.
Can my donation be matched?
Hero Academy is a U.S. 501(c)(3) nonprofit. Participants can submit their donation receipt through their employer’s matching gift program if eligible.
Do I need Jiu-Jitsu or surfing experience?
No. All movement activities are beginner-friendly and focused on wellness, confidence, teamwork, and connection.
What documentation is available?
Hero Academy can provide nonprofit verification, donation receipts, volunteer-hour confirmation, project summaries, and impact follow-up.
Ready to reserve your spot?
Join a small group of employees for five days of service, wellness, adventure, and community impact in Tamarindo, Costa Rica.
Reserve Your SpotQuick Answers
The essentials for employees, managers, and HR teams reviewing the Costa Rica Corporate Impact Experience.
Can I use Volunteer Time Off?
Many companies allow VTO for nonprofit service. Hero Academy can provide volunteer-hour confirmation, nonprofit verification, and project summaries.
Can my employer match my contribution?
Hero Academy is a U.S. 501(c)(3) nonprofit. Participants may submit their donation receipt through their employer’s matching gift program if eligible.
What is included?
Four nights at Wyndham Tamarindo, breakfast, airport transportation, laundry service, HeroKids volunteer experience, Jiu-Jitsu, surfing, and group activities.
Do I need Jiu-Jitsu or surfing experience?
No. All movement activities are beginner-friendly and designed around wellness, teamwork, confidence, and connection.
What airport should I fly into?
Liberia International Airport (LIR) is recommended. It is approximately one hour from Tamarindo.
What organizations will we support?
The core service experience is with HeroKids. Depending on scheduling, participants may also support CEPIA, The Clean Wave, Halfway Home, or other local partners.
Is this tax deductible?
Donation receipts are provided for charitable contributions. Participants should consult their own tax advisor regarding deductibility, lodging, meals, travel, and matching programs.
Can my company send a group?
Yes. This can work for individual employees, employee resource groups, leadership teams, or small corporate cohorts.
Ready to reserve your spot?
Join a small-group Costa Rica experience built around service, wellness, adventure, and measurable community impact.
Reserve Your SpotQuestions?
We can help with travel, lodging, VTO documentation, employer matching, or group participation.