Patrick Donovan is not a bad kid, just an adventurous 17-year-old who needs a little direction, a reminder, the occasional refresher on perspective.

And he found that reminder away from his Auburn home.

When Donovan’s mother Googled “character-building type of summer camps” one day, she discovered something unique and challenging for her son to try.

“It wasn’t going to be an easy trip, by any means,” said Debbie Donovan.

It turned out to be a good decision and time well spent.

“I think he came back with a real eye-opener on life,” she said. “I think he had a great experience.”

Patrick pushed himself to new heights to experience firsthand the culture of Costa Rica, a Central American country that the New Economics Foundation’s “Happy Planet Index” recently named the “happiest” place in the world. He recently returned from 15 days trekking through low-lying clouds and rainforests, climbing trees, rappelling down waterfalls, rafting down class III rapids and surfing warm water breaks.

The “Happy Planet Index” ranks nations based on human well-being and ecological efficiency. The setting provides a fitting environment for the back-to-nature focus of the multi-element course offered by the Costa Rica Rainforest Outward Bound School (CRROBS).

One component of Patrick’s course had his group hiking into a remote Mestizo village to learn about simple living. “One of the most eye-opening and amazing experiences in my life,” Patrick said. “I’m much stronger than what I thought physically and emotionally.”

Founded in 1997, CRROBS combines activities including hiking, rafting, kayaking, surfing, rappelling and scuba diving with hands-on cultural experiences such as home-stays with local families and complete immersion in wilderness settings.

The program isn’ t missionary work. It’s not attached to a church or major corporation. It is all about building character and providing leadership training for independent youth who seek it.

Debbie, for one, says her son is making good choices these days. Like many kids, he has survived tough times and learned from his mistakes. He was able to regain his feet and take on the next assignment. In this case the lesson came on foreign soil.

Patrick, a senior at Seattle Christian High School, likes English and history. His family has travelled to Latin American before. Patrick, who speaks conversational Spanish, enjoyed those experiences. He grew attached to the Latin American culture, its people, its food and the warm climate.

Patrick also has a heart for the underprivileged. He is building a good resume. He has volunteered at the South Sound Gospel Mission, and every once in awhile, accompanies his mother to work at the local food bank.

The summer excursion proved to be something entirely different. Experiencing how another culture lives on little moved Patrick. Some villagers were mired in poverty; other families were simply getting by.

“At times, I was humbled,” he said. “It was just amazing.”

What did he learn?

“That I don’t need all the things I have, all the money, all the clothes, all the non-essentials in life,” he said. “They are completely self-sufficient. They rely on things that we take for granted. You come away with a better appreciation of what you have.”

Patrick also learned to get along with those around him. He was part of a wide group of participants working toward the same goals, experiencing the same things.

Perhaps one of the most challenging episodes came on a grueling hike. One girl had trouble keeping up with the group, so Patrick carried her 40-pound backpack and finished the six-mile hike up a hill.

Cooperation was part of the learning process.

“I learned that no matter what, there are people from all over the world,” Patrick said. “We came from all over the world, but we came together. We became such a close family. We always had slight problems. We didn’t always get along all the time, but we did come together. We became family, and we depended on each other.”

Patrick returned home with a renewed sense of purpose. He is prepared and organized for the school year. He wants to earn good grades. He is talking about attending college, perhaps to pursue a career as a firefighter, paramedic or an EMT.

“The first words out of his mouth were, ‘I know what I’m going to do after high school,’ ” his mother said.

Life hasn’t been easy for Patrick and his small family, but the future is filled with possibilities and promise. He is maturing, exploring his options and taking responsibility.

Meeting other people, experiencing the human struggle is part of the learning curve – and a good lesson at that.

Growing up is tough, especially for teens, but this kid is striving to do better.

His journey is only beginning.