Lead a Youth Soccer Clinic in Costa Rica

GLA students on the premiere session of the Costa Rica Sports Service Adventure program in 2014 enjoy a game in the middle of the day.  Getting to know one another on the program is just as important as becoming immersed with locals, as cooperation and collaboration make for the best service projects.

Engaging Costa Rican children in play is a way to forge bonds and build trust – a powerful tool for guiding kids during sports and other high-energy activities.

Costa Rica is renowned around the world for its commitment to incredible environmental preservation measures, unprecedented in much of Central and South America.  GLA students from the June 26th session clearly got to experience this magnificent tree cover first-hand, and learn to appreciate what the care of these resources means to the people living here.  The extra shade also makes for more pleasant afternoon soccer games with the kids!

Running around with the kids and leading them on soccer exercises can be exhausting, even if it is rewarding!  Fortunately, proximity to pristine beaches means cooling off in the water is always a great backup plan.  Still, GLA students on Sports Service Adventure love sports enough that even a dip in the ocean won’t stop them from playing a game or two.

“While the school kids were out at break we talked to them, and then as we got to know them we played soccer [or football, as the World Cup fans would chime in]! … The kids were touched that we spent time with them, and after our time together we didn’t want to say good-bye.”

– Maimouna Diallo, Helen Craig, Savannah Carson, Elizabeth Porter, and Kayla O’Brien

2 GLA students from the June 14th Sports Service Adventure session are learning a powerful life lesson:  hard work pays off, especially when it’s done with a good cause in mind.

“One mentor group paired up with another team and drove to La Cruz to work on a mural. Once we got there,a group sifted through dirt to smooth the wall, another group painted, and a final group took down cement blocks with sledgehammers. We got to interact with the locals and actively see that we were making a difference by covering up graffiti and preserving the town history of La Cruz by painting a mural showing historical events in the town.”

– Maimouna Diallo, Helen Craig, Savannah Carson, Elizabeth Porter, and Kayla O’Brien

The road to doing good in the world is often rough, but those who wake the long and winding road often end up at the best places.

Arrival!

“We awoke early this morning and headed off to the service sights where the schools are located. Some of us sat in on classes, while others played schoolyard games with the students. Visiting the schools was very eye opening for most, and it really helped remind us why we are here.“

First Day of Service

“Today was the first official day of community service at our schools. After playing games and having fun with the kids, we began our day of teaching. The students were extremely excited to see our GLA members in their rooms, and the teachers were very welcoming and insightful. We are looking forward to the experiences these students will bring us!”

An Extraordinary Day

“Teaching the children can be difficult at times because they are very hyper and there are many distractions, however they are so happy and eager to learn, it makes the hard work worth it! We feel like we have adjusted to the basic layout of the classrooms and the lack of materials that it seems strange to think of normal classrooms back at home. Additionally, we feel as if the students are much more comfortable around us, for instance they all know our names as we do theirs. We are so excited to come back to our service sites tomorrow!”

Time for Adventure

“This Friday was our first day in Ho! We went to the monkey sanctuary, where the monkeys would climb onto us as we fed them a banana. Then we hiked for 45 minutes to the waterfall in Hohoe. We swam in the waterfall and took in the breathtaking view.

This was an amazing weekend, but absence really makes the heart grow fonder, and coming back to Anloga after two days made us realize how much the home base has become our home away from home! We’ve really missed both the kids and the environment in this wonderful little town.“

Another Beautiful Day

“It saddened me to realize that I might never see these children again. These children, who I’ve grown to love and admire, would disappear from my life. To fall in love with these children and then lose everything you loved in a heartbeat is torture. You can’t do that to me. Or anybody. Goodbyes are the hardest.”

Want to learn more about the Ghana: Children of Africa experience?  Check out the program guide and put yourself in the shoes of our volunteers in this amazing African nation.

Curious about what you’d have to pack?  Rain boots or sunscreen?  Jackets or shorts?  Read The Young Leader’s take on the ultimate packing list and get ready for your future travels.

Pura Vida!

“A big part of this program is learning about sustainability and how we can help with simple acts. We are learning about sustainable coffee farms and helping provide labor to local farmers who couldn’t afford the labor for the Eco version of coffee farming. We have pulled weeds, loosened soil, and fertilized with organic products! It is very hard work but it is really helping the communities and teaching us about what humans do to the environment and the simple actions that we can do to change it”

Making a Difference

“Helping a community to build can be truly rewarding, in more ways then one. I never knew that I could have the liveliness to complete some of the things that I’ve accomplished. As an example, I look children running around, and wonder how they have the energy and excitement for something like that. I’ve realized, however, that the reason why adults seem to have less energy than children is because adults spend all their energy thinking, as opposed to children, who spend all their energy doing. Through the service in Costa Rica, it has become more apparent that doing is infinitely more valuable than thinking.”

Service & Rafting!

“The past week in Costa Rica has been full of service and learning, but there has been plenty of adventure and excitement as well! The afternoon rafting got on to an exciting start, when one intrepid crew of rafters became carried away with just the basic commands of “forwards” and “backwards” and decided to advance to the next level command of “upside down,” while trying to save another member of their crew who had decided to take an impromptu swim through a rapid. Fortunately, everyone responded quickly and intelligently to the situation, and soon enough we were once again forging on through the river. Everyone had a fantastic day, and our rafting adventure (or misadventure) will definitely be one of the highlights of the trip!”

The Adventure Continues…

“Every day has been a new experience with no single day like any before it. The experiences I have individually gained have started to make a visible impact on my person-and my Spanish- and it has only been one week!  Everyday brings something new with the best part being that no matter how hard you try, it is impossible to predict exactly what will come.”

Want to learn more about the Costa Rica: Spanish Service Adventure experience?  Check out the program guide and put yourself in the shoes of our volunteers in this lush Central American nation.

Curious about what you’d have to pack?  Rain boots or sunscreen?  Jackets or shorts?  Read The Young Leader’s take on the ultimate packing list and get ready for your future travels.

Hiking to the Ancient Empire of Machu Picchu

Imagine yourself in the hiking boots of these adventurous teenagers on the Global Leadership Adventures Peru program trek from base camp to Machu Picchu.  While the hike is long and the day is longer, the breathtaking scenery and incredible spirit of your fellow GLA students keep you on your toes until you finally – wonderfully – arrive at the ancient empire.

“Today we woke up at 5 am and commenced travel on our 3-day hike at 6 am.  We headed to our trail head, which we began to hike at 9am. The hike started with two hours of ascent. This included walking on frozen waterfalls and visiting a highland farm. When the group reached the peak of the mountain we were met with breathtaking views, 14,725 ft of elevation, as well as a hearty and delicious lunch. GLA members then began the one hour descent to our campsite; during this we saw wild llamas, horses and bulls/cows. When we finally arrived at our campsite we found it all set up, so we chose our tents and got settled in. While everyone settled in, we decided to explore a nearby mountain and came across two waterfalls and another great view. When we returned from our climb we came to tea time and the whole group stuffed their faces with popcorn, crackers and of course tea.”

– Zev Lee

“As we all know, “what goes up, must come down”, which meant that we had to begin our descent towards a valley that would serve as our camping location. This descent provided impeccable views as well as a significant amount of knee pain, which was to be expected when having to climb down such a steep mountain. Despite our pain, the sight of our blue tents provided us with the motivation to continue moving forward.”

– Alex Brown

“We hiked a total of 45km towards Machu Picchu. We hiked uphill and downhill and took amazing pictures during our long hours of walking. From the bright stars at night to the ice caps on the mountain tops we were amazed by the scenery. We walked through loose rocks and dusty trials. Even though one of our own had hurt her ankle we all still managed to stay strong and hike though the misty clouds to our campsite. After two nights of camping at high altitudes, the group hiked the rest of the way down the mountain and took a few buses towards the town of St Teresa. After we arrived, the rest of the group hiked an extra, epic 9km! Though long and tiring, were were able to see the back side of Machu Picchu! And the next morning we saw the ruins of the amazing Machu Picchu, which made the hiking worth it all.”

-Ashley, Yaseen, Felix, Diego, Michelle, Isaac, Brian, Kamran, Nick, and Lisa

The hikes and the climbs are all worth it in the end.  The things to see – to experience – in a way most high school-age students can only dream of, makes this service and adventure in the sacred valley one to take with you for a lifetime.

Volunteering in Peru and making the trek to Machu Picchu is a rare experience for high school students, but one that’s worth the travel.  Check out the GLA program Guide for Peru Service in the Sacred Valley to learn more.

Flying sky-high through the air on a plane to make your global journeys a possibility is fun.  But the baggage fees and charges for food on the flight?  Not so much.  Read The Young Leader’s tips for booking airfare to make the most of your travels.