Thanks for the checking out the blog for this Global Leadership Adventures program!
Here are a few things you can expect:
- We typically receive 2-3 blog posts per week here at GLA Headquarters from our program staff and students, so please don’t be alarmed if you don’t see a blog post daily – that’s totally normal.
- Blog updates sent on weekends may not be posted until Monday.
- Due to many factors, including but not limited to internet accessibility, photos may not always be available to post onto the blog. Sometimes onsite program staff are only able to send text back to Headquarters, where our team updates the blog.
Thank you for your patience and understanding, and we hope you enjoy following along on these unforgettable adventures.
For frequently asked questions about the blogs, please visit our Program Blog FAQ page.
-The Global Leadership Adventures HQ Team
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BLOG POST FOR APRIL 3
By Ogemdi and Sergio
Today started off with morning breakfast. Morning breakfast consisted of oatmeal, frittata, yogurt, fruit, orange juice, cranberry juice and milk. After breakfast we did a snowball drawing activity. It was when someone would draw an image of them doing their favorite activity, crumple up the paper and then throw it at someone. You pick up a different drawing and try to find out who drew it. After that we went to the park and played games. We played a role playing game in which we had to role play GLA rules.
Right after the park we went to eat lunch. Lunch consisted of a ham and cheese sandwich. After lunch we did pool activities. We did a swim test and we also did something called River of Life, where we drew a timeline of Our Lives. Then we had the rest of the time in the pool. Right after that we went to our rooms and showered. Now we are eating burgers, hot dogs, and fries for dinner.
BLOG POST FOR APRIL 4
By Aryana and Andelle
Welcome to Day 2 in Tampa Florida. Today was a fun day. We went to the marine aquarium in Sarasota Florida. We saw many animals today. We have three different sections. The first section was many different kinds of turtles swimming in tanks. Then we saw a large manatee eating lettuce and cucumbers. Later on in the week we will be swimming with the manatees too. Anyways, then we saw otters which were so cute seeing them play. We also saw tortoises, crocodiles, jellyfish, seahorses, crabs, and starfish.
Then we changed locations and went to the second aquarium. We saw an octopus which had toys in its tank and saw the lion fish which was shaped differently. Then we went to a room and saw “Molly the mollusk,” which was the largest mollusk, and was preserved yellowish. So it wasn’t the same as when it was alive. Fun fact is that when Molly was alive it was bigger than how it is when it’s preserved. Then we went to see the Sharks and we saw different kinds of sharks. We also touched one of the sharks which was fun and kind of scary at the same time. Both aquariums were really fun to see and we learned new things about different marine species.
Next, we did a field search in the ocean. We used a net to sift through the water to find organisms. While doing that we found sea urchins, sea crabs, fish, minnows, and pretty shells and eggs. Afterwards we then rode in the car back to the hotel. For our free time the eighth graders went to the pool while the seventh-graders stayed in the hotel. After that, we had dinner which was a taco and tres leches. After dinner was done and everyone was full, we had our daily circle and check-in where we did the airdrops of photos and our chant of the word chosen by the leaders of the day, which was “teamwork.” To end the day, we went into two groups to play a card game before going to bed. That was all for day two!
BLOG POST FOR APRIL 5
African American History tour & Tocobago History (Tour of Indigenous People’s Mounds)
Blog by Valesca and Krisley
Hello my fellow Atmosphereans! Currently we are going on a tour in urban Lux Tampa Park. We are here to learn about the history of this black-owned place. There are many outstanding features about this place. The artwork we have just seen represents us black individuals. We are being seen all as one which means together as one. Something that left me shocked today was when the crew and I saw this 30 year timeline of Tampa Park. There’s so many different things from now and before and even the history is not that old, meaning the individuals who made history are probably still alive since it is very recent changes. This park happened because someone wanted to make a change because of how unfair it was back then. Many leaders stood by that. Therefore I would love you to take a piece of history and see what it means to you. You might just make history yourself!
Today is the 4th day of being in Tampa Florida today we went to 2 tours 1 tour was about black history and the second one was about Americans. The scrubs which are houses that African-Americans went and lived in, are still standing to this day. Also about the black history, I think that they are letters because they left black a lot of cool stuff like cool history. also 21 that was leading the tour she had a connection with some of the Native American people that were present. The second was pretty good and fun. We were learning about Native Americans and some facts that I learned was a lady lizard has stripes and male lizards have scales and also that there were a lot of peacocks there too. I didn’t know that males spread out their feathers to attract females. Overall this was very fun and cool.
In a leadership activity the students did a test based on their personalities. There were four quadrants with different choices on each. The choices were cool as a cucumber, water, Rock and hot as a pepper. The x-axis (the line going across) had the choices water and rock. Water means that you put others before yourself and usually keep your ideas to yourself. Rock means to be direct and all of your ideas will be heard. The y-axis (the line going up and down) had the choices hot as a pepper and cool as a cucumber. Hot as a pepper means that your feelings are always heard and you are very open. To be cool as a cucumber means that you usually keep to yourself and our pretty chill. The students started on the x-axis and chose us out. The majority chose water.
Next we moved up or backwards on the y-axis so that we each had two traits. Most students were in the quadrant that had water and cool as a cucumber as a trait. After the students were in the quadrants they became groups to make posters. After the posters the result of the quadrants were told. The cucumber water group were architects which contains many different personalities. The quadrant with cucumber and rock or the director’s because they have a plan. The people who were in the quadrant with hot and rock are spontaneous. And finally the people in the quadrant with hot and water where the relationship masters.
BLOG POST FOR APRIL 6
After leaving the hotel we arrived at the ferry taking us to Shell Key. But before we went there we spend some time at the Park. First off Mr. Salazar brought a soccer ball and a volleyball and a frisbee. We took time and played if we wanted to or we could watch the views of the water. We also had lunch which was a chicken wrap with fruit snacks and grapes. After that we went to the ferry ride which was private just for us.
The fairy was Private just for atmosphere students and chaperones. The ferry also included Captain Todd and Brittany. The captain talked about the history near Shell Key and the animals like manatees and dolphins. He also showed us more places and gave us all the gift of a shark tooth.
We saw various dolphins and learned about the area surrounding us. After the ride we finally had gotten to our main destination which was Shell Key. It is called a Key (and not an island) because it isn’t attached to a tectonic plate. We then had lots of fun in the water and on the shoreline. We also had frisbees, volleyball, and a soccer ball. The Key’s scenery Included Dan’s with a surplus of grass and trees. After this, we then waited for the ferry again after thoroughly enjoying our time socializing and playing games on the beach.
BLOG POST FOR APRIL 7
By Jayleen
For me the morning was fun. We went on a boat and spotted lots of dolphins, some wild, some protected. I saw a few traveling in packs, and a mom and daughter. I loved seeing all of them. We also saw a lot of birds. It was fun watching the dolphins on the boat. We then came back to our room where we identified the dorsal fin of the dolphins we saw in the wild. The fins and holes were all different and some had been through so much. After that we fed the fishes and then ate lunch. It was super fun.
In the afternoon we all watched a dolphin rescue demonstration. It’s when there’s a dolphin or other animal hurt in some way, so the rescue team goes to save them in a different way. The rescue team showed us different situations and we asked many questions. The rescue team even said that we are the group that asked the best questions! We did a urine test to see how healthy the dolphin was (don’t worry it was fake!). Then we even practiced putting a syringe in a dolphin (also fake, don’t worry!). After that we walked around and saw many different animals like dolphins, manatees, otters and turtles. We had a lot of fun and had time to buy stuff at the gift shop.
BLOG POST FOR APRIL 8
By Daphnee
Some call them sea cows, some call them sea potatoes. While others (us) call them humanities! Fridays are awesome, and today proved that when we got to see…wait for it…manatees! One of the calmest creatures you can meet actually swam near us! Because we were in their own homes, we did our best to make sure we didn’t disturb them and just admired them from afar. First we started off with a 2 hour drive to Crystal River. Then we watched a video that demonstrated the do’s and don’ts of how to interact with the manatees.
After that we put on some wetsuits, which most of us had trouble squeezing into but in the end came out looking awesome. Eventually we got in the boats and rode around until we could find some good looking manatees. We then found this spot with a mother Manatee and a tiny manatee. Getting into the water was kind of a roller coaster. Some of us were panicking either because the water looked deep or simply because they had trouble swimming, but then one brave soul went into the water. “When life gets hard, it just means you leveled up.” -inspired by William Nortey, 2022.
Moving forward something amazing happened in the water. Sergio, Brandon and I were just chilling in the water when we saw this big mommy Manatee and its baby. It started to face us and I suddenly got scared thinking we’re going to bump into her. Luckily the mommy Manatee and the baby swam under us very closely. It was one of the best experiences we have ever had. Well that’s enough for our wonderful Manatee adventure and one last reminder to be like all the brave little ones who went looking for these big sea clouds!
BLOG POST FOR APRIL 9
The afternoon activity was so that the students were divided into peers. Before the activity we were allowed to go outside to release all our energy accumulated over time. We had a concert in which we saying, our band was named the Whack Rap. It was really fun. Additionally, our chaperones hosted the “WHY’S”activities. This is an activity in which we ask a question and try to find the reason or solution with an answering the question that was asked previously. In preparation for the game being played tomorrow, Shark Tank, we brainstormed some ideas. For example, overfishing, water pollution, and climate change. At the end of the day we were told what we will be doing the next day. Thanks for listening! Peace out.
