Thanks for the checking out the blog for this Global Leadership Adventures Custom Group program!

Here are a few things you can expect:

1. 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.
2. Blog updates sent on weekends may not be posted until Monday.
3. 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

Click here to jump down to the most recent post!

COMING SOON

Thanks for the checking out the blog for this Global Leadership Adventures Custom Group program!

Here are a few things you can expect:

1. 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.
2. Blog updates sent on weekends may not be posted until Monday.
3. 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

Click here to jump down to the most recent post!

BLOG POST FOR JUNE 8

Welcome to the Dominican Republic! The Prospect Hill group has officially arrived, and we are excited to begin our adventure together. After clearing customs, we stopped for lunch at Pizzarelli where everyone enjoyed a variety of pizzas. It was the perfect opportunity to relax, refuel, and connect with one another after a busy morning of travel.

Following lunch, we continued our journey to the historic Zona Colonial in Santo Domingo, the oldest European settlement in the Americas and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Along the way, students got their first glimpse of the city and began experiencing the Dominican Republic’s vibrant culture, architecture, and energy. Our group explored the cobblestone streets of the Zona Colonial, learning about the area’s rich history, admiring centuries-old buildings, and visiting important landmarks that shaped the history of the Caribbean and the Americas. Students had the opportunity to ask questions, take photos, and begin immersing themselves in the local culture.

The evening concluded with a group dinner and orientation, where we shared what we are most excited about for the week ahead. We are grateful to have arrived safely and cannot wait to see what tomorrow brings!

-Rudy and Pedro

Thanks for the checking out the blog for this Global Leadership Adventures Custom Group program!

Here are a few things you can expect:

1. 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.
2. Blog updates sent on weekends may not be posted until Monday.
3. 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

Click here to jump down to the most recent post!

BLOG POST FOR MAY 31

Hello from Greece!

All the TJ students arrived in Athens today to kick off an amazing week of service and adventure! Once we got back to the hotel, the group gathered on the mezzanine to begin orientation. We had lunch, learned more about Greek culture, and bonded over a community agreement for our time together. Orientation ended with a swim test on the roof of our hotel with a stunning 360° view of Athens, including our afternoon destination, the Acropolis.

After packing into our bus, our guide Nikos showed us Parliment, the President’s Mansion, the Olympic Stadium from the 2004 games, and a few more historical sites in the city. After our arrival at the Acropolis, the group enjoyed an immersive walk through the ancient buildings, temples, and monuments. We heard about the impressive mathematics behind the architecture of the Parthenon, the Greek myths and legends tied to the site, as well as the history of the destruction and rebuilding of the ancient tourist destination.

Upon returning to the hotel, TJ students ate dinner, conducted their first chow (shout-out) circle, and heard the schedule for the next day.

We are excited about all the activities Greece has to offer over the next few days!

– GLA Staff

BLOG POST FOR JUNE 2

Hello!!

Before the food tour began, the group visited several stores to buy things needed for the trip. The food tour started with chicken and spinach pies, and the spinach pie was especially good. After taking a picture in front of the market entrance, the group explored the fish market and then moved on to the meat market. They also tried Greek coffee heated in hot sand, yogurt with quince jam, olives, and gyros. For dessert, we tasted small fried doughnuts with different toppings, including honey and cinnamon, lemon cream with rose jam, and chocolate with pistachio spread.

After the food tour, the group moved on to a service activity. We bought pasta, pasta sauce, and tomato paste from the supermarket for volunteering. Using those ingredients, we prepared soup, packed sweets and bakery items, and handed them out for free. At the end of the day, the group traveled to Delphi on a 2.5 hour bus ride and finished up with dinner together.

We are excited to explore Delphi tomorrow!

– Roy and Finn
Leaders of the Day

BLOG POST FOR JUNE 3

We started the morning with breakfast at our hotel in Arachova, the town next to Delphi before making our way to the actual ruins. As usual, the ride was filled with incredible views. Once we arrived at the ruins of the center of the ancient world, we were greeted by our first tour guide of the day who explained what the ruins were and gave lots of historical context to understand the story of Delphi. The site was incredibly important back in its day, acting as the political, religious, cultural, and social center of the world. This power came from the legendary oracle that provided important advice to anyone from an average citizen to the leader of a city-state. On top of that, it was thought to be the literal center of the world, which makes sense for the time given that the world of the Greeks was limited to the mediterranean.

After saying goodbye to our guide, we moved on to the museum connected to the sites didn’t have an official tour guide for the connected museum, but thankfully our resident expert Dr. Asuni was able to step in and explain the important artifacts. The museum contained many especially important items collected from the ruins, including a massive sphinx and the Omphalos (Navel of the World), a marble monument that was said to have been placed by Zeus to signify Delphi’s central position.

Before setting off for Athens, we stopped for a delicious lunch. Dr. Asuni and Margarita had to help us with ordering given that the menus were all in Greek, but the food was incredible, including zucchini fritters, greek salad, seafood, and lots of tzatziki.

Roadtrip! After our exciting morning in Delphi, we hopped in our spiffy van, ready to take on the daunting 2 hour journey back to Athens. Yet, we braved the journey and faced boredom head on, just as the ancient Athenians once faced the Persians, with fantastic games such as impostor—where everyone gets the same secret word and one impostor must figure the word out through different clues—or stupefying riddles which bested many! After our Odyssey, we returned to Athens, seeking more adventure.

Upon arriving in Athens once more, we went the Museum of the Acropolis, breaking the stone off our legs by joining a tour. We leaned more about the rich history of the acropolis and why the $150,000,000 museum was built in the first place (it was made to try and reclaim artifacts from different countries who’d stolen them in the past). The unique design of the museums mimicked the ascent to the acropolis itself by slightly inclining its way up and ending with a wall of friezes (a sort of outline of panels that adorn the top columns of the Parthenon). We learned so much more and see more first hand artifacts than ever before, which was absolutely fantastic! It’s fun to see the real artifacts and the recreations of different Ancient Greek pieces. Overall, the museum was a fantastic informational supplement to our visiting of the acropolis itself!

Finally, we ended the day by boarding a ferry which was much larger than expected! Next up: Crete!

– Andy and Chase
Leaders of the Day

BLOG POST FOR JUNE 4

June 4th, we got off the ship at Chania. We walked around the streets and shopped for souvenirs. Afterwards, we boarded the bus to Margarites. We arrived at a clay processing workshop, which makes usable clay from the local surrounding mountains. We were given a tour of the filtration systems and kiln. The owner said the clay processed in the next month’s will be ready in over a year. There were also 3 kilns of different sizes, including one of the last wood kilns, which turns the clay a different color then electric kilns when fired. The guide taught us to use the local clay he processed to handbuild a jug.

We then went to his workshop where he used his clay to make ceramics to sell. He demonstrated throwing a salt shaker on the wheel with his masterful precision, finishing the piece in under 30 seconds. We saw Pythagoras cups and nightingale cups which he sold, along with wool-painted plates and bowls. We ate lunch at the restaurant next door.

Thereafter, we enjoyed an evening of fun by eating traditional Greek food in a beautiful patio under large grape trees. Greek salad, pork, beef, lamb and more were served in stages, first appearing with the salad and adding to the table as the night continued. About half way through the night, 3 musicians set chairs on a protected section of the patio. They began to play rhythmic melodies with a Greek form of lute (laouto) and a modern lyre (Lyra).

Shortly after, five dancers appeared, 2 in long skirts adorned with golden details, and 3 in grey fitted suits. They began to perform steps that quickly escalated into high jumps and spins. As the night drew on, the actors beckoned the audience to dance with them, teaching the steps as they walked, each person with arms intertwined with their partner.

Lastly, the dancers demonstrated several tricks, among which, an audience member is selected to pick up and drink a cup filled with wine. However, this cup is set on the ground the participant must complete a push up. Harder yet, if the push up is not satisfactory to the dancer, she will move the cup, making it necessary for the audience member to crawl. Yet in the end, they always receive a delicious sip of Cretian wine!

– Owen C. and Frida
Leaders of the Day

BLOG POST FOR JUNE 5

Hello from Crete!

We got to sleep in a little bit this morning! After a delightful breakfast, we made our way from Rethymnon to Kamihis Farm. At the farm, we learned how to make bread, a traditional vegetable mix, and tried some fresh off-the-pot goat cheese. While waiting for the bread to bake, the group made their way to the stables under the cooking area. We fed and pet goats – some of us even had the opportunity to milk one of them! Next, we ventured over to the chicken coop, and a few students got in a real-life chicken fight while trying to collect eggs for our lunch. Once hands were thoroughly washed, we sat down and had a delicious Cretan meal that we helped make! It was delectable and all of us were so full! To help digest, our time ended with some dancing, taught to us by none other than one of the owners of the farm.

Our group then made our way to Zaros, where we got to swim and relax all afternoon before visiting a lake and eating dinner at one of the more beautiful locations on the island.

BLOG POST FOR JUNE 6

We made our way back to Athens today, but not before a quick dip in the Aegean sea just outside of Heraklion. We played volleyball, sunbathed, and refueled next to the enchanting turquoise water of the Mediterranean. After a quick flight, our group made our way back to the hotel to get ready to shop and go to dinner. The shops near the Monastiraki Square had a lot of interesting souvenirs and the group got to buy a few last minute gifts. Dinner was next – we arrived just as the sun was dipping below the mountains, so we took photos and sat down for a buffet meal. We showed off our dance moves, broke a few plates, and even got dressed in traditional clothing! Back at the hotel, we did our closing activity, the Appreciation Circle and made our departure plans for tomorrow.

We are sad our time in Greece has come to a close. Hope to see it again soon!

Thanks for the checking out the blog for this Global Leadership Adventures Custom Group program!

Here are a few things you can expect:

1. 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.
2. Blog updates sent on weekends may not be posted until Monday.
3. 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

Click here to jump down to the most recent post!

BLOG POST FOR APRIL 11

Hola from Costa Rica!

We are so excited to welcome 16 amazing students to playa Junquillal! After a long travel day we enjoyed burritos on the bus ride home, getting to know the students and learning about the adventure awaiting us this week. We can already tell that this is an amazing group of students, and we can’t wait to spend the week with them!

– Juanca, Jorge, and Julianne

BLOG POST FOR APRIL 12

By Matthew Ellis:

I was a leader of the day. I enjoyed this day as it was mostly calm and most of the day we were hanging out, learning about costa rica. Overall today went pretty well and proud are behaving.

—

By Sierra Crews:

I started the day with a fun activity while trying to remember the other kids names. We also did a game about rules & whats ok & whats not, which was helpful to remember them. After we had chill time & then I’m pretty sure we ate breakfast after that.

Then some time later we took the swim test which was a little draining but after me & my friend played with a water polo ball which was fun. Then I took a quick outdoor shower.

We all chilled & then walked to the beach to learn about the turtles & the different types which there were 7. This was such a special experience for me, bc the turtles got released & I actually got to take the turtle in a coconut & let them waddle on to the sand which was so cute! I LOVE turtles. The sunset was also really pretty. Then me & my friend Emily got popsicles which they only cost $1?! Cheap! After we all ate dinner which was steak, cooked veggies & baked potatoes which reminded me of Thanksgiving.

It was all so yummy! I then took a nice shower :). I am so excited to see what tomorrow is going to bring. I really love dance so the dance class will be fun. I’m also excited for all of the meals.

BLOG POST FOR APRIL 13

Today we got the opportunity to support the upcoming local sports center. We started with clearing the playground of weeds and it went very well. I enjoyed painting signs with my peers and hanging out on the basketball court. Then we went to the beach and hopped in the ocean. Overall, it was a fun day.

-Oliver Barbeito + Emily Lee

BLOG POST FOR APRIL 14

By Tenaya Stoney-Stevens:

Today we all experienced zip lining and had a fun time enjoying ourselves in the trees. We then relaxed on the beach and enjoyed the smoothies at the beachfront restaurant.

—

By Samuel Goldberg:

My experience today was amazing. First, I got up and woke everyone up and told everyone the schedule and we ate breakfast. Then we went ziplining. I told everyone to apply sunscreen and to have a great day. And then we got back home and ate a great lunch. Then I made sure everyone had water and sunscreen, and we made our way to the beach. Then we surfed some waves and got some smoothies and took some photos on the beach. We participated in a leadership, where we played duck duck goose during sunset. Then we came back home base and took some pictures and we ate. Then we did a GLA activity at homebase that taught us how to spot problems in the world locally, nationally and internationally.

BLOG POST FOR APRIL 15

By Audrey Norbraten:

Today we painted signs like surf boards, wood peices for community service. Then we headed back ate lunch and most of us jumped in the pool to cool off. Then we made our way to a cooking class and made Empanadas at abuelitas house.

Then we bought fun things at the market at home base then the power went out.. We then ate dinner and after that Jorge and I set up b-day decorations for Sam’s b-day and we celebrated it. Overall it was a great day.

—

By Ian Collins:

Today was awesome being a leader. I loved making the signs and helping the community while having fun! We also did a super cool cooking class where we made our own empanadas which were really tasty. Then we finished the night with a nice market with local vendors. In all, today was an amazing day and for sure one to remember.

BLOG POST FOR APRIL 16

By Drew Arnold:

Today I got the opportunity to be a leader we woke up early in the morning and had empanadas for breakfast we then drove over to the catamaran and were floating for about 4 hours while many of us got some pretty bad sunburns it was overall a great time. We then went to the beach for a surf lesson which was fun and very helpful as every two people had a dedicated teacher for them. After the surf lesson we relaxed and got food at the restaurant on the beach and finally we came back to home base for dinner.

—

By Claire Stephens:

Today was probably one of the best days of the week! And that is saying something because everyday has been fun! We woke up early and got on the bus to headed to the beach with the boat. We had empanadas for breakfast which were interesting but good. When we got to the beach we had a little extra time so me and the other leaders lead a game of Simon says which was a good pass time. The boat was a super cool experience and was very nice. We had good food, snorkeled, swam and tanned. After that we headed to another beach to take a surfing lesson. A lot of people already knew how to surf but it was fun practicing and catching waves. I used my leadership skill to make sure everyone was having fun and included. We were all pretty tired but it was a very fun day!
Being a leader was very fun and helpful.

—

By Mineya Barnes:

Today began with early wakeups for our catamaran trip. As a leader, our job is to make sure everyone is on time and prepared for the adventures ahead of us. We arrived at the beach a little too early for the trip so we pivoted to our leadership activity. Our original idea for the activity was mafia, but we realized that we would not have enough time for a full game, so we pivoted once again to a game of Simon says. We were on the boat for many hours and there wasn’t very much leading required.

We then went to a different beach for a surfing lesson. By the time our lesson was finished, most of us were tired and more than a little sun-kissed. We had free time until dinner and most of us showered or took naps.

Our day was closed with the passing of our leadership to three new leaders who will take on the responsibility tomorrow.

The day was filled with trial and error and major flexibility from all. Through frequent reminders, we were able to keep everyone on time. I enjoyed being a leader of the day and I hope tomorrow’s leaders enjoy it just as much.

BLOG POST FOR APRIL 17

Given that most of us got a lot of sun yesterday, we got a little creative and did indoor beach olympics in the morning. This consisted of a sing-off, human etch-a-sketch, Costa Rican trivia, group charades, and the towel challenge. Las iguanas came out in the lead!! We then took some time to pack for our trip tomorrow and took a short dip in the pool. After lunch we went to a farm where we learned about nature and got to milk and feed baby goats. We then made it back to homebase just in time to take pictures at sunset and close the day with a karaoke night. We went to bed to be well rested for tubing and hot springs tomorrow.

Hasta manana!

BLOG POST FOR APRIL 18

We had a great last day in Costa Rica! We took a morning bus ride to Canyon de la Vieja where we had an amazing lunch with at least 10 different food options. After lunch we went tubing down class I and II rapids. We got a little competitive in the swimming portions and a great time was had by all. After tubing we took a dip in the hot springs and covered ourselves in exfoliating mud.

We then had some free time to get settled in the hotel, do a fun leader of the day activity led by Sophia and Kendall, and get ready for our closing dinner. We finished the evening by an activity showing the things we appreciate about each member of the group and a *slightly* later bedtime to close out an amazing week.

BLOG POST FOR APRIL 19

This morning was bittersweet as we said goodbye to 16 phenomenal students. It was an impactful week filled with hard work, laugh, adventures, and deepened friendships. Thank you so much for sharing your students with us this week. We are so proud of each of them for all their hard work and growth over 9 short days. They will truly be missed! We wish them all safe travels back to Carmel, and we hope to see them again on a future GLA program.

Juanca, Jorge, and Julianne

Thanks for the checking out the blog for this Global Leadership Adventures program!

Here are a few things to know and expect:

1. Blog posts are written by onsite program staff and/or students and sent to our Headquarters team who will post the blog on this page.
2. We typically receive 2-3 blog updates per week from each program, so please don’t be alarmed if you don’t see a blog post every day – that’s totally normal.
3. Blog updates received late in the evening or overnight will be posted the following day.
4. Blog updates received on weekends may not be posted until Monday.
5. Due to many factors such as internet accessibility, program staff aren’t always able to send photos, so some blog posts may contain text only.

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

Click here to jump down to the most recent post!

BLOG POST FOR APRIL 4

Hola from Costa Rica!

Julianne and Juanca here! We had a great first day in playa Junquillal! After a what was a long travel day for most of the group, we enjoyed a sunset beach walk, getting to know each other, and a night swim! As we are writing this the students are enjoying playing volleyball in the pool and catching insects. We can already tell this is an amazing group and are excited for the week ahead!

Hasta mañana,
Juanca and Julianne

Please note – some students had not arrived yet when the photos below were taken. We will have additional photos of the full group in future posts!

BLOG POST FOR APRIL 5

Today was our first day of the GLA Spring Break Service Adventure. We met up at 8:20 for a breakfast that consisted of traditional Costa Rican Galla pinto. Orientation was next, where we discussed expectations and the GLA Code of Conduct. After orientation, we took a short bus ride to the Callajones beach. Students hung out in the water while enjoying coconuts from a local vendor.

We then returned to home base for lunch before heading out to release baby turtles. After that, we played a quick game of mafia and ate dinner. We then did a leadership activity going over our values and priorities. We then were able to hang by the pool before lights out. Overall, today was very fun and successful, and we’re looking forward to the rest of the camp!

Gabby, Marco, and Nelson

BLOG POST FOR APRIL 6

Today we woke up and had a delicious breakfast of pancakes and some traditional Costa Rican beans and rice. After breakfast we headed to the park near the local turtle hatchery and started our first service project. We painted some tables and benches with creative designs and messages about preserving nature.

Following painting, we headed back to home base to enjoy lunch and then get ready for the beach. We took a short bus ride to Playa Negra, where we enjoyed some beautiful waves and boogie boarding under the afternoon sun. While at the beach, we enjoyed various smoothies and drinks from a local shop and played fun card games.

Heading home from the beach, we even got to see some adorable monkeys lounging in a tree! When we got back, we got ready for dance lessons and enjoyed an exciting dance class, where we engaged in a heated dance battle.

After dancing, we headed to the restaurant to have the delicious dinner of spaghetti and Alfredo. Following dinner, we played some card games and had a relaxing night.

Julia, Rocky, and Jeremiah

BLOG POST FOR APRIL 7

We started off with a late Easter egg hunt for team points. An exclusive shout out to Rocky on team Coconut Crackers for his exquisite Easter egg hunting talents. Next we took a long bus ride to the canopy (zip line) and kept spirits high with an on bus karaoke session. Everyone showed exemplary courage during zip lining especially those who had never done it before! After that, we took a quick nap on the bus ride to the beach and splashed about in the pristine Costa Rican waters.

Back at home base, we partook in a discussion about the UN Sustainability Development Goals (SDGs) and managed to share our respective opinions with candor using our newfound personal values. In our evening leaders of the day activity we partook in an exhilarating game of volleyball by the poolside, and took the opportunity to share about our ancestral lineage.

Before lights out, we shared our findings from our leader of the day challenge “remember one truly mind opening thing someone has shared about themselves in a conversation today”. Overall, from the zip lines to the Pacific Ocean waves, today we learned the true meaning of “Pura Vida”.

BLOG POST FOR APRIL 8

We started the day with a breakfast of French toast. After that, we spent time painting tables, tires, and pillars, and we also helped pick up trash around the area. Later, we played some pool games together. For lunch, we had pork and rice. We then practiced for our talent show and worked together to cook homemade empanadas. After finishing the cooking, we went to a local market at our home base. It was a busy and fun day.

Jeremiah, Savannah, and Henry

BLOG POST FOR APRIL 9

We started off the day with an optional 5am sunrise beach walk. By 7am we were on the bus, playing games all the way to the ocean front, where we were met with crystal blue waters and a dolphin sighting from the catamaran. We spent the afternoon snorkelling, swimming and singing along to our favourite songs. When we got back, we caught our final Costa Rican rays of sun with our newfound friends and took group photos.

As the sun set, we thought back on what we had learned from this trip: what fears we had faced, where our adventures had lead us, and who helped us get there. We finished off the day with one last pool party and a talent show. Before bed, we shared some of our final goodbyes and plans for our next adventures.

Esme

BLOG POST FOR APRIL 10

Juanca, Jorge, and Julianne here! We had such an amazing week! This morning was bittersweet as we said goodbye to all of the students we have had the pleasure of spending this last week with. It was a joy to see all the friendships that formed, the growth in leadership skills, and the enthusiasm of this group at all the activities and challenges throughout the week. They will truly be missed! We are wishing everyone safe travels back home, and we hope to see them again on a future GLA program.