Dear Alex, Amelie, Anthony, Parker, Charlie, Erin, Eva, Kara, Jayden, Jade, Jack, Izzy, Greyson, Gehrig, Karson, Kenai, Kiera, Kristen, Maddie, Minnie, Nolan, Reece, and Serenity,

Hola, maes! You were our very first group for the summer in Parismina, and we couldn’t have asked for a better collection of humans to start us off.

And what more perfect way could there have been to begin our adventure than speeding through the rainforest with the friendly guides at Braulio Carrillo National Park Canopy zip-line tours? We started off with a look at the tapir mama and baby, caught a glimpse of a sloth in the trees, and saw a couple of little armadillos nosing around the forest floor at the last platform. Speaking of which–a couple of us got to finish the course with a real bang, zooming across half a mile of jungle on the AdrenaLine in the pouring rain!

After moving our luggage from the bus to the boat, we sped through the network of canals from Caño Blanco to the back entrance of home base–the Green Gold Eco-Lodge outside of Parismina. You guys were troopers, slogging your luggage through the jungle in the darkening twilight. At the other end a reward was waiting–an outdoor lounge full of hammocks that came to be trusty friends over the course of the trip.

From our very first night patrol, luck was with us and we got to witness a giant leatherback turtle building her nest and laying her eggs. Our ASTOP guide, Pito (Carlos), was so knowledgeable and passionate and his expertise really enhanced the whole experience. He and Irvin led us out on four nights to protect and observe the turtles that come every year to make their nests on the beach where they were born. Adding to the magic were the fireflies in the trees, the bioluminescence in the sand, and the spectacular shows of lightning that made sky, well, lit.

Mako’s turtle talks provided some background information on the species that nest in Parismina and the efforts of ASTOP to protect them, and on our first visit to town we got to see the hatchery where eggs are relocated to mature in peace until the baby turtles are ready to make their rush to the sea. Once again, Pito worked his magic and brought a couple of tiny leatherback hatchlings for us to observe as they began their perilous journey (that will hopefully result in a return to their home beach in sixteen to twenty-five years so they can lay eggs of their own).

We also got the benefit of Jason’s expertise about the local environment. The first time was during the morning where he took us on a tour of his farm, pointing out the various plants and animals he shares his home with. It was a hands-on experience, where some of us emerged with red achiote war paint, and everyone got to taste the water, meat, and sponge of the coconuts that seem to grow everywhere. It was a treat for us mentors to see our group of super-cool teenage students get excited about sensi plants that close up when you touch them and about the capuchin monkeys that came to steal bananas before breakfast.

Another morning, he took us on a boat tour where he seemed to be able to find interesting animals behind every leaf. We saw two caimans (at least), and a crocodile, in addition to huge iguanas, an emerald basilisk, weird-looking roseate spoonbill birds, and tiny, bright poison dart frogs (both strawberry and blue-jean).

For service, you guys worked hard to patrol the beaches, and to pick up trash during the cleanup, from big bottles and lonely shoes to lollypop sticks and toothpaste caps, down to the tiniest bits of micro-plastic that are the biggest threat to the turtles and their nests. On our last day of service, you worked together to paint beautiful signs for the forest and town, urging passersby to care for the turtles and the environment and to remember how we’re all connected.

You swam in the rough, chocolate-milk-colored waves off our black sand beach, and you fell down, stood up, fell down, and stood up again during our surf lesson with Naima and her instructors in Puerto Viejo. During our big day in town, you visited the homes Sayleen and Ana, who generously invited you into their kitchens and showed you how to prepare empanadas and prestiños. Then you got a chance to shop at the local artisan fair at the ASTOP casona and headed over to the playing field to make friends with the local kids over volleyball and futbol.

For the mentors, the times we got to know you best were during night patrols and mentor groups, on the long bus rides and the times we rose early to watch the sun come up over the Caribbean. We loved hearing your insightful comments about complicated issues like conservation, poaching, and service and having a ringside seat as you made new connections and started to realize how much power you really have to change the world. It was a privilege to learn about your great tastes in music and anime, about the service and conservation work you’re already doing at home, and about your hopes and dreams for the future. Not gonna lie, it was also pretty entertaining to watch you flossing, working yourselves out of the human knot, and trying to remember not to swing in the hammocks. And don’t forget the afternoon we all got down with Maya during our dance lesson.

We hope you had as great a time as we did, and that your time with us taught you a little more about turtles, conservation, and yourselves. All silliness aside, it was really touching to see how you pulled together to comfort each other during hard moments, to protect each other from harsh words, to celebrate the special day of one of your own, and in the end, how you showed one another how much of an impact each of you made on the group during our appreciation circle on our last night.

We really believe that you are the leaders of our future, and the best hope we have for protecting our planet so that there are turtles to see and beaches to surf when your children and grandchildren are the age you are now. You each arrived with your own stories and we feel proud and lucky to be involved in one small chapter, and grateful to have you be part of ours. Don’t let anyone make you believe that you’re too young, too inexperienced, or too anything to make a difference. You already have. You already are.

Ciao from the Turtle Team!

 

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Hi girls,

Wow. It feels like just yesterday we were waking up to the sound of howler monkeys at Angels
Ecolodge. Although I miss the gallo pinto and delicious, fresh fruit, I don’t miss their howls at all!

I still remember Saoudatou’s morning jams pumping us up for full days in the Costa Rican sun
and humidity. By now, you’re probably back to school in the States. How different are your
classrooms there compared to the hot, chaotic classrooms in Costa Rica? We wanted you all to
know that here in the Nanadamojo watershed, those kids are still thinking of you, your animal
bingo, water workshops, and recycling centers. We made an impact together this summer.

Like Matt said in his first talk with us, the people here truly remember you. You should all know,
the Nandamojo watershed is a better place than when you came. El Centro Verde (the plant
nursery) is green and thriving, and Marcia will continue to plant new trees all over the watershed
as the rainy season continues. The kids are using their recycling centers in the schools.

The families and children we visited during out cafecitos have fond memories of our time here
together. Our friends and fellow soccer players will remember our fun, lively (sometimes
competitive!) games. And more importantly, the knowledge YOU gained on this trip we hope will
serve you and the communities you go on to be in for the rest of your life! We now know how
important water conservation is, and how to reduce our water consumption meter. We also
know how deforestation affects climate change, and how even the act of planting one seed, or
one tree, can make a positive impact on the environment.

Another thing I remember about the trip is how much fun we had together! And how many times
we laughed together. We played jeopardy, and you girls got almost every question! We thought
about how we want to change the world and how we want to act in the future. We played with
young kids and hung out with high schoolers, and made friends even with language barriers. I’ll
always remember the sweet heart drawings the school girls gave us. We hiked through Monte
Alto, and painted with Ivan and Marcia. We saw beautiful sunsets at Playa Negra and ran from
thunderstorms at Playa Avellanas. We went whitewater rafting and jumped from boat to boat.
These memories will last a lifetime!

We worked really hard and also had a blast together. Whether it was during mentor groups,
playing in Monte Alto’s waterfall, figuring out riddles at El Centro Verde, scarfing down the
delicious food at Casa del Sol, playing tag with the high schoolers, doing face masks, or
exploring new places together- it was that much fun because we got to share it with all you guys
— the 2018 GLA Costa Rica Initiative for Children group! Thanks for helping to make these
special memories in an amazing place.

Pura Vida,
Megan and the Costa Rican team

 

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My, how time flies! Your experience in Costa Rica may seem like it just ended yesterday, or you may think of the memories as far-off experiences in your mind. No matter how it feels, those memories will stay with you all. Even as you begin to adjust to life in the US, to school and friends and work, your summer in Guanacaste, Costa Rica will stay with you. The little EcoLodge where you made a whole new group of friends, mostly human but also 3 Golden Retrievers and a lot of friendly parrots, will hold a special place in your heart.

You all began the trip with high expectations of service and fun, and in the end, those expectations were changed into reality. You visited schools in Guapote, 27 de Abril, Playa Junquillal, and more. You visited the tourist-friendly town of Tamarindo, the beautiful white sand beach of Playa Blanca, and the bustling little city of Santa Cruz. In the nature reserve at Monte Alto, you learned from the founder himself how the reserve works and has grown over the years. You tried foods cooked with the sun’s power at Casa del Sol, and talked to the strong women who run it. In mentor groups, you had important and sometimes difficult discussions about the world.

Most important of all, you made life-long connections with young people all across the province. With the children you participated in activities that promote caring for the environment and our limited supply of water. One of the most rewarding parts of the trip was seeing the children’s smiling faces; everywhere we went, children were always the most accepting and most willing of hosts.

With your new connections, understandings, and experiences, you will all better understand the world we live in, and be able to make a change in it. The love and unity you felt as a group will never be lost. The impressions you made on the Costa Rican people you met will never be forgotten. As you learned, the way to change the world starts with small steps: it starts with you.
Thank you all!

Peace and Love,
Your friends at GLA

 

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Hola!

Things have been really quiet since all of you left. The monkeys are still screaming in the morning to wake us up but late night dance parties have ceased to exist. Carlos and the Angels crew definitely miss having trap in their everyday lives.

Im sure by now you are all back in your comfortable spaces of home–probably not eating arroz y frijoles for every meal but I’m sure atleast thinking about Costa Rica just a little bit. The students in las delicias and 27 have asked for you all many times by name–I think it’s very obvious that even after weeks of time have past that the effect that each of you had on their lives is evident.

I hope that over the next few months and potentially the rest of your lives that the community here-especially the children-will have impacted each of you as well. You now all have a new place with familiar beaches, familiar birds squawking in the morning, and familiar faces that pass on the street. Maybe in the future you will return to this space and reconnect with the communities that you had the opportunity to live within for three weeks.

I’m sure you miss buying every snack from the pulpería, playing with literally every dog, and listening to the adventures of big mike–I know I surely do!

These connections are some that will be here for a lifetime and that we all got to share it together is really special! The nandamojo Watershed will miss you just as I am sure you miss it as well!

Pura vida amigos!

Love,
Kilee, Jordan and Megan!

 

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Doesn’t it seem like yesterday that we were jumping off the tower into the lake,
playing with the children, and eating rice and beans for every meal? We can’t believe
it’s been so long since our Costa Rica trip ended but you are still on our minds and
we still have such fond memories of our last Initiative for Children Costa Rica group
and the good times we had this summer. You all definitely finished our summer with
a bang!

We hope you all know time spent in the schools really did make an impact. You
brought joy to so many children with your smiles, games, and English lessons and
spelling bees. We learned from one another practicing our Spanish and helping them
practice English. We’ve been practicing all summer for the spelling bee and your
group actually got to see the final results, which was really exciting!

Santa Teresa Norte has a giant garden that slowly but surely is coming together and
soon will be a great asset for the school in terms of fresh food for the students and
extra income for the school. Santa Teresa Sur has a beautiful completed mural full of
handprints that will last years with all of the GLA students who have come and gone.
Also, they are very very close to having their own greenhouse! Bellavista’s garden is
bursting with veggies that the school uses every day for their students, and you all
helped maintain so they continue growing. And who can forget our English Festival
and Spelling Bee that all the kids worked so hard for. Thank you all for sharing your
time and positive energy with the Costa Rican children and us! We hope that this
experience also impacted you and that you reflect on how you can bring the lessons
you learned about yourself and the world around you into your community and
hopefully carry them with you for the rest of your life!

We couldn’t have asked for a better group to finish off our Costa Rican summer! You
all are wonderful individuals and you each brought a unique energy and perspective
to our program. You quickly became a close-knit group and we had so much fun
together! We basically adopted Canelo into our lives and spoiled him rotten! We had
adventures horseback riding and zip lining at the base of the Arenal volcano with
only a few slight injuries (Gabriela is no longer feeling like an old lady). We tasted
some of the best pineapple in the world and got to go out on the farm to pick our
own. We relaxed at Alfredo’s fountain of youth (aka the Hot Springs) after the most
adventurous weekend some of us had ever had. We rafted down the river and saw
some amazing wildlife that is only unique to Costa Rica as well as having water
fights and throwing people overboard with the crocodiles.

That last afternoon and evening was super special to all of us. At night everyone
dressed up to make our final meal together memorable (and to get some nice
pictures). Who can forget our awesome dance party (even though the speaker was
not cooperating at all)? Juan Ca even came to join the party and danced the night
away with us! There were so many tears that night and even more hugs, because we
knew that these relationships that were made would not be easily forgotten. And the
impact that we had on each other’s lives will have reshaped us for many years to
come!

We all had a great time together and made some memories that will remember for
years. Thank you for sharing such a wonderful summer with us!

Some special moments from our trip:
-Karaoke sessions on the Juan Ca mobile
-Watching dance and singing performances from many talented children at
the English Festival. Some of us even got to participate in some!
-Learning all about coffee with Alfredo
-Buying ice-cream at every super market trip
-Playing pranks on each other
-Seeing sloths, monkeys, tropical birds, and SO MANY BUGS
-Pancakes for breakfast EVERYDAY!
-Juan Carlos climbing on top of the bus to get that perfect sunset picture
-Early morning yoga sessions with Rosie
-Night activities like bonfire and Mama Mia
-Eating the best pineapple everrrr
-Learning the most important Russian words in the yellow house
-The alien necklace that protected us during our journey
-The most entertaining debate we’ve ever seen
-Canelo, Brad, and Stella walking us to and from service
-Learning life lessons
-Supermarket trips that resulted in gallons of ice cream being bought

 

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