PTP Squad 2017!

It’s been a while, huh? I’m sure time has flown by, just like it did when we were all together in Bahia Ballena. Whether we were planting trees, learning how to surf, checking out monkeys, or simply chilling in the pool – the time passed super fast, and that’s the reason for this time capsule letter! Although it may seem like ages ago, the time we shared together and impacts we made are definitely worth taking a minute to remember.

You guys made an incredible imprint on the community and environment during your time in the PTP program. The trees you transplanted are being maintained and growing into healthy adolescent plants, now in the National Park Marino Ballena. The time spent creating and painting tree protectors are doing their job well and can be reused to help us continue the reforestation project. The plastic whale is a spectacle for the entire country!

Let’s also not forget all the knowledge you gained on the trip that has now encouraged you to refuse and reduce your own plastic consumption. Now you’re aware of how so many little actions can affect the ocean. When you guys think back on our trip together, there’s probably a ton of fun (and hilarious) moments that come to mind first. We saw monkeys, coati, crocodiles, exotic birds, a sloth, turtles, whales, a red eyed tree frog, and dolphins! We learned how to dance and sang karaoke style on our bus rides.

We played endless card games, and ate incredible meals (shout out to Sonya and Joans, the real MVP’s). We jumped off rocks into rivers next to waterfalls. We cooked a traditional meal, and went out for pizza. Best of all, we shared music, games, and tons of great stories. The mentors–Hannah and Desiree– loved being able to share these experiences with you guys. Thanks for all the hard work you did while you were here and thanks for making it so fun and memorable!

Some special moments from our trip:

– The adventurous (and rainy!) boat ride to and from Corcovado National Park

– Seeing a school of dolphins play just feet away from our boat – Seeing a mother and baby humpback diving around us

– Learning from Alban and his majestic hair

– Going “Boom, Boom” on the zipline and flying through the mountains, howling and conquering fears

– Ogres, Wizards, and Elves “SAME THING”!

– Watching howler monkeys play in the trees around us

Saludos! Keep shining.

-Hannah Calloway, International Director

 

Feeling nostalgic? You can experience that same sense of friendship and adventure abroad again! Check out all our new destinations for Summer 2018, or enroll now.

PTP Squad 2017!

It’s been a while, huh? I’m sure time has flown by, just like it did when we were all together in Bahia Ballena. Whether we were planting trees, learning how to surf, checking out monkeys, or simply chilling in the pool – the time passed super fast, and that’s the reason for this time capsule letter! Although it may seem like ages ago, the time we shared together and impacts we made are definitely worth taking a minute to remember.

You guys made an incredible imprint on the community and environment during your time in the PTP program. The trees you planted are being maintained and growing into healthy adolescent plants. The tedious time spent creating and painting tree protectors are doing their job well and can be reused to help us continue the reforestation project more efficiently. The school in Bahia Ballena is looking great and the students are loving the new paint jobs! Let’s also not forget all the knowledge you gained on the trip that has now encouraged you to refuse and reduce your own plastic consumption. Now you’re aware of how so many little actions can affect the ocean.

When you guys think back on our trip together, there’s probably a ton of fun (and hilarious) moments that come to mind first. We saw monkeys, coati, crocodiles, exotic birds, a sloth, turtles and dolphins! We learned how to dance and sang karaoke style on our bus rides.

We played endless games, and even had our final party. We jumped off rocks into rivers next to waterfalls. We cooked a traditional meal, and went out for pizza. Best of all, we shared music, games, and tons of great stories. The mentors – Hannah, Desiree, and JP (gone but never forgotten) loved being able to share these experiences with you guys. Thanks for all the hard work you did while you were here and thanks for making it so fun and
memorable!

Some special moments from our trip:

– The adventurous boat ride to and from Corcovado National Park
– Seeing a school of dolphins play just feet away from our boat
– Having tons of ACTION PACKED days
– Telling ghost stories and learning about La Mona
– “I ran farted”
– Exchanging conspiracy theories
– Swimming into a waterfall cave!
-Creating ideas and plans that will help the Semilla de Ballena Nursery grow and prosper

Saludos!
The Protecting the Pacific Costa Rica Team

 

Feeling nostalgic? You can experience that same sense of friendship and adventure abroad again! Check out all our new destinations for Summer 2018, or enroll now.

PTP Squad 2017!

It’s been a while, huh? I’m sure time has flown by, just like it did when we were all together in Bahia Ballena. Whether we were planting trees, learning how to surf, checking out monkeys, or simply chilling in the pool – the time passed super fast, and that’s the reason for this time capsule letter! Although it may seem like ages ago, the time we shared together and impacts we made are definitely worth taking a minute to remember.

You guys made an incredible imprint on the community and environment during your time in the PTP program. The trees you planted are being maintained and growing into healthy adult plants. The tedious time spent creating and painting tree protectors are doing their job well and can be reused to help us continue the reforestation project more efficiently. The school in Bahia Ballena is looking great and the students are loving the new paint jobs! Let’s also not forget all the knowledge you gained on the trip that has now encouraged you to refuse and reduce your own plastic consumption. Now you’re aware of how so many little actions can affect the ocean.

When you guys think back on our trip together, there’s probably a ton of fun (and hilarious) moments that come to mind first. We saw monkeys, coati, crocodiles, exotic birds, a sloth and most incredibly whales! We learned how to dance and sang karaoke style on our bus rides.

We played endless games or What are the Odds, UNO, and Volleyball games together. We jumped off rocks into rivers next to waterfalls. We cooked a traditional meal, and went out for pizza. Best of all, we shared music, games, and tons of great stories. The mentors – Hannah, Desiree, and Jack loved being able to share these experiences with you guys. Thanks for all the hard work you did while you were here and thanks for making it so fun and memorable!

Some special moments from our trip:

– Rapping about Travis’ and Canelo’s lives
– The adventurous boat ride on our return from Corcovado National Park
– Seeing a school of dolphins play just feet away from our boat
– Listening to funny and enlightening stories being told during ‘Story of Self”
– Painting the school
– Watching a baby whale be taught by its mother how to swim
– Canelo joining us at the waterfall
-Creating ideas and plans that will help the Semilla Ballena Nursery grow and prosper.

Saludos!

-Jack and the PTP Costa Rica Team

 

Feeling nostalgic? You can experience that same sense of friendship and adventure abroad again! Check out all our new destinations for Summer 2018, or enroll now.

PTP Squad 2017!

It’s been awhile, huh? I’m sure time has flown by, just like it did when we were all together in Bahia Ballena. Whether we were planting trees, learning how to surf, checking out monkeys, or simply chilling in the pool – the time passed super fast, and that’s the reason for this time capsule letter! Although it may seem like ages ago, the time we shared together and impacts we made are definitely worth taking a minute to remember.

You guys made an incredible imprint on the community and environment during your time in the PTP program. The trees you planted are being maintained and growing into healthy adult plants. The tedious time spent creating and painting tree protectors are doing their job well and can be reused to help us continue the reforestation project more efficiently. The school in Bahia Ballena is looking great and the students are loving the new paint jobs and the garden that you helped start to make, as students in other programs have continued your progress! Let’s also not forget all the knowledge you gained on the trip! The hours spent picking up microplastics have served you to refuse and reduce your own plastic consumption and now you’re aware of how so many little actions can affect the ocean.

When you guys think back on our trip together, there’s probably a ton of fun (and hilarious) moments that come to mind first. We saw monkeys, coati, crocodiles, exotic birds, and even a sloth! We learned how to dance and sing karaoke together. We played endless games of BS, Assassin, UNO, and random Beach Ball Pool Games together. We jumped off rocks into rivers next to waterfalls. We cooked a traditional meal, went out for pizza, and drank way too much coffee. Best of all, we shared music, games, and tons of great stories. The mentors – Hannah, Desiree, and Jack loved being able to share these experiences with you guys. Thanks for all the hard work you did while you were here and thanks for making it so fun and memorable!

Some special moments from our trip:

• Having the most diverse karaoke session ever – from “Goosebumps” to “Baby” to “Big Green Tractor”
• When it poured rain the second to last day at home base and you guys used it as a bathing opportunity
• Seeing the crocodile devour a pelican at Corcovado National Park
• Seeing a school of dolphins play just feet away from our boat
• Listening to funny and enlightening stories being told during ‘Story of Self”
• Painting the school…..and eachother
• When Anna the dance teacher and Wayner put on a show as we learned traditional dances
• Calling everything “dank”
• Canelo overcoming his fears and chasing the cat away

Saludos!
Jack and the PTP Costa Rica Team

 

Feeling nostalgic? You can experience that same sense of friendship and adventure abroad again! Check out all our new destinations for Summer 2018, or enroll now.

Dear Students,

It’s hard to believe it’s been so long since our Costa Rica trip has ended! Most of you are probably back in school, back to your regular lives. You’re probably missing your mid-morning empanada snacks and jugo.

By the time our session three students arrived, we finally had an idea of what we were doing and we were feeling like true Nosara locals ourselves, ready to share this amazing place with the students. Upon arrival, the majority of the students went to eat lunch near the airport while the final students landed. Upon arrival they pulled all the tables together so they could sit together and then after eating, they played cards and organized their own name game. Their high energy as a group after a long day of traveling was impressive to say the least!

From the very beginning the students continuously played a game called “assassin”, which they organized on their own and through which everyone bonded together especially during the first week. Sudden gasps could be heard throughout the day when students “assassinated” each other, whispering the words “you’re dead” in the ears of their targets at unexpected moments when no one else was listening.

Service at Santa Terecita was hot and dirty and hard, but the sense of accomplishment could be seen on the faces of our students. They worked hard together to get the massive cement blocks out of the ground, build a retaining wall, paint the salon, even the hill and floor behind the salon, put in benches alongside the soccer field, build and paint the playground, and rebuild a room for the teachers. The local kids always helped out with smiles and bonded with us through spontaneous tetherball games. Our hotel’s cleaning woman Marleni’s son named Josué would come regularly with a big smile. Certain local dogs including “Santos” also came and received lots of love from the students.

In addition to service, our days were packed with numerous cultural activities and adventure! From bread making workshops to traditional dances and cafecito with local families, we dove into the Costa Rican culture and learned a lot about the traditional ways of life for “ticos” in Nosara. Adventure days were filled with surf and paddleboard lessons, horseback riding, and zip lining all throughout the jungle. Our three-day trip up north to Rio Celeste included some wild hikes and whitewater rafting down the Tenorio river. Additionally milking a cow and a sweet tour of the trapiche (sugarcane) plantation were highlights of the trip.

Evenings were often time for mentor groups or free time for the students. One evening a leer snake about ten feet long was found behind the treehouse and I ran to rally the students to come check it out. A wide berth was given amidst gasps as we watched it slither up a tree.

We organized an “open mic night” for the students and gave them the opportunity to open up creatively to the group. The result was a spectacular night of performances that raised the roof off of the yoga pavilion. During any periods of free time, we could count on music bumping down below in the pavilion making the B&B sound alive at all times. Before bedtime, the students often sat out on the terraces of their rooms and would talk and share with each other.

The bonds and trust that were formed within this group could be seen on a daily basis, and most especially during their final capstone presentations. The students truly embraced the pura vida lifestyle here and bonded with true locals like Alvaro and Carla. These are just a few of the overall memories and moments that made this group a true tico family!

-Sergio Ryan

 

Feeling nostalgic? You can experience that same sense of friendship and adventure abroad again! Check out all our new destinations for Summer 2018, or enroll now.