PROGRAM PHOTO ALBUM

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

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Click here to jump down to the most recent post!

BLOG POST FOR JULY 9

After a long day at the airport yesterday, we have all arrived at home base in Moab! We had to split up the group because of delayed flights, but we are all together now! After getting situated at the hotel and having a quick break, the students that arrived earlier last night played the game Human Knot. We had a bit of fun at sunset before getting some announcements and heading to bed for the night. The rest of our crew arrived this morning and today, we’re doing a few hours of orientation, then are heading out to Arches National Park this afternoon for a hike! Service projects are coming up tomorrow before we launch on the Colorado River in a few days.

-Utah Crew

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BLOG POST FOR JULY 10

Yesterday we hiked down the Devil’s Garden Loop Trail for about 3 hours. Beautiful scenery. Excellent hike. Nice trail, just all around fun trip. Good people to be there with and amazing guides. After an early start to the day and a amazing breakfast, we headed on over to Miner’s Basin and La Sals (an incredible mountain range near Moab). We picked up some barbed wire fence and help cleaned up a property that wasn’t supposed to be built in the National Forest. Worked with a Forest Service ranger named Jared, who was a really cool guy and gave us some good advice. After dinner we headed over to CFI to go get gear for the river! We are preparing to pack today and tomorrow for the river Saturday.

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BLOG POST FOR JULY 11

Yesterday we did a ton of service! We worked with the Youth Garden Project, clearing spaces of weeds and brush to make room for more garden space. We even got to meet some of the local chickens! In the afternoon, we worked with Community Builds, moving materials from their job site back to their headquarters for a new build! After a relaxed evening and some packing, we are launching on the Colorado River this morning! Everyone is very excited.

Just a reminder to everyone back home, we won’t have service for the next 4 days while we are on the water!! We’ll be sure to take lots of pictures and share them with you all once we get back.

See you after some epic rafting!

-Utah Crew

PROGRAM PHOTO ALBUM

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 JULY 20

Hello from Thailand!

We are very excited to have everyone on board for our last arrival day this summer. We had most people checking in late in the morning while we finished picking up more people from the airport, everyone had a sumptuous meal in a beautiful cafe by the lake just outside Chiang Mai city. We then rested for a bit and most students finished their swim test before dinner. After that we played an ice breaking game and socialized for a bit before bed. Stay tuned for updates!

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BLOG POST FOR JULY 21

We kicked things off with a camp orientation where we dove into the student handbook and got familiar with what to expect for the days. We got to meet the amazing staff who would be guiding us through this experience.

From there, we headed out into the heart of Thai culture with a visit to several Buddhist temples. The peaceful surroundings and stunning architecture gave us a window into local traditions and the highlight was definitely getting blessed by a monk. We learned about mindfulness, meditation and the values that shape everyday life in Thailand. After soaking in the culture, we had our first local Thai dinner at a restaurant in Chiang Mai.

After we also visited the inspiring Elephant Parade — an art and conservation project that raises funds for elephant care through beautifully painted ceramic elephants. We got the chance to create our own personalised elephants, painting them with unique designs.

Back at the hotel, we gathered for our very first Chow Circle — a nightly tradition where we reflect, share gratitude and wind down as a group.

We wrapped up the evening with some relaxation at the hotel pool.

By LoD Breydan and Carson

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BLOG POST FOR JULY 22

Today we went to a very beautiful temple. We met a Monk named KK and we were able to ask him questions about his daily life, activities and certain rules they have to follow, as well as the history of the temple and buddhism. We were able to tour a Monk university and talk to the students, asking questions and answering any that they had for us. We then went to a Muay Thai gym and were taught the basics of Muay Thai martial arts, as well as the customs and traditions they follow during a fight. We went to 7/11 and we purchased local snacks. After, we headed back to the hotel and had our first mentor group session.

-LoD Joel and Kenna

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BLOG POST FOR JULY 23

Today was the third full day in Chiang Mai, Thailand. We headed to the elephant sanctuary at 9am which is where we will be staying for the next few days. We made a pit stop at 7/11 and also a small market where some of us bought souvenirs and Thai clothes like elephant pants. Shortly after getting to the sanctuary we ate lunch and got to feed elephants their lunch too. We then learned about Asian elephants and their comparison to African elephants from a local vet. We got to do some hands-on observations of three different elephants, taking notes on their physical health. We used these notes to present one of our three elephants to the other two groups. After we said bye to the elephants we went back to “home base” and ate some food, then played games together in our mentor groups and chow circle. We have a very busy day for tomorrow so we all got ready for bed and talked a little before lights out

-LoD Owen and Matthew

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BLOG POST FOR JULY 24

Today was a true immersion in nature- filled with purpose. We started off our day with us planting Napier grass- an energetic fast growing forage into fresh soil; in between planting we pulled weeds, it was meditative work. Afterwards, we hiked down to the elephant camp where we had lunch and made lunch for the elephants which consisted of Napier grass, bananas, rice and tamarind which is essential in their diet and health. We observed them in their daily activities such as bathing in mud and eating. We then went back to our home base and had a debate about the ethical treatment of elephants.

By LoD Griffin and Orla

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BLOG POST FOR JULY 25

Today was a packed with adventure, learning, laughter, and just a little bit of mud.

We kicked things off at the Elephant Jungle Sanctuary, where we reunited with our gentle giant friends. But today was extra special — we met I-oon, the baby elephant! It was our first time seeing her, and she completely stole our hearts. With tiny (but still really big) trunks reaching for the treats, we fed her and the rest of the herd their morning snacks.

Thanks to everything we’d learned over the last couple of days at camp, we were ready to go next-level with our elephant care. We got our hands dirty (in the best way) making medicine balls out of fruits, grains, and herbs. These nutrient-packed treats help keep the elephants healthy, and we loved hand-feeding each one.

After snack time, we set out on a trail walk with the elephants. Walking beside them through the forest, we got a glimpse of how these majestic animals behave in the wild: pulling leaves, tossing dirt, and staying close to each other in that calm, gentle way only elephants can.

By lunchtime, we were more than ready for a feast. We devoured a delicious spread of Thai food: Pad Thai, fried rice, and dumplings that hit just right after a morning in the sun.

Then came the moment we had all been waiting for… mud bath time! 🛁🐘 Covered in smiles (and mud), we joined the elephants in the bath, learning how this messy activity actually protects them from sunburn and insects. Slathering mud on a 2-ton animal is a wild, unforgettable experience — and one we’ll definitely be talking about for years.

We wrapped up our sanctuary adventure with a much-needed café run for sweet treats and cold drinks. After dinner, we turned the energy up with a game of musical chairs (hosted by yours truly!)

To wind down, we joined our mentor groups for some reflection and connection. But the night wasn’t over just yet! Before curfew, we relaxed and watched Happy Gilmore 2, shared some delicious snacks and ended the night helping two adorable kids (at the camp) practice addition problems.
It was a day full of heart, mud, and unforgettable moments. Grateful for every second.

Yours truly,

Avery & Veronica 💚

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BLOG POST FOR JULY 26

Sadly, today was the last morning at the Elephant Jungle Sanctuary. We started off the day with a filling breakfast of toast, eggs and tropical fruit.

After breakfast we headed into the vans and drove to a new elephant camp we hadn’t previously gone to. Here we found 3 new elephants. One was pregnant, one was a 3 year old baby, and the last was a full grown female. We were able to feed them bananas and watermelon for the last time before picking up some to-go lunch and hitting the road back to the city of Chiang Mai.
We made sure to include a quick pit stop at 7-11 gas station to grab snacks and drinks to try and share among ourselves. Once we arrived at the Hotel, we grabbed our luggage and settled back into our same rooms. We then were given laundry bags to put all our dirty close in.

Finally, we ended the day by adventuring to a Thai cooking class where we were taught the basics of cooking and the background of Thai ingredients. The instructors were firm but very thoughtful as they guided us through a flavoured adventure. A few favorite dishes were mango sticky rice, Thai curry and rice dishes. We left with full stomachs and happy memories as we were given cool pan-flips of the recipes to share with our families when we return home. Overall, it was a fun day with lots of Thai culture sprinkled in everywhere.

We can’t wait to see what’s to come with the remainder of the trip!

By Leaders of the Day – Rubi & Kate

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BLOG POST FOR JULY 27

Today was our first day preparing to teach English at the local elementary school. After a quick breakfast (with a few of us sleeping in too late), we met as a group to learn about teaching and to write our lesson plans. We practiced projected speaking, learned about the thai school system and planned our lessons for the week.

Our plans to visit the local night market were temporarily postponed due to heavy rain, but we made the most of it— some of us played in the rain then jumping into the pool. The rain eventually passed and we headed to the market.

The market was full of colorful lights, delicious food, and great souvenirs. We wandered around in small groups trying new snacks and picking out gifts. It was a great way to wrap up a fun and productive day.

So exited to meet these kids!

Lots of love

LOD Sierra and June

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BLOG POST FOR JULY 28

We started the day by waking up at 8 and having breakfast, then set off on a two-hour drive to the highest point in Thailand. After enjoying the views there, we stopped by a few temples and a waterfall on the way back, where we also grabbed some lunch. Once we returned, we relaxed for a bit before heading out again to have dinner and that was our day.

⁃ LoD Milo and David

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BLOG POST FOR JULY 29

We started our first day teaching with an early start. We left for the school assembly at 7:40 and arrived just before 8. After watching the local schools morning assembly for a while, we got our materials ready and began our three periods of the day, teaching fourth, fifth, and sixth grade students. Our in depth lesson plans made the teaching go quite smoothly, and before we knew it we were in the vans on our way to a restaurant.

After we ate, we went to a huge indoor/outdoor market with tons of snacks, clothes and souvenirs. We had an hour and a half to walk around and buy things. Once we got back, we had some down time and decided to swim, we played our usual games and got ready for dinner.

Dinner tonight included a fruit party! We had mangosteen, lychee, rambutan, and Thai plum. After our dinner we played Ninja for chow circle, had an extensive karaoke session and ended the day with a few card games.

By LoD Noah and Breydan

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BLOG POST FOR JULY 30

Today was another rewarding day of teaching and bonding with the kids at the local elementary school. We spent the morning working with students from grades 4 through 6, guiding them through activities and lessons until around noon. Afterward we shared a lunch at the school, where the kids introduced us to a fun local Thai game and the whole school joined in. It was a perfect opportunity for everyone to relax, laugh and connect on a more personal level.

In the afternoon we returned to the hotel to unwind, spent some time in the pool to cool off and recharge. As the day wound down, we gathered for a delicious Thai dinner at the hotel. The evening concluded with our final mentor group session of the program. Then we all joined together and relaxed to play cards. Altogether today was a very fun and impactful day and we can’t wait to do it again tomorrow.

By LoD Carson and Griffin

PROGRAM PHOTO ALBUM

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 JULY 3

Hello from the land of smiles! We’re happy to share that everyone has landed safely today and we just finished our last airport pickup for the night! All the students have successfully checked in to home base, got their health checks done, ate some hearty meals and most people got their deserved rest. Lunch was at a beautiful cafe by the lake just outside Chiang Mai city. We are looking forward to having you here with us, Emma and Pierce!! Photos will also be uploaded tomorrow, stay tuned!

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BLOG POST FOR JULY 4

Sawadee Ka (hello)!

Today we woke up at 7:30 and were down at breakfast from 8-9. We had eggs, toast, fresh watermelon and cereal! After breakfast, we made our way to orientation, where we played ice breaker games, introduced ourselves and went over GLA code of conduct. We also learned some Thai words! We then had a delicious lunch at home base which consisted of stir fried vegetables, rice and chicken.

After lunch, we went to see two historic Buddhist temples and saw Monks. Then, on the way home we were really excited to go to a Thai 7/11! We tried a variety of snacks such as Matcha Pokki, Seaweed Lay’s Chips and Gummy Bears. We also bought skincare collagen drinks, which we will try tonight! After stopping at the 7/11, we made our way back home and headed down to the pool. We also passed our swim tests (yay!)

After swimming, we had some chill time and then did some group activities before dinner. Dinner was at the home base and consisted of miso soup, rice, beef and vegetable rolls. As leaders of the day, we were responsible for chow circle, so with the rest of the group, we shared our highs and lows of the day. After that, we met with our mentor groups for some deep reflection.

Now, we are getting ready for the night and the adventurous day tomorrow, visiting a national park, and going to the highest point in Thailand!

Sawadee Ka (it means both hello and goodbye).

By your leaders of the day: Rayanne and Alina

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BLOG POST FOR JULY 5

On our third day in Chiang Mai, we woke up at 7:00 and had breakfast before leaving for our first activity at 8:00. We rode buses over to a Buddhist temple where a monk taught us more about his culture and guided us through some meditation techniques. After stopping by a 7/11 we took a long and chatty bus ride up the tallest mountain and took a picture by the tallest point in Thailand. We also visited some more Buddhist temples in the pouring rain (we were in the clouds) and after an exhausting afternoon we took the long ride home and ate dinner and did some more guided meditation and wrote our goals for the trip.

By LoD Owen and Gamble

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BLOG POST FOR JULY 6

We started off the day by grabbing breakfast at the hotel, then meeting with Todd, a member of the local staff here in Thailand. He works at an international school; and taught us how we teach English as a second language as well as giving us background information on the level of the Thai students and their grades (We also munched on some delicious snacks and not so delicious durian candies.) After our session with Todd, we split up into our assigned teaching groups and started lesson planning. After that around 2:00 we went to eat lunch at a cafe with a beautiful garden and koi ponds surrounding it. Later, we went to the Sunday night walking market and splurged on all types of clothes and items, notably, 5 Rolexes! We ended the night at Burger King, which was delicious.

Written by LoD Sebastian and Miles

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BLOG POST FOR JULY 7

The morning started with a nice breakfast at home base. After that, we headed to the elementary school where we got to teach P4, P5, and P6 level students. The students were full of energy, and it was a fun challenge keeping them engaged. It felt good knowing that we were helping them practice their English and seeing them excited to learn. We also got to see a traditional performance by the children of the school!

Later in the day, we visited a local food market, which was really cool. There were so many interesting sights and smells, and we got to try some snacks we had never seen before. After that, we went to a cafe in a mall to relax and cool off for a bit. When we got back to home base, people swam, worked on lesson plans for tomorrow, and started planning our cultural exchange activity. After dinner, we had chow circle and mentor groups, which gave us a chance to reflect on the day. We ended the night by hanging out and then going to bed. It was a very long but rewarding day!

By LoD Olivia and Keller

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BLOG POST FOR JULY 8

This morning kicked off with a fantastic breakfast that got everyone energised for a big day ahead. We headed off to the school and jumped right into teaching our classes. Each group took a different approach—some used printouts and word searches to get students engaged, while others focused on writing activities. One group even pulled off the impressive task of teaching compound sentences!

After a fun and productive morning, we enjoyed a great lunch and were then assigned classes to return to for afternoon games. Musical chairs and red light, green light were huge hits, with lots of laughter and friendly competition.

Later in the afternoon, we had the amazing opportunity to join a cultural procession to a local temple. We took part in a special Buddhist ceremony, giving offerings to a monk in honor of a version of Lent celebrated here. It was a peaceful and meaningful moment for many of us.

We returned to the school for more games and field time with the kids—tag, red light green light (round two!), and sharks and minnows were crowd favorites. By the end, everyone was sweaty, smiling, and completely worn out.

In the evening, we visited a nearby mall to try some new local dishes and pick up snacks for the students as a special treat for our final day tomorrow. Once we got back to the hotel, some of us swam, others hopped on bikes for a quick ride, and then we all gathered for dinner before calling it a night.

Each day here keeps surprising us—in the best ways. We can’t believe tomorrow’s our last full day at the school, but we’re ready to make it count.

Until then,

– The GLA Thailand Team

By LoD Pierce and Danielle

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BLOG POST FOR JULY 9

This morning started bright and early as we prepared for what would be our last day of teaching at the local school.

We arrived with big smiles and bags full of candies, ready to make our final lessons special for the kids we’ve grown so close to over the past few days. Our classrooms quickly filled with energy and laughter as we dove into our final English lessons. It was amazing to see how far the students had come, and we felt so proud to be part of their journey, even if only for a short time.

Before leaving, we spent time writing autographs and taking lots of photos to remember the experience; let’s give a huge shoutout to Pierce for capturing so many great moments.

Saying our final goodbyes were emotional hugs we shared, promises to stay in touch were made and a few tears were shed. As we boarded the bus to head to our next destination for cultural immersion, we carried with us not just memories, but genuine connections that made a lasting impact.

As a group, we visited a local Thai high school where we got to dive into the heart of Thai culture through four interactive stations. We split into smaller groups and rotated between each activity, learning something new at every stop.

Our first station introduced us to traditional Thai dance. With guidance from the students, we learned graceful movements and tried our best to keep up—it was harder than it looked, but so much fun! Next, we had the chance to play Thai musical instruments, experimenting with the different sounds and rhythms.

At the third station, we got a taste of Thai cuisine—literally! We learned how to make a delicious Thai dessert. It was so cool to be hands-on in the kitchen, and of course, sampling our creations was the best part. Finally, we did a craft project alongside the Thai students, giving us the chance to slow down, connect, and get creative together.

As our visit wrapped up, we decided to dance the Macarena for the students. The best part? We got them to join us! Seeing everyone laughing, dancing, and enjoying the moment together was truly special. The Thai students were so kind and welcoming, it felt like we were making new friends with every activity.

To top it all off, we ended the evening with pizza back at our place, tired but happy.

By LoD Jenna and Nevaeh

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BLOG POST FOR JULY 10

Today was an exciting and enriching day filled with a mix of physical activity, reflection, and cultural immersion. We kicked off with a lively Muay Thai boxing lesson, where we learned various moves and techniques, culminating in a fun competition to see who could kick the punching bag the most times in 20 seconds—our camp mentor Charlie won impressively with 51 kicks! After a short break, we participated in a “pulse check” activity, sharing our feedback with GLA and the staff about the camp experience so far. The day wrapped up with a traditional Thai cooking class, where we discovered the unique spices and vegetables essential to Thai cuisine and prepared a delicious five-course meal ourselves. It was a perfect blend of learning, teamwork, and cultural appreciation!

By LoD Elle and Jordan

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BLOG POST FOR JULY 11

Today was a calm but really cool day. We started off with breakfast at the hotel, then hit the road and drove up into the mountains. Our first stop was a Buddhist temple—quiet, peaceful, and surrounded by greenery. We got to see the temple grounds, and some of us had our fortunes read by a monk. A few people even received blessings, which felt pretty special.

Afterward, we had a little time to walk around and shop before heading higher up the mountain. We stopped at a small café for snacks and views, then explored a quiet village with more shops and local crafts.

Later in the afternoon, we visited Elephant Parade, an organization that supports elephant conservation. We each painted our own mini white elephant statues to take home—everyone got really into it, and each design was super different.

We wrapped up the day with dinner at a chill little café, then headed back to the hotel to pack for our next adventure: elephant camp tomorrow. Everyone’s excited.

By LoD Emma and Ryan

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BLOG POST FOR JULY 13

We excitedly and groggily got out of bed early in the morning for breakfast. With full stomachs and newfound energy we departed in the trunk of a few pickup trucks. After a bumpy ride, we soon arrived at a large and empty field where we would work together to plant shoots of Napier Grass that would grow into a meal for the elephants. After approximately 2 hours of community service, we took a hike through the woods, where we encountered interesting bugs and lizards before reaching a waterfall where we drank smoothies, took pictures and relaxed.

Eventually we trekked to a new elephant sanctuary where we had a tasty lunch of chicken, rice and watermelon. We also ground up ingredients like rice, bananas, salt, probiotics and other necessary ingredients into nutritious balls for the elephants to eat after we fed them a ton of bananas and watermelon. We learned more about the elephants and watched them play and bathe in a nearby river. On our way home we stopped by a cafe where we got more drinks and then winded down with dinner and group activities and games before eventually going to bed at 10.

By LoD Owen and Gamble

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BLOG POST FOR JULY 14

Today we started off our day with breakfast and then made our way to the elephant camp. We started out there by feeding the elephants watermelon and bananas, as well as meeting/ feeding the baby elephant who is one year old. We went on a quick walk with the elephants where we observed them eating grass and cooling off in the water. After our walk, we made our way back to eat lunch which was Pad Thai and fresh fruit. Then, we created vitamin balls for elephants and fed them their nutrient supplements. We later hopped in a mud bath with the elephants, covering them in mud to protect them from mosquito bites. After that we headed back to home base and stopped at a delicious cafe before. Once we were back, we showered and made our way to a leadership activity: debating on the future of Thailand’s elephants. After some games, we ate dinner and then ended the night with a bonfire.

By LoD Rayanne and Ryan

PROGRAM PHOTO ALBUM

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 JUNE 16

Hello, we are all very excited to be finally having everyone in Thailand. It’s been a long journey for most people and they all got their deserved rest. They met some old friends from GLA, some of them came with their friends from home and some of them made new friends especially in the shared rooms. Lunch was at a beautiful cafe by the lake right outside Chiang Mai city. The group then played a few games together at the home base and some people took the swim test so they can go in the pool. Dinner was delicious food boxes filled with Thai green curry and an option of macaroni and cheese. Everyone is fast asleep and we can’t wait to have you with us tomorrow, Paloma!

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BLOG POST FOR JUNE 17

Today we woke up and had a yummy breakfast and did some icebreakers before meeting for orientation! At orientation we went over the rules we must follow for the next 2 weeks and learned about the program! We also learned some basic Thai vocabulary, like thank you and how are you.

Then it was temple time! We hopped in the vans headed off to the temple. We visited three temples in total. We even got to see the first temple ever built in Thailand. We enjoyed seeing lots of monks and the beautiful temples. We got to learn about which buddha corresponded with the day of the week we were born. We also got to explore beautiful gardens and architecture!

Later we got to cook a 5 course meal at the Asia Scenic Cooking School and enjoy some traditional Thai meals like mango sticky rice, pad thai, red curry, tom ka soup, spring rolls, and many more. For each course we were given 3 dish options to choose from. It was really fun to engage and build connections with the cooking instructors.

They showed us interesting cooking styles and made the food in front of us before we got to try making it ourselves! They even brought us to a nearby market where we got to buy some souvenirs, and their garden with the cool ingredients and spices which we then cooked with.

After expanding our tastebuds, we ended the night by reflecting with a fun chow circle, where we talked about our highlights and takeaways for the day.

-By Sydney and Amina (Leaders of the Day)

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BLOG POST FOR JUNE 18

We started off with an early morning breakfast at 7:00 am to head to the Doi Inthanon which is the highest peak in Thailand! The fog up in the mountains gave us a much needed break from the heat!

After this we were able to visit a beautiful temple. There, some people got some baked goods from a cafe, while others walked around the temples and gardens. We also got to enjoy a lunch with lots friendly faces (dogs and cats). We ate 3 different Thai dishes.

We then got to see a gorgeous waterfall. The mist was very refreshing after a long day.

After our visit at the waterfall, we had the opportunity to meet and chat with a monk. We learned to take care of not only our physical health, but mental too. It is importantly to keep a balance in life and we learned we can do so by being respectful, loving, compassionate, having sympathy, and equanimity. We ended our chat with mediation centered around peace and happiness, and we took a moment of silence to reflect for our loved ones!

The day ended with a chow circle to reflect and share on our experiences of the day. A chow circle normally consists of a highlight, a takeaway, and a shout out to a peer. We also broke off into our mentor groups to learn more about ourselves as leaders.

By Chloe and Gabriella (Leaders of the Day)

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BLOG POST FOR JUNE 19

Today we had an early morning, leaving our previous hotel to a beautiful home base surrounded by greenery. Focusing on elephants, we made way to an elephant retreat where we learned tons about elephants. At the retreat we did physical examinations and then in groups we presented what we learned. This activity was super fun and led to a very exciting day. We ended with dinner at the home base, and a fun activity where we went over each other’s best memories of the day! Overall, one of the best days yet!

By leaders of the day Luna and Tatum

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BLOG POST FOR JUNE 20

Written by Mila and Charlotte

We started our day at 8:00 AM with breakfast at our home base. After eating, we headed to one of the elephant sites to plant Napier grass. Once we finished planting, we went on a beautiful hike to a waterfall, where we took time to admire the view and relax in nature.

We then continued our hike to Camp 6, where the elephants awaited us. After arriving, we ate lunch and listened to an elephant doctor who refreshed the information we had learned during yesterday’s session.

Next, we made supplement balls for the elephants and had the fantastic opportunity to feed them. After feeding time, we got into the car and drove to a small café.

We returned to home base for some free time, playing card games and bonding as a group. At 6:00 PM, we gathered for dinner, followed by a special celebration with cake for the three birthdays that all happened to fall on today! After dinner, we continued to Chow Circle, where our activity was the human knot. We also announced our leaders of the day for tomorrow. We headed to bed at 9:30 after a great day!

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BLOG POST FOR JUNE 21

Today we woke up and ate breakfast at the hotel at 8, for breakfast we had toast, eggs, fruit, and sausages.

After breakfast we all went to see the 6 elephants and including a baby one.

We rode in the truck and arrived to elephant camp 3. We went over the rules of the elephants again and learned more about them. We first fed them all watermelon except the baby, who we fed small bananas, and then went to say hi to all of them and take photos. After we had a short break then made tie dye bandanas. While we were waiting to go on the walk the baby elephant got scared and cried which made all the other female elephants run to it and protect it. Once the elephants calmed down we gathered our water bottles and went on a walk to follow and see how the elephants live in the jungle. We stayed close to the sanctuary while on the walk.

After the walk we went to lunch back at the sanctuary were we had rice, chicken, fruit and mini hotdogs. Then we went into the water and bathed the elephants with buckets, and once they were all clean we had a water fight. After we went into a mud bath and rubbed mud on the elephants in order to protect them from the sun. We rinsed off and headed back to the hotel to wind down and get fully clean before dinner. Some people gathered outside and played games and others took naps and rested in their rooms. After we ate dinner and played mafia & card games, then we had a debate and got ready for bed.

By LoD Jacqueline and Michael

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BLOG POST FOR JUNE 22

Today was our last day at the Elephant Jungle Sanctuary. After packing up our bags and loading them into the truck, we enjoyed a hearty breakfast with eggs, sausage, toast, watermelon, and pineapple. We then headed to Camp #4 for a final chance to feed the elephants, including Monsai, an adorable three-year-old baby elephant.

Lunch was a simple Thai meal. Before leaving, we said our goodbyes to Jumbo and the rest of the camp staff who made our stay unforgettable.

On the way to our original hotel—Ratchapruek Lanna Boutique—we stopped at 7-Eleven for snacks and bug spray. Once we arrived, we sorted laundry with bags being passed out.

We then did a “pulse check,” using a poster created by Olivia and Jacqueline reflecting on how we’re feeling emotionally and physically, and gave feedback on the program. In the evening, we visited the Sunday Night Walking Street Market, where we used baht to buy dinner and shop for jewelry, clothes, and teaching attire.

We ended the day with chow circle before heading to our rooms for lights out. We’re excited and ready for our upcoming teaching days!

By LoD Olivia and Blake

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BLOG POST FOR JUNE 23

We had breakfast at 8 and Todd came at 9 to help us and understand how we can teach the children. We split into our 3 teaching groups and came up with lesson plans for our classes. After we went for lunch at a very pretty restaurant with picturesque waterfalls and wonderful food at 12:30.

After finishing lunch we went to the school and visited the students we are going to teach. We got to meet them and we also participated in thai dancing. After saying goodbye to the students we went to an elephant sculpture painting class and we all got to paint are own unique elephant sculptures.

At 5 we headed to a restaurant for dinner and had a lovely time. We ended this great day by having chow circle and announcing the new leaders. This was one of our favourite days so far!

By LoD Alex and Bella

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BLOG POST FOR JUNE 24

We woke up around 7, to leave for the school where we teach at 8 o’clock. After a short van ride, we arrived at the school at 8:30. We made our way to one of 3 classrooms on the third floor with our pre-planned lessons. After a quick introduction, we got to teach the 3rd graders and swapped around at the end of one hour. We then went back to home base after lunch and reflected on the teaching in our mentor groups. Then prepped for the next teaching day and after we went to 7-11 for snacks. We came back and had a chow circle for shoutouts after dinner and then off to sleep and be ready for tomorrow.

By LoD Nico and Bailey

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BLOG POST FOR JUNE 25

Today we woke up and went to teach at the Thai public school in the morning. Then we went to a local indoor market. After we went back to the hotel and had a fruit party. We ended the day with a leadership activity.

By LoD Zac and Walker

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BLOG POST FOR JUNE 26

Today we left home base at 8:00 to go the school. There we learned a Thai dance in the morning with the children and taught two classes before lunch. We ate lunch at the school and then went back to the hotel. In the afternoon we enjoyed some relaxation and pool time. Dinner was a pizza party! We enjoyed fries, pizza, onion rings and more before going upstairs for a chow circle and karaoke.

By LoD Paloma and Eden

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BLOG POST FOR JUNE 27

Today we woke up and had breakfast at 7 and went to teach at the school for the last time! We arrived and learned a traditional Muay Thai dance which we did with the kids, then we taught two classes. After these two classes we said goodbye to the students for one last time and had lunch, then we headed on over to a Muay Thai boxing studio and got an introduction to Muay Thai boxing. After we learned a few basic kicks, punches, and blocks. We practiced our moves on punching bags in the gym and on the instructors who wore protective pads. The session ended with a kicking competition, who can do the most kicks in twenty seconds. Gabby won this competition with forty seven kicks in twenty seconds. We then headed back to home base where some people spent time in the pool, cafe, and in their rooms. We then had dinner and a chow circle which concluded with an early appreciation circle for those who are leaving a day sooner than most.

By LoD Gemma and Jacqueline

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BLOG POST FOR JUNE 28

Today marked our final day at Ratchapruek Lanna Hotel, and with it came some goodbyes to a few friends from the program. We started the morning with one last breakfast at the hotel, enjoying a mix of pasta, cereal, fresh fruit, and more.

After packing up, we hopped in the vans and headed up the winding roads to the Hmong Doi Pui Village. There, we explored a vibrant local market and spent our remaining baht on souvenirs before tomorrow’s departure.

Our next stop was the stunning Doi Suthep temple. We wandered through its golden grounds, taking in the views and soaking up the peaceful atmosphere.

Around two o’clock, we returned to the hotel to rest and prepare for our final evening together. To wrap up our trip, we went to Riverside restaurant for a delicious dinner followed by a scenic boat ride— the perfect way to end our unforgettable journey.

By LoD Olivia and Michael

PROGRAM PHOTO ALBUM

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

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BLOG POST FOR JULY 16

Dearest blog readers,

Our South Africa program is officially underway. We could not be more excited. We’ve been dreaming about this program for months, and it’s finally happening. The next two weeks have the potential to be some of the best of our lives.

After a long day of travel, students are here and surprisingly energetic. They are quickly adapting to the winter chill in our lodge in Johannesburg. We head out to Nambiti Reserve tomorrow. We are excited to see animals and eat biltong, learn about Zulu culture and take part in conservation efforts.

The program is packed with day after day of activities and fun, and the group is going to make a blast. We’ve already started to bond around the fire and pool table and can’t wait to see what the program has in store for us.

Students will be writing blogs to update you about our adventures. Expect a blog every couple of days. Students will also be able to submit photos to showcase photography skills.

Right now student Lizette is not with us yet because of a delayed flight, but she will be arriving tomorrow. Otherwise, all the students are here and you can see them in this group picture. Our wonderful local director, Graeme, is also present. He was helping shield a light, so we could get the best shot.

Cheers,

John

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BLOG POST FOR JULY 18

Today wake up was at 7:30, but most people woke up at 6:00 to shower. We met for breakfast at 8:00 and had a lovely combination of oatmeals and fruits. We left for our first safari early, hopes high of seeing many of our favorite animals. As we passed through the entrance, we spotted off in the distance a float of hippopotamus. We drove up closer, so that we could take some photos of the hippos.

After the exciting hippo sighting we drove off hoping to see more animals. We eventually saw a dazzle of zebras and a confusion of wildebeest grazing in the field. At one point we saw an elephant off in the distance and a tower of ten giraffes. While we were driving we saw a sounder of warthogs which were pretty cool to see as well. We came back and had sandwiches for lunch at 12:30. After that we went back out at 2:00 for another safari. We saw a crash of rhinos and had a nice reflective drive.

We came back to camp at 4:30 and had some nice hot chocolate to warm up before going back out to do some practical telemetry. Telemetry is the tracking of animals and we got to practice tracking. Thankfully, John, our international director, was willing to wear the collar that the animals wear, and we tracked him through the bush. He tried to trick us by doubling back in himself, but we noticed that, and we were hot on his heels until we finally tracked him down.

After the fun adventure we came back to camp and relaxed a little bit before dinner at 6:30. After we finished dinner we all gathered around the fire for s’mores and the question of the day. The question of the day was “What is your favorite memory of the trip so far?” There were a lot of different and interesting answers, but the main ones were getting to see all of the animals that we don’t normally get to see and riding in the safari cars. After s’mores we were free to do whatever we wanted to do which included going to bed showering or staying by the fire for a little bit longer. At the end of the day it was a really good first full day that we have had and all of us in the camp are looking forward to whats coming next.

– Cam V and Everett

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BLOG POST FOR JULY 19

We woke up this morning to some light rain. It sounded beautiful on our tents. On our way to breakfast, we all had mud stuck to our shoes that wouldn’t come off as hard as we tried. It was so much fun. We then took a morning game drive through Nambiti Game Reserve on the way to our meeting with a South African community that was a short car ride away from the reserve. On the drive in the rain, we saw wet wildebeest and hartebeest, as well as a mother white rhino with her calf that our guide identified by looking at notches on her ears. It was cold and wet on the way to the community, but we all had a blast looking at the beautiful hats that the Gogos (grannies) made out of plastic, playing keep up with a soccer ball with the kids, and eating the food that they prepared for us. A main highlight was having an all-out soccer game against the kids of the community where John, our director, had a spectacular goal to win the game. We drove back to the reserve and played cards for a while before participating in a leadership opportunity where we discovered what types of leaders we are and discussed about it. We then had dinner and after that went for a night game drive where our guides would shine a light to look out into the savanna for the reflection off of animals’ eyes, and one of our groups saw a jackal, owls, and even a rhino. We’re super excited for what’s to come!

Lizette and Adam

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BLOG POST FOR JULY 20

We woke up bright and early to start our day of excitement. We ate some delicious breakfast of scrambled eggs, baked beans, and banana bread. After we ate the breakfast we packed up to say goodbye to Nambiti. We left around 8:45 a.m. to go to the mushroom farm 2 hours away. Around an hour and a half in to the drive, we stopped at a little rest stop which had a lot of cool memorabilia and some crazy South African delicacies. We arrived at our house and were struck by the openness of it. We have a huge living room to chill in with all of our new found friends.

After we settled in to our cottage, we went zip lining. Before we went zip lining we had a little lunch of sandwiches made for us. We all gathered around one big table and enjoyed our meal together. We rode 12 different zip lines ranging from 40m to 200m. It was so cool to see the scenery as we were flying through it. After the zip line we went back to the mushroom farm to look around the area. We went to all of the shops, and we through a public garden for the residents that are staying there. We then played a bunch of outdoor games as a group, like hide and seek and sharks and minis. We then had a delightful dinner of kudu pie made for us by the locals. It was very tasty. We then went into our mentor groups and had a lot fun talking about some of our goals we want to accomplish. We then ended our day with talking to each other as a group before we were off to bed to get ready for the next day.

Tripp and Lilian

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BLOG POST FOR JULY 21

Yesterday we transferred from Howick to Bonomanzi Reserve. Most of the day was spent in the car with lots of singing, music, and sleeping. We stopped for lunch and then made it to Bonomanzi. We played some games including Mafia once we were there and got some rest.

Vikram and Elin

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BLOG POST FOR JULY 22

After a long travel day we had an early wake up and breakfast, then headed to the Snake Pharm. Donald, our guide at the Snake Pharm, showed us all of the snakes like vipers, cobras, rattlesnakes, and more. We then split into two separate groups. One group went to hang out with, feed, and name all of the guinea pigs while the other group stayed behind with Donald to help do some work with the snakes. We climbed into snake enclosures (once they were empty) and helped clean them by scooping poop, cleaning the glass, and cleaning and refilling the water. We also got to hold some of the nonvenomous snakes. The groups switched, so everyone had a chance to help clean the enclosures and hold the guinea pigs. For lunch we made our own sandwiches and then went back to help with moving some monitor lizards. Some students helped dig bigger holes to access the lizards underground and then staff helped actually catch them. Many students were watching, filming, and eating passion fruit from a tree on the property. Then we watched as Donald caught baby crocodiles and moved them into the old monitor lizard enclosure. After our work at the Snake Pharm we followed Donald to snake bridge where he released a forest cobra back into the wild. Many students said that today was their most enjoyable day on the trip so far. The experience was a very highfalutin and enjoyable memory. We went back to camp and did some leadership activities and laundry before dinner, which was chicken soup and rice. After dinner we played a few games of mafia before lights out.

Elin and Vikram

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BLOG POST FOR JULY 23

We woke up at 7:30 to have a quick breakfast of frittata. Then we headed to ZAP-Wing, which is the aerial division of the Anti-Poaching-Unit. We learned about both Rhino poaching and the lesser known Vulture poaching, both of which are equally as relevant and concerning to our environment. We were lucky enough to be able to get in the cockpits of their planes and even try and lift them up. Due to their light aluminum material they were easily lifted. Later Brandon let us try on their bullet proof vests they use on patrol as well. We bought stuff from the shop and gave donations to help their cause, you can follow ZAP-Wing on Instagram at @zap_wing, and save the rhinoes at @projectrhinokzn.

After learning about rhino conservation, we drove to a local supermarket where everyone bought snacks, alongside a butcher where we were able to check out and purchase some of the exotic meats. Afterwards we played a game of soccer with the whole group. Many goals were scored in this exhilarating game, and it was won in a nail-biting “last goal wins”. Afterwards some people chose to hand-wash their clothes in buckets. To dry, we hung our clothes on clothing lines.

Afterwards we had to cook our own lunch by participating in a scavenger hunt for our ingredients to make our Poitjie. Potjie is a stew made by boiling meat, vegetables, and seasoning in a pot. After gathering all the ingredients, we elected our best chefs to cook the potjie and have our chef rate them. The venison had a 3/5, and the chicken won with a solid 4/5. Later on before curfew, we practiced a dance routine for our school visit the next day.

Ada and Knox

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BLOG POST FOR JULY 24

Today we got to sleep in a little later, although some of us still got up early to squeeze in a morning workout. For breakfast, we enjoyed a delicious meal of bacon, French toast, fruit, and yogurt.

Right after breakfast, we headed to Hluhluwe High School, where we had the chance to talk with students our age and introduce ourselves. We also got to congratulate the winners of Project Rhino’s rhino art competition.

Next, we visited a crèche school, where we met all the adorable kids who go there. We played and danced with them, and even performed a dance we had choreographed the night before.

After our wonderful time with the little ones, we headed back to camp for a quick lunch of chicken and veggie wraps prepared by our amazing chef. Then we had some chill time to relax and unwind before our evening game drive.

During our break, we were surprised with a short, unexpected game drive to see Cape Buffalo for the first time on our trip! After returning from that sighting, we played a fun (and slightly heated) debate game.

Finally, we set out on our evening game drive, where we saw rhinos, monkeys, and nyala. My favorite moment of the day was when we were pulling back into camp and spotted a white rhino. It was majestic. We watched it for quite a while and took tons of pictures.

Shortly after, we had a tasty supper of spaghetti and meat sauce (there were vegetarian options of course). We ended the night with a lively and suspenseful game of Mafia.

– Mak and Alex

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BLOG POST FOR JULY 25

Today we woke up at 6:30 but some people woke up earlier to workout or watch the sunset. After everybody was up and ready we had an amazing breakfast that consisted of oatmeal, toast, hard boiled eggs and fruit. After breakfast, we washed our dishes and got ready for a pretty long drive to Sodwana Bay Beach where we passed communities and restaurants as well as cattle on the road and we also went through town and saw all of the stores and restaurants and houses, as well as the people whom live in the town.

When we arrived at the beach, we crossed a smaller body of water. Some balances on a log while some went straight through the water and then we all set our stuff down and got sunscreen on and went in the water and went swimming and then we all got lunch at the restaurant on the beach and then headed to the grocery store for some snacks. Then we went back to camp and hung out and then we did chow circle and then for dinner we had delicious burgers and then played poker after dinner and then went to bed.

Noah B. and Cam C.

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BLOG POST FOR JULY 27

We woke up and ate some scrambled eggs and toast for breakfast. Today we went to the community to make some bracelets and baskets. We had a group make bracelets and a group weave some baskets. We got to keep the things that we made, and they all look really cool. After we made some bracelets we got to go to the shop and see/buy all the things the kind ladies have made. It all ranged from jewelry to wooden spoons.

After we got done in the community we came back to eat lunch. We had some amagwenya, which is like a donut that you can put lunch meat, cheese, and other sandwich ingredients on. After lunch will had a little bit of chill time. We played some soccer which was really fun. Some people had some really amazing goals. We then went on a game drive and saw some amazing wildlife. We saw a lot of different flowers and other plant life. We saw a lot of monkeys and giraffes this game drive.

We then got some lunch after our game drive and ate some chicken and vegetables. We then split into our mentor groups and had our respectable conversations. After we hung out in the outside community area and then went to bed.