7/22/2015

Hi from Quito! Despite a delayed flight, late night arrivals and rain the gang is all here, happy and healthy. We tour Old Town Quito this afternoon and depart for Isabela tomorrow morning.

Here’s the group as they design their community contract during Orientation.

7/23/2015

Everybody arrived to the Galapagos after some delay with the planes and we are now on the way to Isabela and our base. 3 kids are sitting with the captain so they are not missing any action 😉

-Hakan

7/24/2015

The group arrived on Isabela Island yesterday!

We started off our day with breakfast at 7:00 that contained eggs, fruit, cereal with yogurt. At 7:30 we left for service at Camp Duro: Eco Lodge to help build lagoons and help the vegetation. We had freshly picked oranges they were delicious and wishing we could take the tree with us home. We worked too about 11:15 then played soccer with no rules.

At 1:00 we had lunch at the hotel which contained rice, beef, soup and lentils. At 2:00 we left for a 5 mile bike ride to the Wall of tears and learned about the history. We also went to the view point and saw an amazing view. After we went to the view point we went to the mangrove to go swimming and while at the mangrove a sea lion came right up to the group. When we biked back to the hotel we saw an incredible view of the beach. When we came back to the hotel we had dinner at 7:00 which contained chicken, rice and vegetables.

-Erin & Korra

7/26/2015

Today was different than what we have been doing for the last couple of days. We woke up extra early because we had a ten mile hike ahead of us. After visiting the tortoise breeding center and the flamingo lagoon, we set off on our slightly damp trek up Volcan Chico. Once we got to the top, we saw the other four spectacular craters. When we got back, we went out exploring and we finished off the day with a delicious dinner and went to bed.

-Sean & Kevin

7/27/2015

Some of us started the day at 5:45 by going to the beach and swimming. Others started the day of at 6:30. Everyone came together and had breakfast at 7:00. And then we went to a school called esperanza where we built a living fence and planted trees for 2 hours. Then we went to Camp Duro: Eco Lodge and made marmalade, played soccer and other fun games. When we came home, we played a scavenger hunt and after that we had some free time. At 6:00 we cooked dinner ourselves and had bacon, scrambled eggs, toast and more. After that everyone went to bed.

-The group will depart to San Cristobal tomorrow morning, where internet is spotty.  We will try our best to continue the blog efficiently!

7/29/2015

8/3/2015

All students have departed and are on their way home!

7/13/2015

Today we went to Mitad del Mundo and the official equator! It was exciting and everyone was getting to know each other. We’re of to the Galapagos now! Everyone is super excited.

7/22/2015

Dear Parents,

We want to apologize for the delay in blog posts during this session. Our Director has been experiencing extreme difficulties sending emails/photos as the group has not had adequate internet access for the blog submission.

Please know, your children are safe and enjoying their time on the islands. We are working to get a blog post via telephone today. Once it is updated you will receive another email confirmation with the blog link.

Thank you for your patience as work to get the blog updated as quickly possible.

Best,

Global Leadership Adventures-HQ
858.771.0645 (outside US)
888.358.4321 (inside US)

Monday – Friday: 8:00 am – 5:00 pm PT

News:

– Our group did service work at family owned farm. They worked very hard cleaning up and prepping the banana tress.

– We enjoyed a relaxing swim at the beach – many of the students swam in the waves

– We had a BBQ that the family prepared – home cooked food was delicious!

– We had an evening walk and star gaze that the students really seemed to enjoy.

7/23/2015

For the past couple days we have been working in San Cristobal clearing out the invasive plant species that have been ruining the land. After getting rid of the plants we started to restore the land by planting new plants that are native to the Galapagos Islands. The new plants help create a better and safer environment for the tortoises and other species who originated in the Galapagos. We all worked really hard and had a lot of fun while doing it. Its been a great experience and it feels good to know that all our hard work will benefit the tortoises.

-Hayley Rieman

7/5/2015

Hi from Quito! We were greeted by crowds of Ecuadorians and a shut-down city in anticipation of the Pope’s visit. Here, the group is cheering on the USA in the World Cup final. Gooooaaaaaal!

7/6/2015

Today was our first full day in Ecuador, and together as well. We started off the day by playing get to know each other games and creating a value chart to illustrate our expectations of everyone throughout the trip. Then, we ate a delicious meal prepared by the family that runs the restaurant and cafeteria at the hotel. A traditional Ecuadorian meal consists of soup, a meat dish and a desert. After lunch, we took a bus ride to the Old City of Quito; however, the Pope was in town so we didn’t get to go to the main square. Instead, we walked around and went into a chocolateria and honey store. The tour ended with a beautiful view from El Panciello, the Virgin Mary with wings. We then returned to the hotel, put on our rain jackets, and walked to the local supermarket where we stocked up on snacks for tomorrow’s travels and bought a cake for tonight as well. Time to go to bed now as we prepare for our very early wake up tomorrow.
– Maggie and Blythe

7/7/2015

Today July 7th we travelled to the Galápagos Islands. We had to takes lot of transportation including 2 plane rides, two boat rides and a bus ride across an island. The island that we drove across was San Cruz. We had to wake up at 3:00am and leave the hotel at 3:30am. The first plane ride was 40 minutes. That plane was from Quito to Guayaquil. The second plane was from Guayaquil to San Cruz and that was 1 hour and a half. When we landed to San Cruz we got to meet two of our leaders Hakan and Fabian. Then we drove across the island. In order to get to Isabella the island that we are staying at for a couple of days we needed to take a 2 hour boat ride. The boat ride was very rough and some of the people for really wet from where they were sitting on the boat.

7/10/2015

To start, we packed up early this morning and drove to a tortoise sanctuary where we got to see all ages of the Galápagos tortoise. Then we stopped to see flamingoes at a lagoon on the way to our next destination. After the stops were over we began a ten mile hike around Sierra Negra volcano, a large crater of volcanic rock.

With our pre-packed lunches we set off for the day long hike and finished our adventure with some delicious empanadas from a local spot. After getting back to the base we had time to relax and play some cards before dinner. Lastly we gathered for group time and games, exhausting the last of our energy for the day. It was an all around fantastic day and I’m sure  there will be more like it.
-Janey

7/13/2015

Having a great time in San Cristobal. First day of service went well!

7/13/2015

Today we were privileged enough to have 15 extra minutes to sleep! That is very rare. We left for Hacienda Esperanza in the pouring rain. We hiked through deep mud up hill drenched. At the service site we removed invasive blackberries with the plan to plant endemic species tomorrow. We tested our limits carrying heavy branches up and down while tired from previous days of service.

After lunch we headed into town to snorkel and shop. Amazing snorkeling. Today was the first time we got to swim with the sea lions, we saw a mom and her baby. They got very close! We also saw some sea turtles and colorful fish.

We went into town and had some delicious fries and burgers, which was a nice reminder of home.

-Jessica

7/14/2015

Today was our last day on Isabella. We started our last day with one last service, at which we moved more rocks and dug the water hole deeper for the tortoises. Afterwards, we participated in a scavenger hunt, where the winning team won the privilege of not cleaning up from dinner, which us GLA members were in charge of preparing. Tomorrow we leave for our next island, which will be very limited on wifi connection, so don’t be worried if you don’t hear back from your child.

-Logan

7/17/2015

Our last day:

After two weeks of constant contact we have our final day in Equador. The day started with a trip to the equator, there we learned about tribes of Amazonian people who Strunk human heads and bury their dead in earthen wombs. After making whirlpools and bouncing eggs on nailhead we went back to the hotel for lunch. After that we gathered the remaining funds, (not emergency funds I’m sure) and headed to a local artisans market. There we were able to purchase souvenirs and last minute gifts before day was finally over. Back at home we partook in a group activity to say I goodbyes and share our experiences on the trip.

For the end of the night we did nothing particularly noteworthy. We spend our last moments together as if it were any other day. No one talked about leaving the next morning, only about what was happening now. This trip gave us a new family, a group of people I can say wholeheartedly are really worth remembering.

-Janey

7/18/2015

Yesterday was our last day on the Galalpagos. 🙁 After service in the morning, we went to a beach and had a dance party later that night. Today we had a late breakfast! We welcome any extra sleep. After our team exec did final room checks, we took the bus to the airport. Once we got checked in, we had a lot of spare time, so we played the Human Knot. After evaluating how the game went, we talked about our roles as leaders and the importance of communication. The plane ride went smoothly and we ended up making new friends on a middle school class trip. We arrived to Hotel Escandinavo (home base) around 7 and ate dinner immediately so we could could get enough sleep for tomorrow. We’re heading off to the Intiñan museum, the equator Iine, so stay posted!

Xx
Iona & Oriana

6/26/2015

All four girls from session 2 have arrived and are settling in to their new home away from home.

Thomas arrives this evening! We’re all looking forward to meeting him!

6/27/2015

Our group of four girls, one boy and two leaders set out to stand on the equator! We started at an open air museum where we took a tour that explained Ecuadorian culture and the effect the equator has on us. We learned all about the Coriolis effect and tried to walk in a straight line with our eyes closed across the yellow line marking the equator. This was harder than it seemed because the forces of the north and south sides were throwing off our balance.

After the open air museum we went to Mitad del Mundo (aka the middle of the world.) Here we climbed to the top of a statue and looked at the beautiful mountains surrounding us. On our way down we learned many new facts about previous Ecuadorian civilizations. Also at Mitad del Mundo we went shopping and braved dust storms. Lastly, we ate a large lunch before returning to the hotel.

At the hotel we packed our bags and are preparing for a 3 am wake up tomorrow morning in order to start our journey to the Galapagos! We are all so excited and can’t wait to check out things there.

Included are some pictures from today’s activities.

6/29/2015

Today we had our first day of volunteering at Campo Duro Eco Lodge. After a few hours of hard work moving large lava rocks, chopping down dead tree branches, and hauling said branches to designated piles, we all had freshly picked homegrown oranges (and fed the tortoises some, too)! I even had some tortoises mistake my bright yellow galoshes for fruit!

Before leaving the Eco Lodge, we had an intense game of football(soccer) kids vs adults..the adults won (only because we let them though of course!) and then we made our way back for lunch.

Later in the day after a spectacular lunch at the hostel, we went on a lengthy but exhilerating bike ride to the Wall of Tears, and old prison site. This bike ride was particularly special because our very own Morgan learned how to ride a bike in under an hour, and by the end of the ride, she was riding like a pro!

After another fantastic meal, we had group session and all crashed hard!
– Jamie Kilian

7/1/2015

We’re on the way down from volcano Sierra Negra and colcan Chico after a 10 mile hike the group is resting in the van. The spirit is great in the group and they all seem to enjoy the adventure every day though it is sometimes hard in the sun.

-Hakan

Today the group set out on a 10 mile hike up the Sierra Negra volcano. It started out misty and chilly as we began our trek up the muddy trails. Soon, we were seeing amazing wildlife such as yellow warblers and Galápagos horses (unicorns).  The weather became really hot and we all took off our rain jackets and stopped to witness the amazing views of the volcanic valley. We trekked through a desert and saw layers of rock from eruptions of the past, lava lizards, and cactuses. From the top of the volcano we could see amazing views of lava tunnels and green islands untouched by the many years of volcanic activity. After our decent from the volcano, we stopped at an empanada restaurant where we sampled wild boar and cheese empanadas while swinging on hammocks. On our way back to home base we hung out at a flamingo lagoon and chilled with many bird species that are native to the Galápagos. We also took a tour of the Galápagos National Park’s tortoise breeding center. There, we saw many baby tortoises and even learned about how difficult it is for young tortoises to survive in the wild due to the many predators that can kill them. After a short break at home base, we headed to the beach and swam in the Pacific Ocean while watching the amazing sunset in the distance. Today was a great day and we can’t wait to see what the rest of the trip will bring.

-Gwyn

7/2/2015

Today we had our second day of volunteering on Isabela Island at the Campo Duro Eco Lodge.  There we spent most of the day unearthing rocks, digging up stumps  and destroying sticks with machetes (these sticks were then used to create homes for the tortoises.)  We also were able to feed the tortoises a plant called elephant ear, which they enjoy.  After a long day of work, the Americans played soccer against the native Ecuadorians.  Surprisingly the Americans barely won.

After a delicious lunch we headed out for kayaking and snorkeling. In kayaks we saw blue-footed boobies, pelicans, penguins, sea lions, sea turtles, and many more.  Additionally we were able to see the rare spotting of wild Thomases, wild Gwyns, wild Jamies, wild Morgans and wild Elizabeths.  During snorkeling we were able to see many species of fish and giant sting rays.

To end our day we had some delicious ice cream, ate tuna casserole for dinner and settled in for a meeting.  During the meeting we had a heated discussion about how we would run a government. Tomorrow we will be going on a ten mile hike.

7/5/2015
Before and after knowing each other in the group by Gwen. Kids are great and get along as I’m used to see in GLA, great spirit

July 4th (Flashback Post)

Happy 4th everyone! Our 4th of July consisted of working at site cleaning blackberry bushes.  Blackberries, or mora as the locals call it is a highly invasive plant that is destroying the Galapagos landscape.  The clearing of the bushes wasn’t the hardest part, rather it was the 2 mile walk up and 2 mile walk down.  As Gwyn says, it’s uphill both ways.  The work was gratifying and after we headed to Tijeretas. Tijeretas was a great place to snorkel and we were even able to swim with sea lions! The sea lions charged at your face and then dived down.  The whole experience was surreal.  Tomorrow we will be celebrating the 4th of July with s’mores and we are excited for that!

Elizabeth Cusack

July 6th

6/18/2015

All students, except one who arrives later, have arrived safely and are ready for an amazing program!

6/19/2015

Equator in Ecuador!

Buenos tardes from Quito! After a good night’s sleep and a plate of huevos, our team enjoyed visiting the middle of the world. In fact, on the equator line at the Intinan Museum, our little GLA family was farther away from the center of the Earth than people on Mount Everest! We had a great day exploring shops, straddling the equator, and learning about different Ecuadorian customs. The altitude sickness didn’t keep anyone from enjoying the adventure! Adios para ahora!

-Isabella

6/20/2015

Session 2 is on the speed boat from Santa Cruz en o Isabela. 3 kids are upstairs with the captain and the rest down here. They seem exited about Galapagos and we will keep them busy with work and adventure.

Best from a warm Galapagos
Hakan

6/20/2015

After ~11 hours of travel via various modes of transportation, the group arrived safely in Isabela.

6/21/2015

Today was a very busy day; it was busy but it was amazing. To begin with, we ate an Ecuadorian breakfast. Then we started our four hour bike ride-it was challenging, but it was great seeing the views. After biking we went into the beautiful water to cool off. It was amazing to dry off with only the humid air! After, we returned home for more Ecuadorian food, where we ate and talked about our day. After, we went to do some service learning-we learned more about the Ecuadorian president, the tortoises, and how we could impact the service site. Then we learned a new way to eat fresh oranges. After all our hard work, we played soccer with the local family. It was a great experience and we learned something new!

– Jacklyn

6/22/2015

Today we woke up and ate a delicious breakfast, prepared by the local hotel. We then went to our service site and pulled plants to help clear an area for a lagoon for the tortoises. We play a fun game of soccer with some locals and we kayaked and saw some penguins, sea lions, and other types of animals. We then snorkeled and saw some sharks, fish, and more sea lions. Sea lions and very peaceful and playful animals. We went back to the hotel, freshened up and ate another amazing meal. Overall, this day was amazing!

– Mason Luebke

6/24/2015

Today the GLA crew did our service at a local school, helping them build a “living fence”. The kids were very kind and curious, they even took over for us, taking the shovels from us and digging. After we dug the holes, we planted the new plants to start the fence on its way to growing. Then we went to Campo Duro to make some marmalade, and have lunch. After that we had free time to rest up after our ten mile hike up the Sierra Negra the day before, though most of us went to the beach. Being our last night in Isabella, we changed things up and cooked for ourselves which took much longer than anticipated, as did the cleanup. Tomorrow on to San Cristobal island!

– Maya

6/29/2015

All students safe and sound back in Quito! Tomorrow is our final day of sightseeing and shopping.

6/30/2015

Today was a very exciting day for GLA, we all woke up at 4:00 in the morning to catch a flight back to Quito. (This was exhausting for most of us!) Then once we got back to our hostel we brought our bags back up to our rooms. Afterwards we ate an absolutely delicious lunch. Then to liven the group’s mood we went to the Quito market and spent an hour or so shopping for gifts, jewelry, clothes and hammocks which was an amazing experience for all! Then in groups we went to an internet café where we filled out an awesome survey in which we put our opinions on how this trip went. Then we went back to the hostel and had a scrumptious dinner. When dinner was over we had a truly memorable mentor circle. After that we went up to the terrace and hung out there for a while and ordered a humongous amount of pizza (96 $s worth!) after eating our pizza we headed to bed. This truly was an amazing trip

Signing out,

Your awestruck camper Joey

7/1/2015

All students have departed safely and are on their way home!