Pura Vida!

“A big part of this program is learning about sustainability and how we can help with simple acts. We are learning about sustainable coffee farms and helping provide labor to local farmers who couldn’t afford the labor for the Eco version of coffee farming. We have pulled weeds, loosened soil, and fertilized with organic products! It is very hard work but it is really helping the communities and teaching us about what humans do to the environment and the simple actions that we can do to change it”

Making a Difference

“Helping a community to build can be truly rewarding, in more ways then one. I never knew that I could have the liveliness to complete some of the things that I’ve accomplished. As an example, I look children running around, and wonder how they have the energy and excitement for something like that. I’ve realized, however, that the reason why adults seem to have less energy than children is because adults spend all their energy thinking, as opposed to children, who spend all their energy doing. Through the service in Costa Rica, it has become more apparent that doing is infinitely more valuable than thinking.”

Service & Rafting!

“The past week in Costa Rica has been full of service and learning, but there has been plenty of adventure and excitement as well! The afternoon rafting got on to an exciting start, when one intrepid crew of rafters became carried away with just the basic commands of “forwards” and “backwards” and decided to advance to the next level command of “upside down,” while trying to save another member of their crew who had decided to take an impromptu swim through a rapid. Fortunately, everyone responded quickly and intelligently to the situation, and soon enough we were once again forging on through the river. Everyone had a fantastic day, and our rafting adventure (or misadventure) will definitely be one of the highlights of the trip!”

The Adventure Continues…

“Every day has been a new experience with no single day like any before it. The experiences I have individually gained have started to make a visible impact on my person-and my Spanish- and it has only been one week!  Everyday brings something new with the best part being that no matter how hard you try, it is impossible to predict exactly what will come.”

Want to learn more about the Costa Rica: Spanish Service Adventure experience?  Check out the program guide and put yourself in the shoes of our volunteers in this lush Central American nation.

Curious about what you’d have to pack?  Rain boots or sunscreen?  Jackets or shorts?  Read The Young Leader’s take on the ultimate packing list and get ready for your future travels.

Hiking to the Ancient Empire of Machu Picchu

Imagine yourself in the hiking boots of these adventurous teenagers on the Global Leadership Adventures Peru program trek from base camp to Machu Picchu.  While the hike is long and the day is longer, the breathtaking scenery and incredible spirit of your fellow GLA students keep you on your toes until you finally – wonderfully – arrive at the ancient empire.

“Today we woke up at 5 am and commenced travel on our 3-day hike at 6 am.  We headed to our trail head, which we began to hike at 9am. The hike started with two hours of ascent. This included walking on frozen waterfalls and visiting a highland farm. When the group reached the peak of the mountain we were met with breathtaking views, 14,725 ft of elevation, as well as a hearty and delicious lunch. GLA members then began the one hour descent to our campsite; during this we saw wild llamas, horses and bulls/cows. When we finally arrived at our campsite we found it all set up, so we chose our tents and got settled in. While everyone settled in, we decided to explore a nearby mountain and came across two waterfalls and another great view. When we returned from our climb we came to tea time and the whole group stuffed their faces with popcorn, crackers and of course tea.”

– Zev Lee

“As we all know, “what goes up, must come down”, which meant that we had to begin our descent towards a valley that would serve as our camping location. This descent provided impeccable views as well as a significant amount of knee pain, which was to be expected when having to climb down such a steep mountain. Despite our pain, the sight of our blue tents provided us with the motivation to continue moving forward.”

– Alex Brown

“We hiked a total of 45km towards Machu Picchu. We hiked uphill and downhill and took amazing pictures during our long hours of walking. From the bright stars at night to the ice caps on the mountain tops we were amazed by the scenery. We walked through loose rocks and dusty trials. Even though one of our own had hurt her ankle we all still managed to stay strong and hike though the misty clouds to our campsite. After two nights of camping at high altitudes, the group hiked the rest of the way down the mountain and took a few buses towards the town of St Teresa. After we arrived, the rest of the group hiked an extra, epic 9km! Though long and tiring, were were able to see the back side of Machu Picchu! And the next morning we saw the ruins of the amazing Machu Picchu, which made the hiking worth it all.”

-Ashley, Yaseen, Felix, Diego, Michelle, Isaac, Brian, Kamran, Nick, and Lisa

The hikes and the climbs are all worth it in the end.  The things to see – to experience – in a way most high school-age students can only dream of, makes this service and adventure in the sacred valley one to take with you for a lifetime.

Volunteering in Peru and making the trek to Machu Picchu is a rare experience for high school students, but one that’s worth the travel.  Check out the GLA program Guide for Peru Service in the Sacred Valley to learn more.

Flying sky-high through the air on a plane to make your global journeys a possibility is fun.  But the baggage fees and charges for food on the flight?  Not so much.  Read The Young Leader’s tips for booking airfare to make the most of your travels.

Ready, Set, Explore

“We are all very excited to experience a new culture in a place we’ve never been before, and we’re also all pretty excited to see some sea lions and penguins! This is the adventure of a lifetime, and I can’t believe we’re actually here!”

Environmental Army

“As a group, woke up at 7am, and went to the worksite. There, we encountered a large field of vegetation, and had to remove it all. Machetes in hand, we cleaned the landscape. Removing thorn-filled raspberry plants, trimming the branches of banana and orange trees was tough. We even brought down an entire tree with just a machete!”

Exploring the Sea

“We went down to the harbor to snorkel and kayak. While snorkeling, we swam with the Galapagos penguins, sea turtles, squids, and sea lions. We also saw the blue-footed boobies and baby sea lions while kayaking. Both of these days included important work that benefited the natural habitats here in the Galapagos. Not only were these activities beneficial to the environment, but they also have had positive effects on all of the GLA participants.”

For the Tortoises

“Today we started our first day of service work at a giant tortoise nursery.  Our guides told us about some of the work we will be doing and why it is extremely important to do for the tortoises. We learned that there are many introduced plants that are taking over the area where the tortoises’ food source grows. This work is so important for the native species of St. Isabella to thrive!”

Exploring a Lagoon

“This place is beyond incredible– the wildlife we’ve seen in such a short time here is insane!”

Want to learn more about the Ecuador: Preserving Nature’s Wondersexperience?  Check out the program guide and put yourself in the shoes of our volunteers in this amazing South American oasis.

Curious about what you’d have to pack?  Rain boots or sunscreen?  Jackets or shorts?  Read The Young Leader’s take on the ultimate packing list and get ready for your future travels.