Headed Home

All students have departed and are on their way home!

Saying Goodbye

We got to sleep in today and had the whole morning to pack up our stuff. On our ride back to the hostel we made a stop half way through for some last minute souvenir shopping and to grab some snacks. It has been such a great opportunity to come to Costa Rica and we have all learned so much. Everything here is beautiful and the community and hotel staff has been so kind and welcoming during our stay. We all feel like we have known each other forever and become great friends. Its tough to say goodbye but we are also excited to go home and see our families.

– Hannah Morrissey, Erin Fika, Maria Steen

Last Day of Service

Today was our last day of community service and our last full day in Bahia. We went back to the beach to finish up painting the changing rooms and to complete the second shower drainage system. We painted the changing rooms a bright blue and are leaving it for another group to paint a mural on. We were able to finish the second drain and rock filter, we learned a lot about how they work and how they help the community. The park director also asked us to paint them new signs that help encourage the community to respect and take care of the environment. Travis, a community leader, held a check in circle and we all shared what we took away from the service and we ate our lunch out of banana leaves! For dinner we all got dressed up and went to go get pizza. The pizza was delicious and I think we were all happy for a break from beans and rice. A couple of us got the opportunity to speak to a couple about travel, they’re traveling life was inspiring and informative. We had a talent show when we got back it was really fun and made us bond even more.

Cascada Verde Waterfall

This morning around seven thirty, we woke up to sunshine and eggs thanks to the lovely cooks. After a delicious breakfast, we all headed out to the Cascada Verde waterfall. It was quite the walk, but it was definitely worth it! We chilled for a couple of minutes in the outdoor bar and lounge before actually heading down to the waterfall. It was a well-needed rest. When we arrived at the waterfall, everyone was very eager to jump into the swimming pond the water rushed off into. The waterfall was absolutely breathtaking and was a great spot to snap a few pictures with everyone. Many people climbed up the waterfall after seeing other people jump off of it. The rush of jumping off is worth the fear and anticipation you have while climbing up to the top. After the waterfall we had a long and tiring walk home, followed by lunch. Immediately after lunch Rodolfo gave us a very interesting talk about how the cabanas came about, and how a massive amount of hard work was put into making them possible. In regards to dinner, we cooked our own empanadas and helped the kitchen staff in the kitchen. We ended the night watching Donnie Darko and it was a very successful day!

-Madison Thomas-Little & Evan Walker

Ziplining!

Today was really awesome because we got to go zip lining through the canopies. We rode all the way up to the top of the mountains, where we got harnessed up and ready to go. There were a total of nine zip lines, but there was also a rickety bridge we had to balance on to cross over a stream. Overall, the views were really spectacular and it was very thrilling to fly through the air.

After zip lining, we ate lunch and headed out to the beach to finish our community service, however, it started to pour and we ended up getting there late. On the beach, we were split up into different groups: painting, finishing the bio- garden, and picking up seeds/garbage. Then the rain started to come down even harder, so we quickly cleaned the materials to get ready to leave. The lightning strikes on the beach were really cool to watch, but it was dangerous to stay, so we had to leave. It was a great day.

-Calvin Barra and Julia Ferrari

Corcovado National Park

Today we woke up at 5:00 am which was extremely painful. Despite our failed attempts to keep our eyes open at the breakfast table, we managed to get a healthy breakfast of toast, eggs, and fruit, and walk to the boat tour. We all shrieked when the boat bounced vigorously against the choppy pacific. The water was stunningly clear. We arrived at the island of Corcovado National Park and went on a hike through the rainforest. It was a very majestic experience. We dodged poisonous snakes and frogs, heard the exciting shrieks of howler monkeys, observed the vibrant colors of the exotic macaws and tucans, and learned about the 300 year-old trees. We had a wonderful lunch prepared by our tour guides. Then we grabbed our snorkeling gear and got back on the boat. We jumped off and snorkeled and saw lots of fish. Although we didn’t see any dolphins or whales, we learned so much about the different types of birds, such as brown boobies, brown pelicans, and many more. We had lots of laughs in the boat. In the end, it was worth waking up so early. We all had an amazing time.

-Zoe Pratt and Maddy Gough

Marino Ballena

Today we worked in the national park called Marino Ballena. We started our own bio garden and worked vigorously to dig a hole and which we then filled with rocks. Which filters the water and releases clean water in to the environment. We had a full day or volunteer but we’re able to relax on the beach for lunch. After lunch we finished the bio garden and started painting and cleaning to make the beach more beautiful. We cleaned and painted the shower rooms located at the national park. After a long day of working we went to the market to get snacks and then returned to home base to get cleaned up, rested and hangout with our new friends. For dinner we finally had something other than rice and beans!!! Sandwiches and fries. Now we are getting ready for movie night and we voted on the movie bridesmaids. While we were at the store, some of us bought mac’n’cheese as well as popcorn to eat throughout the movie. After the movie, everyone will be going to bed early due to the fact that we will have to wake up very early for our busy day tomorrow.

-Emma Young and Sara Jacobsen

*We are trying to get more photos uploaded asap. Thank you for you understanding.

Bio-Garden

Today was the first day of working on the Bio-Garden. We split up into two groups, the first group worked on fixing up some of the signs to be put around the school while the other group worked on shoveling gravel into where the garden will be and then we switched half way through. It was really hot out, but we were able to get a lot done and we only needed about a foot of gravel to top it off. After lunch we went back out to do GPS trash pickup where we picked up trash along one of the main roads and then used GSP locators to get information about where most of the trash is found. As soon as we went out it started pouring but it was nice because it cooled us all off. After dinner we had a very thought-provoking discussion on the speech “To Hell with Good Intentions”. Everybody is super tired after a long day and excited to go to sleep.

–Hannah Morrissey

A Full Day

*Photos to follow!

Being out here for the second day we’ve started to get the hang of home base. Today we all woke up around 7 since breakfast was at 8 and kayaking would be at 9. This time breakfast was pancakes and fruit so we were pretty surprised. We left for a 12 minute drive to the Terraba for the Sierpe Mangrove kayak tour. The instructors were extremely kind & clear on how to paddle as well as provided fruit afterwards. Heading out was a struggle for some of the groups but quickly go the hang of what to do. Was we reached the narrow parts of the river students completely immersed and captivated by the mangroves. Afterwards everyone was exhausted from the workout and returned to home base for showers and time relax at the pool. By 3:30 we began a reflection session on what we experienced in the mangroves with Adrianne and Hebrom; after lunch and the devastating defeat of Brazil by Germany with a 1-7 FIFA game. We mainly described the mangroves with our 5 senses and learned some more info through an article Adrianne and Hebrom provided. By the end of the afternoon we finished reflections over what we learned and had diner. By the end of the day we finished off with group reflections and another chaotic game of mafia.

-King Wang Ma and Christopher Aguilar

Surfs Up!

Today we hit the waves with Bodhi Surf School. The Bodhi staff broke into two groups. After countless attempts at standing on the surfboard, we then switched with the second group and picked up trash along Marino Ballena beach. These activities in tandem stressed the importance of how we must give back to the environment if we want to utilize it for enjoyment. We then headed back to the GLA Home Base for a delicious lunch cooked by our amazing kitchen staff to help replenish our energy for the community-walk lead by Travis. Our community walk was 3-hour walk throughout the community to immerse us in the rich, Costa Rican culture. In fact, we even learned seven different ways to greet a Costa Rican! Also, we learned about the effects of gentrification on Costa Rican culture, specifically the effects of the recent construction of roads in the local communities. After our walk, Travis showed us a video that stressed the dangers of tourism on Costa Rica and how it affects Costa Rican communities. We then had dinner consisting of rice and beans and closed the night bonding over a game of Mafia.

-Maya Murray and Elisha Mahar

First Day

We all arrived at the airport and searched for Michael outside. Afterwards, we all got together while waiting a fellow group mate to claim his delayed luggage. Both the customs folks and the hostel workers were all enthralled by the World Cup quarterfinals: Costa Rica v. Netherlands. After we checked in, we ate lunch and watched Costa Rica lose. It was a disheartening loss, but everyone kept their heads up in pride and we heard horns honking and cheering from many Costa Ricans outside. Afterwards, we settled in and played a few orientation games to get to know our fellow group mates.

The next day, we ate a hearty breakfast and left the hostel at 9:00 AM. We had two pit stops and arrived around 1:30 PM, it was roughly a four-hour drive. Home base was just the beautiful and relaxing atmosphere we all needed to relax and bond. Our delicious lunch fueled us to open up while playing dice, cards, and unpacking. A jump in the pool and a swing in the hammock later, we had dinner and once again played a few group games.

Tonight we’ll get a good rest to wake up and leave to surf at 8:00 am.

-Erin Fika and Soren Rodriguez

We’ve Arrived!

All student have arrived and are ready for an amazing program!

Bahia

Today was our last full day to enjoy our temporary community of Bahia. We began our day with our final community service. We were split into groups in which one would work of our bio garden and the other would work on the sign. I was apart of the art group, thankful that my days of digging were done. The group worked together to create and intricate piece that would be beautiful for the community. When we were finished, everyone sighed in unison, proud of a job well done and relieved that we were finished. As we drove home, everyone was thankful for our time to rest before the big World Cup Game. Costa Rica vs. Greece that is, and all of our local friends were bursting with excitement. All of the kids sat by the pool, enjoying our last moments in the Costa Rican sun as well as each other’s company. The confliction of wanting to stay in Bahia and wanting to go home was evident on everyone’s faces. Costa Rica was victorious en el partido de futbol, and the entire village cheered. It was truly an amazing cultural experience, and I am so grateful to be here as witness. We ended the night with our mentor groups, a quick documentary and a melancholy trip to our cabins, as we all began packing for our departures back home.

Community Service

A Great Day

Expedition through the Treetops

We started off the day with an early wake-up call.  We headed to the rainforest to begin our Osa canopy tour, which was an adventure we were all looking forward to.

The guides drove us up two thousand feet to the treetops. It was a long and steep ride, but absolutely worth the view!

After snapping a few pics, we all strapped in to our harnesses and prepared for the sweep of the experience. There were nine ziplines that brought us down the mountain. Tall green trees surrounded us and the landscape was breathtaking. To finish off the ziplining, the guides gave us the freshest fruit any of us had ever eaten and we swung like Tarzan from the bungalow.

After a bumpy ride down, we went back to homebase for lunch. Since we were running late (that’s what happens on an expedition like that!) we had no time to rest before community service. But we all went and made a lot of progress on the biogarden and signs that we had painted. It was a really long day and we were all catching up from yesterday’s early start, but our excitement carried us through the day. We’re all looking forward to a good night’s rest after our movie night. Popcorn time!

– Amanda Miller and Bailey Smith-Helma

An Outing to Corcovado

Today started off with an early morning- 5:30 wake up call!

We started off with a walk to meet the tour guides for our outing to Corcovado. The Bahía Adventures crew took us on an hour-and-a-half boat ride to the San Pedrillo ranger station. Along the way we saw spotted dolphins in the water and more birds than you can imagine. The boat ride there was full of energy! Very bumpy but luckily nobody got seasick!

Once we got to the station we got ready for our walk, and wouldn’t you know it, we got to see our first monkey- a spider monkey! The hike through the rainforest was muddy but full of exotic plants and animals. We learned about the strangling fichus, the golden orb spider and termites, among other things. We saw parrots, another spider monkey and her baby, and many macaws.

On the way back we walked along the beach, spotting Caño Island in the distance. We got back to the station and had a large lunch, which was refreshing after our tiring hike. On the boat ride home we stopped to go snorkeling. The water was cloudy and the weather wasn’t cooperating so we cut the visit short. But after such a fulfilling day, going home was a nice break.

– Sydney Zoretic and Peri Charatich

Community Service

Today was the community service day. As leader of the day I motivated others to push through a harder day. Although we were all very tired we kept our heads up and finished strong. With 6 hours of community service under our belts from today most of us are ready for a good nights rest. Today we played soccer with the children of the school and we all loved it. And although my ingrown toenail was pickaxed and stomped on it seemed to leave a happy mood for all of the campers. I can’t wait to see what they have in store for us tomorrow.

-Quinton Poncelet

Every day so far in this small piece of paradise, we’ve taken part in some sort of recreational activity. All the while, we’ve been participating in community service, such as making recycled rugs and starting a bio-garden. However, today was the first day of the trip that was dedicated to only community service. We continued the bio-garden and made mad progress, and also painted some rad signs to place around the community. Some people also played an impromptu game of soccer with the children at the school we were working at. After lunch, we went on a lengthy walk collecting and tracking trash.

All this work seemed to rob people of their energy, as group hype seemed to be at an all-time low. Everybody seemed to be on a slightly shorter fuse than normal. Despite our tiring schedule and high tensions, we all worked as a team and still managed to have fun during the community service. Tomorrow is a full day of recreation and starts at a horrifying 5:30 A.M., which means we’re all hitting the hay now.

-Mimi Frotten

Birthday Fun!

Soccer and Bio-Gardens

Day 5

We played soccer in the heart of the community of Bahia, joined by some of the locals. A man was there giving us coconuts on the sideline so we could drink the water at half time in the game. Everyone was very friendly and the locals were very good at soccer. The score was 6-1 with surfing group number 2 and some of the locals pulling out the win. We began our work on the bio-gardens at the Uvita local school, and continued working on our rugs for the local kids. It was very muddy, humid, and fun. We dug trenches and moved rocks into place to begin the bio-gardens. We learned a lot about how grey water effects the environment here and how we can re-use water and not let much go to waste. We also had ocean hour for the first time today, which involved several students presenting on topics related to marine life in the pacific. We talked about mangroves, sea turtles, coral reefs, and whales, how they are affected by human actions, and their contributions to the environment.

-Courtney and Quinn E.

The Surf and the Storm

Today the group woke up excited for surfing.

We had breakfast and then grouped up and headed to the National marine park. We split into two groups. One group went started their lessons with the Bodhi surf instructors. The other group went off to clean up the park and pick up trash. We saw some interesting wildlife while cleaning. The groups switched and the next group began to surf. The lesson was really detailed so we could clearly understand everything we were being taught, and we learned a lot about the local life. We also learned how to control the board and how to surf safely.

Then we got to go in the water. We practiced turning a few times and came back in to learn how to stand up. The instructor was very detailed, knowledgeable, and helpful. We learned how to stand and went back out to catch a few waves. Everyone had a blast, regardless of a few sunburns.

Next, we returned to the home base where we had deep fried fish. Then we all broke off and rested for a while. We grouped back up and went for a community walk. The man who led the walk taught us about respecting the environment and the people/animals living in it. We walked for about an hour and saw the heart of the community as a whole. We returned to the home base and watched a documentary on Costa Rica’s tourist industry. The industry fuels 95% of the Costa Rican economy. However, the locals are really afraid that tourists will hinder the pureness of the island, and its environment, which is something we will all have to reflect on in the days ahead. Then, we broke away for dinner and went into our mentor groups to discuss our day.

– Deane Long and Simone Pope

Today was as equally amazing as it was exhausting. After a quick breakfast of eggs and rice (the usual), we headed off to kayak in the largest mangrove in Central America. We drove twenty minutes to our destination surrounded completely by mountains and farmland. Once we arrived, we walked through the jungle to meet with our water tour guides. Our view was spectacular and our arms were tired as we navigated through tiny tunnels of trees and bushes, and even brightly colored crabs. Halfway through, we were able to take a quick photo break, and admire the beautiful mountains encircling us.

When we finally reached land, the relief was palpable in the air. Eventually we cooled off with some fruit courtesy of the locals, along with the presence of a cute little girl names Stephania. The taxis arrived shortly after and we went back to home base. We enjoyed a short amount of chill-time and ate chickpeas, chicken, and rice for lunch.

We then began our community service adventure by going to the local after school program, where we met numerous local kids of all ages. We played multiple games with them, including “duck, duck, goose” and something similar to “steal the bacon”. The kids really enjoyed it and were very excited to see us. They were all smiles – like jumping beans – as they climbed onto our backs and shouted in Español.

We then began our project of creating a rug with old sheets and t-shirts that we had to cut into one-inch strips and weave into a mat. After about an hour, we had completed as much as we could for the day and sadly, had to say goodbye to the kids. We previously decided to walk back; however, it began to pour outside and we took a taxi back to the home base. At the end of our heavy day, we cooled off with an energetic dance in the rain, and a quick swim before the lightning began. The synchronization of the group was set in stone as we laughed and cheered in our first true Costa Rican Storm.

– Callan Small and Gaby Ortiz

Reaching the Pacific

Today everyone arrived at the airport and found each other by looking at each other’s shirts. We met up with a GLA leader at the airport and got driven back to a hostel where we would spend the night and play games to get to know each other. One person’s birthday was that night and we all celebrated and had cake when the last few people had arrived. The accommodations were decent dorm rooms with showers and air conditioning.

The next day we woke up at 7 in the morning to eat and go over GLA code conduct in the form of skits as we waited for our bus to arrive. Everyone gathered at the bus, which was in the city. There we drove for four hours to get to the home base. During the drive we took two stops. (a) One of the stops was to do a little souvenir shopping and take a brief walk along the bridge to do some sight seeing. (b) The second stop was to take pictures of the ocean when it first began to become visible. Both stops were well-organized time wise, so we stayed on schedule and got to move around a bit. Once we got to home base we just settled in and took a dip in the pool where we got to know one another a little better.

– Elizabeth Curry and Jared Schell

Headed Home!

Students are on their way home after an amazing program!

Coming to an End

Since we last blogged we have done so many amazing things which include:

– finishing our fences at Gavilan school and Buenos Aires school
– to the top of the volcano Rincon de la Vieja so we could see into the crater (a highlight for many even though it was difficult)
– visiting family homes and having a cookout with the local Costa Ricans
– playing a huge group soccer game with both communities and giving them our donations
– taking part in horse riding, tubing (*tubbing for those who know), and then a crazy series of zip-lines which were insane!
– For our final dinner we got to put on our nicer clothes and go out for pizza which makes a change from rice and beans

We have chosen a series of pictures to show these experiences, hope you enjoy!

Leaving Horizantes

After an amazing week at Horizontes, we all packed up and made our way over to our second home base, Las Bromelias. On Thursday afternoon all 20 students, 3 mentors and all our luggage was loaded into the bus for a three hour drive to the other side of the volcano. Once in Las Bromelias we got to go on a night hike where we saw four different frogs, snakes, and countless other bugs and animals.

After waking up not so bright and early the next morning we headed off to our first day of service at the schools here. Everyone split into two groups, one going to Buenos Aires and the other to Gavilan. We worked all morning painting fence posts, maya (the fence material), and digging holes to for the new fence. The communities working with us at both schools have been amazing, the kids are happy to play soccer and Frisbee with us and the adults are ready to welcome us and help everyone learn about a bit of culture. Finally after finishing up painting all the new fence posts, Heather and Kassie took us all on a hike through the rainforest to go swim in the hot springs. We climbed up a small waterfall, swam and did a meditation with Heather. We’ve worked at the schools for two days now but today we’re taking a break so that we can hike up the volcano and hopefully see some bigger animals.

-Chandler

Naturalists Blog

Here in Horizontes, we are incredibly lucky to be exposed to some of the most diverse ecosystems on the planet on a daily basis. From frogs in the toilet, to a tree full of monkeys, we have accumulated an impressive sightings roster of Costa Rica’s inhabitants. To get a taste of the dry rainforest and beautiful beach we have been fortunate enough to call home for the past week, take a look at some of the creatures we have been sharing it with.

• Acacia trees- The tree itself is generally three meters tall and is covered in large copper thorns. We have ran into them countless times this week and found out the hard way that they have a symbiotic relationship with colonies of red ants. In exchange for providing the ants with a safe place to live within the thorns, the tree is provided with a protective service by the ants. They clear out a space surrounding the base of the tree to keep other plants and animals away, and swarm out to attack any prospective threat- in our case a group of kids with machetes. (No one received more than one bite.)

• Leaf Cutter ants- We ran into these guys during our first night hike. They form highways 4-6 inches wide and carry tiny pieces of leaves back their nest to begin a complex digestion process. There are 3-4 million in a nest; all ran by a single queen. Their queen is the size of a cucumber and can live anywhere from seven to ten years!

• Howler monkey- The second loudest land mammal in the world after the lion, the howler monkey has been a favorite companion on our trip. Sightings have included a family of three hanging above our tents at Playa Eguanitas and an entire tree full in the mangroves. These monkeys are distinguished by their black faces and bodies and-of course- their earsplitting howl.

• Bioluminescent plankton- During our beach day, many of us experienced an occasional stinging sensation when we were in the water. Although not very harmful, it was prevalent enough for us to question who the invisible culprit was. Its identity wasn’t revealed until later that night when, under the cover of darkness, these tiny creatures glowed. Additional wildlife spotted in the past week during our myriad of adventures includes:

• The pochote tree and the massive clusters of caterpillars it houses

• Glow in the dark scorpions

• Costa Rica’s equivalent of the Untied State’s Red Wood tree- the 40 meter tall Ceiba tree

• The intricate Strangler Fig tree

• The Mouthless Crab- nicknamed ‘the Jack-o-Lantern Crab’ for its three yellow face markings

• The Ghost Crab

• Variegated squirrels- different from any squirrel in the States due to its black and white coloring

• Spot-breasted oriole: this cheerful yellow bird has often been spotted in the mornings

• The Naked Indian tree (Gumbo Limbo)- sheds its coppery “skin” to prevent any vines or plants

from growing up its trunk. Easily identifiable for its consequently flaky appearance.

• Guapionol tree- “stinking toe”

• Bare-throated tiger heron- a huge enemy for baby crocodiles

• Royal fly catcher bird

• White tailed deer

• Pufferfish

• Sea stars

• Sting rays (a whole group of them glided by a group of our snorkelers)

• Sea urchins

• Raccoons

• Crab Hawks

• Cicadas

• Many different types of frogs, lizards and iguanas- too difficult to distinguish their specific breeds to date

• Many of the 800 different kinds of vines found in Costa Rica alone- my personal favorite so far being the Monkey Ladder

• A multitude of butterflies- among them being the beautiful Blue Morph

More wildlife will be added to the list shortly as we set off for our new home deep in the rainforest at Las Bromelias tomorrow 🙂

-Lauren H.

Busy Days at Horizontes

*Photos to follow

It’s been a busy 5 days since we arrived at Horizontes and we have done a lot of hard work helping out the communities here in the dry forest region of Costa Rica. After orientation in the morning, we got stuck in straight away with some service work. We helped Maynor and Vanessa, packing bags of dirt to plant saplings in and helping to create the greenhouse (which was first created by previous GLA students). Let’s just say it was the start of us getting over our bug and creepers fears, but it was certainly not the end, we all looked so creeped out when we were told to check our beds and shoes for scorpions!

Day 3 brought us a new service project which involved footpath maintenance for one of the larger footpaths in the area. We split into 2 groups and worked our way to the middle of the footpath. We got to use loads of exciting tools including machetes. It took us 2 days of service to complete and was such hard work but it was great to see the immediate results our work had. Also we got to ride back on a trailer attached to a tractor. It was a pretty bumpy ride.

Other than service we got to go to the beach which was a great way for us all to get to know each other better. We played games in the sea such as prisoner, read our books and just generally chilled out before heading off to play soccer (*football!) with the locals. We split up and mixed our teams with some of the locals to play. Everyone who was fit and able got stuck right in and we soon realized most of us were no match for the Costa Ricans. It was a fantastic experience to be able to bring together and communicate with people from such diverse backgrounds in a small field in the middle of nowhere and even with a language barrier issue.

On day 4 we were meant to take a long hike with the resident biologist Freddie but we were all exhausted so we decided to adjust the schedule slightly. Instead we took a tractor ride (which was way too bumpy and slightly painful!) to an area where we could go into the river and relax for a bit. We also got to see some of the wildlife while walking to the pool so all wasn’t lost. In the evening we took a dance class which included learning a typical Costa Rican dancing style. Yet another thing that was exhausting, we all came out dripping in sweat but it was so much fun. We were also excited because we got to have a BBQ cookout and a cake for Luke’s (our mentor) birthday. It’s going great so far, we’re working hard and have made some really cool friends, all while having a really great experience.

-Ellie

Starting Off

Welcome to Costa Rica and our first home base in the tropical dry forest! All students have arrived to the Experimental Reforestation Lab in the Guanacaste Conservation Area. We’re having a great time getting to know each other and today we already started on our first service project: planting seeds in a tree nursery and completing a hydroponics greenhouse to grow food locally!
Get ready for adventure!

We’ve Arrived!

All students have arrived safely and are ready for an amazing program! Stay tuned for blog updates and photos!

Headed Home

After two weeks of bug bites, hard work, and some serious group bonding, our 22 students have headed home.

Our final days of programming were jam-packed and flew by quickly! We visited host families and connected with the local community. We wrapped up our service project at Escuela Gavilan with a full side of the fence complete and a second side well on it’s way, which we celebrated with soccer and games with the local kids. We left our mark at the school with a special painted post of our own creative design. Our last day was full of adventure and included horseback riding, ziplining and tubing down rapids through the forest. We finished up with a special dinner (PIZZA!!) at a restaurant and danced to a live salsa band, celebrating our new friendships and Jessica Parrot’s birthday!

Now these 22 unique individuals are heading back home to their families, friends, hot showers and comfortable beds. Our hope is that they will carry this experience with them wherever they go. They planted a seed (literally) with GLA that they can now help to grow, learning how to be leaders in their own communities, creatively solve problems and work together to BE THE CHANGE!

Rincon de la Vieja

Day 10 was the much anticipated hike up the Rincon de la Vieja volcano. The hike was about 8 kilometers total, including a trek up the rainforest and up the rocky terrain. Unfortunately, GLA could not hike up to the very top due to too much fog that made the rocks too slippery to climb. Despite this, we all had a lot of fun bonding and scoping out insects and plants.

We started off the day at 6 AM as per usual, and split up into two groups that would go at different paces up the volcano. We were led by local experts who were experienced in hiking up the volcano and showed us the path. Upon reaching the end of the rainforest, everybody took a break before starting the second part of the hike, which was actually on the volcano itself. The hike was rich with opportunities that proved nature’s power. For example, we walked past a pair of hiking boots on an old rock that was covered with moss and plants that took over almost every part of the shoes and made them nature’s own. The hundred year old roots of the rainforest trees acted as stairs for us to climb and giant fallen trunks became obstacles for us to conquer. We ended the hike early, and had dinner as a group after showering and hanging out in the kitchen and dining area. The day ended with a unified satisfaction.

Another Amazing Day

Today was eventful. The day started off with the second day of service at La Escuela Gavilan, in which we laid the groundwork for a fence that will surround school grounds. Next came a hike through the rainforest to a natural hot springs. We bathed in this pool of warmth for a glorious hour and then returned to home base at Las Bromelias to prepare for a night hike. We met up with Mapache, the owner/local naturalist/expert of all things nature, and set off on an exploration of our homebase in search of creepy crawlies and creatures of the night. Mapache knew all the places to look and we were able to spot several toads, a mountain rat, as well as a hole full of bullet ants. Mapache’s nickname is Spanish for Raccoon with good reason—Mapache can feel his way through the rainforest and knows all the tricks of the trade. Overall, it was another amazing day. Can’t wait to see what tomorrow brings!

The Rainforest and Blue River

The rainforest is startlingly different from the dry forest. Instead of steady, lethargic heat, the weather goes from pouring rain to clear to drizzling, all in about 10 minutes. This created less than ideal working conditions for our first day of service at Gavilan, the local school that we will be helping to build a fence. After being woken to the melodic yet busy sounds of the rainforest, eating breakfast, and playing word games in the van as we descend from our lofty camp, we arrive at the school. We are divided into four teams, and everyone begins their respective tasks. The hole diggers set off, shovels in hand, to outline the property. With them went the levelers, a team to ensure that the otherwise bumpy land would be smooth, as the metal “chain link,” Maya, in Spanish, is stiff, and needs to be laid on straight land. To ensure that it doesn’t get too rusty in the humid conditions, the Maya painting team begins coating it in black anti- corrosive paint, while the fence post painters get to work, a sky blue coating their brushes. Some of us tentatively smile at the young girl helping her mother paint the Maya, and we learn that her name is Genesis. During our 20 minute break, some visit the snack bar, while others discover the gift shop across the street, filled with handmade souvenirs.

After lunch, we hike a short ways to the Blue River, aptly named. It flows turquoise, then cobalt, then sky blue, making us wonder what minerals could be coloring it. When a small path down to the rushing blue presents itself, several scramble down, immediately kicking off their shoes and pulling off shirts, revealing swimsuits (or in some cases, batman boxers). The water is gaspingly cold, but its beauty pulls us in and soon we are up to our shoulders. Large boulders under a small waterfall give some a place to sit, and one or twice the current almost sweeps us away, giving a quick rush of almost fear. But after what seems like no time at all, we are called to come out of the water, because we haven’t finished the hike. Soaking wet, we comply; soon we arrive at a small pool, fed by an even larger waterfall, where we stay for a time. But there is one more place, the largest waterfall of all. It is one of the most majestic views yet, and the sound of camera clicks ensue.

That night was a special night – a cumpleano! The birthday girl was presented with a small cake, and her chair decorated with balloons. Later, we watch a discussion- sparking documentary about Costa Rica. With that, another day that feels like three is drawn to a close, and when the lights go out all are asleep.

Leaving Horizontes

Faces are somewhat somber at breakfast, and we all know why – today we leave Horizontes, the place that has come to feel like home. After packing, we spend our last few minutes swaying in the hammocks as bulging suitcases are piled precariously on the roof of our van, and tied down. When the time comes, we file into said van, every seat taken. Several word games are played, some listen to music, some sleep. We stop at a supermarket, and for half an hour teenage Americans swarm the store, stocking up on delicacies like Oreos and Pringles. Once again we pile into the van, bright pink plastic bags of treasure in hand. Soon the incline steepens, and we start pushing the windows close as our familiar heat is replaced by a chilly drizzle. As we ascend into the rainforest, and the denseness of the trees thickens, a few lucky students spot a brightly-beaked toucan flying overhead. More common are the horses and cows, looking up as the van drives past.

Finally we arrive at Las Bromelias, our new home for the next week. It is beautiful. Our rooms are two story wooden buildings, and the new “comedor,” or dining hall, is a tastefully decorated, open-walled platform. Nature surrounds everything. One must step over a small stream to walk to the girls rooms, and there are trees and plants on all sides. Most must change out of shorts, as the weather up here is very different from the dry, scorching heat of the dry forest. After we settle in a bit, we are given a brief introduction to our new home by Mapache, the director of Las Bromelias. “Mapache” means “raccoon” in English, a nickname given because raccoons are the smartest animals in the forest, and he knows every inch of this mountain, having lived here for over 40 years. After dinner we make our way to our new rooms, admiring the lush fauna on all sides. We fall asleep to the pitter-patter of rain, complemented by crickets and the occasional call of an animal. Although we may have been conflicted about leaving Horizontes, Las Bromelias has met and exceeded our expectations.

Beach, Service and a Costa Rican Fourth of July

After being sick all night, I was thrilled to feel better the next morning so that I could participate in the best day yet here in Costa Rica! After hearing the awesome morning playlist, the group headed to breakfast for some rice and beans and eggs, and prepared for a fun-filled day at Playa Cabuyal, a local remote beach.

We all packed our day packs with snacks, swimsuits, towels, and some speakers and headed out on the big white tourism bus for a 20 minute ride down to one of the most beautiful beaches I’d ever seen. Upon arriving, we were all so hot that we dove right into the huge waves of the incredible beach. It was a small beach, and there was no one else there, so it was like we had our own little slice of heaven! For hours the group swam and body surfed in the beautiful waves. Switching between relaxing under a big tree and swimming, the beach definitely put everyone in a great mood, and we were energetic and ready to start our service when we arrived back at the home base.

Today, our service consisted of putting some finishing touches on a shade house. The shade house was made to simulate a canopy in order to finish a project involving planting seedlings and testing the effects of climate change. Some of us shoveled gravel while others sewed the protective layer of mesh onto the poles that would become the door. It was great to contribute to a local environmental study!

After service, we drove out to a local community, El Triunfo, to play a soccer game with some of the locals. It was so exciting to finally interact with some local Costa Ricans, and see their community. Playing soccer was so much fun, and the game helped us interact and break down language barriers.

When we came back from the game, we were all overwhelmed with the smell of a barbecue, and our fourth of July celebration was even better than it would have been back in the states! We had a delicious meal of tacos with barbecued meat and a wide array of sodas. We all were able to hang out and eat outside near the hammocks, and we had an amazing time! A few minutes after the group finished eating, we were all extremely surprised to hear some loud drums and trumpets approaching us. We later found out that this was a Cimarrona band playing us some traditional Guanacaste music. The music was so awesome and catchy that we all got up and had a spontaneous dance party right at our home base. We danced for hours, and when we got tired, we all unwound on the hammocks with a low key ukulele jam session before bed. Sorry America, but I had the best Fourth of July ever right here in Costa Rica!

-Olivia Klugman

Naturalist’s Blog – Dry Forest

Naturalist Blog – Day 3

Day 3 primarily involved taking a hike through the dry forest. Our lovely local biologist, Freddy, guided us along the paths with encyclopedic knowledge of the plants and animals. This is just some of the wildlife we documented.

Bullet Ant – Paraponera clavata

Costa Rican name: Bala

Their bullet-like sting is the most powerful in the world. Their complex tunnels and chambers contain entrance holes and are located at the base of large trees. Each colony contains 700 to 1400 worker ants. One night ago, we discovered a large, black ant around the bathrooms. Naïve of the danger, we started to curiously interact with it, and only later did we discover that it was, in fact, a rather large bullet ant. Thankfully, no one got hurt.

Size: .6 to .9 inches

Elevation Range: Sea level – 1600 feet

Geographic Range: Nicaragua to Brazil

Strangler Fig – Family: Moraceae

Along our hike, Freddy pointed out an innocuous looking vine snaking its way up a tree. He described the vicious method by which these plants survive. First, a pod drops down from an existing tree. It germinates near other species of jungle trees, and the roots of the fig pod fuse with the roots of another tree. Slowly, the vines from the pod overtake the host above ground, preventing the tree from being able to grow. The host tree quickly dies. Typically, it is possible to climb a fully mature fig tree by entering the chamber the original host lived and died in. The fig is an important food source to many animals during the dry season.

Long-nosed bats – We have a large bat colony residing in a building near our base camp in Horizontes. It is possible for humans to enter the area in which they sleep, clap once or twice and experience what it feels like to be Batman. These bats are strictly insectivores, and during their nightly hunts, they can consume between 2000 to 3000 mosquitoes.

Size: Tennis ball

Tarantula Wasp – Also boasting a powerful sting, these gorgeous insects are not very aggressive. They are easily distinguished by their iridescent blue thorax and bright orange-gold wings. The wasp hunts and fights tarantulas, and wins these epic battles the majority of the time. They then inject their eggs into the tarantula’s carcass.

We will be traveling to the rainforest in about four days, so expect another naturalist entry about the life there!

First Day

Music blasts through the speakers, jolting us awake at 6:00 a.m. It was to be the first of many long, exhaustively fun days. After breakfast, we have hours of orientation and games, including an informative presentation by the staff of Horizontes about rainforest deforestation and conservation in Costa Rica. After some time spent swinging in the hammocks, it’s lunchtime. More tastefully spiced rice and beans, accompanied by tortillas and salad. Then begins service. We firsts fill small bags with rich soil, the temporary homes for budding trees, later to be replanted. Next we help Vanessa, one of the crew here at Horizontes, with various tasks around the new “greenhouse,” where they will grow vegetables to cook with.

It already feels like three days have passed, but when we return to home base, its game time – A quick match of soccer for the more energetic, while the rest play quiet circle games and sing to the Frozen soundtrack. We then notice the rows of mango trees, a realization soon followed by plucking the ripest and eating them with our hands, sweet golden juice running down our chins. After dinner (more rice, beans, and fish) we prep for the night hike by slathering ourselves in bug spray. The next hour and a half are filled with the noises of the forest, reflective animal eyes silently staring back at us a times. At the small lake, huge toads empty their bladders on whoever was quick enough to catch one in the dance of flashlights. Once we arrive back at camp, all head straight to bed, exhausted but content.

The Beginning of our Journey

As we took our first steps on our journey in the foreign country of Costa Rica, we were welcomed by two warm faces and humid climate. We got to meet two of three of our mentors, Heather and Kassie, in matching outfits, and they helped us transfer our luggage to the bus out in the hot sun. We were all unsure of what to expect, and we headed to our “home base”, all equally as excited about seeing our living quarters for the next week. Most of us were surprised to discover that toilet paper didn’t actually go in the toilet, and we had to face our fears of the bugs that cover almost every inch of the forest. We enjoyed a typical Costa Rican lunch of Gallo Pinto and drank fresh exotic juice. We then engaged in a lively discussion about environmental issues and had dialogue about controversial topics. We were all still getting to know each other, and we waited upon the arrival of our new friends. We all went to bed exhausted from a long day of travel.

We’ve Arrived!

All students have arrived and are ready for an amazing program! Stay tuned for blog updates and photos!

Heading Home

All students have headed home after an amazing time in Costa Rica!

Breaking Down Language Barriers

Today is Heather’s birthday, and we surprised her with cards and a candlelit… watermelon.

After another breakfast of rice and beans, we were given the choice to either nap or watch the World Cup game of Costa Rica vs England; I, without hesitation, picked the nap. After a much needed slumber, we headed over to Escuela Gavilan, for the second day of service. It was truly an amazing experience for me because although the language barrier was as strong as ever, I still managed to connect and play with the kids in ways where words weren’t needed. I made a special connection with a 7 year old girl named Kristel, and she taught me how to play their games using hand signals. Even at such a young age, she understood that verbal wasn’t an option for communication.

After getting dirty while playing tag in the mud, she brought me over to the sink to wash our hands, and then continued to splash excess water on me. I did it back in return, starting what turned out to be quite a water war. First it was the flicking of water, then it transitioned to cups of water, then to buckets of water and before I knew it, the whole school was in on this war. Soon enough, I got all of 20 kids on my side by providing them with water bottles, and used them as my little minions. They’d run up to me and ask “Quien?” (who?), and I’d point at someone who they would douse in water even after being begged not to. Through shared laughs and great memories, I made an indescribable bond with all of the students, and Kristel continues to help me probably more than I help her.

Saying goodbye was hard; I even got sprayed with muddy water by one of the youngest kids as his final “Ha, I win!” Although it was disgusting, I couldn’t help but laugh.

Not much longer after we got back, we were instructed in a dance class by a couple of ladies that taught us common Latin dances, such as Salsa and Cumbia. It was neat to see their form of dancing, and it was cool to me how easily it was to pick up on. Following dancing was a bit of karaoke, which was probably more entertaining to the eye than pleasing to the ear. Then I was given the task of distracting Heather while they put the finishing touches on her birthday cake, and I told her that she NEEDED to remove a gross bug from my room. After ‘not being able to find the bug’, we arrived back at dinner to a cake and candles. We sang happy birthday in Spanish, and ate the cake, which was unlike any other cake I’ve had before: muy delicioso. It’s crazy thinking there’s only really two days left of camp, for everyone here is starting to become less like strangers and more like family. I wish I could have at least one more week, but overall I’m glad that I can take away not only this beautiful culture, but an unforgettable experience with unforgettable people.

 – Jennifer Chamberlin

A Wonderful Weekend!

From the wildness of yesterday we were able to get back on track and really enjoy our time together during service and relaxing in the hot springs. Our main service project at this new site is to help a local school reclaim their school’s area by building a fence. Building this fence will empower them and allow the students to focus more on their studies as outsiders will not bother them. Arriving at the school we surveyed the area that we needed to fence and looked at the materials we were using. Once the kids were on break, we were able to play soccer and taught the Costa Rican kids how to play with a Frisbee. Then a group of us went with Luke to start digging holes to up the posts in. Eventually we decided we’d have to even out the land so that the fence could be easily installed. Another group went to help cut the fence to the desired size as it was much taller than they wanted. Once the kids were off for the morning we went to go play with them again and grab a quick snack before cleaning up to go. We played Simon Says, sang “Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes,” and some played a new game the boys taught us where they tried to push each other while being along a wall.After eating lunch we had some time to ourselves to do whatever we like at base. Several of us decided to take a nap or play cards. We played Spoons, Comps, and Egyptian War. Several moments later, we were back on the same trail we went on yesterday through the rainforest, this time taking a different turn into the Hot Springs. We put all our daypacks and clothes by a wooden hut, then went down the steps into the warm clear water. We relaxed there for a couple hours and talked miscellaneously. We went on a different trail back.After eating dinner we watched video footage of animals in the nearby forest, then the movie, “Into The Wild.” Going back to the housing area we planned for the next day and made posters for Heather’s birthday.

-Marisa Wong

Today we hiked roughly 16 miles to the top of an active volcano and back. The tiring journey took the whole day but it was the most fulfilling experience of my life and I wouldn’t change a thing (other than Alex hurting his ankle). We started our hike in the lush jungle of the tropical rainforest, then we reached the top of the treeline and hiked along a stream. The water was so fresh and clean that we were able to fill our water bottles and hydrate ourselves. It was the best water I’ve ever tasted. We started our hike up the mountain, and the toughest part of all was hiking straight up the volcano. My thighs felt like they were on fire, but I couldn’t give up. When we came closer to the top, the strong smell of sulfur filled the air, and when I finally reached the top, I saw the beautiful layers of rock in the crater. I peered into the opening, I saw the pool of baby blue minerals and my eyes filled with tears but I was too happy to cry. I’ve never been so proud of myself. The blue color was completely unexpected and being up so high, inside a cloud gave me goosebumps. It felt as if I were on top of the world. The view was breathtaking. I am thrilled to have spent all day hiking in this beautiful country, with these awesome people I only met just a week ago. I am so thankful to have been given this life-changing, unforgettable experience. THANK YOU DAD, I LOVE YOU!!!!

-Christina Brown

But without a doubt the best part of the day was seeing the four-week old puppies that live here at Las Bromelias. There are five puppies here and they’re very cute. For some people the puppies are one of the best things about this trip so far, but for most of us they’re just an added bonus to an already amazing trip.

-Finn Goldsmith

A Full Day

​​

The Beach and Burgers!

The Green Tunnel & Beyond

Today we woke up to another beautiful day in Horizontes. After a tasty breakfast, we headed out to the Green Tunnel, where we performed our service for the day. A recent wildfire burned nearly 16,000 acres, including much of the original tunnel. We also planted twelve trees, which turned out to be fairly grueling work.

From the Green Tunnel, we drove to the community of El Triunfo, where we met the seventeen students attending the community’s elementary school. We played games like fútbol and Frisbee. Interacting with these incredibly kind children was absolutely amazing. They wanted to talk with us and play with us the entire time! A few of us GLA kids even found that speaking with the children was easier than with the adults here. The GLA Family and the children enjoyed a meal together, followed by hugs and goodbyes. I speak for myself when I say that playing with those kids tired me out more than any service activity we’ve done thus far! They are terrific individuals and I’m glad to say that I will remember my time spent in that community for a long time.

Later we headed out on a hike to a nearby waterfall with Freddie the Biologist! Thanks to Freddie, we were able to see interesting flora and fauna. We had the opportunity to meet a snake, whom we later named Seth. Upon reaching the waterfall, we were disappointed to see that we could not take a refreshing dip, because there hasn’t been enough rainfall so far. Nonetheless, we were still able to enjoy a beautiful view. After our hike we reflected on all that we had accomplished and experienced. Now we are taking a few minutes to rest up before our dance lessons! Hasta Luego!

– Laura Schwab

Welcome to the Jungle

Hello friends and family, and welcome to our blog! Today each and every wonderful student, or “forest person” as we are referred to by our mentors, was greeted at the airport. In shifts, we were driven through the beautiful scenery of Costa Rica by our great bus driver, Fabio. After traveling through the “green tunnel” in Guanacaste, the luscious conservation area that we are staying at, we finally arrived at our first Home Base, far out in the tropical dry forest. Since then, we have received many welcomes from various adorable critters such as cockroaches, frogs, venomous snakes, and feisty ants. We put up some comfortable hammocks and established our official “chill zone.” Then for dinner, we ate some delicious rice and beans with salad, fresh mystery fruit juice, and ice cream. We also played some ice breaker games and discovered that every member of this trip is fantastic. The stars outside generated the effect of a planetarium, for there were so many and they were so incredibly bright. We are staying at such a wonderful place with such wonderful people… It’s going to be a great trip!

-Tara

Conservation Station

Today was our first full day in the conservation area, and it was chock-full of fun. We began our day with some delicious desayuno [breakfast] consisting of pancakes, fresh fruit, and exotic juice. We then retreated to the Salon, our meeting room, to go through our orientation. During the orientation, we went over the rules and regulations, and we also played games amongst ourselves and with the staff to learn everyone’s name. After our orientation, one of the conservationists gave a presentation on the workings of a national park in Costa Rica, thoroughly explaining the contents and inner-workings of various ecosystems that exist here, from the Ocean to the Cloud Forest. This presentation also explained the conservation procedures that the staff here at Horizontes, the experimental reforestation station that we are staying at, have taken to counteract the damage done to the tropical dry forest ecosystem. We then ate lunch, which was delicious.

After almuerzo we began our fist service project, mixing soil with sand, and then planting seeds in the fertile mixture. After a long and fulfilling work effort, we got the chance to play soccer in the rain with our two counselors, Heather and Luke. Omar was the best soccer player. We then ate dinner, which was delicious, and embarked on a night hike. Our leaders were Freddy and Mainor (pronounced “Miner”), the former a biologist and the latter a conservationist at Horizontes. We got to hear the rhythm of the forest, as the noises of the animals coalesced into a collective exhalation of wilderness, instincts such as touch and hearing became dominant, because the brightness of the stars could only poke small holes of light into the darkness which permeated through the forest. For the most part, the creatures of the forest remained hidden, scared by our invasion of their land, but we did manage to spot some toads, tadpoles, and beautiful birds. Once we got back to the station, we went back to the salon (community room) to watch a video in which a Nigerian woman spoke about the danger of a single perspective. We then went back to bed, our excitement inundated by the need for rest.

– Omar

Food for Horizontes

On our third day as forest people, we headed out into the critter-filled dry forest to find cow poop to use in the greenhouse that will be used to grow fruits and vegetables for the people of Horizontes. The tractor ride to our destination was like a video game. We lost many lives while fending off attacking branches and thorns. It was game over for Edison when he fell off the back; but don’t worry, he didn’t break any bones. Once reaching the pond that contained the cow poop, we connected with Vanessa and Minor, the conservation staff, by learning some Spanish words and phrases. Scooping poop-filled dirt into bags was a true bonding experience for us GLA-ers, and discovering grubs in the dirt was an added bonus. We showed true physical strength when lugging the heavy bags of caca (poop) in and out of the tractor. Others showed more artistic strength by painting the water and fertilizer cans with colorful decorations. After lunch, we headed to the beautiful beach, where some of us pruned ourselves in the salty waves, while others collected palm leaves and made a headdress and hula skirt. There was a ceremony to anoint a sorcerer (photos to come). It was a sad moment leaving Gerard, the stray dog who loved to take pictures with us.

We immediately drove to a school in El Triunfo, where we played soccer with the community. Both teams consisted of GLA forest people, Horizontes staff, and the locals. The community was hospitable enough to let us wear their authentic, green jerseys. Other community members watched our bloody battle, until the non-jerseys came out on top with a close score of 4-1 (it was closer than you might think). We then connected and snacked with the community members and met some local kids, our age and below, who were incredibly kind and friendly. Once we got back to home base, we ate dinner and chilled together, opening up even more, and learning many interesting things about our peers. We may have only been here for three days, but it really feels like we have known each other for months. After a long, labor-filled day, we are happy to crash at 10, excited about tomorrow exciting opportunities and adventures! Hasta luego!

– Leah