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 JUNE 23

Greetings from Santo Domingo!

Today marked the exciting kickoff of our Dominican Republic Island Service Adventure Session 1! Our students finally touched down in the vibrant capital of the DR, and we couldn’t be more thrilled to welcome them.

Most of the day was spent greeting students at the airport, helping them settle in, and getting to know one another. From the very beginning, we could feel the positive energy—there were lots of smiles, introductions, and even some friendly games as we waited for the full group to arrive.

We shared a classic welcome meal—pizza, of course! Some lucky students even got to enjoy live merengue music during lunch, a lively taste of the island’s rich cultural rhythm.

In the evening, we headed into the Colonial City, the historic heart of Santo Domingo, for dinner. Surrounded by centuries-old buildings and the warm Caribbean evening air, it was the perfect setting to launch our journey. We shared a delicious meal, talked about our hopes for the week ahead, and reflected on how lucky we are to be here together.

Tonight we rest up—tomorrow we head east to the beautiful coastal town of Bayahibe, where our adventure truly begins. From service projects to snorkeling and cultural exchange, the week ahead is packed with meaningful experiences, and we can’t wait to dive in.

Stay tuned for more updates—and thank you for sharing your amazing kids with us!

Warmly,
The DR Island Service Adventure Team 🌴🇩🇴

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BLOG POST FOR JUNE 24

Good evening from Bayahibe!

Today we had a very productive day. Our morning started with a nutritious breakfast of eggs, fruit, bread, and cheese. After breakfast, we played an Ice-breaker game called ‘Zap’ and got to become more comfortable with each other’s names. After a few photo-ops, we loaded our suitcases, and said goodbye to Santo Domingo to go to home base in Bayahibe, la República Dominicana. On the way, we visired the Tres Ojos National Park. There, we climbed down several flights of stairs and discovered a beautiful underground world. We learned about cave pools called cenotes and saw stalagmites and lots of fish. To reach the last one, we took a boat pulled by hand on ropes across the cenote.

Unfortunately, one of the buses ended up with a flat tire. Luckily, we weren’t stopped long, and we occupied ourselves with games like heads up, wavelength, and 20 questions and made a quick pitstop to get a new one. We finally arrived at the local supermercado, Jumbo. The 23 of us broke into small groups exchanging dollars for Dominican pesos, trying new cultural snacks and sweets, and getting a feel for the Dominican grocery shopping experience.

A half hour drive later, we arrived at our home base, now called ‘the villa’, for its beautiful white walls, dotted with vibrant murals. We completed the orientation and talked about what we were going to do these next 8 days. We finished up the day with swim tests, uno, a dinner of chicken and french fries, a slideshow about the history of the Dominican Republic. Of course we can’t forget the Bachata and Merengue dancing! We passed on the leader of the day responsibilities, and headed to bed.

Most importantly, our final team member joined us after some unfortunate flight delays! His roommates were particularly excited for his arrival, and he could hear the group chanting his name before he even saw us.

We are so excited to start our first day of service tomorrow! Stay tuned to learn about Guaraguao National Park and Padre Nuestro Cave!

Thanks for reading!

Brianna and Briggs, student leaders on behalf of the DR Island Service Adventure Team 🌴🇩🇴

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BLOG POST FOR JUNE 25

Welcome to another episode of Global Leadership Island.

We started off the day with a nice breakfast in the villa! As everyone was starting to settle in, we were eager to start our service work a Guaraguao National Park, where we partnered with local park rangers to clean up the beaches to prepare for the turtle nesting.

Following our service work, we got to enjoy the beautiful ocean for the first time. We splashed around for 45 minutes then took a lunch break of rice and beans on the beach! After lunch, we headed to a separate part of the national park called Padre Nuestro, where we learned about the culture of the past villages that used to inhabit it. After a long hike we were all exhausted so it was time to take another swim. We arrived at Chicho cave, ventured down the stairs, and were welcomed by a large cenote deep in the cave. We were astonished at the clear water and natural beauty of it. Following the rock jumping and swimming by flashlight, we hiked back and stopped at the store to stock up on goodies for the rest of the week.

Then we returned to the villa and took our respective rest time. We finished off the night with dinner and eagerly divided into our first mentor group session. The staff surprised us with pizza after our Leader of the Day ceremony. You could say we slayed the day away!!

On tomorrow’s episode of Global Leadership Island, more service in another part of the park called Boca de Yuma. Stay tuned.

-Laila,Sydney, and T-Rex (aka the best GLA leaders EVA!)

on behalf of the DR Island Service Adventure Team 🌴🇩🇴

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BLOG POST FOR JUNE 26

Good evening from Bayahibe! Welcome to another episode of Global Leadership Island.

We started the day off with a traditional breakfast. Everyone was pumped up for the day ahead. We then grabbed our TWIGS, and hopped on a long bus ride of bonding. Once we arrived in Boca de Yuma national park, we met two enthusiastic local park rangers, Robert and Felix, who expressed to us their love for nature, and their influential jobs. We split up into two separate groups arranged by mentors, where one group went to clean up trash along the coast side trail, and the other group planted hundreds of new baby sea grapes trees, brown mangrove, and alamo tree. These efforts let us participate in reforestation to help bring more rain back to the coast.

At halftime, we took a lunch break, which was a traditional authentic Dominican meal, consisting of Dominican spiced rice, chicken, pork, beans, and an assortment of vegetables. Following, each group swapped jobs, and finished off the influential service day. Once finished, everyone was able to reflect on the amazingly impactful day, by looking at the planted trees, and countless bags full of trash. The group then went on another bus ride, this time to the museum of the historical home of Spanish conquistador, Ponce de Leon. Here, we were able to see one of a kind preserved armor, as well as many other antique artifacts, including classical furniture, all dating back more than 500 years. We also had time to run around in the big yard to play games, do acrobats, and make music with our hands and plants.

On another bus ride, filled with music, bonding, and occasional naps, we headed back to the Villa. Taking some down time, everyone was enjoying themselves, while either in the pool, hammocks, or taking a quick shower. Dinner followed, and after the new leaders of the day were announced during our LOD Ceremony! Over all, everyone was able to reflect on how much of an impact our amazing service efforts had on improving and preserving the beauty of the Dominican Republic.

On tomorrow’s episode of Global Leadership Island, Hoyo Claro and Beach time!!! Stay tuned.

-Emi, Oliver Nelson, Jacob

on behalf of the DR Island Service Adventure Team 🇩🇴🌴

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BLOG POST FOR JUNE 27

Good evening from Bayahibe! Welcome to another episode of Global Leadership Island.

Today we had a great recovery and relaxing day, taking a earned break from service! After breakfast, we hopped on the bus to head over to the cenote Hoyo Claro. We had a downhill hike to the cenote but made the time fly with music and positive energy. When we arrived, people were eager to get in the crystal clear and cool water so immediately started jumping in. Everyone participated in many different flips, dives, and other ways to jump in. The group got in many good laughs and showed a lot of courage to try new things. We also showed leadership as we helped teach each other and motivate through nerves. Unfortunately, it was time for the dreadful up-hill hike back to the bus. Although, it was not as bad as it would’ve seemed, with music and cheerful conversation helping a lot.

After arriving back at the villa, everyone instantly made their way over to lunch, with the hopes of finishing quickly in order to get to the beach quicker. With a hefty, protein filled lunch consisting of chicken, beans, salad, and a lot of rice, everyone was itching (mentally and physically) to get their toes in the sand. As we made our way through the local town to the beach, we passed by beautiful scenery, consisting of the town and the shore. As we got close, we split into 2 separate groups, with the majority heading towards the beach, while the others made their way over to a basketball court to engage with the locals. We went running into the refreshing water, played volleyball, floated on their backs, took in the sun, and played intense soccer matches. Basketball was really fun while we interacted with the local youth and practiced some Spanish with them while they spoke English to us.

We decided that fruit smoothies would make the day so much better. Xander, Katie, Colin, and Counselor Jackson made their way over to the smoothie stand, and mass ordered mango and passion fruit smoothies for the group. After dinner, the mentors surprised us with a talent show, and everyone participated by either planning something to show or cheering on the rest of the team during their shows. It was a great way to get to know one another, have fun, and bond even more. The laughs were endless as we made our way back to our rooms.

On tomorrow’s episode of Global Leadership Island, we start our service in Benerito and Kids Camp!!! Stay tuned.

-Katie, Xander, Damian

on behalf of the DR Island Service Adventure Team 🇩🇴🌴

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BLOG POST FOR JUNE 28

Good evening from Bayahibe! Welcome to another episode of Global Leadership Island.

Today we had a very eventful and enjoyable day. First off, we had a nutritious breakfast and hopped onto the bus for a short ride to a local children’s school in Benerito. Fun fact: the people of Benerito used to live in the national park Padre Nuestro where we swam in the cenote in the cave, but they were relocated to preserve the water for the town of Bayahibe, where our homebase is! So the different parts of our program are all connected.

Once we arrived, we gathered and started on our cement project to help refurbish the playground. We mixed sand and gravel, poured water, and carried buckets to create thick cement. Sweat and tears were shed by everyone and we showed an outstanding effort to help the community. In addition, we helped some local women in the kitchen to create our lunch with fresh and wholesome ingredients.

For the second half of the day we spent time hanging out with the local kids between the ages of 2-10. We tried to leave our best impact by teaching them fun dances, playing baseball, and eating local ice cream. We also played on the see-saws, built towers with plastic blocks, and made friendship bracelets for each other. Afterwards, we ate lunch with the kids and got to know them while practicing speaking each other’s languages.

After the kids went home, we bought jewelry from a small women-owned business downstairs from the school. We then made our way back to the villa and enjoyed a pleasant afternoon of pool time, debate, and an authentic dinner.

On tomorrow’s episode of Global Leadership Island, a Catamaran trip to Saona Island!!! Stay tuned.

-Skylar, Gabi, and Chloe

on behalf of the DR Island Service Adventure Team 🇩🇴🌴

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BLOG POST FOR JUNE 29

Good evening from Bayahibe! Welcome to another episode of Global Leadership Island.

Today was a very eventful day for everyone present at the Dominican Republic. We got some extra sleep because breakfast was at 8:30 instead of 7:30 due to a laid back schedule. Right at 9:15 we walked to a shop near a local beach in Bayahibe where we grabbed some snacks for the boat ride to Isla Sanoa. We then walked to a dock where we got on a catamaran and the fun began.

The ride was extravagant all the way to the island, with plenty of merengue, bachata and dembow with dancing to keep us on our toes. When we arrived at the island we got off and learned about sea turtles from a local and bought souvenirs to support their organization. Then we had a delicious traditional meal at a beach side booth. After lunch, we went and had some beach time, swimming and playing sports like baseball and volleyball with some Dominican kids. Damian even taught a couple kids how to do a backflip. We then got on the boat to cruise toward a popular snorkeling spot, where we all found rare exotic creatures to remember forever. Our last stop was heading towards the section of the ocean locals call “the natural pool” to do some swimming.

Finally, our excursion was winding down while we were going home, and we even ran into a manatee near the docks. When the extraordinary day was close to an end we walked home and were embraced with free time. After we had a chance to wind down we headed toward the hotel restaurant to have a casual dinner, where many were playing interactive games, and inviting conversations. We then got into mentor groups to have discussions, and have our recoupling ceremony (picking new leaders). Finally, we had a debate on the impact of tourism on the Dominican Republic, considering the community, ethical, health, and economic impacts of building a sports arena and whether or not such things are sustainable.

On tomorrow’s episode of Global Leadership Island, snorkeling and our last day in Bayahibe!!! Stay tuned.

-Katy, Colin, and Oliver F.

on behalf of the DR Island Service Adventure Team

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BLOG POST FOR JUNE 30

Good evening from Bayahibe! Welcome to another episode of Global Leadership Island.

Today was another very memorable day full of smiles and laughs! We began our day with a delicious breakfast (as usual) followed by a brisk yet calm walk to a beach still to be explored by our group. The pristine beach was beautiful with white sand and clear turquoise water. We enjoyed further pursuing our connections with each other through music and jokes.

At the beach, we bonded with the locals by playing volleyball and sharing things about ourselves, regardless of a language barrier. After enjoying the beach for a couple hours, we met up with a snorkeling instructor and learned new things about the coral surrounding the bay we were visiting, taking in new information about how important healthy coral is, and why we should protect it. We also saw various types of sea creatures, such as sailfish, lionfish, and sea urchins.

After a long morning at the beach, our group travelled to a nearby restaurant situated on a beautiful beachfront. We indulged in traditional Dominican food that included fried fish, stewed chicken, fresh salad, rice, and a Dominican soda called Country Club, Merengue flavored. After a much needed lunch, we had a few minutes to explore the sand right next to the restaurant that was filled with extravagantly colored seaglass.

With our bellies full, we walked to a nearby bungalow that was right next to the colorful Bayahibe sign! We climbed onto the letters and got a nice group photo, then walked back to the bungalow, where we participated in a bonding activity that brought up people’s confidence and brought us closer together. We shared what values we have seen in each other throughout this amazing trip, and found happiness while walking back to our home base.

After a quick break to recoup and pack, Jackson called a quaint ice cream shop that was supposed to be closed, but magic Jackson slayed and reopened the shop! We tried various flavors and finally started to cool off, right before we began our walk to the dock, where we shopped at local buisnesses. A couple of the guys veered off to go play basketball with the locals one last time (they won). The whole group met up again at the bungalow to take pictures and enjoy one last sunset in Bayahibe!

On tomorrow’s episode of Global Leadership Island, we have to say goodbye to Bayahibe!!! Stay tuned.

-Nola, Evan, and Mireya (the dream team)
on behalf of the DR Island Service Adventure Team

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BLOG POST FOR JULY 1

Greetings from Santo Domingo. Welcome to the season finale of Global Leadership Island. We enjoyed our last breakfast and said goodbye to the home base in Bayahibe! We then headed out for the last time. During our bus ride we stopped at our favorite super market, el Jumbo to get some snacks for the ride back to Santo Domingo. We arrived in Santo Domingo and had lunch at a delicious pizzeria then walked to the Hotel where we left our luggage so we could further explore the town. We then had a guided tour around Santo Domingo to learn about the history of the town. After, we enjoyed shopping at a jewelry store to seek out the the national stones of the Dominican Republic. We then walked to a square and enjoyed our final mentor groups, where we reflected on our past days of the trip. We continued to walk around Santo Domingo and enjoyed ice cream on a stick from Bajo Cero, a local ice cream shop. After checking into the hotel, we got dressed up for the best dinner of the trip at El Conuco. We danced the night away to local music as an amazing way to end our trip. In the lobby of the hotel, we sadly said our goodbyes to Jackson, our local director.

Thank you for tuning to this season of Global Leadership Island.

-Addison and Elsie
on behalf of the DR Island Service Adventure Team 🏝️🇩🇴

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 20

Bienvenidos a Las Canas!

The Dominican Republic Global Health Initiative has officially begun! After a day of airport arrivals and excitement, our students arrived at our home base in Las Canas, where we were greeted by the lodge dogs. After settling into our rooms, we kicked things off with some poolside relaxation, just enough time to dip our toes in and start getting to know each other.

As golden hour approached, we headed down to the beach to catch our first Caribbean sunset. We splashed and ran around and tossed the Frisbee.

Back at home base, we shared a delicious dinner and met the local and international staff who will be guiding us through the weeks ahead. We also had two volunteers to be our first leaders of the day tomorrow, who will write the blog tomorrow.

Stay tuned as we dive into our medical brigades, cultural exploration, and community-building here in the DR. Thank you for sending your amazing kids to spend two weeks with us. ¡Hasta mañana!

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BLOG POST FOR JULY 21

Hey friends + family! We just finished our first day in the DR!

We started by having breakfast (eggs, Dominican salami, bread, and fruit), the fruit was super ripe and good. After breakfast was orientation, where we learned more about the Dominican culture, GLA ambassadors, our staff, and what we would be doing in the upcoming two weeks. When we finished we went to the beach where we played volleyball, collected shells and sea glass, and waded in the water. We then had lunch which was pasta salad, moro de guandules, a traditional Dominican dish, fish, and more.

After lunch we had construction service where we split into sections and worked on building walls for a medical facility. One group cut up recycled bottles, and other groups nailed frames and cut chicken wire. After we finished we did our swim test, we all passed yay! The water was super warm and everyone enjoyed it.

Tonight’s dinner was pasta, chicken, veggies, and fruit. After dinner we learned about the medical brigade training we”ll be doing and how we will be incorporating preventative care into all the brigades. There were six stations: registration, vitals, clinical history, preventative care, doctor, pharmacy. In each of these we learned different aspects of medical care.

Today our leadership pillar was Uncover Solutions. Throughout the construction service we had to solve problems on our own and figure out the most effective way to complete the different parts of building the wall. From bottles to framework to chicken wire, every GLA student came in contact with a problem and they had to find a way to fix it.

From your leaders of the day,
Lily and Gabby

On behalf of the Dominican Republic Global Health Initiative Team 🇩🇴🏥🏝️

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BLOG POST FOR JULY 22

Hey everyone! We just wrapped another great day in the DR.

We started this morning with a great breakfast consisting of fried eggs, mashed potatoes, and fruit. Then we headed out to our very first medical brigade in Caño Dulce, which took place at a small church. We split up into 6 groups: registration, vitals, clinical history, preventative medicine, doctor, and pharmacy. In total, we were able to assist about 40 patients, providing free medical consultation and treatment.

We ate a well-earned lunch at our site, which was rudely interrupted by a chicken which ran through the church. Wilson came to the rescue and escorted the intruder out. Afterwards we visited the future medical clinic which we built walls for yesterday. 7 Elements is hoping to complete it within the next year.

After a busy day of work, we returned to home base and headed to the beach. Everyone had lots of fun playing volleyball, bodysurfing (at knee level of course), enjoying the sun. A fun beach day turned into a relaxing pool day, and wrapped up with our first mentor group meetings. We set SMART goals and wrote letters to our future selves.

We ended the day with dinner, which included Sancocho, a traditional Dominican stew, and a delicious and cold chinola (passionfruit) juice. Overall we had a great day and are looking forward to another brigade tomorrow. Our leadership pillar of the day was to be courageous, and as it was many of our first times providing actual medical care in a completely new environment, we think we crushed it, especially with the amount of Spanish our peers used.

After we chose our leaders of the day for tomorrow, we had karaoke night, where we all laughed, danced, sang, or cheered each other on. Maxine rounded out the evening with an amazing acoustic version of Linger!

Your leaders of the day, Kiran and Christabelle

On behalf of the Dominican Republic Global Health Initiative Team

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BLOG POST FOR JULY 23

Second Day of Medical Brigade completed!!

This morning started with some delicious pancakes, cocoa puffs and some spanish bops to wake everyone up. We all prepared for the second brigade in Guanábana, Gaspar Hernandez, a small community in the mountains with amazing views of the surrounding area. Our team assembled in the local comedor, with preventative care moved to the end.

We met and cared for 36 patients of all ages. During the brigade we had lunch, consisting of delicious salad, plantains, chicken and cabbage. Then, we had an engaging QandA with the general doctor, Dr. Fabián. He said, “Although the ambulances can’t reach them, the tight and caring community of Guanábana and DR as a whole, support each other in times of need.” We also learned of his process of becoming a doctor.

After packing up the Brigade, we headed over to the supermarket in the downtown area where we stocked up on snacks and sweets. We now know the conversion rate is about 50 pesos to one dollar!! We enjoyed our free time in the pool and at the beach, accompanied by CARDS!

We then showered with the blessing of water pressure from the pump, and prepared for the evening. We enjoyed the traditional Dominican food for dinner and played an all-spanish game of Heads Up 7 Up. Afterwards, we received a lecture from Dr. Dave about Global Health and human security in the Dominican Republic. Finally, we picked our new leaders of the day based on our goal to be courageous and use more Spanish every day.

Surprise! We got ice cream! Yum yum!

Buenas Noches!

Con amor,

Charlotte and Sophia

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BLOG POST FOR JULY 24

Hey friends and family, today was a blast!

We drove an hour and a half listening to rock, rap, and country music on the way to DuDu Laguna. When we arrived we walked down to a cave for a group photo, and then we went to cenote, a natural lagoon, in a cave for swimming. We then took turns jumping–some of us even attempted our first backflips! We held competitions of biggest splashes and smallest splashes. Some of us had a chance to lounge in the hammocks and practice our Spanish with locals.

Afterwards, we went to get lunch at a restaurant by the beach. We had fried fish, fried chicken, salads, and fruit while we enjoyed the great view. We also got piña coladas and fresh juices. Afterwards we went to an amazing beach called Playa Preciosa with big waves. After body-surfing for a while in the waves, we walked over to another beach called Playa Grande. This beach was calm and had beautiful baby blue water. We relaxed there for a while before heading back. We then rinsed our feet, dried off, and hopped in the bus ready for the ride back.

After dinner, we played a quick game of mafia before we nominated our new leaders of the day. We had some free time to chill, play cards and play with the lodge dogs. Looking forward to another great day tomorrow.

We miss you!

Natalia and Carlos

On behalf of the Dominican Republic Global Health Initiative Team

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BLOG POST FOR JULY 25

Hello! Today we visited Puerto Plata. We started off by going to see Fortaleza de San Felipe where we learned the history behind the military fort which was used to protect the country during wars and from pirates. It then became a prison where Juan Pablo Duarte, one of the founding fathers of the Dominican Republic was a prisoner there during the rule of dictator Rafael Trujillo. Now a museum, the fort is also the last standing building from the 16th century in Porta Plata.

Afterwards, we went to the Ambar Larimar Museum. At the museum we learned that Larimar is the national stone of the Dominican Republic and is only found here. Ambar is fossilized tree resin which is known to contain bugs resulting in the rocks having insects in it which increases its value. Right after exiting the Ambar Larimar Museum we walked through the Umbrella Street and then the Paseo Dona Blanca which is a pink street created to honor Mrs. Bianca Franceschini, one of the first people to bring tourism to Puerto Plata at the end of the 18th century.

Following this, we went to eat lunch as we were very hungry after having all this fun. Right after replenishing our energy we got on the bus and headed to Del Oro Chocolate Factory where we got to see the process that goes into creating chocolate. We were also served with chocolate samples throughout each section of the factory which everyone enjoyed having. Once we finished our tour, we had a chance to grab some of the chocolate we saw being made.

We rounded out the day by having mentor groups and partaking in a reflection activity talking about our rose, bud, thorn and gardener of the group. Then we got into pairs and played a get to know you game. After mentor groups Paula who lives down the street and owns an ice cream shop came to visit and we all got ice cream.

Our leadership pillar of the day was to connect and influence and we did that through bonding with our peers during the long bus ride to Puerto Plata and back to home base.

Your Leaders of the Day,

Nina and Jayden

On behalf of the Dominican Republic Global Health Initiative Team 🇩🇴🏥🏝️

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BLOG POST FOR JULY 26

Hello friends and family,

Today we had our 3rd medical brigade and it was our busiest one yet! We started off the day with an hour and a half drive to the community of Caraballo, the town where our brigade took place. We brought tables, chairs, and prescribed medicines and set up each work station: registration, vitals, clinical history, preventative medicine, shadowing the doctor, and pharmacy. We had the opportunity to see and help 71 people, which is more than all of our past brigades combined! We had the pleasure of interacting with people from the Caraballo community and learning more about Dominican and Haitian culture and history.

Additionally, we were given the opportunity to explore within the Caraballo community and learn more about it with the help of one of our directors, Wilson. He grew up in Caraballo and gave us the tour while telling us about the specific impact that programs like ours have on the community. Wilson talked about how the school he went to started off with only one room, and now has more than 7 with the help of programs like ours.

After our tour, we interacted with the kids of the community playing basketball, racing each other, and simply just talking. After Caraballo, we made a stop at a supermarket to stack up on snacks. Then, after our long but rewarding day, we made our way back to home base for a delicious dinner of coconut fish, coconut chicken, beans, rice, and fruit. Then, we had our mentor groups to reflect on our brigade experiences and personal growth to close out a tiring yet fun day.

We are looking forward to more fun tomorrow!

Your leaders of the day,

Zac and Paola

On behalf of the Dominican Republic Global Health Initiative Team

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BLOG POST FOR JULY 27

Hello friends and family!

Our major activity of the day today was to go ziplining at Country World located in Puerto Plata! This place featured 8 main ziplines that we all explored, including a zipline that was over 80 feet high, and over 2000 feet long! That sure took some real courage from everybody at GLA today. There was even a horse named Pablo that we got to say hi to and who helped us complete the course.

After the ziplining we had lunch which featured a traditional Dominican styled lunch with rice, beans, potato salad, fried chicken, corn arepas, fried plantain chips, and macaroni salad. We then had the opportunity to use a separate zipline over the pool. Many individuals bravely attempted and had fun in doing so. We were able to try quenepas, a fruit that none of us have had before. They are small, round, green fruits that taste similar to lychee. That concluded our activities and Country World, and we then headed back to home base on a 2 hour ride home.

Before dinner, some people headed to the beach behind home base to play volleyball and wade in the water while others stayed back to relax. For our nightly activity, we all participated in a GLA Debate which was a hypothetical human rights scenario where we discussed whether or not a soccer stadium should be built on a predominantly Haitian side of the city La Grua. Our leadership pillar of the day was courage, and everyone showed lots of courage today trying the ziplines, for some, this was their first time ever ziplining! That wraps up Day 8 of our trip. Thank you for reading!

Your Leaders of the Day,

Zephyr and Mailie

On behalf of the Dominican Republic Global Health Initiative Team 🇩🇴🏥🏝️

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BLOG POST FOR JULY 28

Hello friends and family!

Our main focus of the day was to tour the public hospital in Gaspar Hernandez. We were able to ask Dr. Fabian and Dr. Nuñez questions and learn more about Dominican healthcare and hospital dynamics in this area. People asked questions about ambulance availability, aftercare, and staffing. As we toured the hospital we were able to witness doctor and patient communication including an ultrasound and pediatric care. At the entrance of the hospital we saw nurses on strike protesting as they haven’t received their paychecks, proper compensation for their level of education, or the ability to retire with their pensions at a reasonable age.

After the hospital visit we made a pitstop at the town plaza in Gaspar Hernandez. While we were there, we stayed cool under the shade and got a sweet treat from a local ice cream shop named Heladeria Abigail. Soon after, we headed back to home base for lunch. Our lunch was typical Dominican food which consisted of rice, habichuelas, pork, plantains, salad, and potato salad.

Later, we headed out for another adventure at a local bee farm. Johnny, the beekeeper, led us through the jungle over a cable bridge and cacao trees to reach the bee hives. As he harvested the honey, Lily got to put on a beekeeper suit and step in on the action! Johnny offered fresh honeycomb to the group. It was an explosion of sweet and freshness that shocked our nervous systems. After we trekked back through the jungle we arrived at Johnny’s house where he offered us bottled honey to purchase. Johnny also let us taste cacao honey which some liked and some didn’t. We thanked Johnny and walked back to the bus where we stumbled upon a starfruit tree. Wilson jumped up and grabbed some for whoever wanted to try it!

Throughout the day everyone has been brainstorming ideas for research projects that are being presented at the end of our trip. After the honeyfarm, we got together in groups and jotted down questions to ask doctors and think about during the next couple of days visiting hospitals and doing our last brigade. We rounded out the night by having dinner at Chef Natalie’s house where we met her family and kids and had a dance party.

Finally, our leadership pillar was connect and influence, which we practiced by communicating with the doctors, connected with Johnny by supporting his business, and getting to know the staff and local community better.

Adiós amigos.

Mystery leaders of the day

On behalf of the Dominican Republic Global Health Initiative Team 🇩🇴🏥🏝️

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BLOG POST FOR JULY 29

Hello awesome friends and family!!

Our main focus of the day was visiting our 4th and final brigade in Polanco, where we saw 76 patients. We were there from 9:00 am, to 2:10 ish, where we did many different stations from vitals to pharmacy, etc. Throughout the experience we furthered our connection with the community, by helping them and making brave attempts at full usage of spanish in all interactions. After the brigade we bonded with the youth of the community by going to the corner store, playing basketball and forming friendships with them. Then, we returned to home base!

We then relaxed at homebase waiting for the intensity of the sun to wane before going to the Las Canas beach behind home base to do a beach clean-up, where we were supposed to collect bottles primarily for building the walls for a new clinic! However, a friend of our HB chef Diosis surprised us and brought a souvenir stand to HB, so we learned about Larimar and did some shopping instead and postponed beach cleanup for another day. After dinner we received a lecture from Tania about the experience of Haitians in the Dominican Republic, and then learned how to dance “Bachata”(a traditional Dominican style of dance) from her as well!

Throughout the day we were focused on the leadership pillar “connect and influence”, which we did by connecting and helping the community in a truly meaningful way, and influencing better healthcare and community outreach, as well as influencing meaningful actions from everyone in the group. Throughout the day we bonded as a group quite a bit, from connecting with children to having fun during free time in the pool.

¡Con Mucho Gusto, Adiós!

– Maxine and Dean

On behalf of the Dominican Republic Global Health Initiative Team 🇩🇴🏥🏝️

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BLOG POST FOR JULY 30

Hello friends and family,

Our main focus of the day was giving back to the medical community as well as cleaning the beautiful beach right in front of our lodge. We started building at 8am, cutting empty water bottles to fit into three quadrants of wood covered in chicken wire. These are made to then be filled with concrete, and are set to be eventually used in the medical clinic 7elements is beginning to build. After a few hours of building, the group took hour shifts going onto the beach to do our part and not only find more plastic water bottles to use for the walls, but also regular trash to keep our beaches beautiful! This also gave us a chance to communicate and bond with our community even further, as local community members also came to the beach to help clean it as well. Our group kept a positive mindset throughout the whole experience, forming friendships, and giving back to the community!

Our leadership pillar of the day was “connect and influence” with a main focus on optimism. We demonstrated these goals by connecting with the locals who helped us in our construction today along with building two more walls for the medical facility. In this way, we are connecting with the community here in the Dominican Republic and influencing better access to healthcare here. To exemplify optimism, we made sure to stay positive despite the heat, dust, and challenging service work. We encouraged everyone to stay on task and gave everyone a job to do in order to collaborate.

We miss you!

Mystery Leaders of the day (Lyla and Tilly)

On behalf of the Dominican Republic Global Health Initiative Team🇩🇴🏥🏝️

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BLOG POST FOR JULY 31

Dear friends and family,

Hello from the Dominican Republic! This morning, we got to sleep in and start our day with a later breakfast time of 8am, which was very exciting. We got on the bus and visited our first private clinic in Sabenta de Yasica. We got a tour from Dr. Fabian and got to see the topography machine, emergency rooms, and the insurance system of the clinic. It was a little toasty so many of us were very glad we brought our portable fans. We then visited another private clinic called Centro Médico Betel. It was surprisingly vacant, which led to many interesting and insightful questions about private healthcare in the DR. The hospital is rather new, so the community is still learning about access to it.

After our clinical visits, we hopped back on the bus for a rollercoaster of a ride on a windy road up the side of a mountain to the community of Joba to reach the woman-owned chocolate factory: Chojoba. The fruit surrounding the cacao beans surprisingly tasted like mango, and many went back for seconds on chocolate chips. After enjoying our samples and satisfying some munchies, we adorned our fabulous and fashionable hairnets and took a tour of the process and chocolate factory (which twas very warm). We filled our bags with chocolate chips, bars, and other goodies, some of which didn’t even make it back to the bus. We then headed back down the mountain (yay seatbelts!) and took the 40 minute drive back to home base, where we had a late but yummy lunch of a new delicacy known as beans and rice.

After lunch, we spent some time working on our final project of making posters to reflect on our experience and new understanding of Dominican healthcare. We then presented these posters after some free time spent at the pool and beach. Tilly lost her sunglasses, toenail, and deodarant, so wish the rest of us luck (she approved us including this dw).

In the evening we had Dominican night! We walked over to Dios’s house, dressed up for the occasion, and had a fun night of dancing, puppies, and delicious traditional food. Everybody had lots of fun and we were all exhausted by the end of the night. After catching a sunset, it was time to head to bed.

See you in a few days!

Your fav duo,
Josie and Charlotte
On behalf of the Dominican Republic Global Health Initiative Team🇩🇴🏥🏝️

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BLOG POST FOR AUGUST 1

Hello friends and family,

Today was our last day in the Dominican Republic! Some of us early risers started the day off by seeing the sunrise at the beach, where we took some nice photos while enjoying the beautiful setting, and started off our day of relaxation. When the rest of us were up, we had a breakfasf of pancakes, eggs, oatmeal and fruit and headed to our final destination: Sosúa.

While there, we rode a boat out to a two different reefs and snorkeled, swam and dove next to the boat until lunch. Through the crystal clear water, we got to see different species of fish and corals and some of us also jumped off the boat. After that, we ate pizza at the beach and swam around for a couple of hours. We finished off our time in Sosúa by souviner shopping.

Next we rode back to home base after this long but fun day. We ate our last dinner at homebase before rounding out the night by doing an appreciation circle and doing a bonfire with smore’s at the beach.

This is our final student blog post and our final day of the trip. We learned so much about medicine, the DR community and had a lot of fun while doing it! Despite our amazing time here, we’re excited to head home tomorrow. See you tomorrow!!!

Goodbye from your final leaders of the day!

~Paola and Zac

On behalf of the Dominican Republic Global Health Initiative Team 🇩🇴🏥🏝️❤️‍🩹

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BLOG POST FOR AUGUST 2

Dear families,

Our final day in the Dominican Republic began with our typical breakfast of toast, eggs, meat, fried cheese, oatmeal and fresh fruit before students completed their last minute packing. Paola said her goodbyes as her flight was much later in the day and the rest of the students headed to Puerto Plata Airport. Everyone checked their bags and departed through security. Team Salt and Team 67 Mango Mustard, we hope you’re now settling in back home—carrying with you fresh perspectives on global health, new friendships that feel like family, stronger leadership skills, and a heart full of unforgettable memories from the past 14 days. Doki, Enki, Enlio, Johnny and Toussaint are grateful for all the love and pets you gave them and dearly miss you (and so do we).

-Mentors Christiana and Hannah

On behalf of the Dominican Republic Global Health Initiative Team 🇩🇴🏝️

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 3

Bienvenidos, Welcome to the Dominican Republic!

An exciting summer for our young leaders have begun!

Today Elaine and Ezra came earlier and then we met with the rest of the students around noon when 11 of our GLA students arrived at the Puerto Plata International Airport.

Anika, Evan and Dheekshi arrived around 4pm and are now at Home Base, meeting the group.

The weather was very fresh as we drove back to our Home Base, seeing a lot of the local scene and bright turquoise ocean along the way.

During the afternoon the students settled in and for dinner we got a delicious traditional Dominican meal: Rice and beans!

We still waiting for Bella, Keren, Mika, Maria, Ignacio and Keanu. Very soon the whole Global Health Initiative team will be complete!

Parents, families and friends, please follow us on this blog as we feature the daily adventures of this amazing group of leaders!

All the best,

Paulina, International Director

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BLOG POST FOR JULY 4

Today was our first day in the DR!

We woke up at 6:00am and we wake everyone else at 6:30pm singing along.

To say the least… they woke up and Wilson too.

Later, we gathered around for breakfast and munched on some good toasted bread, eggs, and oatmeal.

Moving forward, we have attended our 4 hour orientation meeting to know the basics of the GLA family!

Then lunch rolled around with rice with beans, cooked eggplant and some potato salad, more salad and fruits!

Now for the community, we helped make walls with plastic bottles and chicken wire as the foundation for upcoming clinic.

After many hours of traveling and flight delays, Maria finally arrived and the group is complete.

Dinner came and go, with chicken, salad and two version of pasta that tasted exquisite!

We had our swim test as our trial into finally relaxing in the pool and playing mermaids.

Then our most important event in our schedule, the medical brigade training which will be vital knowledge for our tomorrow for our clinical day.

We were missing a national holiday loved by Americans, The 4th of July, which we celebrated by having some ice cream and a bonfire to end the night and hit the hay sack.

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BLOG POST FOR JULY 5

This morning, we started the day with a wonderful breakfast and had a great group conversation about our plan for the day. After packing up lunch on the bus, we departed on time and headed out feeling organized and prepared. Nacho and I helped get the group in order, and together we made sure everyone had the supplies they needed for both the clinic and the town.

Throughout the day, we had the chance to work with some incredible people in the area—one family even welcomed us into their home to eat lunch, which was such a kind and generous gesture. I also had the opportunity to connect with locals using my limited Spanish and learned how certain medications are used to treat specific illnesses. It was a real learning experience, and I’m grateful to have worked alongside Dr. Caho and Dr Joseph at the medical analysis and diagnostics table.

After the clinic, we spent some time relaxing and bonding in the pool as a group, followed by a mentor group reflection. We talked about how we can better educate the community about the causes and prevention of health issues, rather than just offering temporary solutions through medication and clinic care.

One reflection we talked about was on how GLA Brigades can include more preventative medicine in our clinic setup so both volunteers and community members can better understand how certain issues can be managed—or even prevented—through simple lifestyle changes.

– Leaders of the day, Evan and Ignacio

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BLOG POST FOR JULY 6

After a restful night of sleep, we woke up to the Daddy Yankee classic “Gasolina“ and a beautiful, clear sky.

For breakfast we enjoyed thick pancakes topped with a thick, natural honey, as well as oatmeal and fresh local fruit.

We collaborated to quickly load our trailer with medicine, chairs, and tables to begin our second medical brigade. As a group we drove to a homely church in Gaspar Las Caobas and began treating the community.

After a morning of hard work registering patients, taking vital signs, assisting doctors, and filling prescriptions, we enjoyed our packed lunch. We gratefully enjoyed a spiced rice with a traditional pork dish and salad.

After completing our brigade we had treated more than 50 patients! We spent our remaining time discussing challenges and practices with Dr. Caho.

Soon we returned to home base to get some rest during an hour of siesta.

After our break Dave engaged us in a passionate lecture discussing his PhD dissertation covering the 7 elements of global health. He explained health, food, economic, political, environmental, community, and individual security, as well as the state of the Dominican Republic.

For dinner we ate a delicious chicken stew with potato and plantain over rice. For desert we enjoyed sweet and rich tropical fruits. It is safe to say everyone was full.

To end the day we gathered in reflection and recollection before swimming and playing basketball.

After a great day of growing as leaders and doctors, we slept once more.

– Leaders of the day, Keanu and Ezra

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BLOG POST FOR JULY 7

Our first excursion day started off with a wake up call to a song from the soundtrack teen beach movies to get us into a beachy vibe!!

We made our way to breakfast for eggs, bacon, and passionfruit juice. It was delicious! Then we packed our bags and got ready to go promptly at 8am to Laguna Dudu! Even though the drive was long, we knew it was worth it as soon as we arrived!!

We jumped off of rocks into the beautiful blue and clear water. We even saw a school of fish!

As we headed into our next lagoon, we passed by Wilson (the local director) lounging on a hammock! After a few hours, we jumped back in the van and made our way to lunch at Playa Grande.

It was the classic rice, beans, salad, and fruit which included mango (maybe the best we’ve ever tasted)!! We could see the beach from lunch and couldn’t wait to go in.

The beach water was bright blue and so clear, and we had a lot of fun catching waves!! After a long day we finally made our way back to home base to shower and have dinner. It was burrito night!! Aftwerwards we had delicious ice cream from local stand and had a blast at karoke/game night followed by watching the sunset at the beach and some pool time!!

Your leaders of the day signing off
⁃ Samayra and Keren 🌊☀️🏝️🪩🐢

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BLOG POST FOR JULY 8

Today we woke up bright and early at 6:45. Breakfast was delicious as usual. After breakfast, everyone understood the assignment and we left at 8am sharp. The car ride was long, but it was worth it to see the wonderful people of Caraballo town that didn’t seem to care if we were Dominican or Haitian. We also saw the abandoned sugar cane factory that housed factory workers a couple of decades ago.

The area for the medical brigade was a little cramped, everyone did so well and together we created a system to help patients more effectively, since we didn’t have enough chairs for 2 seating areas for the patients. We had about 70 patients today. One challenge we faced was eating lunch. We were swamped and just couldn’t stop working. Everyone understood that sacrifice was inevitable. So half of our crew ate lunch while the other half still worked. At the end of the brigade we still had some patients waiting for service. We couldn’t help them, and that gave us a glimpse of the real world.

After our long day at the medical brigade, Ryan passed his camera around and we commemorated the intense shift we had. After eating rice and beans for a week we were dying to have processed food. So we hit up the supermarket. Everyone spent thousands of pesos as we bought delicious American food and cake. Yum!

Once we got back to home base, we had nap time and then had a debate on how economy relates to human rights! Our guest speaker introduced herself and gave us a lecture about the discrimination she faced being Haitian in The Dominican Republic. We ended the day by passing around a volleyball. Our high score was 15. Wow we suck! A dip in the pool and then it was lights out.

Good night Dominican Republic – Elaine and Virginia

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BLOG POST FOR JULY 9

Today we started off our day at around 6:45am! We made our rounds waking everyone up for the breakfast of eggs, toast, oatmeal, bacon, and fruit! Its safe to say they were not thrilled to wake up but excited for the day ahead.

After breakfast, we slowly meandered over to the bus to get a start on our journey to Santiago de los Caballeros. This bumpy bus ride took us at least 2 hours with one potty break for our beloved friends. When we arrived at the Restoration Monument it was beautiful but, hot and windy. We were led on a extravagant scavenger hunt to learn more about the monuments meaning. Then we made our way back to the bus for a short ride to a Dominican Chick-fil a, called Pollo Victorina. There we enjoyed buckets of fried chicken, fries, churros, and pizza. We then hoped back on the bus to our last destination, Centro Cultural Leon Jiménez, where we learned about the history of the native islanders and how they lived. Then we headed back to the lovely bus for another hectic long drive. Many of us fell asleep, just to be woken up again half way through to the bus driver BLASTING his music!

We ended the day off with pasta, fish, potato salad, and fruit. Everyone was very sleepy and very much enjoyed the free time, post bus. The pool was very much enjoyed by everyone at night, as well as some soccer with some Bruno Mars music. Our classic “Nacho-Polo” time on the pool was lighted by an amazing full moon.

Claire and Bellatrix ✌️

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BLOG POST FOR JULY 10

Today we woke everyone up at 6:40. Next, we enjoyed a delicious breakfast of eggs, toast, and fruit. Then, at 8:00 we left for a bus ride to the Puerto Plata zip line. There we enjoyed eight wonderful zip lines that soared through a mountain. After zip lining we enjoyed a lunch which included fried chicken, pasta salad, fried yucca, rice, beans, and potatoes. After that everyone hung out at the pool and enjoyed a zip line that plunged into the pool. At 2:00 we started are journey back to home base where we then had free time and siesta until dinner. Once everyone finished dinner we had our leader of the day transition where we discussed what our goals were for the day and how it went. Once that was finished we had the second part of our debate where we had a big group discussion about human rights and international development. After that we had free time for the rest of the day and got ready for our hospital visit tomorrow.

See you tomorrow from your leaders of the day,
Anika and Sevanne

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BLOG POST FOR JULY 11

Today we woke up at 6:45 and woke everyone up for breakfast then we split into groups and researched the different components of the Dominican Health Care and made posters about them.

After we finished that we departed to two different hospitals, since there was 2 hospitals we split into our mentor groups. Christiana’s group went to the private hospital and Hannah’s went to the public one. After both groups got their tours we came together and went to our last hospital. This hospital was located in Rio San Juan and was public. During our tour we visited the NICU, emergency room and X-ray room and a few of us even got to get X-rays to see how the machine worked! To conclude the tour we got a chance to ask the doctors any questions we wanted which was super cool. Overall we learned a lot of new things and had an amazing tour!

After we finished the tour we headed back to home base for lunch! Then we had a siesta followed by free time. After that we met back up to present our posters that we created that morning. After that we had dinner which was pasta, chicken, potatoes, salad, and more!

We ended the day with swimming and playing volleyball on the beach!

-Leaders of the day Addi and Mika!

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BLOG POST FOR JULY 12

Dear family and friends,

Today is day 11 at the DR and we visited a local public hospital in Gaspar Hernandez. We had a doctor guide us through the hospital, explaining to the students the different purposes of each room and area of the hospital. Soon after, with special request of the birthday girl, we made a quick stop at the super market. After that, we visited the construction site of a clinic, which we are helping to build, in an area lacking medical teams. GLA groups and other students have had the privilege of constructing walls made out of chicken wire and recycled bottles to help continue the construction of the new hospital.

Later on, after lunch, we had time to rest and recharge after a long week of busy work. While some went to play basketball with the community, others played in the pool. After that we got to celebrate the birthday of our fellow GLA buddy Dheekshi.

Also, I am super grateful to have gotten some ice cream and wake up to a banner outside of my dorm. Thank you to my roommates, Maria and Teagan for setting it up- i’m super grateful to have you as my roommates. Thanks to everyone else for writing me a greeting card and making this one of the most memorable 17th birthday- Dheekshi

Best regards,
Maria and Dheekshi

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BLOG POST FOR JULY 13

Wake up today was at 7:15 and no later!! we had a delicious breakfast of toast and eggs and then at 8:30 we resumed cutting and crafting our plastic bottle walls. For this project we had to take recycled bottle and cut them open so we can stack them together and place them in wooden walls enclosed in chicken wire. Some people cut bottles and others hammered and some stacked the bottles.

At noon, we took a break for lunch which included chicken and of course the traditional rice and beans!

After lunch we headed back to work at the construction site, but thankfully we got our work done quick and finished all 5 walls!! Afterwards we had and early siesta time!

Later it was free time and it was overall a pretty chill few hours because everyone seemed to be tired after the long day. Some of us went down to walk on the beach and later swam. Once we came back we all got ready and dressed up for Dominican night at Diosi’s house about a 10 minute walk from home base.

We arrived for Dominican night and we all had a really great time dancing around with all of us and some of the local kids too! It was an unanimous decision voting Ryan and Nacho for having the best moves of the night!! But of course some of the local kids came to steal the show and showcase some of their moves.

Hours after the sun set we made our way back to home base and settled in for the night. Overall Dominican night was a very fun way to learn more about the culture through dancing!

-Sydney and Madison

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BLOG POST FOR JULY 14

Dear friends and family, today for breakfast we had delicious eggs, toast, fruit, and juice. We wrapped up our final medical brigade! The group did their final rotations of each station and got to experience something new and unique! We were stationed close to home base and got to help out the local community. After returning to home base we had a well needed meal of pork, rice, pasta, and fruit. The group had a calm siesta and a social free time following lunch. We spent time in our last mentor group session reflecting on our previous goals and aspirations. For dinner we had healthy salad, potatoes, chicken, cabbage, avocado, fruit and passion fruit juice. After enjoying some ice cream and free time in our second to last night in the DR, we went to bed early to prepare for tomorrows snorkeling adventure!

– Teagan and Kaitlyn

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BLOG POST FOR JULY 15

Bienvenidos a nuestro último vlog!

Today we woke up bright and early at 6:45 for breakfast. Our last day meal was french toast, pancakes, oatmeal, eggs and fruit. We got ready and began our journey to Sosúa beach for snorkeling. Everyone had a blast swimming in the clear ocean with tons of beautiful fish! We stopped ashore for lunch, some souvenirs were bought by others and also relaxing in the ocean.

After a wonderful day in the clear ocean water, we made our way back to home base for some free time, and a little nap for some, then had our appreciation circle. We wrote down things we appreciate about each other following our 5 pillars. Before dinner, our mentors wrote awards for everyone. (they were so accurate!). For dinner we had a classic american meal, french fries, spaghetti, chicken tenders, salad, ground beef and fruit!

After we ate, we wrote down some future goals for ourself that could help impact our community. We went to the beach for the last sunset of the trip and wrapped up our night together with some s’mores!

Sincerely, by your favorite LODs,
Maria and Ryan… making another appearance to wrap our incredible trip!
Adios! 🪸🐚🌊

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BLOG POST FOR JULY 16

As the sun rose over our final morning in the Dominican Republic together, Addi, Evan, Ezra, Ignacio, Kaitlyn, Keanu, Madison, Ryan, and Sydney woke up early to see the sunrise on the beach behind home base. Ezra and Elaine left early to Santiago Cibao International Airport and their flight back to Boston departed on time. The rest of the group departed a few hours later to the Puerto Plata Airport. Students, after a long (and early) travel day, we hope that as you read this you’ve arrived safely back home with a new perspective on global health, lasting friendships, leadership skills, and a heart full of memories over these last two weeks. The dogs already miss you — and so do we.

– With so many high fives and our continued support of your journey, your Mentors Christiana and Hannah

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

Bienvenidos, Welcome to the Dominican Republic!

An exciting summer for our young leaders have begun! 15 of our GLA students have arrived in the afternoon at the Puerto Plata International Airport. Sophie, Ava, Ella and Alex came earlier today and we met with the rest of the students around 3:30pm.

The weather was very fresh as we drove back to our homebase, seeing a lot of the local scene and bright turquoise ocean along the way.

During the afternoon the students settled in and for dinner we got a delicious traditional Dominican meal: Rice and beans and delicious mango!

We’re waiting for Hannah and Grady who will arrive tomorrow afternoon, then the whole Global Health Initiative team will be complete!

Parents, families and friends, please follow us on this blog as we feature the daily adventures of this amazing group of leaders!

All the best,

Paulina, International Director

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BLOG POST FOR JUNE 17

Today was our second day in the Dominican Republic.

We had an orientation with Dave, the owner of Seven Elements, who runs the lodge we are staying in. After that, we collected seashells at the beach and did a Leadership Pillars activity. Then, we had our first service day at the construction site where we made walls with recycled water bottles for a medical facility. To cool off, we had our swim test and spent some time at the pool. By that time, Hannah and Grady arrived so finally our whole group is complete!

Then, we had dinner and a medical brigade training with Dr. Caho, who will be with us tomorrow in the field. We finished the night with ice cream and community agreements!

Greetings,

Saya and Sophie,
Leaders of the Day

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BLOG POST FOR JUNE 18

Today we volunteered at a local church to participate in a medical brigade in the community of Sabaneta de Yasica with Dr. Caho. We helped out the locals by registering them, taking vital signs, writing the clinical history, shadowing the doctors while they addressed patients and distributing medicine.

We stopped at the supermarket to grab some snacks and then headed to Home Base for an afternoon siesta and team bonding at the beach and the pool. We ended the day getting familiar with our mentor groups reflecting on our personal goals through journaling.

Greetings from Las Canas,

– Christiana, Mentor

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BLOG POST FOR JUNE 19

Today we woke up and enjoyed some pancakes before heading to El Caiman, a rural community from Gaspar Hernandez municipality, to provide aid for a mixed community of Haitians and Dominicans during our medical brigade.

There, we set up five different stations and everyone got to try a new part of the rotation.

After finishing up the brigade we went on a walk through the town. Later in the afternoon we went on a walk to a lagoon near Home Base and then chilled at the pool. This leaded into dinner time where we had tacos, and got into our global health lecture with Dave, the Founder of 7 Elements, who provides health aid to 10,000 people in the region. After the lecture, we did a debriefing session to reflect on the 7 elements of security: Political, Economical, Environmental, Food, Health, Community and Individual. We headed to bed to rest up for our excursion day tomorrow!

All the best,
-Hannah, Grady and Christiana (mentor)

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BLOG POST FOR JUNE 20

Hello from the Dominican Republic!

Today we started off early by having a delicious breakfast. We hopped on the bus for an hour drive to Laguna Dudu to explore the beautiful property along with swimming in the lagoon. Then we went over to Playa Grande for a yummy lunch with the option of getting a tropical drink! We spent the rest of the afternoon hanging out on the beach; swimming and playing football in the water.

We drove back to home base for a siesta and a Dominican cooking night. Our chef taught us how to make “tostones” by smashing plantains. After, we ate them with a “Sancocho”, which is a typical chicken/ veggie soup. After, we had free time to play card games and volleyball. To finish the day we watched a beautiful sunset on the beach!

Until tomorrow,
Frances & Mia

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BLOG POST FOR JUNE 21

Saludes from Aguas Negras,

Today was filled with fun activities and learning opportunities. We drove to Aguas Negras for a medical brigade with Dr. Caho. We helped take patients vitals, document their medical history, and give them their necessary medications. We ate lunch at the worksite and then departed for home base. On the drive back, we stopped for fresh coconut water. We then went back to our rooms for a brief siesta before walking along the beach to get ice cream with the group. Upon our arrival, we ate chicken, potatoes, carrots, broccoli, and watermelon for dinner. The kitchen also prepared a refreshing lemonade.

After dinner, we split into groups for a discussion about morality in a hypothetical situation to reflect on human rights, economical development and international development. The situation presented a challenge of whether or not to build a sporting arena in the Haitian side in the community of La Grua. To consider this, each group had to share their thoughts on this project from a given perspective. This was a liberating experience that pushed us to consider many different viewpoints. Overall, we had a great day and look forward to the next activities this coming week!

Your Leaders of the Day,
Anya and Sejal

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BLOG POST FOR JUNE 22

Today we got an early start, waking up at 5:45 am for a 6 am breakfast. At 7 am, we departed on a 2-hour drive to La Grua, a community home to a mix of Dominican and Haitian residents.

We learned about the complex situation of Haitian migrants in the community and the reasons why many patients were afraid to come to the brigade for fear of deportation. We ran our medical brigade in a rustic building, played with some of the local kids, had a lunch of rice, beans, chicken, and plantains, and then drove back to Home Base.

Back at Home Base, we had a debrief circle to discuss the current geopolitical situation, learning the importance of viewing an issue from a variety of perspectives. The talk was led by Dave, our Home Base owner and ex-Navy SEAL. Afterwards, we had a delicious pasta dinner and enjoyed some free time before heading out to the beach to watch the sunset. It was a very busy but fulfilling day!

-Ella and Sasha, Leaders of the Day

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BLOG POST FOR JUNE 23

Today we visited public and private clinics in Gasper Hernandez. We toured both facilities with Dr. Caho, learning the differences, both positive and negative, of both sides of the Dominican healthcare system. We heard many different physicians speak about their personal experience in medicine as well as the Dominican healthcare system in general. We went to a surgery room and they explained to us the process of C-sections, and had nurses explain what every tool and piece of equipment did in each room we saw.

After the amazing shadowing experience, we headed back to home base for lunch and a long siesta (which was earned). We then had some free time where we hung around the pool and talked, followed by dinner.

After dinner which was taco night we sat down with Dr. Caho and presented our research on 10 specific topics of DR healthcare. He also explained the DR system much more in-depth and we learned so much about disease control and pandemic awareness, as well as the three levels in DR healthcare. We then went back to our rooms for some long awaited rest.

Your leaders of the day,
Alex and Gavin

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BLOG POST FOR JUNE 24

DAYYYY NINEEE!!

We started off our day by visiting the Monument to the Heroes of the Restoration in Santiago where we learned about the history of the Dominican Republic. After lunch we took a tour of the cultural museum and viewed the artifacts, art, and the history of the Caribbean culture through various types of paintings and photographs. On the way home we got to stop at the supermarket. We ended our day with a two hour karaoke session full of laughing, dancing, and singing. 😛😛

#bestnight #shakasup

~ from lexie and lauren 🤙🩷

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BLOG POST FOR JUNE 25

Today we had a nice breakfast, then headed out early for the zip line excursion. Upon arrival we geared up and then did a 8 course zip line adventure. This was definitely one of the group favorites of the trip. Afterwards we enjoyed a meal at the course and hung out by the pool. In the early afternoon we headed back to home base with a quick stop to tour the clinic that the walls we are building in our infrastructure project will be used for. then we had a siesta followed by free time and dinner, then a quick journaling acvitivty where we reflected on our futures in relation to our Dominican experience learning about Global Health and we were off to bed.

-Violet and Hannah

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BLOG POST FOR JUNE 26

Today we toured the Rio San Juan hospital, and got to see patients, testing labs, ER, X-Ray room and much more. After the Hospital we headed back to Home Base and got lunch. After lunch we went down to a community basketball court and played games with the locals. After 2 pretty intense rounds of basketball we had some popsicles and headed back to Home Base. Some of us ran and others walked. We enjoyed and got refreshed at the pool afterwards!

Then we got ready for dinner and dancing. At Dominican Night we experienced traditional food and dancing!

✌🏼out day 11 – Clara and Grady

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BLOG POST FOR JUNE 27

Today was a very busy day for the Global Health Initiative group. We started off the day with a delicious breakfast that fueled us to build our eco-friendly walls that took 6 HOURS TO BUILD. Afterwards, we jumped in the pool to cool off (muy tranquillo)! Thankfully, we had a very long siesta followed by an amazing dinner, and mentor groups after.

-Lauren and Alex (🐐🐐🐐)

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BLOG POST FOR JUNE 28

Today we had a very fun last day. We woke up early and had a delicious and nutritious breakfast before we departed for Sosua, where we went snorkeling on a catamaran. After we had a delicious lunch on the beach where we had amazing pizza. After lunch, we enjoyed tanning, shopping, around and just lounging and swimming. We then came home and took a much-needed siesta and enjoyed our last free time together after this. We had an amazing dinner and got to do our appreciation circle and our awards. I would like to say I speak for all of us and say that we’re very thankful for this trip and we’re gonna miss each other very much.

Shakas up for the last time 🤙🏼,

Sophie and Ava

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 22

Hola families!

We kicked off our first full day in Costa Rica with a delicious traditional breakfast—gallo pinto (that’s rice and beans!), eggs, and sweet plantains. The perfect fuel for a big day ahead!

After breakfast, we jumped into orientation with some creative skits, helpful info about what’s coming up, and a little surprise, stickers for everyone! Who doesn’t love a little GLA swag?

Later on, students crushed their swim tests and had some time to relax and settle in before a tasty lunch of pork, fresh salad, and juicy peaches.

In the afternoon, we made our way to Tico Lingo for our Spanish class. After that, it was time to hit the streets of Heredia for a walking tour and a town scavenger hunt! Students used their Spanish skills to explore, ask questions, and connect with the local vibe, it was awesome to see them in action!

Dinner brought us a warm plate of mixed rice and chicken, and veggies. After we ate, the group came together to create our community agreements—a set of promises to keep our team strong, kind, and united. Then we closed the night with our first Sunset Circle, a GLA tradition where we reflect on the day, appreciate each other, and name our very first Leaders of the Day (complete with a crown, of course!).

Tomorrow’s leaders of the day are Clay and Sami!

We ended with evening health checks and some well-deserved chill time before lights out. Everyone is doing great, making new friends, and settling into our Costa Rican adventure.

More fun and discovery to come—stay tuned!

Pura Vida,
The TUA Staff

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BLOG POST FOR JULY 23

Hey everyone!

We just finished up an amazing second day in Costa Rica! We started the day with a hike on the Mantra Trail in Santa Ana. Along the trail, we saw many different plants, including coffee plants, and took lots of photos at the scenic stops. Some favorites were the big Buddha statue, the giant Blue Morpho Butterfly sculpture, and the well-known La Chimba—a massive hand sculpture on the mountain where you can look out over the landscape!

Fun fact: The Blue Morpho Butterfly is Costa Rica’s national butterfly!

After the hike, we enjoyed a delicious traditional meal called casado, which includes rice and beans, salad, plantain, and a choice of protein depending on your preference.

Following a busy morning, we headed back to the lodge, where we played a fun bingo game to get to know each other better. We also had an amazing history lesson from our local director. From 300 BC to today, we learned how Costa Rica became independent, about its native animals and how to respect them, and about the country’s main imports and exports, like medical supplies and foods such as bananas, brought here long ago.

To end the day, we had a delicious dinner with mushrooms, steak, potatoes, and mashed potatoes. That’s it for today, but we can’t wait to go rafting tomorrow—stay tuned!

Pura Vida,

Sami and Clay

Note to families: we will be staying in a jungle lodge and out of signal for the night but there is a sat phone in case of emergency. Students will contact families Friday night and when we return from rafting! 🙂

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BLOG POST FOR JULY 24

Hola families!

We started the day bright and early, 5:00 AM wake-up. By 5:45, all 21 of us were on the bus, half-asleep but excited for the adventure ahead. After a scenic three-hour drive (with a stop for a classic Costa Rican breakfast), we arrived in Turrialba, ready for our rafting trip on the Río Pacuare.

Once geared up with helmets, life jackets, and paddles, we hit the water. The river was breathtaking surrounded by lush jungle and powerful rapids. Our guides kept calling out, “Forward! Stop!” as we paddled through the twists and turns, trying not to tip over. It was both challenging and unforgettable, definitely a highlight of the trip so far.

Halfway through the ride, we stopped at a beautiful riverside lodge called Ríos Lodge. Tucked into the rainforest, it felt like a hidden oasis. There, we enjoyed a well-deserved lunch: chicken fingers, fajitas, and local fruit juices, simple but delicious, with a view that made it even better.

After our delicious lunch, we had mentor groups where we did an activity called Social Sinc. Then we created a story by each saying a few words to form a scrambled and unique tale. Before dinner we worked on an activity called “Let’s Get Smart”, we wrote letters to ourselves to read on the last day of the trip. We reflected on what we want to improve and work on during the week. After dinner, we all laid down on the trampolines, stargazed, and took lots of group pictures!

Pura Vida!

Paul and Finley

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BLOG POST FOR JULY 25

Hola family!

Another day in GLA. We woke up on this fine, if slightly cloudy morning to a sublime breakfast, including fresh watermelon, sliced papaya, mini-pancakes, sausages and scrambled eggs. We enjoyed our meal with a gorgeous view of the Pacuare river and the natural view beyond. Afterwards, we resumed our rafting journey, though this time, more troubles awaited us, as there were many riptides that we successfully defeated as a team! For three hours, we gazed upon beautiful waterfalls and traversed Class III and even Class IV rapids.

After stopping for an exquisite lunch of fresh fruit and burritos, we continued our journey, with two of us even falling out and safely rescued by the their boating team, until we made our way to the stopping point. It was a beautiful sunny day, but by the end, there was a slight drizzle of rain, and the reeds drifted in the wind. We quickly changed before going on a winding, three hour bus drive on the way to our new home base, stopping to get a few scoops of the famous Costa Rican ice cream, as well as a few other goodies on the way. We ended our journey in La Fortuna, where the mountains loom in the distance and birds of all feathers and colors fly in the verdant trees all around us. We feasted upon a wonderful vegetarian meal including pumpkin soup, egg quiche and a creamy dessert.

After doing a quick nighttime activity where we checked in on our goals and feats for this trip, the new team leaders were elected and we went to sleep. Tomorrow, we’re going to go out and immerse ourselves in Costa Rican culture before visiting the hot springs. Can’t wait! Stay tuned, and remember to be the change.

Pura Vida

Cooper and Sara

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BLOG POST FOR JULY 26

Hola families!

We woke up at 5 a.m. to the sound of howling monkeys and we all saw them! Then we got up again for breakfast at 8 a.m. and ate pancakes, French toast, or desayuno típico. After breakfast, we had a mentor group competition and Grace’s mentor group won!

Later, we visited Doña Elli’s farm where we saw a sloth, made tortillas, and ate them with our lunch. After lunch, we watched traditional Costa Rican dancers perform. A few of our campers knew how to play guitar and sing, so we all joined in for a little sing along. Plus there was a super cute and friendly dog there too.

After we left, we went to the best ice cream shop in Costa Rica. It’s called Pops! Once everyone had their ice cream, we went to the park and ate it all together. When we finished, we got back on the bus and headed to the hot springs for swimming.

At the hot springs, we swam and went down waterslides that launched us full blast into the water (LOL). We stayed for about two hours before cleaning up and walking to dinner. Dinner was a buffet and we all ate a lot of food… and I mean a lot.

Now it’s around 8 p.m. and we’re heading back to the hotel. The drive was peaceful. We listened to some country music and sang along a bit. It started raining while we were in the car but that was about it. We got back to the hotel, went to our rooms, and took HOT SHOWERS (which we love). Now we’re all getting ready for bed and going to sleep tight.

Okay bye guys, see you next time!!

Pura Vida,

Grant and Jadyn

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BLOG POST FOR JULY 28

Hola family!

Today we woke up after spending our first night at a new hotel in Playa Negra. This morning we had pancakes, cereal and fruit. Then we headed onto the bus to go to our first activity.

We arrived Rancho Avellanas, one of the only organic goat farm in costa rica. There, we got a tour of a variety of farm animals including chickens, pigs, dogs, and of course goats. The farm was so special because they do not use pesticides or other artificial farming practices. We got to feed the goats and got a demonstration on how to milk one. Then we tried some of the delicious products the farm offers. After a small break we got our hands dirty by planting some new plants on the farm.

We headed back to our home base for lunch which was rice with chicken, cabbage and chips. Afterwards we worked on a leadership activity with our mentors that focused on the 17 UN sustainable development goals. We got to learn about each of them individually and see how they are being utilized globally, locally and nationally.
Throughout this activity we were all able to work together and learn how to lead the change on.

Initially, we had planned on going to the beach, however due to rain and lightning, we decided to stay at home base and relax. Once the lightning stopped we took a dip in the pool. Even though it was still raining, the pool was super refreshing due to the humidity and temperature. Shortly after we came together to enjoy another meal, this time consisting of a beef stew and some delicious lemon cake.

After dinner, we worked with Fernanda and Naty as they taught us some fun latin dances such as the salsa, bachata and merengue. That concluded our exciting and new day!

Pura Vida!

Natalie and Gabe

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BLOG POST FOR JULY 29

Hola family!

We started the day with breakfast at 7:00 AM. It consisted of eggs, rice and beans, toast, and fruit. At 7:45, we loaded up the buses and started the 45-minute drive to the beach.

Once we arrived, the group was given rash guards and then walked down the beach to our surf spot, where we split into groups. Before getting in, we were taught how to properly paddle, stand up, and stay up. Finally, we were ready to get in.

For the next hour and a half, everybody caught waves over and over, getting better with each one. While some struggled more than others, everyone had fun and a great time. At 10:30, we changed into dry clothes and got back on the buses to head back to camp and eat lunch.

After the amazing lunch of tacos, we got changed and ready for a fun and interesting tour of the mangroves. We watched iguanas, saw lots of colorful crabs, and even stood in the rain!

Our beach trip sadly got canceled due to weather, but it was made up for with super fun games at the hotel! Hotel Championship! Many fun activities were played. (Let’s just say everyone was covered in mud.) After that, we had a dance party where everyone showed off their moves. (Insane, by the way.)

Pura Vida!

Kayden and Kennedy

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BLOG POST FOR JULY 30

Hola Families!

Today, we woke up early and ate breakfast at 7 AM. This morning’s meal consisted of pancakes, passion fruit, papaya, and eggs, among other things. Around 7:45, we were on the bus and heading out for another day of service work at the Rancho Avellanas goat farm.

At the farm, we split into three groups and rotated through three stations where we got to complete different tasks. One group filled bags with soil, a second group helped make compost, and the third group planted batón de oro, a plant that the goats eat. It was tiring work, but we were happy to help out on a local farm.

Unfortunately, beach time for the day was cancelled due to potentially dangerous ocean currents. Instead, after finishing our service work for the trip, we returned to the hotel, where we chilled out and enjoyed some highly anticipated pool time.

Starting at 5 PM, we spent some time getting ready for our talent show that would take place later in the evening. Shortly after, we ate a lasagna dinner with German-style rice pudding for dessert.

Finally, we had our talent show. Everyone had the chance to showcase their talents (if they wanted to), which included plenty of singing and dancing. To conclude the talent show, mentor groups performed their skits, the third part of the mentor group competition. Grace’s mentor group won. However, both groups did a great job and helped make the evening enjoyable.

As you can see, it was another exciting and memorable day here in Costa Rica!

Pura Vida!

Beau and Cruz

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BLOG POST FOR JULY 31

Hello families!

Today was a perfect mix of adventure and relaxation at Global Leadership Adventures.

We started with a thrilling ziplining session through the Costa Rican jungle, where we even spotted some monkeys. Afterward, we headed to Playa Conchal, a beautiful beach with seashell-filled sand and clear waters. We spent the afternoon swimming, playing volleyball and soccer, and soaking up the sun. Along the beach, local vendors were selling refreshing drinks, tasty food, and handmade jewelry, which made the experience even better.

After a relaxing return to base, we enjoyed a delicious, personalized pasta dinner and took the TUA (The Ultimate Adventure) quiz. To cap off the day, we had a Scottish dance class led by Ryan— a fun and lighthearted way to end an amazing day.

Pura Vida!

Sofia and Zach

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BLOG POST FOR AUGUST 1

Hey everyone!

Today was such a vibe from start to finish—definitely one of those slower, feel-good days that still had so many fun moments packed in. Here’s the recap of our awesome day: We started off with a super chill morning. For once, we didn’t have to rush out of bed—major win. Everyone got to sleep in a bit, relax, and slowly start packing up before we hit the road. It was the perfect slow start after a few packed days.

After some downtime, we loaded onto the bus and headed to a restaurant for lunch. The food was amazing and gave us a chance to fuel up before the rest of the day. Spirits were high and it felt good to just sit, talk, and laugh together over a good meal.

Next stop: the hotel. We dropped off our bags, freshened up a little, and then jumped right back into the action with a trip to town for some shopping. It was so fun wandering the local streets, checking out shops, grabbing souvenirs, and just soaking in the energy of the place.

As the afternoon rolled into evening, we made our way down to the beach to catch the sunset—and wow, it did not disappoint. Golden skies, ocean breeze, and a group of friends taking it all in together. Total core memory.

Dinner brought us back to the same restaurant from earlier, which honestly just made the day feel full-circle in the best way. Then came the ice cream stop (of course)—no better way to cap off a meal!

Back at the hotel, we all threw on our swimsuits and went for a night swim, which felt so refreshing after a full day. Finally, we wrapped things up with our sunset circle—a quiet, reflective moment together that always helps bring the day to a close in such a meaningful way.

After that, we just chilled a bit more and headed off to bed, ready for whatever tomorrow brings.

Can’t wait to see what’s next!

— Will, Sam, and Ryder

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BLOG POST FOR AUGUST 2

Hola families!

Today was an incredible final full day in Costa Rica!

We woke up bright and early to head out on our catamaran adventure at Playa Flamingo. We snorkeled in the clear waters and were lucky enough to spot a manta ray and an eel! Some of us also went paddleboarding and kayaking, while others relaxed under the sun, played in the waves, and even saw sea turtles swimming nearby.

We enjoyed a delicious snack of burritos and fresh fruit on board before heading back for lunch with chicken fingers and more fruit to fuel the rest of the day.

Later, we spent time working on our “Let’s Get SMART 2” session, where we focused on creating goals that are Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time bound. After thoughtful discussion, everyone came up with their OMG Goal—one measurable goal centered around the theme of being responsibly resourceful. (Ask your student what theirs is!)

In the afternoon, some of us explored the town while others relaxed back at the Home base. We packed up our things and got ready for our farewell dinner, where we dressed up and enjoyed steak together.

We ended the night in the most meaningful way with our appreciation circle, sharing memories, gratitude, and farewells. (and a surprise birthday!)

What a beautiful way to close out this unforgettable adventure! 🌅💛

TUA STAFF 🙂