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 13

Today we wake up at 7:30 am and gathered at the common area at 8. To start the day we did capoeira warm up, after that we continued with ice breakers and the swim test. We got to know more about each other as well as swim and rest at the jacuzzi, which was fun. We the got changed and headed to the equator where we learned a lot about native cultures as well as the effects of the earth´s rotation like the coreolis effect, which was saw when the water drained out of a sink in different rotations around the Ecuador. We ended our day by going to the mall and then coming back to the home base for an amazing dinner. Finally we took a quick “relax time” at the jacuzzi and packed for the flight to Galapagos before heading to bed.

Benjamin and Nicholas

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BLOG POST FOR JULY 14

This morning we had a very very early wake up call at 5:50 am! After packing our bags and leaving them at the gate, we ate our lunch bag so fast and we said goodbye to our hotel and went to the airport. We checked our luggage and boarded the plane. At the plane everyone was trying to sleep, and was nice to have a small nap.

Finally we reached the Galapagos island! we were clapping at the plane, apparently is something that people do when they survive to the flight. Then we saw our first iguana, not like the ones that swim but this one was yellow and green and also huge.

During our ride , our guide Wilson informed us about the rules and facts of the Galapagos. We finally arrived at our new hotel “Arena Negra” and got comfortable with our new rooms. We walked around for a bit and went to the Charles Darwin Research center and saw some iguanas and land tortoises. We the went back to the hotel to eat dinner. The day continued with a walk to to see some sharks and sea lions.

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BLOG POST FOR JULY 15

Today we woke up at 6:30 am and had an amazing breakfast. When we arrived out to our workplace we were stunned by the beautiful scenery. Plus we were able to be only a few feet away from the tortoises. After 2 hours of work we were treated to an amazing lunch at the ranch which included fun drinks. After we stuffed our belly full we went back to work. Eventually we finished. Everyone was exhausted, so we traveled back to homebase to take a well deserved shower and devoured the delicious food. Finally after a long day of work we hit the hay.

– Julian and Jack

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BLOG POST FOR JULY 16

Hello parents,

I hope you are all doing amazing! I would like for you to know that your kids are having the best time ever and are all so grateful and happy for you to let them be here! So before I tell you about our day Channing and I want to say thank you!

Today we woke up very early and had a good fast breakfast before packing our bags and putting our swim suits on. After we packed our bags we walked to the dock that the water taxi picked us up and took us to the location of our quick scenic hike! We hiked for about 40 min to a watering hole that was in the middle of 2 split rocks. Once we got there we all wee so excited we dropped our things and ran to the water. One after another we jumped in the water and started to swim around, the water was warm, refreshing and very salty. Once we were done swimming I tried to teach them how to do a backflip into the water.

After a lot of swimming and having fun we got our stuff and walked back to the dock to take the water taxi back home. Once we got home we had lunch and took a quick hour Power Nap then headed straight to 5 hours of service work! Ending the day with the best croissant I have ever had we went home had dinner and headed off to bed!

Sincerely,

Ruby & Channing

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BLOG POST FOR JULY 17

We started our day at 8:30 with with delicious cheese filled empanadas. We then took the bus to “los Gemelos” where we saw volcanic crater and lush invasive vegetation. Then we visited the lava tunnels and observed a barn owl. We learned about the volcanic activity surrounding the Galápagos Islands and talked about the formation of the tunnels. We proceeded to relax in hammocks before a great lunch.

After lunch we played two riveting matches of musical chairs. Then we continued our service at the local tortoise reserve where we planted and protected native plants. After service we rode the bus back stopping on the way to grab some delicious baked goods. Finally we settled in for the dinner at the hotel consuming chicken and pasta salad.

Love,
Jackson and Hank

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

After a much needed rest from the long and exhausting previous day’s travel, we started our morning with a simple but delicious breakfast of toast, eggs, and a variety of fresh fruits. Once we let our food settle for twenty minutes, we took our swim tests and then went over important ground rules and trip expectations.

After, we did one on one interviews with randomly selected partners to get to know each other better. After a few minutes of chatting and asking questions, we introduced our partners to the group, which helped us all get a better sense of who we are traveling with.

Lunch was a hearty spread featuring chicken soup, grilled chicken breasts, mashed potatoes, a vegetable salad, and local ice cream. After a short break, we boarded a bus and headed out to visit two different equator sites. Our first stop was the Mitad del Mundo monument, which marks the modern equator line. There, we toured a museum that showcased Indigenous life and history, along with a complex but fun demonstration about how gravity and balance are affected near the equator. The guide referenced the work of French explorer and geographer Charles Marie De Condamine, who dedicated his life studies to map the equator in the 18th century.

Next, we visited the Initiñan, a nearby site historically believed to be the true equator prior to recalculation in 2008. At the top of the museum’s lookout tower, we enjoyed a breathtaking view of Ecuador’s mountains and volcanoes which were blanketed by clouds.

Afterward, we explored local shops and food stalls. Some of us had more ice cream.

We wrapped up the day by returning to camp for dinner of spaghetti and meatballs with chocolate pudding for dessert. The night ended with some friendly blackjack (no gambling money, sadly) and some frantic packing with everyone needing their suitcase to be under twenty three kilograms (about forty four pounds).

– Henry (Hank)

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BLOG POST FOR JUNE 17

By Marielle K and Hanna P

This morning 12 shivering and groaning teenagers woke up at four in the morning to start their journey to the Galápagos Islands. With suitcases by the bus by 430 and bagged breakfasts in hand we started driving towards the airport, the stars still awake and waving us away from base camp number one. When we reached the air we were somewhat more awake and ready to roll. Instead we ended up standing around for quite a bit while we waited for the boarding passes and the checking tags to print. With all of that taken care of we headed towards the plane. With a scale ranging from fast asleep to coffee everyone spent their plane ride a different way. We got a friendly Iguana greeting when we landed. Once inside the airport Hakkan handed out passports and money like we were in a heist movie.

The island we had flown to is a small island right next to Santa Cruz that used to be a US Navy base. Because of this we had to ride a short bus right from the airport to the edge of the island before boarding a small boat. We actually got to watch some blue footed boobies and pelicans diving, which was an awesome view backdropped by the perfect teal water. After the boat ride we took another bus, our final step before making it to base camp two.

Once at the base, the 12 of us split into our new room assignments to explore the cozy cracks, stains, and lizards decorating our new home. After everyone settled down and settled in, there were a few heated rounds or BS and blackjack before lunch. We had a tasty lunch, endured some heat to make your eyes sweat and a few rules of the part, before setting out on the next part of our adventures, tortoises! We saw all ranges of a giant tortoises’ life; the babies breed in the sanctuary, some teens wobbling around their enclosure, some impressively prehistoric, century year old tortoises, and a stuffed idealized grandpa turtle named George. He was a great sport when it came to photos. He barely moved a muscle! In the museum we feasted on the view of an enormous whale skeleton, as well as some cooling ice cream. After a nice walk back to base or day wound down, so I guess you’ll have to tune in tomorrow so get some more updates!

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BLOG POST FOR JUNE 18

By Hannah B and Marielle K

Hi families! Today we had a very early morning, waking up at 6:30 and getting ready for a long day of work. We started off the day with some yummy fried banana patties topped with a delicious fried egg. Then, we took a long bus ride filled with snacks to prepare us for the long day!

We arrived at Primicias, where we worked for eight hours in total. We got rid of many invasive species of trees for four hours, which took a lot of hard work and determination! We had a quick lunch break with great food, such as pesto spaghetti, spaghetti pomodoro, and fish, as well as milkshakes, lemonade, and more! We went back to work for another four hours and we continued clearing out the area.

Once we finished, we came back to the home base, where we ate chicken, and rice with beans. Although we were very tired by the end of the day, we finished by walking to a local gelato shop, which was a great way to end our evening! Thank you for reading and get ready to hear about tomorrow!

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BLOG POST FOR JUNE 19

Today for our delectable breakfast, we had tortilla de maíz and scrambled eggs after that we took a hike to swim in a crack that was created by volcanoes. Although the hike was decently grueling, as the weather was very muggy, it was very interesting to see the rugged beauty of the island during the dry season. The land almost looks cracked but the wildlife still seems to flourish. As soon as we reached our destination on the top of a hill, we immediately beheld the stunning view of Santa Cruz Bay. The water was ice blue and the ships were glittering on the bay.

As we turned around, we beheld the crevasse which we were about to swim in. In order to swim, we had to descend down about four flights of stairs. Once we reached the bottom, we jumped in the very cooling water. After such a long and grueling hike, it was extremely refreshing to experience the cooling sensation of the water. After that, we hiked back to base and ate lunch, which consisted of fried fish and coleslaw with rice as a side of course.

Then we went back to Rancho Primicias for another four hours ish of work. We were able to witness two tortoises mating. An interesting highlight indeed. Then we came back to base again and ate a dinner which consisted of steak fruits. (the vegetarians had eggplant) after that we celebrated Rockwells birthday with ice cream!!!!!! he was so happy and so do we!!!

-Noah

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BLOG POST FOR JUNE 20

Today we kicked things off with a tasty meal of breakfast empanadas! We then took a beautiful mile and a half hike to Tortuga Bay, full of amazing views from the white sand beach and clear blue water to racing lizards and vast mountains. Then stopping at a breathtaking part of the bay for some swimming. There, we played games such as Marco Polo, Chicken Fight, Duck Duck Goose, and many more!

After swimming, we went back to home base to get ready for our work and to eat a delicious meal of pasta and various meats. We then left to continue our work, today consisting of moving large stones to surround the baby trees growing there. This is crucial, as it protects the growing trees from the turtles stomping all over them.

After our tiring but rewarding work, some of us got smoothies as we waited for the shuttle to pick us up. On the way back to base, we stopped to get some street empanadas. They were so good many of us got seconds and even thirds! We then walked back to base for our dinner, which was a delicious dish consisting of beef, beans and rice. Finally, we ended our night with a fun game of mau and went to bed excited for the next day!

Lizzie :3

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BLOG POST FOR JUNE 21

We began our day with a breakfast of egg and bolon, which is banana with cheese inside. We took a trail with two large craters and many endemic trees and wildlife, and then we walked through a lava tunnel which was really awesome.

After that we ate a great lunch at the ranch and went to work. We dug up rocks to protect endemic plants and planted some more. Today was our last day at this ranch doing physical labor, and by now our little area is almost completely clear. We also learned about the tortoises and their different types and how to tell if one is male or female and adult or younger.

After that, we came back to the hotel and ate spaghetti, and then went through the town center to shop and celebrate with the midsummer festival (today was family day because it was a sunday). Then we came back again to pack our suitcases and went to bed!

Izzy

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BLOG POST FOR JUNE 23

Hello GLA families!

Today – Monday June 23rd – we woke up at 7:00 am, or at least the majority of us, as some forgot to set their alarms!

We then made our way up to the rooftop for breakfast where we enjoyed scrambled eggs, papaya, bananas, and rolls. This breakfast perfectly prepared us for our morning adventure.

At around 8:00 am, we took a bus and then had a short hike to La Loberia Beach where we snorkeled with sea turtles and sea lions. Though I can’t speak for everyone in the group, this experience has definitely been a highlight of my trip!

When we returned from our snorkeling adventure, we had a delicious lunch of soup and spaghetti.

After lunch, we had a debate on invasive species in the Galapagos, such as cats, dogs, and rats. Each person took a different perspective – for example, one person had to act in the interest of the local people, whereas another person acted in the interest of an NGO that sought to protect animals. Through this, each of us were able to gain a better understanding of a different perspective.

After this debate, we got our laundry back which was a huge relief as I was out of both shorts and shirts – it could have been bad!

Then, around 4:00 pm we went to a recycling workshop just around the corner where we learned to make crafts out of recycled material. In this workshop, we made a sea lion shaped keychain out of recycled jeans.

Across the street from where we did crafts was a soccer field where we played soccer (or I guess football here) for about an hour!

Finally, for dinner we ate mashed potatoes and fried shrimp.

Now, as I write this, we are playing cards and unwinding from the day!

We are all so excited for tomorrow!

Best,
Lily Malin

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BLOG POST FOR JUNE 24

Today we woke up and ate breakfast at 7:00 consisting of eggs, fruits, and bread. Next we headed to harbor where we took a boat ride to isla lobos. There we saw the seabirds and blue footed boobies nesting site, the birds were very beautiful, we saw them nesting with their eggs, crabs, and baby iguanas. Then after wandering around for a while we got changed into our wet suits and went snorkeling with the sea lions of the island they swam around us curious, like puppies!!! It was such a life changing experience !!!! Then took the boat and we rode to a beach where played games in the water, jumped off the boat, and sat in the sun. We came back and ate lunch and ate soup and chicken with rice. We rested for a while with many of us taking naps. After we all woke up we all then headed into town and played some pickup basketball games with some of the local kids and got ice cream when it was all over. We headed back for dinner eating chicken wings and fries. Afterwards we had a surprise of karaoke and kabobs where we all had a ton of fun singing and eating together. We headed back and relaxed for a while playing some cards, resting, and then headed to bed for a good night’s sleep.

Rockwell

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BLOG POST FOR JUNE 25

Today, we headed to go snorkeling after breakfast, and along the way we walked through a museum filled to the brim of interesting facts. We split into three groups; one learning about human history in the Galapagos Islands; one learning about the terrain of the islands and how these lands formed; and finally, the last group learning about conservation efforts in the Galapagos. We then taught each other what we learned, sharing our newfound knowledge with our peers.

Furthermore, after a walk to the beach we snorkeled with diverse life such as sea lions, marine iguanas, fish, a sting ray, and you guessed it- more fish! Everything in less than 10 minutes! A bit later, we had lunch and arrived at the nearby elementary school where we painted the floor with colors and fun animals. This included a beach section with hand-painted Galapagos animals “swimming” in the painted water, along with a mermaid. Dinner came after we showered and got ready, and afterwards we drifted off to sleep to end the day.

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BLOG POST FOR JUNE 26

Hello from the Galapagos!!

Today we started the day off with Cantalope, Eggs, and Fried Plantains! After we did a group goal building workshop that focused on what we’ve learned, the problems we tried to address and how we can implement solutions in our day to day lives.

Next, we headed to the beach with a quick stop a local bakery/ice cream shop for some delicious treats. At the beach, we relaxed, played soccer, swam, and hung out with friends!!

For lunch, we had Ceviche with rice and popcorn. Shortly after lunch, we learned how to make empanadas with a choice of nutella and bananas or cheese for the filling!!

After the delicious empanadas, we did a salsa dancing class where we started solo and later danced in pairs! Even though most of us have two left feet, we all had a blast!!

To end the night we each got dressed up nicely and headed out to a local pizza restaurant, before heading back for a movie and packing for the airport to Quito Tomorrow!!

– Hannah Brown and Hannah Price

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BLOG POST FOR JUNE 27

Today we woke up feeling remorse, as it was our last full day together. Luckily we had pancakes for breakfast, which significantly brightened our mood. Our flight was at 2, so we spent the morning walking around, buying souvenirs, and enjoying the playgrounds we encountered along the way. After that, we visited a deli to buy snacks and drinks, we were ignoring every single “sugar tag” and we ate a lot of deserts. For lunch, we had a quite american meal of chicken nuggets and fries, which was very delicious, just what we needed for our hiking to the airport to ho´p on a flight back to quito. we do a small stop at Guayaquil and we started to create troubles at the plane changing seats, the lady at the airline was smiling so everything was fine. When we reached the hotel, we had chicken lasagna for dinner, and ended off the evening with a movie, Baby Driver.

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 15

We made it! After a big travel day, we set foot on British soil and started our STEM European tour. London is great. The weather is warm, the birds are singing, and the accents are fabulous. We are staying at a quaint hotel with a charming restaurant, and a beautiful park is just around the corner. There are brick buildings everywhere and a delightful “Britishness” hangs in the air.

The group is great. Everyone is already starting to make friends. We spent the afternoon getting to know one another and doing challenges in the park after a delicious meal at Nando’s. We talked about everything we are excited about for this program, and the list only got better and better the more we talked. From site-seeing in London to wandering the streets of Paris, from CERN to the UN, this program is going to be incredible.

We are taking our first night easy to catch up on sleep because tomorrow we start to explore the city. We are going to do a forensics workshop in Sherlock’s city, take a boat ride on the Thames, and tour Big Ben. We can’t wait. And that’s just the start.

We are going to be posting student blogs every couple of days, so keep your eyes open for our next round of updates. We can’t wait to tell you about our adventures in London, Paris, and Geneva. They are going to be great.

Wishing everyone a happy belated fathers’ day.

Cheers,

GLA STEM Team

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BLOG POST FOR JUNE 18

Written by Sahasra Sadhanala and Conlan

On our first day, Monday June 10, we began with an orientation, followed by games we used to get to know each other. We then went to a workshop where a detective from Scotland Yard explained how evidence was investigated at a crime scene, showing using a model crime scene, and having a volunteer explore it in the professional attire. After that he had groups analyze witness statements, bank records, and other information relating to the case. In order to confirm who was the true culprit we acted out mock interrogations where students acted as the suspects and the officers. After the workshop we took a scenic boat ride on the river Thames, seeing beautiful architecture (such as the London Bridge). We then ended the day by going to Big Ben where we took pictures.

The students began Day 2 by traveling to Oxford for a guided tour. During the tour, we experienced its beautiful architecture, learned about student traditions, the history of the colleges, and how the university operates. After the tour, we had lunch before splitting into two groups. Some students chose to explore one of Oxford’s libraries instead of visiting the Museum of Natural Sciences History. Those who visited the library ended up at the Divinity School, where the infirmary scenes in Harry Potter were filmed. There, they learned about the history of the library above them, as well as the architecture, history, and laws of the school. Those students then proceeded to go to a different science museum where they learned about planets and how science has evolved. The students who went to The History of Natural Sciences museum at Oxford contained artifacts exploring topics such as magic, warfare, marine life, and more. It allowed us to see the numerous aspects of history from a variety of perspectives-which was rather interesting.

Our third day began with a trip to Buckingham Palace. After spending some time in the nearby park, we watched the Changing of the Guard. The group then went on a Harry Potter tour, since many scenes from the films were shot in London. During the tour, students had the opportunity to touch a wall that Rupert Grint (Ron Weasley) touched during filming. Afterwards, everyone visited Camden Market, where the students shopped for souvenirs and gifts for their families. To end the day, we attended a performance of Wicked in London’s West End.

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BLOG POST FOR JUNE 19

June 19th was mostly a travel day from London to Paris. But before we went to Paris, we took a short stop down to the Tower of London. Where we saw the Crown Jewels and all the super cool architecture and interesting animal sculptures spread all around. After our short but very detailed and interesting visit, we made it to the station where we had lunch. When we got on the train, most slept and recharged their batteries. Once the train arrived in Paris, the group powered through the heat because we are awesome travelers!

I really thought all the animal sculptures at the Tower of London were really cool because they were made of this weird material and then the train ride was a bit long but music and naps always help pass the time really quickly and once we arrived in Paris the heat hit me immediately but I think with a few days here it will feel a little bit more normal and the rest of Paris will be hopefully not that hot and cool down!

The next day in Paris began with a visit to “The Museum of Science and Industry.” All the students split up in groups and explored the museum’s collection of exhibits, which included interactive displays on mathematics, lots of robotics and technology, and an exhibit on the evolution of gaming. A highlight of the museum visit was the planetarium show. This displayed the different planets and galaxies on a large screen as if they were on a rocket ship.

After our time at the museum, our group made its way to the Eiffel Tower. The stairs were rather aggressive, but after a hard journey we made it to the top to see the breathtaking views of the city. Many students went to purchase souvenirs at the gift shop, selecting gifts for their loved ones back home. To conclude our eventful evening we returned to the hotel for a brief period of relaxation and freshening up. Later in the evening, we ventured out to dine at Tajmahal, an Indian restaurant by the hotel! It was delicious.

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BLOG POST FOR JUNE 21

Today’s GLA adventurers explored their second full day in Paris, where students gained important and meaningful experiences while working with Serve the City, a local organization. They prepared and distributed sandwiches and water to help feed those in need throughout the city. Volunteers, both local and international, are dedicated to making a difference and putting a smile on people’s faces.

After eating lunch at Serve the City, students walked to and boarded a boat on the Seine River. Whether inside the boat or up on the top, they were able to observe the calm waters and see an abundance of beautiful architecture, including the Eiffel Tower, while floating through Paris.

Following the Seine River, GLA ventured to a spot high above the city, Basilique du Sacré-Cœur de Montmartre. This area reveals a colorful side of Paris, full of entertainment, greenery, delicious food, street art, and stunning architecture. The blend of traditional buildings with a lively atmosphere creates a unique sense of spiritual beauty and cultural vibrance.

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BLOG POST FOR JUNE 22

Today, June 22nd, the group went to Versailles and the Louvre. In Versailles, we visited the Palace of Versailles where we had around an hour to explore in small groups, enjoying the architecture and the art. The grandeur of the Hall of Mirrors and the intricate details in each room left us all in awe. After that, we went to the Park of Versailles where we rented bikes and toured the beautifully scenic park. Riding along the tree-lined paths and past sparkling fountains, we felt like we’d stepped into a famous French painting. We stopped for lunch and had delicious French pastries and sandwiches by the lake, savoring the peaceful atmosphere and sharing stories about our favorite parts of the day so far.

After this, we traveled to the Louvre and did a scavenger hunt for many different famous pieces of art such as the Mona Lisa and the Venus de Milo. The scavenger hunt made exploring the vast museum even more exciting, as we raced to find each masterpiece and learn a little bit about its history. We took plenty of photos to document our whole trip there. We then ate dinner at a great Japanese restaurant where everyone enjoyed trying something new and sharing their favorite dishes. The day ended with a relaxed walk back to the hotel, where we packed our bags and chatted about our adventures, looking forward to the journey to Switzerland tomorrow!

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BLOG POST FOR JUNE 23

Today we woke up early to be able to make it to the United Nations Offices in Geneva. when we arrived there we first went upstairs and got to see the various gifts the UN has received from other countries. Following that we had to opportunity to spectate a conference that’s only held 3 times a year about humanitarian problems and this specific one heavily involved Sudan. We got to learn about the cool things we saw and that happen in these types of meetings. Then we went down to another conference room that’s more newer and this one is used for many different topics not just humanitarian rights. The tour ended off seeing the 17 goals that the UN want to reach by 2030. We left after visiting the souvenir shop and buying many things.

After visiting the UN we had such a fun experience at a chocolate factory. We got to learn how chocolate is made, try different kinds, and even design our own chocolate bars. Everyone’s design was super different and creative, which made it even more fun to see how unique we all are. After the factory eli picked a really good Italian restaurant for dinner and the whole group loved it. We had burgers and pizza, and just a really chill time laughing and talking about the day. We ended off with some of us playing a fun trivia game. Now we are heading back early so we can get some sleep and be ready for the next day which is gonna be amazing.

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!

JULY 6

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.

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. We are excited to have an international crew spanning the US, UK and France.

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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JULY 7

Hello friends and family, we have just completed our first full day in the Dominican Republic. We started it off the day by leaving our hotel in Santo Domingo to go to Bayahibe.

On our way to the hotel we went to a national park called Tres Ojos, Three Eyes. It was a system of caves with several cenotes, large freshwater lagoons, where we saw some breathtaking views and beautiful nature. It was very exciting to learn about the history behind the Cenote and see why it is so important for them to be preserved, especially the crystal clear water.

We then went to a grocery store where we bought a football and lots of snacks and after this we finished our drive to the home base in Bayahibe. We had a delicious meal consisting of rice, beans, chicken, and vegetables.

After lunch, we completed our swim tests to ensure we could enjoy the day tomorrow. We used our football to play a fun game of pool volleyball. This was then followed by a game of Marco Polo. We finished the night with dinner and then got to know our new friends better. After dinner we had a history lesson covering DR history by our local director Jackson, followed by a dance lesson. Our directors Jackson and Ariel taught us merengue and bachata, which soon turned into a dance party with dembow.

We are excited for our first day of service tomorrow with our new friends and new adventures!!

Stay tuned for more!
Abby and Max

on behalf of the Dominican Republic Island Service team

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JULY 8

We have had the most exciting experience yet on our third day in the Dominican Republic! We started with an early 7:30 breakfast call, where we enjoyed a bowl of fresh fruits and ham sandwiches. This was then followed by our brief safety meeting where the team provided instructions and safety guidelines.

Soon after, we were met with a stunning coastline where we prepared ourselves to tackle our first community work experience. We split ourselves into two different groups, whereby each group took turns collecting litter on the beach and planting a series of 4 different plant species: brown mangroves, beach grapes, guayacanes and flor de Bayahibe, the DR’s national flower. After finishing our hard work, we all swam in the crystal clear bay where we played volleyball, held chicken fights and went snorkelling. We held a quick lunch of rice and chicken which was followed by another dip into the sea. We took many photos together making long-lasting memories.

Then we took a quick trip to explore another part of one of the beautiful national parks, Padre Nuestro. While there, we hiked up and down, exploring the native plants and the interesting limestone structures. We then arrived at a freshwater underground cenote where we took a dip before climbing out and hiking back to the bus for our trip back to home base. We cleaned up then together played cards and games before heading to dinner. After dinner we wrote letters to ourselves as a goal-setting activity. Finally it was time to hit the hay!

Stay tuned tomorrow for another full day of service in the beautiful national park!

We’ll keep the updates coming!
Michael and Riley
on behalf of the Dominican Republic Island Service team

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BLOG POST FOR JULY 9

On day 4 of our Dominican Republic island service adventure, we started off the day with an early 7:30 breakfast, and soon after headed off to Boca De Yuma national park for a long day of trash pick-up.

This day proved to be tiring but impactful. We took a short hike through the forest to make our way to the coast. We soon came across lots of rubbish that had been washed up by the sea. After a good hour of work we finally filled up 50 trash bags, using an assembly line to work together and make sure the beach was clean. The instructors told us about the effect of the trash and how impactful it is on both the environment and home of the people of the Dominican republic. In addition, we took a break for lunch and had more water as well as reapplying suncream and bug repellent. Afterwards, we continued to find more trash and enjoyed the scenery.

Next, we drove to a historic museum that was the house of Ponce de Leon. Inside, we met our tour guide, Carolina, who explained to us the background of the colonization of Quisqueya, the indigenous name for the Dominican Republic. We were able to look at old artifacts like an ancient safe and old weapons. We saw footprints dating back to the 1500s, and were able to see armour from this time. We also saw hens and roosters outside the museum and we relaxed in the garden briefly.

Lastly, we went to the store on the way back, and bought snacks and drinks to replenish ourselves for tomorrow, and regain energy. Finally we enjoyed ourselves at the hotel by playing in the pool and playing games on the rooftop, showing better connection and friendship being achieved. Finally, we had dinner and had our mentor groups to discuss the day. We finished the day with a leader of the day ceremony, to choose the new groups leaders and plan the next day.

Today was a great day, and we can’t wait experience more soon.

Stay tuned for tomorrow where we get a rest day at the beach and a local swimming hole.

Thanks for reading and sharing our experience.

~ Ori and Jake

on behalf of the Dominican Republic Island Service team 🏝️🇩🇴

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BLOG POST FOR JULY 10

Hey guys, Xavier and Claire here.

We’re essentially half way through the GLA trip and were lucky enough to have immersed ourselves in new surroundings and made an impact. We were also blessed enough to be leaders of the day on a relaxing day where we went to the beach and took a nice rest before we get back into service later this week.

We had a slower morning waking around 8 for breakfast relative to the usual 7am. Then, we headed off to Hoyo Claro, a cenote near Punta Cana. Our bus ride was filled with games, stories, and music. On the hike to the cenote, we saw seven wild cows right on the trail while we were blasting music. At the cenote, we spent time jumping off rocks into the clear freshwater. Refreshing! We walked back to the bus after cooling off and headed back to the hotel before quickly trailing off to the local beach. On the way to the beach, we stopped for assorted tropical smoothies like mango, passionfruit, banana, and papaya. At the beach, we swam in the shallow water playing various games although it was a bit rocky. We got to see a little bit of the local life and bustling streets. We headed back to the hotel to change and get ready to go out to our first dinner out with an amazing view of the bay. Later in the night, we had a student debate about social issues where we educated ourselves on other points of view.

Thanks and we’re so grateful,

Xavier and Claire
On behalf of the Dominican Republic Island Service Adventure Team 🏝️ 🇩🇴

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BLOG POST FOR JULY 11

Hi guys! We just wrapped up our 6th day in the Dominican Republic and we are continuing to learn more and more about the culture.

This morning we gathered for breakfast at 8am spirits high on the thought of seeing the children soon. After a quick breakfast we grabbed our work gloves and hopped on the bus. A quick drive later we arrived at the site of service, Arte Cuseco. After sitting through the short and sweet introductions we felt ready for the challenges to come. We grabbed our shovels and put on our sunglasses and were indulged in the task placed before us. We started pouring the powdered concrete on a pile of dirt and rocks and began to mix them. We created a mountain then a volcano of our mixture and began adding water. After a quick stage of mixing we were ready to start disposing the concrete into buckets. Although we were enthusiastic to spread out the concrete we left it to the professionals and took a break while pairs at a time helped prepare lunch. In addition we reintroduced ourselves to the kids and danced, played games, and danced some more.

We finally enjoyed a delicious homemade Dominican lunch of chicken, rice, beans, and veggies. Furthermore we faced the task of introducing them into American and English games. After that exchange we paired up and made bracelets for our partners. We then exchanged our bracelets and headed down to the jewelry shop after a heartbreaking farewell to our newly found friends. They were selling their handmade jewelry and other items. We stopped at a supermarket to grab snacks for tonight and tomorrow’s adventure and then headed back to the home base where we had dinner and mentor groups after.

Well keep you updated with our future adventures!

Addie and Will

On behalf of the Dominican Republic Island Service Adventure team 🏝️🇩🇴

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BLOG POST FOR JULY 12

Hi guys! Today was the 8th day of our trip in Bayahibe.

After a long day of service yesterday, today was more relaxed. We started by having a delicious breakfast in the city. Then, we headed to the port where we discovered the boat that took us to Saona Island. We had about 45 minutes of dancing, laughing, pictures, tanning and music! We made a quick stop in the magnificent turquoise water of the coast of Saona Island. We all had a great time playing water games and didn’t want to go but ended up leaving anyway after we heard that we could have some Nachos on the boat!

After that, we talked with a turtle rehabilitator that explained to us how he saved the turtle eggs of the island and learned a lot of interesting facts about them. We continued our day by enjoying a delicious meal made by the locals. There, our view of the beach was beautiful. After finishing lunch, we had the chance to play volleyball with the locals. After swimming again, we returned to the boat and made another stop near Bayahibe to admire the incredible fishes. On our way back to the homebase, we enjoyed some fresh ice cream. We finished our day by having dinner all together and had a talent show.

Stay tuned for tomorrow,

Elia and Vincent

On behalf of the Dominican Republic Island Service Adventure team 🇩🇴🏝️

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BLOG POST FOR JULY 13

Hey everyone, today was day 8 of our adventure in Bayahibe, and it’s sad to think that it’s coming to a close. We started our day with breakfast at 8, allowing us a little more time to sleep in and fuel up for our adventures of the day. After breakfast we took a walk to the beautiful Playa Magallanes for some swimming, snorkeling, and time in the sun. After our time at the beach, we took a stop at a nice lunch spot with a view of the bay to fill our hungry bellies.

We started the afternoon with an appreciation circle at Bayahibe’s mirador, where we reflected on our gratitude for the community we have created in such a short time. After that we took a walk to a local smoothie shop for some of the best smoothies of our lives! After our smoothie stop, we enjoyed the rest of our walk back to home base and had a little bit of time to pack, clean up and prepare for our next adventure of the day – souvenir shopping!

At the souvenir shops we picked up some items to remember all the fun times we had in the Last few Republic. To end the day, we walked back to the mirador to watch the sunset for the last time in Bayahibe. Director Ariel surprised us each with a heartwarming “service superlative” and keychain as a reminder of our time here.

After a long day of fun activities and preparing ourselves both mentally and physically for the end of our journey, it is nice to finally sit down, relax, and enjoy our dinner. To close the night, we had our last leader of the day ceremony and some free time to enjoy our last night in Bayahibe together.

Hope you’re ready for the last update tomorrow and to see your kids soon!
Margot and Logan
On behalf of the Dominican Republic Island Service Adventure Team🇩🇴🏝️

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BLOG POST FOR JULY 14

Hello everybody! Today was the final day of the GLA adventure, filled with plenty of fun and a few sad faces.

The day began with an early morning sunrise outing for the early birds of the group, which was followed by packing until breakfast at 7:30. After breakfast, we began our long journey back to Santo Domingo. Along the way, we stopped at a local supermarket to refuel on snacks and supplies and at a pizza place to satiate our appetites. Upon arriving at Santo Domingo, we were assigned our rooms at the Novus Plaza Hodelpa, and quickly came back down to begin the main activity of the day.
For this activity, we had a scavenger hunt around the old colonial city. We were split up into two teams and had to race to take photos in front of various historical structures and objects. After an hour or so of traversing the city and taking photos, we met up and decided on a winner. Then, we had the opportunity to reflect on our experiences in GLA and how they had helped us grow. We read letters that we had written a few days prior, and decided on a goal that we would individually work towards upon returning home. Once we had spent enough time reflecting, we headed to a souvenir shop. There we browsed a number of small trinkets and cheaply made clothign that we could remember the trip by. Next, we went to an ice cream store and had a sweet treat to recover from the oppressive heat and humidity of the city. This fueled us as we travelled back to the hotel. Once we arrived, we completed a quick GLA survey and prepared for our final dinner.

This dinner was unique in that we were able to choose our dish from a variety of typical Dominican names, and that we were finally able to wear our nice outfits. After we had cleaned our plates, we went out onto the dance floor. We danced merengue, bachata and even the macarena until we had exhausted ourselves, at which point we took some photos and exited the restaurant, going to bed with plenty of food in our bellies and dreams of home on our minds.

See you soon!
Dylan and Yvess
On behalf of the Dominican Republic 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 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 🏝️🇩🇴