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 31

Hello Families!

Today, 13 of our 14 students arrived in beautiful, sunny Belize! After greeting everyone at the airport and having some delicious food, we set off for a 3ish hour van ride to Sarteneja. We made a quick stop at a local supermarket for last minute essentials and snacks.

First group to arrive at home base had the chance to enjoy their very first beautiful sunset together and then enjoy dinner at HB!

We look forward for orientation day, a tour of Sertaneja, and the chance to meet our first service partners tomorrow!

Buenas Noches,
Belize Staff – Dayana, Jema, Juli & Adela.

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BLOG POST FOR AUGUST 1 & 2

Hello families!

Yesterday, August 1st, we went through orientation where the code of conduct and other important messages were reviewed. After that we went on a tour of Sarteneja village, and learned about the history and culture while stopping at a few local stores with paintings, jewelry, and ice cream. We then went to the pier to complete our swim tests before having fun in the water for a while. As the sun set we gathered together in our first sunset circle to review the highlights and takeaways of the day, as well as bringing notice to helpful people. Finally, after dinner we were split into our two mentor groups and worked together to make a poster of our values and goals for this trip.

Today we took a boat tour down the New River, and learned about it’s history as a Mayan transport route and passageway.

We explored the mangrove’s benefits to reduce pollutants in the water and air, and planted some seedlings of our own! We then took a swim in the Corozal Bay to cool off after the long day, and headed back to our home base. After dinner we played a competitive game of Chalupa where the winners got delicious fruit, and learned more about our mentors! The day was finished when we celebrated the birthday of one of our mentors, Adela, and had a delicious cake.

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BLOG POST FOR AUGUST 3 & 4

On Sunday we started our morning early with a boat ride to the edge of a lagoon to pick sea grass for manatees. After a long while we hoped on the boat and headed back to home base for lunch and to change into appropriate attire to visit the wildtracks nature reserve. At the nature reserve we learned lots about manatees, spider monkeys, and howler monkeys. We got to witness the manatees kit and kat being bottle fed. Around the same time we put the sea grass in a PVC mechanism for the gentle giants to fead from. On the way home we got to enjoy some ice pops from local icecream shop. Our night activitie was watching a documentary about plastic pollution.

Today we started the day off with a beautiful boat ride to learn about fishing traps located in Sarteneja, then made our way to a local fisherman’s house to learn how to filet fish and crabs and eat it for lunch.

After lunch we learned all about lion fish, and got the opportunity to make lion fish jewelry. To wrap up the day we ended with a beautiful sunset swim where we told riddles and swam to a little pavilion near the pier.

Quinn & Gracie

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BLOG POST FOR AUGUST 5 & 6

Hello Families and friends!

We are having lots of fun here in Belize.

Yesterday, we did a clean up for 2 hours around the community to accomplish more hours of service and stopped by a sweet shop and got great snacks! Then we prepared for the conservation camp with the local kids and ended the night with the movie zootopia!

Today we started the day off with omelets and toast and prepared for local kids to arrive for our conservation camp. While campers arrived, we played games including jellyfish, hunters, and turtles, rock paper scissors, and sharks/minnows. We presented our posters to the kids about sustainability, mangroves, manatees, and sea pollution. Then we made friendship bracelets and drew while watching The Wild Robot. We walked to a park and played soccer and volleyball. When the campers left, we went swimming in the bay/sunset circle and made tamales for dinner.

Nyla, Amalia and Jackson

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BLOG POST FOR AUGUST 7 & 8

Hello families!!

We just came back from our overnight excursion to the most magical place we have been!

We started yesterday off bright and early with a 7am boat ride to Bacalar Chico Marine Preserve. Once we got there, we settled into our rooms had breakfast and explored their museum where we learned a lot of interesting facts about the protected species in the preserve and Mayan culture. After the tour, we got our safety briefing and got on the boat and drove through a Mayan canal to get to our snorkeling spot where we snorkeled for a while in beautiful water. We went home and had a delicious lunch and then swam and fished the rest of the day around the lodge before dinner.

Today we woke up early to a beautiful day and an excellent breakfast. We again grabbed our snorkeling gear and headed to Rocky Point, where the coral reef meets the coast (unique in the world). Here we helped find lionfish to spear and dissect to better understand what types of fish they eat and how they damage the coral reef.

While we did that we swam and saw bunch of fishes, a sea turtle, manta ray, nurse shark and other marine life. After lunch, we returned to Sarteneja for our last sunset circle and a storytelling activity with Princess (local lady).

Andy

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BLOG POST FOR AUGUST 9 & 10

Yesterday we left Sarteneja, our homebase in Belize, to travel to the center of the country to our new home in TEC. During the trip, we stopped at the supermarket to buy some snacks and continued on to Altun Ha, a Mayan archaeological site, where we had a delicious lunch and our guide explained many interesting facts about this culture. We were able to climb the temples and see the entire complex from above. Upon arriving at TEC, some of us enjoyed the pool, and after dinner, we participated in a debate. based on tourism and fishing in Belize.

Today we embarked on a journey to Swallow key. We joined an amazing crew on a catamaran and went snorkelling for the last time in our trip. We saw an abundance of marine life in the reef and had lunch on the boat. We also saw many pods of dolphins and a manatee. I also saw two spotted eagles rays.

At the end of the day we worked on a leadership activity to create our OMG (one meaningful goal) as a group, where we committed to reduce plastic use (particularly single use).

Thanks for reading, we will keep you posted!

Suraya and Calvin

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BLOG POST FOR AUGUST 11 & 12

Hello families, we are about to finish this great adventure in Belize!

Yesterday was service day at the Zoo!

We woke up, had a quick breakfast, and headed off to the Belize Zoo for a tour with the animals. We saw lots of animals ranging from harpy eagles to a small river otter. We also encountered Belize’s national animal, which is the tapir. After lunch, we went to work on painting railing for the zoo as well as helping lay the rock foundations for a new white tailed deer and a tapir. We headed back to base for a quick swim and food before heading back to the zoo for a night tour. The night tour allowed us to see the nocturnal animals at the zoo such as jaguars, barn owls, and kinkajous. We had an amazing day and look forward to the last adventure day tomorrow!

We had a blast today doing zip lining and cave tubing!

After breakfast, we drove to the adventure spot and got ready with all our gear to start zip lining! Many of us dared to go upside down on the cables. We also did one that went over the river where later we will do cave tubing.

For cave tubing, we had to walk through the forest, learning more about Belize’s flora and fauna, as well as the importance of caves to the Mayans. After crossing the river and swimming in its crystal-clear waters, we floated inside the caves for about 40 minutes and then went downriver on our tubes! Being in the caves was amazing.

Then we had lunch and headed back to the road to our last stop, the Art Box, where many people bought their last souvenirs and delicious ice cream and frappuccinos. Back at TEC, we did some closing activities to acknowledge our new friendships and memories.

We are sad to go back home but happy for our time here in Belize!

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 JULY 14

Hello Friends and Family!

Today, 22 of our 24 students arrived in beautiful, sunny Belize (and we can’t wait to welcome our final 2 tomorrow!) After mostly smooth arrivals at the airport, our crew set off for a 3ish hour van ride to Sartaneja. We made a quick stop at a local supermarket for last minute essentials and snacks, and then our students were able to enjoy dinner and games together and start getting to know one another.

We look forward to having orientation, a tour of Sartaneja, and the chance to meet our first service partners tomorrow!

Buenas Noches,
Belize Staff – Dayana, Jema, Courtney, and AC

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BLOG POST FOR JULY 16

Hey friends and family!

A quick update about yesterday, orientation day! We started our GLA experience with an orientation morning, going over rules and expectations, along with learning more about Belize and Belizean customs. We also played some games to start getting to know one another. Then, we got to take a short walking tour of Sartaneja, during which we visited a local artist and got to eat mango and coconuts straight from the trees. We ended the day watching the sunset from the pier, which was a highlight for the whole group.

Today, as leaders of the day, we were tasked with waking everybody up at 7:30 to get some delicioso breakfast including chicken quesadillas, tomato sauce, and papaya. After our breakfast we walked down to the pier to go on a 40 minute boat ride to the New River where we learned to identify mangrove trees. The most common mangrove tree we saw was the red mangrove.

After the river tour we took the boat to Warrie Bight, which is a site of our service partner, where we picked and planted mangrove propagules. While we were there, we also performed our swim test and had a scrumptious lunch including chicken, rice, and veggies. During the afternoon we were able to swim a lot in the salty and rocky water.

We then came back to the home base, rinsed off, and we went and had dinner at a local restaurant called Racquel’s. During the dinner we played a local bingo-style game called Chalupa. After dinner we came back to home base and got into mentor groups and got to know each other better in smaller groups, and now we are about to go enjoy free time before lights out.

—Evan, Harris, and Will

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BLOG POST FOR JULY 17 & 18

Day 4 started at 8am, and we were met with steaming fresh waffles, cheesy eggs, and watermelon.

After breakfast, we headed to the pier, and after a music-filled boat ride, we arrived at the site where seagrass is commonly found. There, we dropped the anchor and began collecting seagrass to feed manatees. While heading back to home base, we saw many bottlenose dolphin pods, creating a heartwarming experience that was just as impactful as it was spectacular.

After lunch, we rotated in two groups from mentoring to the WildTracks rehabilitation center. At the rehab center, we learned and appreciated how the lengthy process of conservation between manatees and primates is tiring but necessary. One of our highlights of the day was when we had the opportunity to feed the manatees with the seagrass that we harvested previously. We were also told several stories involving both the manatees and primates that WildTracks has rehabilitated. This experience increased our understanding of the critical thinking skills and problem solving necessary for successful rehabilitation efforts.

During our mentoring session, we talked about how to make SMART (specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, timely) goals. We each wrote several goals that specifically applied to ourselves and showed the lessons that we wanted to learn on this trip.

To finish off the night, we had dinner and played group-bonding games with each other. We particularly enjoyed playing a game involving getting to know our counselors better. Finally, tired from a day filled with meaningful service and learning, we ended our day with a good night’s sleep.

On day 5, waking up to yet another beautiful Belizean morning, we were met downstairs with fresh and steamy hot pancakes, juicy local watermelon, and sausage. After a quick debrief of the day, we headed to the pier, where we met local fishermen who took us to one of their beautiful fishing sites and showed us a traditional Belizean fishing method. There we watched as the fishermen collected their haul. It ranged from small indigenous fish, to large Barracudas, and…wait for it…AN ACTUAL SALTWATER CROCODILE! After taking an infinite amount of group photos with the beast, we said our goodbyes to the fishermen and headed back to Sartaneja where we had the opportunity to fillet the fresh fish that was just caught, and fry them. And boom, lunch served: rice and beans, onions, lime, watermelon, cantaloupe, and freshly caught fish…yummm!

After lunch, it started to rain pretty heavy, but we couldn’t let that stop us. We played basketball in the rain, with one of our peers yelling “Come on everyone! How many times will you be able to play basketball in the rain in Belize!” After that we went for a generous snack run at the local mini Mart. Everyone got chips and candy in preparation for tomorrow, you’ll understand tomorrow 🙂 The leader of the days Isaac and Enzo had other plans though. After buying some vegetable oil, three eggs, and some cake mix, we headed over to the generous SACD Manager, Diveana’s home where we met her mother, a local baker, who helped us out with the baking. While waiting for the cake to finish in the oven, Diviana showed us some locally harvested mangos, (literally the best we’ve ever had no cap). After having our fill of mangos and leaving with the freshly baked cake, we arrived back at home base, meeting the rest of our peers who were having their fill of some free time.

We then made some Lion fish jewelry with the help of a local Belizean Jewelry company. We had dinner— tender chicken, mashed potatoes and fresh cucumber salad. After a hilarious sunset circle (parents, your kids will tell you all about it) we ended the day with some mentor groups, basketball (not in the rain this time), and fun free time. Isaac and Enzo then wrote today’s blog post and called it a day.

Leaders of Days 4 & 5 — Ben, Isaac, Logan, Nico, and Zain

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BLOG POST FOR JULY 19 & 20

We started Day 6 with an early 6:30 wake up in Sarteneja and took a boat over to Bacalar Chico Marine Reserve, changing to Mexico time on the way. A delicious breakfast of ham and cheese sandwiches (often called johnny cakes in belize) and fresh fruit waited for us there. Shortly after another boat took us through a man-made Mayan canal for a snorkeling adventure on the world’s largest natural barrier reef. We saw many tropical fish, a sting ray, and a large nerf shark. When we arrived back, we were treated delicious chicken nachos. Following lunch we had enough free time to go back and play in the ocean and also explore the reserve. Before a dinner of homemade chicken and tortillas, we took a scenic group photo on the pier. We closed off our day by telling stories over a large bonfire.

-Nico and Thomas

Today (day 7) we woke up bright and early at Bacalar Chico in our cabins and tents, with some students choosing to watch the sunrise. We had a yummy breakfast of eggs, beans, fruits, bacon, and fresh tortillas.

Shortly after the students hopped on to the boats to go snorkeling and find the invasive species of lion fish. After catching five lion fish, the students watched a live dissection and got to see what a lion fish eat. This was followed by packing before making over way back via boat to Sarteneja Village where they headed to a local’s house to learn how to make tamales. After finishing the tamales, the students went back to home base for some free time followed by ‘Chow Circle’ and then headed back to the local’s house for a delicious dinner to try what they made. Then they returned to the hotel where they played a few rounds of speed friending and then got free time. Finally, they went to bed.

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BLOG POST FOR JULY 21 & 22

On Day 8, the students woke up bright and early to some delicious breakfast. They proceeded to head out to the local village in Sarteneja and cleaned up trash. After the service, the students got some downtime where they made friendship bracelets and played guitar. Following lunch, they met up with SACD to plan for the conservation camp with the kids. They broke into groups, creating posters and designing fun games for the children to play the following day. The students got more downtime to hang out before a yummy dinner!

-Jasmine and Josie

Today (day 9) we woke up, ate a great breakfast and got prepared for a day of fun in the sun with the kids at camp. We had gotten to the park and started setting up when some bees started swarming so we had to go back to homebase. After everything was sorted out, we resumed our activity with the local kids. We split up into groups and played classic outdoor games with them, such as freeze tag, which the kids called, “hunters and manatees”, hide and seek, and they even told us scary stories. At around twelve thirty we had lunch, and then reassembled back into our groups to present the sustainability posters that we made the previous day. The kids loved them and said that they learned a lot.

Sadly, at three o’clock, they had to leave, so we took a group photo and said goodbye. Then we had some free time, and some of the guys played a tournament style basketball game. We also had the option to go swimming in the ocean that afternoon. Later, we had dinner, and then had a campfire that we told stories around. The counselors even gave us an extra fifteen minutes to stay up to enjoy the bonfire.

-Josh and Noah

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BLOG POST FOR JULY 23

Today, we started out the day around 8:30 with a breakfast of omelettes and fresh fruit. After breakfast we had a long day of traveling. We said goodbye to our home for the last 10 days and set on the road for Central Belize, where we will stay for the last four days of our trip. After 2 hours, we stopped for a quick supermarket stop to pick up a couple of snacks for the last few days.

Then, we got back in the bus and drove to a Mayan archeological site, Altun Ha. We grabbed lunch, hot chicken and rice, while some of the students bought mangos and drank some coconut water. The site was breathtaking and we learned so much about the Mayan culture while we climbed to the top of the temples. We also shopped at some artisanal markets next to the site before hopping back on the bus.

At 6 PM, we finally arrived at the Tropical Education Center, our home for the last four days in Belize. We had a spectacular meal— fajitas with beans, lettuce, chicken, and cheese.

After some rest after dinner, we all gathered for a friendly debate. We were split up into four teams with three students acting as the mediators. We were given a packet which detailed our role, either as the Belizean government, Local Fishermen, a Non-profit environmental organization, or a tourist program. With the facts given in the packet, and our experience in Belize, we debated several questions to reach a group consensus of helping Belize as much as possible. We all had so much fun recounting the memories and facts we learned over our trip. To finish the night, we split off into our own rooms and went to bed.

-Alexis and Kaylee C.

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BLOG POST FOR JULY 24 & 25

Our group woke up early today before a yummy breakfast of pancakes! We hopped in the bus and drove from our hotel in Central Belize to Belize City to get onto a catamaran boat, where we played cards, soaked up the sun and listened to music.

Then we arrived at the Barrier Reef, where we got the opportunity to snorkel. After spotting 2 eels, a nurse shark and sting rays, we enjoyed a hearty lunch of chicken rice and beans and a fresh salad on the water. Then, we headed back to our homebase, stopped at a local ice cream stop to pick up a delicious icy treat, and relaxed in the pool playing fun games.

We later had sunset circle, deciding our highlight of the day before heading to a delicious dinner, which was followed by mentor groups. In mentor groups, we looked back on our trip and created a motto that describes our goals. The motto was “Take action in your community whenever is possible”. After mentor groups, we enjoyed some much-needed free time before going to bed.

—Maggie and Maverick

Today (day 12) we woke up to some rainy weather in Central Belize. We quickly cheered up with a warm breakfast of eggs, sausage and pancakes. We then headed over to the Belize Zoo where we split into two groups and toured the area. Our group was able to see spider monkeys, crocodiles, otters, snakes, birds and more.

We then stopped by the foodcourt for lunch and a rest before doing service work. After lunch, we returned to our groups and did various acts of service from around 1:00-3:30 PM. These activities included raking leaves and cleaning railings within the zoo.

We then went back to homebase to have free time followed by sunset circle. After a delicious dinner of pork chops, potatoes and assorted vegetables, we got to return to the zoo for the night tour. We saw many nocturnal animals and our group got to even feed a jaguar and tapir. We then returned to home base and shortly after went to sleep.

-Grace and Hollen

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BLOG POST FOR JULY 26

Today, our last full day, we had an early morning, getting up at 7:30 for breakfast sandwiches and an assortment of fruit. After breakfast, we hopped on the bus for a short drive to the zip line park! We started by getting our harnesses on, and then we set off for the lines. We did 6 in total, some of which we were allowed to go upside down on!

After an exhilarating time on the zip lines, we took a calming 30 minute hike to the river to go cave tubing. The water was a bit chilly, but very refreshing after the tropical heat. Our tubes were tied together as we drifted down the river through the cave.

When we reached the end of the river, we all got changed for lunch, a wonderful spread of chicken, coleslaw, and beans with a side of tortilla. Then, we took the bus to a souvenir store / cafe where some students got gifts for home, played games in the foyer, ate ice cream, and discussed the fun events of the day!

Finally, we returned back to home base and some students went swimming for the last time in the pool. Everyone then showered and dressed up in fancy clothes as a celebration for our last night. It also happened to be one of our fellow students birthdays so we celebrated with a piñata! (happy birthday Zain!) Next came one of our favorite activities throughout the trip, appreciation circle. We all gathered in a circle and one by one anonymously tapped the others on the shoulder, depending on the prompt, like: “who was a good leader on this trip” or “who did you get good advice from”.

To conclude the night, we had a bonfire, roasted marshmallows, and signed papers for each other expressing how much we all mean to one another.

Thank you so much for all the memories everyone!

-Chloe and Kaylee C.

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 10

Hello from Belize!

Eleven of our students arrived today in the beautiful country of Belize! For our early arrivals, we spent some time at the airport getting to know each other and reading about the wonderful places the group will be visiting over the next two weeks. After snacking and eating lunch, we hopped in the van and kept our eyes peeled for any wildlife wandering near the roads, such as toucans, jaguars, and green iguanas. We also played some fun games in the car and solved some brain twisting riddles. The van arrived at Belizima just in time for a delicious fresh caught barracuda fillets as our first dinner together!

The group settled down for the night, getting a good rest before tomorrow’s activities! We can’t wait for our Belize adventure to begin!

Sincerely,

GLA Staff Leah Doyle

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BLOG POST FOR JUNE 12

Hi again!

Our final student arrived on day 2! We started the morning off with a delicious breakfast and then began student orientation. We made rule-making fun by acting out skits and brainstorming new guidelines with fellow GLA students. After lunch, we ventured out into Sarteneja and learned about the impact of fishing on the town’s culture and economy. To cool off after our tour, we took a dip in the Corozal Bay and took our swim test (WE ALL PASSED!). It was pretty hard, but we managed. We played games in the water, bonding together as a wonderful family. We ended the night with our first chow circle (shout-outs for the day), a beautiful sunset, and a delicious dinner at home base. We went to bed early to get good rest for a big day of service!

Day 3 began with a run for some people while everyone else slept in and enjoyed the sea breeze. We left HB (home base) shortly after breakfast and took a boat ride to a freshwater sinkhole where we saw a manatee! Soon after, we traveled through the New River and learned about the impacts of mangroves on the environment and how to differentiate the three types of mangroves. It was so fascinating because the mangroves were HUGE! They were the biggest ones we’ve ever seen.

Following our river tour, we headed to Warrie Bight, where we played games and had lunch. Then we got to work collecting mangrove seeds from the coastline and planting them in their new homes. We were all very hot, so we took a refreshing swim in the bay. The rain showers took us by surprise, but only added to the fun of our adventure!

We hopped back into the boat and rode back to HB, where we washed off the sand and got ready for dinner at Raquel’s. We had such a great time playing Chalupa and dancing with Princess (one of the workers at Raquel’s). Day 3 was such a blast, and we can’t wait for tomorrow’s adventure!

Adios & au revoir from your leaders of the day,

Kenzie and Ella

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BLOG POST FOR JUNE 13

Back again!

Day four started at 8:00 a.m., and we enjoyed a delicious meal prepared by our cooks. After filling our stomachs with amazing food, we grabbed everything we would need for the morning. We had an eventful morning on the boat with our Captain Raynel, Mike, and local Belize expert Leo. We helped out people from Sartanja who were stranded in their boat and towed them to the dock. While on the boat in the morning after helping out the people, we spotted many bottlenose dolphins, but sadly didn’t see any spinner dolphins or spotted dolphins. Hopefully, we will see them later this week during more service.

Continuing, we had a lesson on how to collect seagrass properly for manatees and went diving into the water to retrieve a bucket full. We had a wonderful time swimming and pulling sea grass from the Shipstern Caye. Then, we headed to home base, changed, and ate once again a delicious meal. Afterwards, we headed to Wildtracks and the amazing owner/leader Zoe led us through a delightful tour of their property with the manatees and primates (monkeys).

Zoe also gave a wonderful PowerPoint on the goals and accomplishments of Wildtracks. Although we had to part ways with Wildtracks, we had a blast in the afternoon with Zoe and her volunteers. Following our departure from Wildtracks, we made our way home and had a delectable meal for dinner. We reviewed tomorrow’s schedule and selected JP and Finn as tomorrow’s leaders of the day. We got our phones after dinner and chilled before karaoke. Finally, entertainment filled our night with lively karaoke that was hosted by Camila, Nanate, and Ian.

Saying of the day: Ayuda a las personas necesitadas! English Translation: Always help the people in need!

Dannica and Mailanna

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BLOG POST FOR JUNE 14

Hello from Belize!

This morning, we had pancakes for breakfast and left quickly for a morning tour of the historic fish traps of Belize. We had so much fun as our guides showed us how they’d collect fish and which ones they would throw back. After that, we went to the SACD headquarters and learned about the invasive Lionfish, as well as made lionfish jewelry. It was so fun to make and turned out really well! After that, we went back to our home base and held our student debate to model the real-life problems Belize as a growing country faces, trying to balance Economy, Culture, and Ecosystem. It was so much fun, and everyone was very passionate.

After that, we had a free period. Lots of swimming, reading, and relaxing on the beach happened along with a little bit of volleyball. Last, but definitely not least, we had a very special dinner celebrating the birthday of Dannica! The chefs specially prepared three different types of pizza, wings, and even a birthday cake! We all sang Happy Birthday as loud as we could and beat up a piñata together. All together another great day in GLA Belize!

Thanks for reading,

Finn and J.P.

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BLOG POST FOR JUNE 15

Hola from Belize!

Today was an amazing day, with a slight change of plans due to some weather, we headed to BCMR (Bacalar Chico Marine Reserve). We left home base at around 9.00 am and arrived at around 10.

We then took a short boat ride through a canal, enclosed by mangroves and shared by Mexico and Belize, to our snorkeling destination. The Mesoamerican Reef is the second-largest barrier reef in the world. Fortunately, we had an amazing guide named Celso, who is currently attending the University of Belize to get his bachelor’s in marine life. When we snorkeled, we got to see an array of fish and so many conch shells, and afterwards we were also able to freedive.

We then went back to BCMR, rinsed off, and had an amazing lunch consisting of barbeque chicken, pasta salad, tortilla chips, and fresh fruit punch. We all toured the museum inside BCMR and learned some amazing facts.

When we arrived at home base at around 4:00 pm, we had 2 visitors who helped us brainstorm ideas for our student conservation camp tomorrow. After a couple of hours of brainstorming our ideas, we called it quits and settled down for dinner. Dinner was so delicious tonight! We had a taco fiesta with carnitas, rice, and toppings. We ended the day with A LOT of laughs at the dinner table. That’s all for today!

See you tomorrow,

Lila and Lizzie

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BLOG POST FOR JUNE 16

Good morning from Belize!

We started by sleeping in and having both toast with avocado and new homemade raisin bread that was delicious. After breakfast had ceased, we drove over to town and found our way to Nazarene Primary School. We were divided into four groups with kids aged up to 12. We started with just ice breakers until moving up to doing the “manatee race”, where we were put in sacks and raced against the other teams.

After that activity, we presented our topics using posters and fun activities to a rotating group of kids. We had pollution, mangroves, manatees, and sustainability, and we each added games to the topics to keep the kids engaged. Later, we stopped for a lunch break, which included chicken with rice and beans. For our last activity with the kids, we played soccer against different groups.

We went back to the cabins for an hour before leaving to make tamales at the very friendly locals’ house. We each had a different role in making these tasty treats, and then waited an hour before returning for munching. Not only tamales, but we were provided with delectable fruits, including fresh mangoes and pineapples. To keep us hydrated, we had watermelon juice, which we all found very refreshing. Finally, we departed after thanking our friends and filling our stomachs.

Catch you on the flip side,

Grigs and Allison

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BLOG POST FOR JUNE 17

Hey from Belize!

We started the morning off with a breakfast of fry jacks, beans, and locally grown apple bananas. After a thorough pulse check (a rating of community service, leadership activities, and friendships done midway through the program) we gathered our belongings and headed off for our morning service activity: a beautification project in Sarteneja.

When we arrived, we put on our gloves, gathered our trash bags, and split off into groups to collect trash along the shore of Corozal Bay. After walking through the coastline, going up and down the streets of Sarteneja, and taking our time at a children’s park, we collected 7 bags of trash! We took a break by getting some snacks at a local market, and visited ‘Chuys’, a local artist, before heading off to home base for lunch.

After enjoying some bean burritos, we headed off for a presentation, as well as an opportunity for more service at SACD at 1:15pm. At SACD we learned about the younger people working in conservation and their different job positions. Then we headed back to homebase and did a Let’s Get Smart activity, which helped us learn the importance of communication and then we set goals using the SMART acronym!

After that we had free time and people spent their time playing card games, volleyball, and swimming. We then all gathered up and did our chow circle where we did a rose, thorn, and bud activity to share about our day. For dinner we had tortilla chips, cheese, chicken, and tomatoes to make your own nachos! We then did a “guess who” mentor group activity that focused on how, as leaders, it’s important remember that everyone has their own life story.

-Sophie and Nikol (Leaders of the Day)

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BLOG POST FOR JUNE 18

Greetings from Belize!

We started off our morning with an amazing breakfast from our cooks. After we ate, we went to a boat builders house and learned about how traditional boat building has been passed down from generations. After, we had a “Rain or No Rain activity” which was ice cream! We went to a local shop, and they opened early for us :).

Then, we went back to Home Base and had lunch. After lunch we had a surprise of going to the Shipstern Conservation Area. We learned about endangered and protected animals and plants, including the elusive jaguar. We went back to Home Base and did a leadership activity called “Social Sync”, which was when Leah asked us questions debating our opinions on phone usage and other social media related things.

Following, we had time to pack, up our things to move home bases. For dinner we went to Raquel’s for dinner and met Princess there. We had hotdogs and fresh fruits. After we ate we had a campfire and roasted marshmallows. We listened to Princess, who told us about her own adventures and other Mayan folktales. We had an amazing time dancing and playing Chalupa, a fun game. Finally, we went back to HomeBase and finished packing, so we can go to the Tropical Education Center tomorrow morning.

From,
Milanna and Ella

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BLOG POST FOR JUNE 19

Hola from Belize!

Some people started at the crack of dawn at 5:30 am for a morning swim. We watched the beautiful sunrise for our last day at Belizima. Everyone else started their day bright and early at 8am because we had to leave Belizema (first home base) for a three hour drive to the Tropical Education Center (TEC, our new home base). We drove and hour and a half before making our first bathroom and snack break. Then, we hopped back into the car and drove an hour and made our second stop at The Crystal Skull and met the owner Mampis for lunch. We relished the delicious meal that was provided for us.

After lunch, we went to Altun Ha, an archeological spot in Central Belize, and saw ancient Mayan ruins! We got a history lesson about the ruins and had a blast climbing them. Once we finished climbing the ruins, we shopped around the booths before driving our last 30 minutes to TEC.

When we arrived, we got our new room assignments and settled in to our new home base. We got a quick orientation and tour from Juan Carlos who is the communication director at TEC. We then ate some delicious fajitas and frosted banana cake for dinner. Following that, we did a quick leadership activity where we all did a 2-3 minute speech on the things that we were passionate about. We got to hear about cats, true crime, the military, and so much more. We headed back to the dorms and got ready for bed before hitting the hay!

Sayonara!
Dannica and Lizzie

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BLOG POST FOR JUNE 20

Hi again!!

We had an early morning today in prep for an excursion! After a delicious breakfast, we hopped in the van and headed to the pier to go on a catamaran.

On our boat ride to Swallow Caye, we saw two manatees, a mom and her baby! Then, after a rainy boat ride, we arrived to our snorkeling spot, Swallow Caye. We were all eager to hop in the 80 degree water and after diving in, we began our snorkel tour. Within the first few minutes of swimming around the reef, we saw a green moray eel. It swam right up to Jema! After moving on from the eel, we continued to be amazed by diverse marine life like squirrel fish and stingrays. After we finished snorkeling, we had rice and beans, chicken, and salad for lunch. Then it was about an hour boat ride to go back to the pier and then followed by an hour car ride to get back to TEC.

At home base we had a bit of chill time for showers and naps before dinner. Dinner consisted of pork chops, potatoes, and a delicious coconut dessert. Post dinner we brainstormed O.M.G (one meaningful goal) that we would strive to achieve even after the trip. Then after we finished our goals, we all ran back to our cabins to avoid the downpour. We all then had a great nights rest!

Peace out,

Kenzie and Sophie

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BLOG POST FOR JUNE 21

Hola!

We started the morning off with a delicious breakfast, getting ready for a busy day at the Belize Zoo, consisting of pancakes, eggs, and bacon at 8:00am. We headed out of home base at 9:00am, excited to spend the day amongst Belizes’s native animals.

We began with a thorough tour of the zoo; we saw parrots, crocodiles, tapirs, jaguars, ocelots, and many more. We spent some time buying souvenirs and t-shirts at the gift shop before we cooled off with a lunch of our choice: chicken fingers, hot dogs, quesadillas, etc., and engaged in a fun game of “yeehaw” before heading off to service at 1:00pm.

For today’s service, we put on our gloves, grabbed our rakes, and split into groups of four. In order to take care of the zoo animals and their safety, we raked dead leaves around their enclosures. This is a key aspect of zoo upkeeping; although it is currently rainy season in Belize, when these leaves dry, they serve as potential fuel for fires hazardous to the zoo’s animals. After service, we headed back to home base at 4:00pm. After that, we had some time to nap or swim with Leah as a volunteer lifeguard. Dinner was at 6 with rice and curry chicken along with a side of refried beans and flan for dessert. At 7, we planned to do our night tour of the zoo but it was canceled due to unusual circumstances. We all left sadly, but stopped by the GIANT leaf cutter ant colony on our way back to the cabins. Once we settled in, most people used the extra time to get some extra rest for our activities tomorrow!

– Nikol and Grigs

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BLOG POST FOR JUNE 22

Good morning!

Today we started out day with breakfast. Breakfast included cinnamon rolls, sausages, oats and fruit. After breakfast, the group headed towards their next activity! We ziplined over trees and a river. Everyone enjoyed the activity.

Next, we went cave tubing. We had to walk for about 30 minutes to reach the cave’s entrance. The weather was sunny with clouds which was perfect for our activity. We went into the caves, looking at the rock formations. We passed by a sinkhole and a small waterfall. After leaving the cave, we headed to lunch. Lunch consisted of chicken, beans, tortillas and coleslaw.

After some packing and some downtime, we had some farewell activities including the appreciation circle and receiving hand-painted frames. Then we had time to give eachother notes to cherish forever. We had some dinner afterwards, which was delicious as usual. We then revisited the zoo for a night tour! We saw a bunch of the nocturnal animals such as owls, pumas, jaguars, hairy porcupines, and so much more! After this fun excursion, we headed back to home base to hang out for our last night together.

We will all cherish our memories from Belize.

– Allison & Lila

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 28

We’re thrilled to share that the entire group has arrived safely in beautiful Bali! The students are already settling into their home base here in Ubud, meeting their group and getting comfortable in their new surroundings.

Although we missed the chance to capture a full group photo today as our last arrival was quite late at 10:30 PM, we did manage to snap some great pictures in smaller groups during airport pickups and meal times. We can’t wait to gather everyone together for a group photo tomorrow during orientation day!

Over the next three weeks, students will embark on what promises to be the adventure of a lifetime. Together, we’ll explore the rich culture of this incredible island, dive into thrilling adventures, and engage in meaningful service projects that will make a real difference.

To keep you connected throughout the journey, students will be sharing regular blogs filled with stories, reflections, and photos posted every couple of days. This way, you can follow along and see firsthand the unforgettable experiences unfolding here. From volunteering at local schools, learning about the public health, meeting local medical students to wandering vibrant markets, strolling through lush paddy fields, surfing world-famous waves, and snorkelling among stunning ocean life and enjoying lunch with the view of Mount Batur, every moment is packed with excitement and discovery. The entire group is eager and ready to dive in!

We look forward to sharing all the highlights with you soon!

GLA staff team,

Musha, Kristin

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BLOG POST FOR JUNE 29

Selamat Malan!

We started out our first full day with a lovely breakfast, followed by our GLA and Bali Institute orientation. After learning about our community and culture, we headed off into town for an amazing race themed scavenger hunt. We raced around town, talking to different locals for clues, to eventually meet up at the banjar, where we were taught traditional Balinese dance and music. We also got the chance to do traditional wood carving and make our very own offerings. After, we met up back at home base to recap the day during chow circle and ended with a delicious dinner with a show of local traditional dancers while we ate. Now we’re exhausted and going to bed, mimpi indah.

Love,

Jordyn & Emily

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BLOG POST FOR JUNE 30

We woke up around 6:30 and went to the common area to wait for everyone to come. After we filled water bottles and had our day bags together we went about 20 minutes to the herbal walk. On the walk we learned about rice paddy farming, and the different herbs they use for holistic medicine. After the herbal walk we went to the shop where they sell holistic medicines and teas. Most people got something to try. We also played the mind game while we waited for the rain to stop and for our bus to arrive to take us to the water temple. At the temple we wore our sashes and the sarong and walked around the temple and saw how they prayed. The scenery was super pretty and the water temple were very inspiring seeing how dedicated everyone was to the prayer. Next we went to the mountains to have lunch overlooking a volcano and a forest. It was a great buffet with lots of different Balinese foods. The black rice pudding was a big hit!

After lunch we went to the coffee plantation and saw all of the different plants they grew to make the coffee grounds and tea leaves. We also got to try all of the different drinks they served, it was all super fresh and delicious. After the plantation we came back to home base and had some downtime until dinner where we talked about something that inspired us during the day and did shout outs. Dinner was rice, chicken, Tempe, and veggies. After we all went to bed early for an early morning!

Your Leaders Of The Day,
Jules and Tessla

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BLOG POST FOR JULY 1

Selamat Pagi!

Today, we split into two groups, accomplishing two different shared environment-lifting goals.

Group 1 started the day with exposing ourselves to some methods of preserving our environment, using the benefits of maggot composting, with the help from @MagiFarms ! in addition, Magi Farms provided aid in helping us pack and deliver meals to those living near one of the biggest landfills in Bali.

Group 2 woke up extra early to catch a ride to the beach and immersed themselves in knowledge of the mangrove ecosystem and how it benefits many different aspects of life. They picked up trash via paddle board, and sorted trash into piles of recyclables, organic waste, and landfill trash. Some examples of things they found in the mangroves were hygiene products, plastics, and even clothes!

Overall, both groups learned valuable lessons of how protecting our beautiful green earth will help us in the long run!

Your Leaders Of The Day,
Romeo and Lani

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BLOG POST FOR JULY 2

Today we all went to Bumi Sehat, an NGO clinic that does a lot of free care for mothers that are unable to pay for it. We met with the founder Robin Lim who taught us a lot about the clinic and how they believe in cutting the umbilical cord after two hours so the baby has all the nutrients it needs.

After this clinic visit we went to a very delicious restaurant. After lunch we took a class on public health with the Bali Institute, we learned a lot about their eating habits and how malnutrition and obesity were big issues in Bali and we split into groups to come up with plans for to help the local community.

After that we had a GLA activity on setting goals and writing a letter to ourselves. After that we went to the Royal Palace or Puri as the guide taught us, he showed us around the palace grounds in which we saw a lot of beautiful plants. After our tour of the areas we sat down for dinner with the princess, dinner was a nice range of things and after we were able to ask her a lot of questions and she is very similar to us!

Love,

Macey and Dan

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BLOG POST FOR JULY 3

Om Swastiastu!

Today we had an early start and split into our two groups. Group 1 went to help clean up the mangroves by paddle boarding through the narrow waterways and had a swim in the crystal waters of the beach, the perfect balance between giving back and experiencing something new. It was muddy but rewarding as they cleared out the plastic and debris from the roots. It was interesting as they learned how this vital ecosystem plays a huge role in protecting the shoreline while providing a habitat for marine life. Group 2 went to the Magi Farm to learn about treating food waste. We learned that food often times is a larger percentage of the waste in landfills than plastic. We got to see maggots decompose the food in real time, and learned about their lifecycle. We also went to the landfill to hand out food in the communities that live inside of it. Finally, we reunited and made our way to the traditional fire dance performance, an unexpected but pleasant surprise. Surrounded by the sound of chanting and the powerful storytelling of the dancers, we were completely mesmerized. The vivid facial expressions secured the perfect ending to this fulfilling day, reminding us how interconnected everything is; Nature, culture, community, and people.

Salamat Tidur!
Hazel and Peter

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BLOG POST FOR JULY 4

Today, on July 4th, 2025 us teens took a trip to the Astungkara way. We rode the bus around 30-40 minutes to reach our destination and set sail on a short path to the rice farming paddies just outside Ubud. When reaching the destination we all set to work to experience the daily work of planting, harvesting and composting in the process of organic rice farming. We got to see the true natural beauty of indonesian farms. After the hardwork, we meditated, enjoyed a homemade lunch and made lovely bracelets.

When getting back from Astungkara way, we had our debate about medical tourism and improving rural areas. After the debate we ate dinner. Spaghetti and chicken meatballs, french fries, and fried mushrooms. Quite delicious! Then afterword we had the surprise of fireworks, for those celebrating 4th of july. To conclude our night we all set off sparklers and listened to some American tunes. Happy belated 4th to the family and friends back home who celebrate!

Addy and Kendra

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BLOG POST FOR JULY 5

Om Swastiastu!

In the morning we headed to a cooking class where we got to make traditional Balinese dishes from scratch. The whole group worked together, chopping vegetables, grinding spices, and learning how to cook over a fire. The smells were amazing, and we had so much fun laughing and working as a team. When everything was done, we sat down and shared the meal together for lunch—it felt like a big family event..

Later in the day we visited a local Balinese healer. He welcomed us with a balinese prayer. Then, one by one, we sat with him while he read our palms. It was really interesting—some of us were amazed at how accurate he was and the things he told us that would come in our future. Even if you were not for sure about the things he told you, it was still a cool experience to learn more about Balinese culture and spiritual practices. We ended off the day with preparation for our upcoming events and an amazing dinner!!

Lola & Jordyn

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BLOG POST FOR JULY 7

Salamat Pagi!

Today we started we started with an info session from BioRock Pemuteran about coral reef protection and rehabilitation. We learned about the use of ionized metals to build calcium for the coral to build itself on. We then got to snorkel and see the coral firsthand, which was super cool. Then, we went back to the homestay for lunch, and got ready to teach the kids at SDN 5 Pemuteran. We taught them about exercise, hygiene, and nutrition through fun activities. We then went back to the beach to cool off after a hot day. We played a bonding game then got to swim. We then headed back to the home base for dinner.

Peace and Chow,
Emily and Peter

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BLOG POST FOR JULY 8

Om Swastyastu!

This morning we had a bit of free time to relax and reflect on our trip so far, while putting the final touches on our teaching plans and itineraries for the school. Once we were prepped, we made our way over and started setting everything up for the day. It was such a joy to see the kids again and they were just as excited and energized as they were on the very first day. After finishing up our classes, we handed out pencils, pens, erasers, and notebooks to all the students. Watching their reactions was incredibly moving, with some of them tearing up with joy. It was clear how much it meant to them, a beautiful reminder of why we’re here. Finally, we ended our day with a calming swim at the beach, the perfect end to a successful day.

Love,
Macey and Hazel

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BLOG POST FOR JULY 9

Salamat Pagi!

We started the day with our final meal at Sudi Guesthouse. Later in the morning we got ready to drive to the Red Coral waterfall. On the way we saw families of monkeys playing and eating with no care in the world. Once arriving at the waterfall, we were greeted by the beauty/mist of the fall. Many of us took photos and made new memories. Then we made our way to restaurant House of Tundra where we enjoyed drinks and food while the scenery of the Bali mountains surrounded us. Later that afternoon, we got to meet the medical students of STIKES Wira Medika University. These students educated us on proper use of medical devices such as a glucose meter, stethoscope, and a blood pressure monitor to prepare us for our service this week. To end our day we gathered to play card games to end the night. The best thing about today is it’s laundry day!

From Tessla and Lani

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BLOG POST FOR JULY 10

Selamat pagi!

Today in the morning we had an activity where we had to write a skit about one of the 5 GLA pillars of leadership and explain what they meant. Then, we had free time and went to the pool to relax. After that, we had lunch and left for our service activity, which was working alongside medical university students doing home checks around different compounds. Then, we debriefed about our service activity and got ready for dinner. We all collectively dressed up and had a nice dinner, and ended the night with card games.

Love,
Jordyn and Dan

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BLOG POST FOR JULY 11

Salamat malam!

Before we had our second day of service venturing through compounds and doing health check-ups, we had the opportunity to inform ourselves on new ways we can help sustain the wildlife and the city-life around us. We visited a local organization that focuses on implementing potential solutions to address challenges faced by underserved communities, called Kopernik.

After a quick lunch break, we were back on the road to hit our next few houses in a new area for check-ins. After dinner, we visited some nearby shops to buy snacks and souvenirs. Overall, it was a good day!

Salamat tidur for now,
Romeo and Jules

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BLOG POST FOR JULY 12

Salamat Malam!

This morning, we started our day with a creative activity – batik art designing! Everyone got to try their hand at drawing and coloring patterns on cloth using wax and dye. It was fun to see all the different designs and how proud everyone was of their work. The batik pieces are now hanging up to dry and look amazing!

In the middle of the day, we continued our last service day of medical check-ups. some of us even had the opportunity to use the blood pressure machine and help check blood sugar. We taught local community children how to wash their hands. It was a great last day and we were all sad to say goodbye to the medical students. In the evening, we played a fun and fast game of futsal (indoor soccer) which ended the day with lots of energy and laughter! Tomorrow we are off to Amed!

Lola and Kendra

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BLOG POST FOR JULY 13

Good morning!

Today we started our journey to amed, our long car ride was 3hrs with a break to visit a water temple called Tirta Gangga. We ate at a yummy buffet, then went shopping. After one long travel day, we settled into our hotel and hopped into the pool! After taking a quick dip in the sea we went to prepare for dinner. Ending our night playing board games!

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BLOG POST FOR JULY 14

We started the day early—up at 4 AM singing Musha Christmas carols to wake everyone up. By 6, we were on a boat for a sunrise boat ride, and it was seriously stunning. Afterward, we hopped in for snorkelling and saw tons of fish, an underwater temple, and even a sea turtle (major win).

The rest of the day was chill—beach, pool, and sunshine. We grabbed pad Thai from the spot next door for lunch, then we had a GLA activity on personal and group goal setting. Then wrapped it all up with a cozy Italian dinner. Perfect Bali day.

Your leaders of the day,
Dan and Kendra

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BLOG POST FOR JULY 15

Selamat Sore

Today we took a one-hour drive to a beautiful hiking spot surrounded by nature. During the hike, we got to try fresh passion fruit and other local fruits, which were super tasty and refreshing. After the hike, we had lunch at Tirta Gangga village, enjoying the peaceful views and delicious food. It was a calm and relaxing part of our day, after the hike.

We then headed back to Ubud, where we unpacked, had dinner, and took some time to rest. Later in the evening, we had a surprised activity where we went to a Karaoke place! It was so much fun and everyone had a great time.

Your leaders of the day,

Lola and Jules

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BLOG POST FOR JULY 16

Selamat Siang!

Today we split into different cars and all headed for white water rafting, on the way we played teapot where you try to guess the ‘teapot’ by asking questions about it.

Once arriving, we were divided again into what rafts we would be in. After we got in we headed down the river on our two hour adventure. While traveling we saw several waterfalls, sparrows, and Bali’s country’s bird. We forget to mention we faced two big drops that threw us around. Even though some of us did struggle, in the end we all enjoyed our time spent together and the delicious food. Later that day, we did some GLA activities where we wrote letters to each other to appreciate each other and be used as motivation/words of encouragement.

Love,

Macey and Lani

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BLOG POST FOR JULY 17

This morning, we went surfing at Padma Beach in Bali. The waves were just right—not too big, not too small—and the water felt perfect. We took turns paddling out, catching a few decent rides, and just enjoying the calm vibe of the beach. It wasn’t about being the best out there, just about having fun and soaking in the moment. A simple, good day by the ocean.

In the evening, we started our car ride home. We stopped at a big store called “Krisna oleh oleh” and went souvenir shopping! After we made it back to the hotel we settled down then made our way to our last grocery store visit. Some, on the way back, decided to go to a simple organic store! after dinner we did our final GLA activity called appreciation circle where we should our appreciation for each other on this trip. To end the night we all spent time enjoying each others company eating delicious snacks and some very yummy fruits for dinner! We are all sad to depart but happy for the experience we got!

Your leaders of the day,
Kendra and Addy

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 JULY 22

We’re thrilled to share that the entire group has arrived safely in beautiful Bali! The students are already settling into their home base here in Ubud, meeting their group and getting comfortable in their new surroundings.

Although we missed the chance to capture a full group photo today as our last arrival was quite late at 10:30 PM, we did manage to snap some great pictures in smaller groups during airport pickups. We can’t wait to gather everyone together for a group photo tomorrow during orientation day!

Over the next two weeks, students will embark on what promises to be the adventure of a lifetime. Together, we’ll explore the rich culture of this incredible island, dive into thrilling adventures, and engage in meaningful service projects that will make a real difference.

To keep you connected throughout the journey, students will be sharing regular blogs filled with stories and photos posted every couple of days. This way, you can follow along and see firsthand the unforgettable experiences unfolding here. From volunteering at local schools, learning about the public health, meeting local medical students to strolling through lush paddy fields, surfing waves, and snorkelling among stunning ocean life and enjoying lunch with the view of Mount Batur, every moment is packed with excitement and discovery. The entire group is eager and ready to dive in!

We look forward to sharing all the highlights with you soon!

GLA staff team 

Musha, Kristin

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BLOG POST FOR JULY 23

Hi Families!

Today we woke up and we had breakfast before heading out to orientation at Bali Institute. At Bali Institute we did orientation, played some games, and ate lunch. After that we went to Banja Tarukan and did an amazing race where we talked to locals to answer our questions about the Balinese culture. After we took a dance and music class and learned how to make an offering and wood carved signs with our names.

Finally we went to dinner and enjoyed spaghetti, a coconut and a performance from two dancers who showed us what the dance we learned actually looked like.

Your leaders of the day,

Sabi and Daniela

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BLOG POST FOR JULY 24

Today we had an early start by grabbing our to go breakfast at 6:45 and heading to the Herbal Walk. We learned about numerous plants and their medicinal properties, and according to our guide Made Westi, you only need a coconut tree to survive. After the walk we headed to Gunung Kawi where we learned to bargain and shopped around. After shopping we headed to a water temple, next was lunch at Kintamani which had a gorgeous mountainside view with the biggest lake in Bali. Later we made our way to the Coffee Plantation where we learned about herbal plants. We tried various coffees and teas and were able to buy our own.

Lastly, we traveled to Blahbatuh Royal Palace. Here we got a tour from a royal worker. We went to various temples and learned about Balinese culture, gods, and kites. After our tour, we had the privilege to dine with the princess, Praba. Although Praba being a princess, she was very kind, funny, and talked to us like a normal teenager. Praba was 17, recently graduated from high school, and loves many of the same things us teens do. She is attending university in London this fall for political science. We all adored Praba and she exceeded our expectations. Talk to you tomorrow!!

Your leaders if the day,

Gigi and Scarlet

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BLOG POST FOR JULY 25

Hello! it is Julia and Sara! Today we had an awe inspiring day where we had DMCs (deep meaningful conversations), did some goal settings for the program, listened to a presentation about nutrition in Bali and met with local medical students. We also got a free scoop of gelato after we got a tour of the Bali institute and explored the sustainable store downstairs where we did some shopping and learned about the stories behind the differnet items in the store. With the medical students, we prepared supplies for our in-house health check-ins and learned how to use a blood pressure monitor. Finally we concluded our day with some good dinner and a chow circle.

Your leaders of the day,

Julia and Sara

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BLOG POST FOR JULY 26

Today we started off our day by having breakfast at the hotel, before heading to the natural birthing clinic, Bumi Sehat. Founded by Robin Lim (what an icon!), the clinic aims to support pregnant women with a comfortable and natural birthing experience. We heard incredible stories from both Robin and mothers from the clinic, including her experience aiding childbirth during a literal volcanic eruption!

We then made our way to a beautifully Balinese restaurant before taking a quick trip to the banjar to begin our service. We partnered up with local medical students to provide personal checkups to the community. We all had an amazing time helping the medical students in the families care by performing sections of their physical exams. Some of us even got to practice our Bahasa speaking!

The 12 of us wrapped up our day with a delicious dinner of spaghetti with a delicious Balinese twist! See you tomorrow 😊

Your Leaders Of The Day,

Palmer and Torrey

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BLOG POST FOR JULY 27

Hi friends and family!!

Today we started off our day by going to Bali Institute where we played some bonding games and had debate on the advantages and disadvantages of medical tourism. We were split into groups where we were given a company to represent and argued their stance on medical tourism in Bali. This exercise helped us recognize our view points as well as keep open minds when listening to others. We also had the chance to enjoy some drinks and desserts at the cafe right next to the Bali Institute.

Then after lunch we went to meet the medical students at a new banjar and started home health checks. We walked around the area interacting with the locals while assisting the students and learned lots of new skills, like how to check blood pressure and input the data we received. Once we finished inputting our data, we quickly changed and had a lovely dinner at a local restaurant.

After dinner we headed to our evening activity, where we had an intense game of fustal. We all had lots of energy after but tried our best to have an early bedtime!!

Your Leaders of the day,

Clare and Ella

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BLOG POST FOR JULY 28

Hi everybody! Today we started off our day by having breakfast at the hotel and then we drove straight to the Astungkara Way, which is an organic rice farm. At the farm we learned how to make bio pesticides, seedling balls, how to compost, and some of us even got to help cook lunch! We finished off our trip to the farm with yoga nidra and bracelet making.

Later we went to the banjar to perform our last day of service. We loved helping the community and learning about the true essence of accessible healthcare through the eyes of the medical students. We said our final goodbyes to our new companions from Stikes University and later enjoyed a delicious dinner. Tonight we are packing up to prepare for another exciting day in Bali!

Until next time,

Campbell and Emmanuel

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BLOG POST FOR JULY 29

Hey guys!! Today we travelled from Ubud to Amed. We began our journey at 8:45 am, and our first stop was an indigenous village. At the village, we learned about their culture and traditions and saw some local art work called lontar writing. The artisans carve prices of lontar writing and use black macadamia to create a print. We also tried two types of honey while we were there!

The honey was made from small, stingless black bees, and had a unique sour flavour. Once we finished at the honey makers house, we made our way back down into town and visited a local house where a woman was weaving kain ikat dua which is a double ikat weaving technique. This is special because this town is one of only three places in the world known for making this specific kind of textile. After that we had a little time to shop, and got on our busses again and made our way to the hotel. Once there, we finished our swim test, got snorkel equipment, went to the beach, and got ready for dinner.

Your leaders of the day,

Scarlet and Ella

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BLOG POST FOR JULY 30

After the rooster woke us up bright and early we head to the local school where we spent time teaching them about hygiene, exercise, and nutrition using fun games. We had a blast playing various games with the kids, while struggling to pronounce Bahasa words. Collectively the children and us learned so much from each other, and were surprised to see how well behaved they were. After saying our hard goodbyes we headed to lunch and stuffed our faces. To burn those calories we walked exactly 30 seconds to the hotel and got ready for a swim. An hour after swimming we stomped down with our flippers to the spider boats and enjoyed speeding out to our snorkelling spot. We geared up in our snorkelling gear and loved exploring the underwater temple, numerous fish, ginormous blue starfish, and the coral. We headed back getting to see the beautiful sunset on our way and then left for din din where we got some delicious burgers.

Your Leaders of the day,
Clare and Gigi

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BLOG POST FOR JULY 31

Hello friends and families!

Today we departed from the beautiful beach town of Amed and headed back to the Ubud home base.

On the drive we stopped at a Balinese water palace, where we saw some small fish and especially well-fed fish. We learned the history of the local royal family and enjoyed gelato!

Finally, once back in Ubud, we changed into our sarongs and sashes and went to see a traditional healer. He read each of our palms and predicted some interesting futures. Later, we had a spectacular time at dinner; which may have involved depleting their supply of free ice cream..

To end the day we watched a fire dance! The dance had various performers that showed their rich culture. To say the least, we were left speechless.

Your leaders of the day,

Palmer and Emmanuel

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BLOG POST FOR AUGUST 1

Today we took a fun trip to the Magi Farm! For those of you who do not know, the Magi farm is a sustainable solution to food waste using maggots. We also had an opportunity to sort the maggots in a contest which Clare and Palmer dominated 💪. Furthermore, we packed a nutritional lunch which we later distributed to people working at the largest landfill in Bali. After our service was done we indulged in a quick nap before heading to a leadership goal setting activity at the Bali Institute. We then had a delicious dinner complete with fun mocktails! Finally, we ended the night with some heated games of slapjack and spoons!

Sara and Daniella

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BLOG POST FOR AUGUST 2

Hi everybody! Today we began our day with breakfast at the hotel before driving to the Ripcurl school of surf. While we were there we learned about mangroves and their vital environmental importance. We then grabbed our paddle boards and paddled out to the mangrove forest and cleaned up serval buckets of trash. Afterwards we sorted through the plastic and had lunch at the beach. Then we spent some time in the sun before heading out for our final dinner in town where we all bought yummy desserts. To end our night we were surprised with a karaoke lounge night where we all sung our hearts out. That’s all!

Your leaders of the day,

Torrey and Campbell

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BLOG POST FOR AUGUST 3

Today was unfortunately our final day on our GLA adventure. We started the day off with an early wake up call of 6:00 a.m. Then we travelled to Padma beach where we learned to surf and caught some waves for a couple of hours. We basked in the sunlight and had our lunch on the beach as well. We then headed over to a giant three-story souvenir shop and did some shopping. Then we came back to the hotel and got ready for our goodbye ceremonies. We enjoyed pizza and traditional Balinese cakes and desserts. Afterwards we shared our remarks and signed each other’s books just before we had our last pit stop at Indomart where we stocked up on our favourite Indonesian sweets.

Julia and Xabi