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 27

Pura Vida!

What an incredible start to our adventure! Today, we had the privilege of welcoming 34 inspiring young leaders to the vibrant and welcoming country of Costa Rica. Throughout the day, students arrived in waves at Liberia Airport, full of excitement and anticipation.

Once everyone touched down, we made our way to our home base where students settled into their rooms, completed health checks and swim assessments, and began forming meaningful connections with their new peers. We also made time for some fun—heading to the beach for games of soccer and volleyball, soaking in the beautiful coastal energy.

Our evening wrapped up with a delicious traditional Costa Rican meal—casado—featuring rice, beans, chicken, fresh salad, and a warm taste of local culture. Later, we played icebreaker games that helped everyone feel more connected, followed by a thoughtful discussion about our phone policy and how we can stay truly present and engaged with one another throughout this experience.

We’re looking forward to tomorrow’s orientation and taking our first steps into the impactful service projects ahead.

To all the families, friends, and supporters—thank you for your trust and encouragement! Be sure to follow along with our journey here on the blog and leave us a message below—we’d love to hear from you.

We are still waiting for Ilan, Idan, and Jordyn who will be arriving tomorrow. Can’t wait for the whole team to be complete!

With appreciation,
Mentor RJ

BLOG POST FOR JULY 29

We started the day by uplifting our spirits by playing heads up seven up and then completed the morning with a wholesome breakfast. Everyone had their first day of service and separated into the groups they were divided into the night before. VerdiAzul went to the beach to help with the turtle hatchery. The GEA went into the local school to help the students as well as the environment, then UC painted signs to spread awareness to keeping the beaches clean.

Once back at the home base we got to unwind at the pool right before debating about Ecotourism and prevalent issues around Costa Rica. Leo then came to teach the GLA campers about cultural dancing. After dinner, we discussed our plans for tomorrow as well as celebrating a Jack’s birthday with a piñata. When returning to the rancho everyone was initiated into tribes and had a small competition to finish off the night!

By T, Mia, Nate, George, Leo

BLOG POST FOR JULY 30

Jungle Rapids, Zip Lines & Pura Vida Vibes

Today was one for the books — and it started early. Alarms went off at 5:30 AM as we geared up for a full day of adventure. Despite the sleepy faces, the two-hour bus ride to the park was calm and peaceful — a nice way to ease into what turned out to be an adrenaline-packed day.

Our first stop: tubing through the Costa Rican jungle. What we thought might be a relaxing float turned out to be a wild ride — the rapids were no joke. A few kids even got tossed off their tubes (all safely, of course!), adding to the thrill and laughter. Surrounded by lush greenery and jungle sounds, it was a totally immersive experience.

Next came zip lining — and wow. We soared above the treetops, catching breathtaking views, but the real showstopper was the final stretch through a stunning gorge. Honestly, it was the most scenic thing many of us have ever witnessed.

After burning all that energy, we hit a farm-to-table buffet for lunch. Everything was delicious — maybe too delicious — judging by how full most of us felt afterward. We also sang happy birthday to our mate Nate!

The bus ride back was a whole different vibe: music blasting, kids singing, and lots of good energy. We made a pit stop at a local shop to grab souvenirs, snacks, and (of course) ice cream.

We ended the day with our usual “Pura Vida” time — this evening’s highlights included a chaotic game of telephone, our elusive secret Osuga still staying under the radar, and some great conversations in our mentor groups.

All in all, today reminded us why we came here — to explore, to laugh, and to experience the true meaning of Pura Vida.

By Gage, Noah, Jonas, Ben, Idan

BLOG POST FOR JULY 31

This morning for Pura Vida we did four corners, then after a quick breakfast groups split off for volunteering. GEA left for the beach to clean up trash and learned about how things decompose, learning how tiny changes can impact can the planet and ended with a quick swim in the ocean. UC left to help a nearby community, where they dug up dirt and helped build and fence and planters for a local playground to keep the kids safe from cattle. It was an amazing transformation seeing the space come to life with the help of local family’s! VerdeAzul helped out the turtles by digging sand. All groups met up for lunch and then cooled off with a dip at the pools.

GLA then left for a local cooking class where we made empanadas and played football! Frank also taught us tons of local games, it was so much fun and brought out our inner child. We came back for dinner and had chow circle at the beach where we saw a beautiful sunset. We ended the day by celebrating Aubrey’s birthday with a piñata and then broke off into groups of six for a game of jeopardy.

Jordyn, Ava, Aubrey, Addison, Maya

BLOG POST FOR AUGUST 1

We started day three of service with a fun team building game to wake us all up before breakfast. After breakfast UC went into the community to paint murals and tires and dig up dirt for planting. VerdiAzul had another day of hard work digging and building turtle nests. In GEA they went to the beach to help clean up the trash and then went to the school to play soccer with the local children. After service and lunch, we hung out at home base and swam in the pool.

After cooling down, the tribes competed in the Beach Olympics Games. These competitive team games included: bridge the gap, minefield, fill the bucket, and as the finale, built a sand art representing their tribes. Following these tiring activities, we ended the night with chow circle, a “dress funny” dinner, and activities with mentor groups.

Katie, Chloe, Shea S., Shea R, and Jackson

BLOG POST FOR AUGUST 2

Today we started off with Pura Vida. We played a game of silent ball and then went to breakfast. GEA went off to a beach where they got to paint signs that told locals to pick up trash. They learned all about the mangroves and what grows there. They finished with a test on what they have learned so far and some delicious smoothies. Verdiazul helped out at the hatchery today, but this time they were assigned to create a fence around a broken turtle statue. They also went around the park, picking up sticks and trash hoping to make the park safer and better for kids. They finished the day by swimming in the ocean. UC painted a mural and tires in the community to help make the community more pretty and nicer for locals and tourists.

After delicious Costa Rican lunch we made our way to a goat farm. We started off by meeting the owners. We then got to pet pigs and see chickens. The owners then led us to the forest where we got to learn about all kinds of animal plants. After we went to see the goats. We pet and fed them. We broke into groups to milk the goats and try some of their milk. At the end of the tour we got tested with some goat yogurt and cheese. We made it back to home base, ate some dinner, and played a tribe game. We ended our day in mentor groups where we discussed how our service groups were going. Overall we had a great day in Costa Rica and are looking forward to spending another day in Costa Rica tomorrow.

Caroline, Kaio, Jake, AJ, and JACK 🙂

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 17

Pura Vida!

Hello family and friends! We started our first day of service today!

GEA: We went to the forest and picked up trash, while learning about the native flora of Costa Rica and also about the way that trash gets to certain locations. We finished the day by playing soccer with Frank, the leader of the service.

UC: We painted signs to raise awareness for people to pick up and recycle their trash on the beach, and later picked up trash in the local playground.

Verde Azul: We picked up microplastics on the beach, learned about marine life and turtles with Valerie, the service leader, and shoveled and carried sand to extend the hatchery’s platform.

Later, we went to the pool and everyone played volleyball. In the afternoon, we had a debate on eco tourism and the development of a new resort in the area, and how that might affect the local environment.

At night, we were initiated into our tribes, where we invented cheers and painted banners!

By Leaders of the day: Stella, Nadia, Jose, Austen, Finn

BLOG POST FOR JULY 18

Today we started our second day of service. The GEA Group started by cleaning the beaches and picking up small plastics in the sand. We saw a turtle swimming in the ocean and took a small hike to the top of a cliff. The VerdiAzul built a barrier made from sand to protect the turtle hatchery, as well as sowing baskets that keep the turtle nests shaded. The Uniendo Comunidades group painted trees around the community.

After lunch we had some time at the pool to relax and began our beach Olympic Games. We played some fun and competitive games within our tribes which were decided the previous night. Lastly we ended our day with mentor groups and getting to know each other better. We hope that tomorrow is just as rewarding and fun as today.

By Evan, Hayden, Angie, Matthew, and Grant

BLOG POST FOR JULY 19

Today was so far one of the best, we started our volunteering for four hours in the morning helping us to create memories for a lifetime as well as helping out the community. After a delicious chilly con carne we headed out on the bus where we drove 45 minutes to go to an eco-friendly farm at the farm we fed the goats.

We drank the goat milk and we even got to try goat cheese. We got to see a wide range of animals such as pigs goats and of course the family’s two dogs. Now getting an early night sleep for an early start tomorrow as we head off on our first adventure day!

By Helly, Lucus, Jaya, Annika, Ava

BLOG POST FOR JULY 20

We woke up very early and we took a 2 hour bus ride to the tubing and zip-lining place. Then we went tubing on a class 2 rapid. Afterwards we went zip-lining on 9 courses over rivers and caves. Then we had some traditional Costa Rican lunch.

We returned home to base camp and took a short break between arrival and chow circle. After the break the group headed down to the beach near camp where we conducted chow circle. The group went around discussing their shoutouts highlights and takeaways. We watched the sunset once it concluded. After we returned we all went and ate dinner.

Proceeding dinner Jorge gave announcements about the logistics of the following day where we broke into mentor groups once it finished.

BLOG POST FOR JULY 21

In the UC service today we painted a mural of a tree and painted tires as well as the inside of a wall. In GEA we went to the beach to put up our painted signs that raised awareness of high tides and litter. In VA we helped out through a summer camp and played games with elementary school kids as well as swam in the waves with them. After service we took a bus to a community where we played rally games, soccer and did a cooking class. To finish off the night we had chow circle and mentor groups to finish the day.

By Honor, Shaila, Noah, Sierra, Brianna

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 5

Wake up time was 6:30 and we quickly met in the rancho for pura vida and breakfast. We played wax museum (for pura vida) and enjoyed some pancakes! Then it was time for our first day of service! The UC (United communities) group worked with Ester, a local who began the UC organization and is constantly helping Costa Rica in many ways. Our mission today was collecting garbage from the road, beach, and park and successfully sorting the trash into four groups. The VerdiAzul group helped at the nearby turtle hatchery! The group worked with one of the volunteers, Olli, to learn about turtles in the region, specifically, leatherback turtles. They dug out holes for the turtles nests inside the hatchery. Stay tuned for a hatching in the near future!

After a hearty lunch of chili we had some nice pool time to catch up and relax. We played cards, made bracelets, and passed the beach ball in the pool. Then it was time for tribes! We got initiated into either the Koyomo or Nimbu tribes! Our tribal activities of the day were banner making and capture the flag. After an intense game, it was time to get ready for dinner and chow circle! Chow circle and dinner were a little rainy but our spirits weren’t compromised. Ice cream and debate kept things lively. Our debate tonight got heated over whether or not a resort should be built in the nearby region. Now we are winding down and getting ready for our next adventure which starts with a 5:30 wake up!

Written by the leaders of the day!

Margaret, Harper, Hunter, Andrea

BLOG POST FOR JULY 6

Today we went on our first adventure day! We woke at 5:45 AM and had delicious empanadas for breakfast on the bus ride there. The bus was ride was two hours and many of us took a nap. When we got there, we went rafting down the Colorado River. It was so fun and many of us flipped our tubes! We got very wet. It took an hour and a half to get down the river and was such a good experience with many drops and unexpected turns. After, we changed to go zip lining (a very quick turn around). We went down 9 zip lines and crossed 14 platforms. Aside from zip lines, there were Tarzan swings, rock climbing, and monkey drops! Some of us even went upside down on the zip lines! After this we were VERY hungry and went to this delicious buffet down the road. We enjoyed the variety of food including fish, rice and beans, rice pudding and amazing pineapple. Next we stopped at the local shops on the way home. We tried many of the local Costa Rican snacks and picked up souvenirs! On the bus ride home from that we enjoyed some karaoke to pass the time.

We then arrive home for CHOW circle accompanied by a gorgeous sunset over the beach. Many cute photos were taken and we discussed the highlights of our eventful day. Then we came back to home base to a delicious pasta dinner and ice cream at the resorts ice cream shop. Next, the leaders of the day lead us in a delayed Pura Vida game where we played heads up seven up. Followed by it was Jorge Time! He explained what we will do tomorrow and the exciting adventures to come! We then ended the night with mentor groups, which included a variety of activities and good conversation. And then we called it a night for an eventful day tomorrow!!!

By Alice, Violet, Raegan, Josie

BLOG POST FOR JULY 7

We woke up at 6:15 to start our amazing day of fun! We ate our breakfast and went to our service activities! VerdiAzul dug up lots of sand, created a great assembly line and swam in the ocean! the UC group painted, constructed, and redecorated a playground, and got to eat fresh costa rican fruit! After we pool chill time for swimming and rest. Soon after we had our dance class where we learned the salsa, reggaeton, Guanacaste and created our own dances!

When we finished we gathered for chow circle where everyone showed their appreciation for GLA and each other, with shoutouts, takeaways, and highlights! For dinner we had Tacos and we voted off the wrong person for Osuga. Then we had Jorge time, then finished the night with mentor groups! Overall great day, Goodnight everyone! Lots of love!!

BLOG POST FOR JULY 8

The first thing we did after getting up today was pura vida. We had so much fun playing four corners before leaving for service. At UC we got to meet a few really sweet kids from the community. We had a great time playing duck duck goose and soccer with them while finishing beautifying the community playground. At Verde Azul we built a big wall by using shovels and we also sewed baskets and got to swim in the ocean. At the goat farm we got to walk around and feed some goats and we milked and drank fresh goat milk. They had an awesome dog at the farm who loved running around! At the end of the night we played Jeopardy between the tribes which was really fun! Nimbu ended up winning and it was a great way to end off the day!

By Cece, Aubrey, Simon, Sheyna

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 20

Pura Vida!

Today, we had the joy of welcoming 51 incredible young leaders to the beautiful country of Costa Rica! Students arrived throughout the day at Liberia Airport in different groups.

Upon arrival, they headed straight to our home base, got settled into their rooms, completed initial health checks and a swim test, and started building connections with one another. We ended the day with a delicious traditional Costa Rican dinner—casado—featuring rice, beans, chicken, salad, and a taste of local hospitality. Afterward, we played some fun icebreaker games to help everyone get to know each other better.

We’re excited for tomorrow’s orientation and to dive deeper into the service projects we’ll be part of during our time here.

To all the parents, families, and friends—thank you for your continued support! Please stay connected with our journey by following the blog and leaving a comment below.

Warm regards,
Mentor RJ

BLOG POST FOR JUNE 21

Hey from Costa Rica!!

Today was our first full day of the program. We spent the majority of the day getting familiar with each other and the expectations of us while we’re here. We started off the day with some yummy breakfast of traditional Costa Rican foods. Then, we started our orientation, which included icebreakers, making skits, and some fun games!

After lunch, we headed to Playa Negra for an afternoon at the beach! We played volleyball, spikeball, and had fun in the waves before a storm rolled in. We made our way back to home base to have yet another delicious meal and then met with our mentor groups for the first time. Now, it’s time to head to bed to prepare for the early morning and fun, busy day ahead of us!

Written by Haley, Sami, Cheyenne, Dylan, Lily G., Katie, and Ella

BLOG POST FOR JUNE 22

Wasn’t too excited to wake at 5:30 this morning, everyone had to meet up at the Rancho at 6:05! We dropped off our phones and headed to the bus. We were all exhausted, but got super energized by our delicious empanada breakfast. After a bumpy, two hour long bus ride we finally arrived to our first destination…. ZIP LINING! We were worried at first, because it was pouring rain. But thankfully, we were able to go, got all our gear on, and got straight to zip lining! After about 15 zip line platforms full of swings, slides, repelling, and rock wall climbing, we were finally done. When we arrived back at the zip line base and dried off the rain was really coming down and our tubing trip got canceled.

But fortunately for us, about a two minute walk away there was a delicious buffet restaurant and an amazing mile long hiking path where we were met with Costa Rica’s abundant wildlife, and finished with a beautiful viewing of a waterfall. We got back on the bus, and after about 45 minutes, we had a pitstop at a souvenir shop. We got ice cream, T-shirts, keychains, and much more! We arrived home around 4:45 and had an hour to chill.

After our daily chow circle where we discuss our highlights, shoutouts, and take aways from the day and dinner… we were initiated into one of three tribes: NIMBU, KOYOMO, JUYU. Then we relaxed after a super eventful day! See you tomorrow!!!!

By Kobi, Eliza, Dylan W., Cameron, Damon, Albane

BLOG POST FOR JUNE 23

We started today bright and early with our first ever Pura Vida. We were led in a mini dance routine by some of the mentors and then did a quick icebreaker before breakfast. After we ate, (the pancakes were delicious) we all went our separate ways for community service. We then spent the next four hours shoveling sand, picking weeds, cleaning beaches, and most importantly making a real impact in the community. After lunch half of us took a power nap in our rooms while the other half spent the next hour playing volleyball and marco polo in the pool. Then it was time for beach olympics! RJ led us through four high energy activities to compete for points for our tribe. (Go green!) My favorite was the blindfolded obstacle course and the sand art.

We ended off the night with dinner and a debate that got us using our problem solving skills for real world issues. It is also worth mentioning that the Osuga has still not been caught but this blogger has a feeling that his or her days are numbered! That concludes day four of GLA. Good night everyone!!

BLOG POST FOR JUNE 24

Today June 24th, we started in the day at everyone meeting at the ranch for PURA VIDA at 6:45!! Each group headed off to their service work at 7:50. Verde Azul walked to the Turtle Hatchery, today’s work was continuing to build the wall of sand for protecting the turtle eggs. This service group end early at 11:15!! They were all able to dip in the ocean to cool off on this very hot day!! The next service group (GEA) spent the day cleaning a nearby beach! It was hot and Fred made us run but we ended up getting loads of trash and learning a lot about pollution and climate change, to conclude a long hot day we swam in the ocean then headed back to home base! The last service group, (UC) went to a local park and worked with local citizens to paint tires around the park and also paint a rancho. Everyone enjoyed the painting job, and some even got a little messy with the paints. The locals were very kind and even provided fresh fruits and snacks for all the volunteers. Overall, a great and successful day of service for the group. All service groups came back to home base to chill till we all went to a community to play traditional games and make empanadas.

When we made the empanadas we watched the traditional way to make corn tortillas we learned how to properly roll them up. Then we saw how they fried them. They were delicious! 😋 Next we played soccer connecting to the tribes to determine who gets points and some of the kids of the community played with us!! The traditional games include different versions of duck, duck, goose and some others.

Everyone had a blast leading everyone to come back to home base later than normal. To end off the day we had tacos for dinner!!!!

By Sophia Kyle Norah Charlotte

BLOG POST FOR JUNE 25

Today we started with Pura Vida, where the leaders of the day led with Simon Says. We then went to service, where each student went to work on their own specific areas. Then we went to a goat farm, where we saw pigs, went on a hike, fed and milked goats, tried fresh goat milk, cheese, and yogurt. There were a lot of mosquitos. We also did mentor groups and that concluded our day.

By Catrina, Alex, Lucy, Sammy, Maya, Kira

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 8

Greetings from Costa Rica!

Our Beachside Service Adventure is officially underway, and we’re off to a great start. By 5 p.m., we had welcomed all of our participants safely to our home for the next 10 days. It’s been a joy to see students from different parts of the world come together, full of curiosity and excitement for the journey ahead.

After settling in, we spent time playing name games and icebreakers to help everyone feel comfortable and start building connections. As the day wound down, we took a walk to the beach and watched a beautiful sunset together—an early highlight that gave us a chance to reflect on the importance of being present. We encouraged everyone to begin “disconnecting to reconnect”—putting phones aside so they can fully engage with the people and experiences around them.

While it was a long day of travel for many, the group is in great spirits and already showing a positive attitude, openness, and excitement for what’s to come. We’re confident this is going to be a meaningful and memorable experience for everyone.

Thank you for trusting us with your amazing young people—we’re so excited to spend the next 10 days learning, serving, and growing together.

With gratitude,
The Beachside Team

BLOG POST FOR JUNE 9

Pura Vida!

Hey blog! We’re back with the very first student led blog of the GLA Costa Rica trip! Today we did some orientational activities and a met our newest member, Isabella. We learned that she came from Colorado and she plays soccer. We also finished up our health checks and swim tests, which were surprisingly difficult. We created code of conduct skits, talked about their importance, and were put into mentor groups!

Then we went to the Playa Negra, which actually translates to black sand beach! We played volleyball, football and had fun with the waves. It was another great day for the members of the GLA Costa Rica Club! Tsssss! 🐍

By Stella M., Cameron H., Riley L., Eli E.

BLOG POST FOR JUNE 10

Hello blog! Today’s main activities were zip-lining and tubing adventure. We had an early morning, traveled far (2 hours.) We ziplined through the trees and a canyon with stunning mountain views, after that we cooled off tubing down a beautiful river, after the hour adventure we regrouped and ate at a delicious buffet where we all talked and bonded.

When we got back at homebase, it rained hard. We had a yummy dinner, and got separated into two tribes— Koyomo and Nimbu, with Nimbu winning the first challenge which was a team-poster decorating project. Today was a great way to kick off camp before service with exhilarating views and group bonding!

By Peyton, Seraphina, and Taymur

BLOG POST FOR JUNE 11

Today started off very strong with everybody working together in their service groups. Some of us were helping to pick up trash off the side of the road and ended up gathering over 52 kilograms (115 pounds) of littered garbage! Others were helping to protect baby sea turtle eggs from beach erosion by digging up wood and dirt. After our service groups we had a cooking class where we made empanadas – which everybody agreed were delicious. During this time we also played soccer which was fun as well.

After the long day, we were heading home and got a great surprise – sea turtles!! We watched and were able to set free baby sea turtles which was an incredible experience for all! To end the night we when back to home base and did a GLA debate about the environment and different factors with protecting the local community.

By Logan, Cameron, Assia

BLOG POST FOR JUNE 12

This morning, we started the day with a delicious breakfast before splitting into our different service groups. Those working with the sea turtles helped protect their habitat by collecting sand in buckets, reinforcing nesting areas to combat erosion, shielding nests from high tides, and even creating new turtle nests. Meanwhile, the local community service group focused on environmental awareness by painting wooden signs with messages encouraging people to keep the beach clean and protect the natural surroundings.

After our service work, we enjoyed some well earned free time, playing sports, hanging out at the pool, and having fun together. Later, we played group games before getting dressed up in our silliest outfits for a fun and lively chow circle followed by dinner. We then ended the night with mentor time.

By Reid M., Nedjma A., Malina A.

BLOG POST FOR JUNE 13

Today was another meaningful and rewarding service day as we continued giving back to the community and helping out at the beach. We were especially excited because we had the dance lesson and the GLA Got Talent show to look forward to later in the day.

We kicked off the morning with Pura Vida, which helped set a positive tone. For breakfast, we had French toast, rice and beans, and fresh fruit—definitely a solid start to the day. At the Verdiazul service site, we worked hard again on building the sand barrier to help protect sea turtle nests. It was tough but satisfying seeing the progress we’re making. Meanwhile, the GEA group learned about the causes of climate change and helped clean up trash from the beach. One of our biggest takeaways today was realizing how even small actions can create a big impact.

After a well-deserved swim during pool time, we had lunch—chicken rice and fries—which gave us energy for the rest of the day. We played our daily tribe game (which always gets us laughing) and then began getting ready for the talent show. Later in the afternoon, we had a dance lesson where we learned different traditional dances from the Guanacaste region. It was not only super fun but also brought us closer together as a group.

In the evening, we gathered for our chow circle, shared some reflections, and had a comforting dinner of mashed potatoes and meat. Then it was finally time for GLA Got Talent. The show was full of amazing performances, and everyone’s energy was so supportive. Our favorite moment was definitely Cameron’s singing—it was incredible! We ended the night with a dance party, which was the perfect way to wrap up the day. It feels like time is flying by, and each day just keeps getting better. Looking back, we’re so grateful for the experiences we’re having and the memories we’re creating.

By: Zara, Tiago, Luna

BLOG POST FOR JUNE 14

Today we began our 7th day of our GLA Costa Rica trip with an optional morning run on the beach. We spent our time doing challenging service work. The Verdiazul and GEA groups split up to pick up trash on the beach, learn about microplastics, and how non sustainable materials affect the environment. Verdiazul finished their erosion control project and the GEA finished their beach and forest cleanup.

Then we traveled to a local sustainable farm, which used whey, goats, and geese to insinuate a sustainable circle of life. We learned about the ways of Costa Rican farmers, which included milking, feeding, petting and even learned about the environmental effects of the Tica plants to the crops.

Finally, we ended this great day with an amazing chow circle, and the best mentor groups yet. See you tomorrow!

By Riley L., Mansour A., Taylor C

BLOG POST FOR JUNE 15

Today, we traveled to Tamarindo Beach for an exciting catamaran adventure with hopes of snorkeling. Although the weather didn’t cooperate—bringing rain, storms, and murky waters that canceled our snorkeling plans—we still had an incredible time swimming and jumping in the waves.

The boat ride back was rough, with rain pouring down, but we embraced the adventure and made the most of it. Once we returned to home base, we were warmly welcomed by locals who shared their stories and offered us their homemade goods—everything from ice cream and bracelets to bathing suits and more.

We wrapped up the evening with our usual “chow circle,” followed by a delicious dinner and a lively round of Jeopardy between our tribes. Despite the weather, it was a day full of fun, connection, and unforgettable memories.

BLOG POST FOR JUNE 16

Hi blog! Today was another great day and also the last day of service! The verdiazul group finished their project while the GEA group picked up trash on the beach. While it is sad to say goodbye to Costa Rica and this experience we can’t wait to see our families and homes!

By Stella, Eli, Jade, and Caleb