Uncategorized - Part 31

June 7, 2024 by Ashley Welter

Galapagos: Preserving Nature’s Wonders (July 17 – July 30, 2024)

PROGRAM PHOTO ALBUM

TIME CAPSULE LETTER

Hey y’all, this is Clint!

Hope everyone from the “Galapagang” is doing well! We had some great times in Quito and the Galapagos. From our first days eating Mady’s mangos and buying ponchos on the Equator to the last day of making empanadas and dancing salsa, it was an amazing trip. We played basketball and soccer with locals, swam in volcanic fissures, explored local markets with great octopus empanadas, swam with sea lions, debated local environmental rules, planted native species, and some of you tried (and succeeded) to dig up what I still figure was a giant meteorite 😉

Seriously though, I feel like you all really engaged with the local culture and the opportunities to learn about the biology and ecology of the giant tortoises in Santa Cruz, and the blue-footed boobies and other wildlife of San Cristobal (with Fernando and Carmen!). I remember one of your group goals on that last day was to take what you learned in Ecuador and bring it back home and make an impact. We also went over more individual goals and you all tried to imagine achieving those goals and what a timeline for doing so might look like. I just wanted to remind you of that and say I hope you all are still keeping that in mind.

Remember, it is the little, concrete steps that you do now that eventually add up over time. You were an amazing group and I truly saw so much potential in all of you in the ways you worked together as a group, your support of each other, and your intelligent questions and interest in language, culture, science, and everything else you experienced in Ecuador.

Thanks again for being such a great group and I wish all the best for you.

Sincerely,

Clint Ballinger, International Director

¡Just amazing! This is the expression that best defines the great experience with you guys.

Two weeks seem to be such a short time together in the Galapagos, but believe me every single second was full of joy, laugh, experiences, happiness, friendships and memories that will remain in our hearts.

You guys were a real proof that life without so much technology is possible. I must say that among the groups you impressed me the most by not asking for your cell phones, you actually enjoyed the quality time with your new friends in the group.

Wish you all the best!!!

With love 💖

Ligia Possos, Mentor

Thanks for the checking out the blog for this Global Leadership Adventures program!

Here are a few things to know and expect:

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.
We typically receive 2-3 blog posts 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.
Blog updates received on weekends may not be posted until Monday.
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

P.S. Are you interested in supporting the Global Leadership Adventures International Foundation? We invite you to learn more about GLAIF and consider donating here.

Click here to jump down to the most recent post!

BLOG POST FOR JULY 17

Dear GLA Galápagos: Preserving Nature’s Wonders Families,

We are so glad most of the students have arrived! We are currently in our lovely hotel by the airport going over our busy schedule and orientation, then headed to the equator for the afternoon.

Soon we fly on to the amazing Galápagos. First up is the island of Santa Cruz. There we will hike through a pristine landscape of endemic flora and fauna at Tortuga Bay, explore huge lava tunnels, work alongside giant Galápagos tortoises, enjoy homemade Ecuadorian ice cream, play sports with local kids, and swim in the famous Las Grietas (a volcanic fissure on the sea). Then we take the several hour boat ride over to San Cristóbal. There we will snorkel with sea lions, visit Isla Lobo with its colonies of blue footed boobies, frigatebirds, and sea lions, explore the quaint town of Puerto Baquerizo Moreno that seems to have more sea lions than people, more snorkeling in several different natural preserves, and maybe some soccer with the locals. We will also have a recycling workshop one afternoon, visit and work at a local school, and of course be doing a number of leadership activities in the evenings. We will also have two full time local guides with us on all activities teaching us about the biology and geology of the Galápagos.

Student leaders of the day will be writing a blog post every one to two days to keep you updated about all the great things they have been up to. Remember that our location is remote and our schedule packed so for the days on the islands there won’t be frequent communication. We truly hope the students enjoy a break from their phones and immerse themselves for several weeks in the fascinating and beautiful Galápagos Islands.

This is going to be a wonderful program, and I am excited to be part of it. Keep your eyes open for the first student blog in a day or two and enjoy your summer.

Best,
Clint, Håkan, Ligia, and Rodrigo

BLOG POST FOR JULY 19

Today was a travel day! Up at 5 am to catch the flight to the Galápagos. We arrived to Baltra Island, then took a ferry across the channel to Santa Cruz, then crossed the island to Puerto Ayora. After lunch we explored the town some, had some local gelato, and then walked to the Charles Darwin Center for a guided tour seeing giant tortoises and learning about their lifecycle and biology. After a dinner of beef sautéed with peppers, potatoes and rice with lentils, we had some time to talk and then broke into mentor groups to discuss our day and journal.

BLOG POST FOR JULY 20

Today was our first service day! we got up early and got some eggs and quesadillas. Then we got on the bus and got to the work site. When we got there we were surrounded by giant tortoises. We quickly got to work moving trees and rocks in order to help the tortoises move around and protect the growing plants. Later, during break our glorious student leaders had us play mafia together and they did a great job setting up! When we got back to work the goal of getting this big boulder out of the ground started. A group of four was determined to move this rock to provide a more suitable habitat for the tortoises.

Afterwards, we stopped for lunch and had amazing pasta and albacore tuna dish and oreo milkshakes for dessert. Then we got back to work and even learned about the fascinating biology of the giant tortoises. We finished work and ate some great empanadas and hopped on the bus home. After heading back we celebrated Gregory’s birthday and nominated our new leaders for tomorrow. Overall it was a very productive and exciting day. Can’t wait for tomorrow!

by Mady Harris and Jac Corriveau

BLOG POST FOR JULY 21

Today we went swimming at Las Grietas, a big volcanic fissure, and we saw many cool fish. On the way back we stopped by a cool little cafe on the sandy trail and played ping-pong and foosball and tried some local food while we dried off. Then we went back to base and learned how to make and then ate some beautiful marlin ceviche.

After lunch we headed to work at Primicias where we finally dug up the big rock and tried sugar cane. On our break we had an epic game of tug-of-war.

After work we went back to base and ate pasta with chicken and vegetables. To end off the day we played basketball and soccer with some local kids which was really fun. Tomorrow off to see the lava tubes!

Written by Gregory Jachymek and Knox Mills

BLOG POST FOR JULY 22

This morning we had an enjoyable later start and got straight on the bus to go visit a local bakery. After some banana bread, we learned about and visited the huge sinkholes called Los Gemelos and the isolated ecosystems in them. After this we went to some lava tunnels and walked through them and got some fascinating insight into their formation. Next we rode back down the mountain to eat lunch and continue our work helping create a better environment for the giant tortoises. Today was the first day that included planting native species to give some shade to the tortoises. Finally we returned home and had a great chow circle and dinner. Then we met up for mentor groups where we all took turns teaching the group about something we know about, like a hobby or sport.

by Noah Carson & Brent Spear

BLOG POST FOR JULY 23

Today we woke up and had a delicious breakfast consisting of over easy eggs and an Ecuadorian muffin filled with queso. Next we all hiked for 2 miles to a remote beach lined with mangroves. We saw hammerhead and black tipped sharks as well as stingrays, pufferfish, and sea turtles! We played some fun beach games before heading back to the bus.

We had an amazing lunch of wahu fish and beet salad. We then headed to our last day of service at Primicias. There we finished clearing the tree piles, digging the lagoon, and planting endemic plants. We also ate fresh papaya and sugar cane. Then we went to the restaurant and had empanadas and milkshakes as a snack! We took a noisy bus ride back and relaxed before a dinner of chicken soup and and rice with beef. We filled out a feedback form, and then we were on our way to play more soccer and basketball at the local park before shopping and getting ice cream. We then had some phone time and packing, and went to bed ready for the boat trip tomorrow.

Hasta luego,
Piper and Cole

BLOG POST FOR JULY 24

This day began with a later start but a great breakfast of eggs and fresh buns. We said goodbye to Santa Cruz and quickly headed over to the dock for our ferry to San Cristobal . Once there we dropped off our laundry, ate a great lunch of albacore tuna, and explored the charming town. Then we had the opportunity to snorkel with sea lions. After dinner we played an eventful game of soccer with the locals and wrapped it up with ice cream for the walk home.

Sedona Dorst & Sawyer Johnston

BLOG POST FOR JULY 25

Today we woke up on the island of San Cristóbal; with a buffet of assorted fruits, eggs, and cinnamon bread. After our early start we traveled to Loberia, a beautiful beach off the coast of the island. There, we snorkeled and saw some amazing marine life like sea turtles, stingrays, eels, and many other fish. After drying off, we enjoyed the beach by playing games and watching sea lions.

Traveling back to home base we enjoyed a great lunch of chicken and rice, with a potato and beets side. After lunch we had some free time before we headed to a local elementary school for our service work, decorating and painting a wall of the school with an ocean mural. Some highlights were Cole, Mady, and Knox’s kraken painting, Noah’s king fish painting, and Sophie and Gillian’s scuba diver painting.

We finished off the amazing day with dinner at home base. The chefs concocted spaghetti bolognese with a side of sweet plantain. And finally, we ended off the night with leadership activities. ¡Buenas Noches!

Written by Ava Hatcher and Zach Shuter

BLOG POST FOR JULY 26

For today’s adventuring , we split into two groups. The first group went snorkeling and adventuring on an island in the morning while the other group stayed at home base and went into town to do some shopping and explore.

We stopped by several shops including a bakery and a local clothing store, where most everyone got matching “I love boobies” merchandise. Then, we ventured back to home base to prepare for the afternoon snorkeling session.

To get to the snorkeling site, we took a 30 minute boat ride to Isla Lobos, where we saw sea lions, frigate birds, and blue footed boobies. Along that trail, we were lucky to see a newly born sea lion. We then settled down at a nearby yellow sand beach where many sea lions had hauled up along the black volcanic rocks. After that, we returned to the town by boat and met up with the other group who had just finished exploring town. We ended the day with a wonderful dinner of beef stir fry, rice and fries. After dinner, we had a debate about non-native cats and dogs on the island, and how to deal with the threat they pose on endemic species.

Ciao!

Sophie and Gracie

BLOG POST FOR JULY 27

Today we walked over to Tijeretas, a beautiful cove that is a popular snorkeling spot with rocky shores and clear waters, known for its rich marine life. During our time snorkeling, we saw many different animals, including sea lions, sea turtles, crabs, sting rays, and some students even saw an octopus. On our walk back from the cove, we briefly stopped at an outlook that showcased the stunning scenery. We were also given some history from the museum at the location from Carmen, one of our local guides.

After our excursion to the snorkeling destination, we listened to a talk given by one of our mentors, Rodrigo, about his experience with buying land and building his own house to save on living expenses. The story was meant to teach us that we don’t have to have a lot of money to be a home owner, and all you need is dedication and patience.

We then visited and learned about an organization that’s purpose is to recycle and reuse trash to turn it into art, run by the wonderful Kathy C. with the help of her son Alesandro. Kathy is a talented woman who has dedicated herself to help reduce trash pollution on the islands by turning otherwise unwanted items into amazing art. We used old scraps of jeans to make sea star shaped keychains that we get to keep and take home with us.

We had some free time and games before our last day on San Cristóbal tomorrow.

-Ari Bayiates & Ana Wood

BLOG POST FOR JULY 28

Today was awesome! We got to sleep until 8:00. For breakfast we had delicious pancakes and passionfruit juice. After that, we headed out for our last visit to La Playa Mann where we played Empires and hung out with the sea lions. We then headed back to home base where we munched on ceviche and plantain chips. After lunch, we got into mentor groups to discuss our goals and achievements for the trip. We then hung out for a bit before making empanadas from scratch in smaller groups. They were delicious! Once we finished eating, we got a salsa lesson from Ligia and had tons of fun. We finished the night off with a farewell dinner of pizza in town.

Lucy Watts, Milla Humphrey and Gillian Booker

BLOG POST FOR JULY 29-30

Our last days were busy! We got up and finished packing and then walked into town (Baquerizo Moreno) for some last views and shopping. Then we walked to the airport, landing briefly in Guayaquil on the way. When we got to Quito we had dinner and then some last activities together.

The next morning several of us flew out in the morning. The rest of the group went high into the mountains to some hot springs! Then we went to a local trout restaurant by the river, and then finally headed to the airport.

June 7, 2024 by Ashley Welter

Galapagos: Preserving Nature’s Wonders (June 30 – July 13, 2024)

PROGRAM PHOTO ALBUM

TIME CAPSULE LETTER

Hey everyone, it’s Clint!

Y’all left recently but I already miss all the fun times we had. I remember you working hard at Primicias, the huge logs Landon would carry, the long wheelbarrow trips, sometimes with passengers, and all the many empanadas de pollo we would finish the day with. Then the bus ride back to homebase – I’d hold my camera and just snap some photos and probably end up with Oliver doing something funny in them.

We had some great impromptu soccer games in Santa Cruz, and of course Hannah and Porter challenging the locals there at basketball. And evenings at the gelato place, and watching the Ecuador game all together, and seeing huge lobsters.

And then we changed to San Cristobal. I loved the night you all had your GLA shirts on and we marched through town with music to the soccer fields– everyone was looking at us, especially when we got out of the center. Was fun! We looked pretty cool I have to say. And of course the game was fun. Then we had some nice times in town in Baquerizo Moreno exploring the shops and restaurants and waterfront.

Remember our conversation about goals near the end? I think you all challenged each other to travel with an open mind and be open to other cultures as a main goal. You also all wrote down your own personal goals. Keep working on those small changes and tasks to achieve them! I meant what I said after the appreciation circle – I saw in every one of you so much potential and know you will do good things with it.

All the Best,
Clint Ballinger, International Director

Hi everyone! It feels like it was yesterday when you all were here in the Galapagos. I can not tell you how much you are missed, your laughs and your work in teams.

I have to tell you that although time keeps passing by, your hard work to improve the environmental conditions for the giant tortoises a better home remains in Las Primicias.

Hopefully, one day, you do have the opportunity to get back to the Islands and see the great and positive impact you visit to the Galapagos left in the summer 2024.

Words are not enough to describe the wonderful memories we all got together. Keep dancing salsa and making empanadas. You guys were an excellent group this summer!

With love 💖

Ligia Possos, Mentor

Thanks for the checking out the blog for this Global Leadership Adventures program!

Here are a few things to know and expect:

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.
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.
Blog updates received late in the evening or overnight will be posted the following day.
Blog updates received on weekends may not be posted until Monday.
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

P.S. Are you interested in supporting the Global Leadership Adventures International Foundation? We invite you to learn more about GLAIF and consider donating here.

Click here to jump down to the most recent post!

BLOG POST FOR JUNE 30 & JULY 1

Dear GLA Galápagos: Preserving Nature’s Wonders Families,

We are so glad most of the students have arrived! We are currently in our lovely hotel by the airport going over our busy schedule and orientation, then headed to the equator for the afternoon.

We hope to primarily give a window into these weeks through the blog. We arrange access to communication for it and of course have plans for any needed urgent communications at any time. We have four staff directly with the students, plus two full time guides with us (Fernando and Carmen) on all activities, plus the support of our homebase staffs for cooking and cleaning. We also have the 24/7 professional support of the office staff. Your children are in great hands. This is going to be a wonderful program, and I am excited to be part of it. Keep your eyes open for the first student blog in a day or two and enjoy your summer.

Best,

Clint, Patricia, Ligia, and Christy

BLOG POST FOR JULY 2

Today was a travel day! Off to the Island of Santa Cruz from our Quito base in Tababela. We got up early and before we knew it we were on the small ferry crossing from the galapagos airport island of Baltra to Santa Cruz. We then had lunch, settled in, and went to explore town. Then we had a guided tour through the Charles Darwin Center, walked back to town for chow circle, dinner, and got to explore town by evening before mentor groups and bed. Tomorrow is our first work day at Primicias, the giant-tortoise preserve, so we tried to get to bed early.

BLOG POST FOR JULY 3

Today we woke up at 6:30 am to get ready for our longest day of work. After about 35 mins we arrived at our work site and began scoping the scenery out. We removed invasive species brush and logs to clear an area for the tortoises. Lunch at the tortoise preserve restaurant was a very rewarding thing after working in the heat. We had pesto, pomodoro, chicken or local albacore tune.

Later we also had the option to try empanadas and fruit smoothies. All of it was very delicious and we all enjoyed it. After lunch we took a tour of the tortoise habitat and got to see them eating, chilling, and laying in the mud. Today was tiring but rewarding, and we completed service that will give us more snorkeling time on the next island. Tomorrow we are up very early to swim in the famous Las Grietas before breakfast.

Hannah Leinberg & Sapphire Yau

BLOG POST FOR JULY 4

Today we woke up at the break of dawn to visit Las Grietas, or “The Crack” before breakfast. Las grietas is a naturally formed fissure that is full of cool, crystal clear ocean water, and makes a good natural swimming pool. We had to wake up early in the morning due to our reserved time slot. After swimming we headed towards The Grotto Cafe, located near a pretty sizable salt pond. We grabbed empanadas and corviches, which are an interesting but delicious food made from ground yucca and peanut, and stuffed with fish and topped with carrot salsa.

After enjoying a good snack we finished the walk home and had a hearty breakfast. We then rested some, went into town, and then we left for Primicias to continue working with tortoises. Highlights of working included riding in wheelbarrows, playing baseball with sticks and lava rocks, and seeing just how much wood we could load into a single wheelbarrow. Finally, we headed home for a very American dinner of hotdogs. After eating a quick dinner and showering we then all walked into town to have sushi and fruit drinks while watching the Copa America game—Ecuador vs Argentina, which Ecuador sadly lost in the last seconds on the last penalty kick.

Lennon Francis & Jewelea Olsen

BLOG POST FOR JULY 5

Today we had a tour of Los Gemelos – two huge sinkholes – and then walked though lava tunnels. Afterwards we had lunch at the tortoise preserve and an afternoon of service work. After work we had the chance to visit a local food market in a different part of town where we could try different things like marocho, which is like horchata but made with white corn and served warm, and octopus empanadas, nutella and banana empanadas, and other things.

Later, after dinner we had mentor groups and then some of the group played basketball with the locals, and others played soccer.

Tomorrow is our last day of service at Primicias- we have gotten a lot done!

BLOG POST FOR JULY 6

Today we woke up at around 6:30 on a very sunny day. We had breakfast then went straight to Tortuga Bay, a beautiful and sandy beach where we swam, played games and even saw a baby hammerhead shark. We split into two teams and competed to see who could pass a baton across the widest box without throwing it, stepping in the box or going around. After a couple of hours we headed back home and ate lunch before leaving to complete our last 4 hours of community service for the tortoises. Some ant bites but the end result was well worth it. After showering, packing our bags and having another delicious dinner we went to an ice cream store and did some shopping and went to bed excited for the trip tomorrow to San Cristóbal island!

Gamble Van Cleave
Oliver Abbett

BLOG POST FOR JULY 7

Today we took a two and a half hour boat ride from Santa Cruz to San Cristóbal. The group reached the port of Baquerizo Moreno around 11:00 in the morning. After we unloaded all the luggage, we headed to the laundromat and then the home base on the island. There was fish, rice, and vegetables for lunch. At 3:00, we arrived at Playa Mann, where we spent a few hours swimming and relaxing on the beach with sea lions. After getting back to home base, we ate dinner and did group activities focusing on leadership and teamwork.

Matthew Jamroz & Porter Hagerman

BLOG POST FOR JULY 8

Today, when we woke up we were greeted by a breakfast of watermelon, papaya, and eggs at our home base in San Cristóbal. Then we all packed our backpacks and left into town where some of the group made the decision to rent wet suits and other snorkeling gear. After that we took a bus to a natural park and walked along the coast to a beach where we snorkeled. We saw lots of marine life including sea turtles, sting rays, and other colorful schools of fish. On the surface we also saw many hermit crabs and sea lions including a very curious and vocal baby sea lion. After snorkeling we took our voyage back to home base and had some down time before we ate lunch. While we were anticipating our lunch, we managed to kill time by playing a group game of Uno flip. For lunch we enjoyed soup, rice, chicken, and vegetables. After eating lunch we mutually gathered at a local bakery where we all picked out baked goods.

After heading back to home base, we had some time to rest before we left to a recycling workshop where we each got the chance to create some unique jewelry out of recycled products. Toward the end of our jewelry making, some gathered at the local soccer field and started our own short game where we met a sweet, young, local boy who joined us. We then came back where we prepped for a debate of the foreign animals that were invading the Galapagos Islands before dinner. After we ate dinner, we had a very energetic debate where we divided in five groups representing different interests and we came to a common solution to ban the import of non-native animals and try out a TNR (trap, neuter, return) system for the non-native animals that are on the island. After we finished the debate, we were rewarded with lollipops. We then went to sleep anticipating what we had in store tomorrow.

Ivy Wells & Michael Bubeck

BLOG POST FOR JULY 9

Today we split into two groups for the day, with the first group getting up early and going to Isla Lobos and then time to explore the town in the afternoon and the second group the opposite.

Isla Lobos is an amazing national park where black volcanic rocks and white sandy paths are lined with blue-footed boobies, some doing their mating dance, some with eggs, and some with chicks. There are also frigate birds with big red throats and other birds and wildlife, and sea lions along the shore. After a tour of the island with our guide, we the took a little dingy back to our boat and snorkeled with sea lions swimming around us, and rays, turtles, and other fish, in the clear deep channel between Lobos and Santa Cruz. Everyone also got to do things they wanted in town like try the fresh ceviche or shop for souvenirs.

Then in the evening we all walked across town to a soccer stadium and challenged a local team to a game, was fun! They won because they were a team with lots of practice together, but we had a great time playing and cheering for our side!

BLOG POST FOR JULY 10

Today we had a beautiful walk to a national park area to snorkel in our favorite place yet! On the way we went through the San Cristóbal Interpretation Center, a kind of partly outdoor museum on the history and nature of the Galápagos along the trail. Very interesting. Then we headed along a volcanic stone path to Tijeretas- a kind of rocky bay perfect for snorkeling. We had a hot sunny day great for visibility in the water and warming on the nice deck after we got out. We saw octopus and marine iguana and swam with sea lions and turtles and lots of fish.

After lunch we headed to a local school (pre-k) and painted some colorful scenes on the walls, getting to use our creative side. After a long day we got ready for bed by relaxing with a movie all together on the top of our hotel.

BLOG POST FOR JULY 11

Today is our last day in the islands! So we started with a relaxing morning on Playa Mann with the sea lions. Then after lunch we had a discussion about what we have seen and experienced and how we think it might challenge and inspire us. Then a fun afternoon of making empanadas, salsa dancing, and getting ready for our farewell dinner. In the evening we walked through town and enjoyed a nice evening out with pizza and an ice cream place. We then strolled along the shore at night back to homebase to get ready for our flight in the morning to Quito.

BLOG POST FOR JULY 12

Yesterday we had our flight from San Cristóbal to Quito. In the morning we stoped by a bakery and spent some time in town and then just walked to the airport! We arrived in Quito and had a nice dinner of lasagna together and watched the twinkling lights of hilly Quito from the rooftop. The next day we had fun swimming, sliding on a water slide, and warming up in the hot tub. Then the final packing and off to the airport.

June 7, 2024 by Ashley Welter

Galapagos: Preserving Nature’s Wonders (June 13 – June 26, 2024)

PROGRAM PHOTO ALBUM

TIME CAPSULE LETTER

Hey guys! I hope you are doing fine and still with all the wonderful memories that we got in the Galápagos Islands in June of 2024. Well, there are many moments still in my heart which I would like to share with you! Do you remember when we got to Santa Cruz Island and you saw for the first time some animals such us iguanas and sea lions so close to you? You were very happy and amazed how friendly they were.

When you were working so hard at Primicias in order to give more free space to the tortoises so they could walk around that spot. It was really worthy, wasn’t it? I know it was hard but you made it and I was so proud of you!
Finally, when we went to San Cristóbal Island we had more time to visit some amazing places and know more about the flora and fauna. We had many funny moments together. It was so cool to dance salsa together so I hope you are still practicing salsa and your Spanish, by the way, do not forget to eat many empanadas.

I wish the best for every one of you and continue focusing on your dreams!!

With love ❤
Ligia / Mom 🙂

Hey ya’ll, Clint here!

I know it’s been awhile so I wanted to say “hi.”
I’m sure you are all back in your normal lives but I still remember tons of good times in the Galapagos and Quito. For starters all the food, from the gelato evenings in Santa Cruz to the delicious empanadas at Primicias (the giant tortoise worksite) and the market one evening.

And also at Primicias I remember some dancing lol! And some of you dancing in the concert during Inti Raymi, and all of you dancing salsa on the last day in San Cristobal. Your group was so much fun that way.

We also had some nice snorkeling, especially at Tijeretas, that last pretty place we snorkeled at with the crazy colored conch shell and the friendly sea lions.

I hope some of you are still being inspired by the biology and ecology you learned and experienced on the islands. Some of the things we learned from Fernando and Carmen about the life-cycle of giant tortoises and how they are different on the different islands, and when we saw the blue-footed boobies on Isla Lobos and learned about them and the red throated frigate birds. We also learned a little about the history of the Galapagos on that last museum visit on the way to snorkel, and so much more. And the culture – Chase- you were doing great with some Spanish on those last days!

Remember at the trout restaurant- you were ordering in Spanish!
Some of you spoke about some ideas you had from being here and I hope you are all still working towards your goals, whatever they may be. I saw how smart and hardworking you all were and I am sure you can achieve those goals.

Miss you all!

Clint

PS Hakan, Carmen, and Fernando miss ya’ll as well and say “hi”.

Thanks for the checking out the blog for this Global Leadership Adventures program!

Here are a few things to know and expect:

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.
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.
Blog updates received late in the evening or overnight will be posted the following day.
Blog updates received on weekends may not be posted until Monday.
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

P.S. Are you interested in supporting the Global Leadership Adventures International Foundation? We invite you to learn more about GLAIF and consider donating here.

Click here to jump down to the most recent post!

BLOG POST FOR JUNE 13

Dear GLA Galápagos: Preserving Nature’s Wonders Families,

We are so glad most of the students have arrived, and we and the students are eagerly awaiting the last 3 arrivals, Claire, Adrian, and Katie tonight (flight delays). We are currently in our lovely hotel by the airport going over our busy schedule and orientation then headed to the equator for the afternoon.

Soon we fly on to the amazing Galápagos. First up is the island of Santa Cruz. There we will hike through a pristine landscape of endemic flora and fauna at Tortuga Bay, explore huge lava tunnels, work alongside giant Galapagos tortoises, enjoy homemade Ecuadorian ice cream, play sports with local kids, and swim in the famous Las Grietas (a volcanic fissure on the sea). Then we take the several hour boat ride over to San Cristóbal. There we will snorkel with sea lions, visit Isla Lobo with its colonies of blue footed boobies, frigatebirds, and sea lions, explore the quaint town of Puerto Baquerizo Moreno that seems to have more sea lions than people, more snorkeling in several different natural preserves, and maybe some soccer with the locals. We will also have a recycling workshop one afternoon, visit and work at a local school, and of course be doing a number of leadership activities in the evenings. We will also have two full time local guides with us on all activities teaching us about the biology and geology of the Galápagos.

We hope to primarily give a window into these weeks through the blog. We arrange access to communication for it and of course have plans for any needed urgent communications at any time. We have three staff directly with the students, plus two full time guides with us (Fernando and Carmen) on all activities, plus the support of our homebase staffs for cooking and cleaning. We also have the 24/7 professional support of the office staff. Your children are in great hands. This is going to be a wonderful program, and I am excited to be part of it. Keep your eyes open for the first student blog in a day or two and enjoy your summer.

Best,
Clint, Hakan, and Ligia

BLOG POST FOR JUNE 14 & 15

Hey everyone!

We are very happy Catherine and Adrian finally got here after their flight delays- just in time to join us for the flight to the Galápagos! They are settling in with the group and we all have a big day tomorrow exploring our island and starting service work.

Yesterday we visited the equator and got to know each other on our first full day in Ecuador. During our visit to La Mitad del Mundo (middle of the world) we learned about the various Ecuadorian indigenous cultures and bonded over our shared struggle to balance an egg on a nail. We also brightened every drive with energetic conversations and lots of music. We even culminated the evening with a lively two truths and a lie game with lots of stories.

Now for today, we gathered for breakfast and spent the morning playing games including, football, soccer, and volleyball. We enjoyed a quick lunch and a teary eyed goodbye to our favorite home base cat, Mitchi. Prior to boarding the plane to the Galápagos we met Adrian and Catherine, the final two on our journey and our group was complete.

After landing in the Galápagos on Baltra Island we were greeted by iguanas and it felt as though our trip had finally commenced. The real turning point was the beautiful cliff lined channel between islands with blue footed boobies overhead and a reef shark in the clear water as we boarded the boat between islands. As if it was an entirely different world all eyes were glued to the bus windows as we watched the sunset on the journey to our next home base. We watched the arid terrain filled with palo santo trees turn to the lush green forest and then drove into a foggy mountain cloud as seen below.

Many times groups of entire strangers can take days to mesh and appear as one group of friends; however, this particular group was friends from the beginning. Even other travelers on the plane assumed that we all went to school together. Each day so far has been filled with laughter, smiles and tiny moments of joy that make each day worth living. Especially as we venture into many days of tough service we have no doubt our group will continue to work hard while never taking ourselves too seriously. Throughout bonding with each other we have also connected with the locals at both home bases most of the time in broken Spanish but never failing to try.

With love,

Emma Grasso and Jennifer Ramos

P.S. Especially to my parents who may encounter an animal in their bed when I get home. Love you the most! – Emma

And to my mom and dad, I cannot promise that Katie, Snowflake will not have a new Galapagos Tortoise as an addition to the household. (I think Katie and the Tortoise would get along.) – Jennifer

BLOG POST FOR JUNE 16

Today we started our day by waking up at 5:30. Our chefs cooked us a wonderful food which consisted of Ecudaoran yucca with cheese and onion, eggs, cheese, juice, and fruit. After our delicious breakfast we headed off early to the Charles Darwin center to learn more about evolution and the wildlife here on the island. There our guide Fernando showed us around and did a wonderful job sprinkling in his own humor. As he was walking us through his partner Carmen explained to us the importance of adaptation and how it can apply to everyday life.

After a fun trip at the Darwin center we headed on the bus and drove to preserve the wildlife for the Galápagos Tortoise.

We soon got to the work site and saw all the work needed. Chase and Josh spilt up the group into three teams. Chase’s team was collecting rocks and putting them into piles Josh’s team was bringing logs to the pile in the woods the third team was bringing sticks to the pile in the back. After two hours of hard work we headed off lunch. While some got a tasty pesto or bolognese the majority ordered either chicken or local albacore tuna. As dessert menus were handed out smug grins filled the table as there were a variety of interesting and exotic milkshakes and smoothies to try. As lunch finished up the group headed back to the worksite with a new sense of energy. As the day continued we started to finish up ending in a chow circle, where Josh and Chase faced off in a dance battle. After a hard fought battle from both sides Josh prevailed showing off to be the better dancer. After we took the bus home, we ended off the night going into town and trying out the local ice cream, then going to the docks at night and seeing sea lions on the docks and fish swimming through the lighted water.

Josh Brown & Chase Green

BLOG POST FOR JUNE 17

Today we woke up before 5:45 to get ready to visit Las Grietas, which is a beautiful pocket of water in a space between two cliffs. We took a 1 mile trail to and from Las Grietas which was definitely worth it. While walking the trail we found a little outdoor place with hammocks, smoothies and table tennis and enjoyed while we dried off and relaxed. When we got back, we had breakfast, which consisted of fruits, eggs, a corn tortilla dish, and some juice. Afterwards, we played soccer at the local park and explored the town. Many of us bought great souvenirs. After some shopping, the group returned to home base for lunch. It was soup, pork chop, baked potatoes, and rice. We left for the Primicias site on our bus to get to work helping the tortoises by moving logs and sticks. We wore gloves and protective boots, as well as sunscreen and bug spray to keep bugs away. We worked in the afternoon getting water breaks and snack breaks around every thirty minutes.

After we finished working, we took the bus to the center of the city. We stopped at a local street food area to get empanadas before dinner. Some people got multiple, while some people split with others as to not get too full before dinner. We looked around the area and enjoyed a place full of locals and families while waiting for others to finish their snacks. At around 6:45 PM, we walked back to home base. At around 7 PM, we had dinner which was chicken, rice and a pasta and veggies salad. We did a quick chow circle, picking the new leaders of the day and giving our daily shoutouts and announcements. We then wrote in our journals about the first days at GLA to reflect on how the trip is going and think about what we want to get out of it. After that, we had some time together to play a few games, get ready for bed and the next day.

-Kenna Schwartz & Taishi Nishimura

BLOG POST FOR JUNE 18

We started our day with a breakfast fruit, two delicious cheese empanadas and fresh guava juice. We then left the home base to explore the lava tunnels and see huge Los Gemelos sinkholes, visiting a local bakery on the way. The sinkholes were so big there was even a rainbow in one of them.

Following seeing the spectacular natural sights, we headed to Las Primicias to further investigate the giant tortoises that can be spotted all around us during our service work. We enjoyed a delicious lunch at the Las Primicias cafe, talking over plates of either pesto pasta, pomodoro pasta, tuna steak, or chicken, plus milkshakes and juices as wanted.

Once we were back up and energized, we walked down to the service site and continued our hard work lugging sticks and logs to clear a path for the giant tortoises. We regained our breath as we played fun group games and had our nightly Chow Circle check-in in a field of giant tortoises by the restaurant. Finally, we rode the bus back to home base, where we enjoyed steak or soy patties, rice, and beans for dinner. We finished up with mentor groups, the schedule presentation by the leaders of the day and some free time getting ready for bed. Tomorrow we are off to Tortuga Bay, the nearby national park to see the wildlife and swim at the beach for the morning.

By Owen Power and Noa Tsur

BLOG POST FOR JUNE 19

Today we woke up and took a nice long walk to Tortuga Bay national park. it was a 2 1/2 mile walk to the beach. we spent the time in a beautiful smooth bay with animals including some black tip reef sharks and lots of fish. Due to some rain we eventually decided to go into Puerto Ayora and stopped for ice cream and crepes and then visited a book store for some gifts.

After some warm showers and lunch we headed to our last day of service at Rancho Primicias. The light misty rain was nice and cooling as we dug with metal bars and pickaxes to plant native trees that will provide shade to the tortoises. We also have to protect them by digging up big volcanic rocks and putting them around each seedling so the giant tortoises don’t run over them. As our services have come to an end on this island so did our rewards of empanadas and milkshakes. We said a teary eyed goodbye to or tortoise friends and the nice people we worked with at Primicias and took the bus back to home base. We had dinner and packed for our upcoming travel day tomorrow. Off by boat to the next island!

-Izzy Rapp & Claire Benckenstein

BLOG POST FOR JUNE 20

We started our day with an exciting adventure to our next island, San Cristobal. This excursion consisted of a two hour boat ride in the open ocean. We saw the beautiful blue waters and spectacular views of the islands. Once we got to San Cristobal, we headed over to our hostel and ate lunch which consisted of grilled albacore tuna or chicken.

Once we finished with lunch, we packed up our things and headed over to a gorgeous beach filled with sea lions.

We spent the afternoon swimming and snorkeling, taking in the beautiful sites of the waters. The sea lions were scattered all over the beach, and we got to observe and watch them play and bark at each other. At one point a sea lion came up to explore our towels and stuff! We also enjoyed some really good piña coladas (don’t worry- pineapple with coconut only!), and snacks while at the beach it was super relaxing and amazing.

Once we were done at the beach, we headed over to a shop to rent snorkel gear for activities the following day. Right next door there was a sweet shack so we got a quick little snack. After this, we went back to our hostel and enjoyed a delicious dinner of chicken and rice and potatoes.

Once we were finished with dinner, we broke into groups and talked about leadership and presented our ideas. Then the leaders of the day organized a dance off. The leaders of the day split us up into teams and then we got to choreograph a dance and perform it for everyone. It was super fun to watch all the dances and get to perform.

This day was incredibly fun and we got to do incredibly cool things. There were definitely a lot of ups and downs like a few of us getting seasick, but also seeing hundreds of sea lions and overall it was really fun and amazing. We are so excited to see what the rest of the trip has in store for us.

Erinne McGinnity Schneider & Malia Preston

BLOG POST FOR JUNE 21

Today, we started off the day by eating a breakfast of empanadas at about 8:00. Afterwards, we took a short bus ride followed by a short hike to a local beach called La Lobería. Here we had the privilege of snorkeling. There was lots of native wildlife around, mainly turtles and endemic species of fish, and a ray.

We also go to swim with sea lions who frequently inhabit the beach! Then after snorkeling for a little while, we played duck duck goose, played in the sand and went back to home base. Here we had a lunch of fried chicken and mashed potatoes with salad and passion fruit juice and fruit pudding for dessert. Finally, after some rest, we went to do service at a local school. Unfortunately, the schools in Galapagos are very underfunded, so we assisted them by starting to paint a mural on a wall. This was a mural of ocean animals along with coral and seaweeds decorations. When we finished, we cleaned up and went back to home base where we had chow circle and ate pasta for dinner.

Then, after that, a group of us went out to celebrate the Incan Midsummer festival, Inti Raymi. We walked around town and did some shopping at local stores and pop-up markets. We got ice cream before heading to the town center to enjoy some live music. We all danced and had a very fun time enjoying this cultural celebration. This celebration was used by mountain Inca people to commemorate the summer solstice and the middle of summer!

Catherine Blair & Gia Mullin

BLOG POST FOR JUNE 22

Hi everyone!!

Today was another great day on the island where we had the chance to hike, snorkel, and swim! We were split up into two groups today in order to have enough room on the boat. Both groups did the same activities just at different times of the day.

The activities included a short boat ride over to Isla Lobos. We were also lucky enough to see tons of dolphins swimming and jumping around!!

When we arrived at the Island, we hiked along the trail and got to experience the beauty of the island through seeing the wonderful birds of the island such as the blue footed boobie birds and their chicks, sea lions, and frigate birds. We got back on the boat and we got ready to snorkel. While snorkeling we swam with sea lions, sand dollars, sea urchins, turtles, stingrays, and all other sorts of marine animals. After snorkeling, we enjoyed some fresh fruit and juice on the boat. Our last stop was to the local beach where we saw many sea lions basking in the sun and had a chance to play in the ocean, look at shells, and explore the beach.

Each group had some down time while the other group was at the activities. During this down time, we played soccer and danced with local people. We also enjoyed going through the town and going on a shopping spree.

For dinner tonight we got hotdogs and fries. Finally we took a walk into town where we listened to live music and ate ice cream!

Another day in the Galapágos down and it did not disappoint! Wait until tomorrow when we participate in our last service activity!!

BLOG POST FOR JUNE 23

We started our morning with a delicious breakfast consisting of cheese empanadas, bananas, and eggs and fresh juice. We then took a short walk to the Centro de Interpretación de San Cristóbal. We learned about the currents of the oceans surrounding the Galápagos Islands, as well as its history and colonization. After the museum we walked a long pretty path through lava rocks and cacti to Tijeretas Beach and went snorkeling. We encountered sea lions, marine iguanas, and sea turtles. Since we were in the water we don’t have photos but we will try to put some from a waterproof camera on a later post.

We then went to drop off our rented snorkeling equipment and stopped for ice cream along the way. For lunch we had delectable butternut squash soup and fish fingers with a side of rice and lentils. We played a game called Helium Pole to exercise our leadership skills and teamwork capabilities. After that we went to the Blue Kraft workshop to make painted cups out of recycled glass bottles. We had chow circle right after to discuss the group debate for our leadership activity. We separated into 5 groups with different numbers of people. Each group represented different interests about protecting the wildlife in the Galápagos. Then we had a burger for dinner. Afterwards we had a debate about the invasive feral cats on the Galápagos Islands where each group had a role to play.

Kenna Schwartz & Owen Power

BLOG POST FOR JUNE 25 & 26

After the debate we woke the next day and after breakfast did a salsa class. After a lot of dancing we then made our own empanadas – with either local mozzarella or with bananas and Nutella. They came out really good! We made a lot so spent a lot of time cooking them all. Later we had lunch and then went through town along the water to Playa Man, to spend a last afternoon with the sea lions, swimming and playing games on the beach. Watching the behavior of the sea lion is really interesting, they are really funny with each other. Four baby ones played around some of us a lot.

We also had to get ready to fly back to Quito the next day. Before flying we spent some time in town and then walked to the small airport on San Cristoóbal, and then flew to Quito and got checked into a really cool hotel in the countryside near the airport.

We had a nice dinner, a reflective appreciation circle and group discussion, and had our last night together to play some games and talk. The next morning some started leaving for the airport, but eight students had late flights so we all went to some hot springs high in the Andes for the evening, then dinner in the mountains by a mountain lake and then off to the airport.

June 7, 2024 by Ashley Welter

Dominican Republic: Island Service Adventure (July 23 – August 1, 2024)

PROGRAM PHOTO ALBUM

TIME CAPSULE LETTER

Written by Diego & the Dominican Republic Team

Hello happy clappers!
We can’t believe it has been a while since we were all together in the beautiful country of Dominican republic! It feels like we just dropped you off at the airport hours ago, but time flies when you are having fun, it’s quite been an adventure.

After summer sessions, Ingrid has returned to US and was prepared to live new experiences working with teenagers again in the beautiful countries of Central America. Diego stayed doing solo travel and explored el Salvador, then went down south to Brasil. He has many stories to share. Gipsy is organizing art events for local young artists to showcase their work and connect with the community. She believes that art has the power to bring people together, spark important conversations, and foster a sense of unity and understanding among everyone, as for Nino, they continued exploring other remote places of the island, gathering ideas, materials and construction techniques to keep working as an architect with sustainable designs.

Do you remember the first days going to Dominicus park and Padre nuestro to meet Lidia inside of Cotubanamá National Park, how about our strenuous hikes under the sun where we picked up trash and painted signs for the path with moments of togetherness and surrounded by beautiful nature that showed us how much it was worth doing it over and over again?! What about Isaac, lidia’s grandson who gave us sugar cane, fresh mangoes and limoncillos as an act of hospitality and generosity?

We still remember when Emma G, Presley and Maeve sang their hearts out during our car rides. Rafe with his original playlist who showed how to share one genuine part of ourselves. What about Lucas and his contagious passion during the debate, demonstrating how to take an action? Also Emma I. who always showed great energy and a beautiful attitude in all the moments when we were outside of our comfort zone.

What about our great service at the kids camp in Benerito? Singing, dancing and teaching with them was amazing. I hope you realize how much the litle kids enjoyed their time with you. They loved your games and you taught them so much.

Do you remember our first volleyball game all of us together in Saona? How beautiful was played with locals too…when actions means more than words and can cross barriers. Seeing everyone play soccer with such talent and enthusiasm was incredible. It was amazing to watch how effortlessly they passed and dribbled the ball as they moved across the sand. From the sidelines, we couldn’t help but experience a rush of enthusiasm and adrenaline . Everyone’s sense of friendship and collaboration was admirable.

What about Darling? That island boy, with whom played, swam and shared meals. That’s the wonder of travel guys, meeting other people and learning from other points of view. Those are experiences they should replicate at home when they return.

Remember our turtle walk, everyone made an effort that early morning, the island rewarded us with a beautiful sunrise at the end as we headed back on our boat ride. Although we didn’t get to see turtles, we were able to understand and discuss the impact of our actions as humans on the environment.

For all of the above, please never forget about our meaningful goal about how to reduce waste, with small/meaningful actions and being consistent we can create an a impact in our homes, picking up trash, sorting our recycling, inspire and connect with others we can be part of the change. When in doubt, think about all your experiences as a team, how you were able to come together and learn from each other.

As staff, we gave you the tools and guided you through a leadership curriculum to inspire you. This experience together was incredibly rewarding, thank you for bringing your unique personalities and leadership skills to the trip and making it so special for all of us! We miss you and wish you the best of luck in your future adventures.

– Ingrid, Gipsy, Diego, Nino.

Thanks for the checking out the blog for this Global Leadership Adventures program!

Here are a few things to know and expect:

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.
We typically receive 2-3 blog posts 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.
Blog updates received on weekends may not be posted until Monday.
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

P.S. Are you interested in supporting the Global Leadership Adventures International Foundation? We invite you to learn more about GLAIF and consider donating here.

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BLOG POST FOR JULY 23

Written by: GLA Staff

Hola familia y amigos, bienvenidos a República Dominicana!

We welcomed our young leaders willing to take on the challenge of new experiences that demonstrate what true leadership is. During the arrival day we picked up the students at the Las Américas airport in Santo Domingo. They showed very excited and curious for this new experience making questions during our ride to the Novus hotel.

We had a first group that had lunch near to the hotel and walked through the colonial zone. A second group arrived during the afternoon directly to settled at the hotel and they were all able to had dinner together. They enjoyed the food, had time to know each other, rest and recover from their flights.

We are waiting for Ryan M. who will join us at our home base in Bayahibe, due a delay on her flight she couldn’t be with us. But don’t worry, she is fine and we are ready to give her a warm welcome.

We have an amazing group filled with lots of good vibes. Excited to begin, tomorrow our first stop will be the Los Tres Ojos National Park and then head to our home base. Where we can talk about the basic details and rules of our new home. So, dear family and friends, please continue to support our leaders on this journey by checking out our daily blogs and showing your love by commenting below.

BLOG POST FOR JULY 24

Buenos días!

We woke up this morning after a goodnight’s sleep, we were greeted with a scrumptious breakfast buffet composed of scrambled eggs, local fruits and more. From there we began our journey to our home base with a stop at las tres ojos national park, where we saw everything from freshwater cave lakes to spiders and bats. After some group photos we continued on to home base, but not without a quick stop at the market.

During the afternoon, we arrived at home base in the beachside town of Bayahibe where we were greeted by kind and welcoming people. We all got unpacked and enjoyed the scenery surrounding us. After a delicious lunch, we sat for orientation and later played a game of jeopardy, we’re we talked about code of conduct and basic rules for the next days in our new home. Once we finished with that, we had swim tests & then took the time to get settled.

At the beginning of the evening we all gathered for a sunset circle to discuss the highlights, takeaways, and shoutouts of our day. We do this to bring all of the students together and create a tighter community. For example, the highlight of the day was visiting the beautiful national park and riding on the Dominican titanic. We then ate a magnificent dinner and went on to listen to a culture presentation by our local director, Gipsy,introducing us to the wonders of Dominican culture including dancing and Dominican catch phrases. Finally, we all were knocked out asleep after a long day.

– Jadon, Maya, Georgia-May

BLOG POST FOR JULY 25

Hi family!

We started the morning by eating a great breakfast, then headed to Dominicus beach to help clean up garbage for the locals in the areas, there we met Lidia who was our guide during the service. After all that hard work, we got to enjoy the ocean. Swimming in the clear, blue water was so much fun! We laughed, splashed around, and enjoyed the beautiful scenery. It was a perfect way to relax and appreciate the beauty around us. It also reminded us why it’s important to keep places like this clean. We also met Juan who gave us coconuts for the whole group.

The best part of the day was playing baseball with the local kids. Baseball is a big deal in the Dominican Republic, and the kids were really good at it. We all had a blast running, hitting, and cheering each other on. Even though we didn’t speak the same language, we connected through the game. It showed us how sports can bring people together and create awesome memories. After that we went back to home base, We had a moment to relax, play volleyball in the pool and of course bond as a team and get to know each other. Then finished the day having a sunset circle, some great Sancocho with rice for dinner. And by the end of the day met with are mentor groups. And at the end of the day we meet with our mentor groups. We share what we learned today and talk about the goals we want to achieve in the following days of the program. Finally, lights out at 10 pm to rest and recover energy for another day of service.

Hasta mañana!

BLOG POST FOR JULY 26

¡Que lo que!

Today we got up early again at 7:30 for breakfast. After breakfast, we walked over to Padre Nuestro which means “Our Father”. This was a beautiful path inside Cotubanamá natural park We were greeted by Lydia, who manages the Park and Isaac, Lydia’s 9 year old grandson. Though he doesn’t speak English, he quickly became a beloved star among the GLA students for his enthusiasm. We ate mangos straight from Lydia’s garden along with limomcillos which Isaac picked from the top branches of a tree just for us. We talked some about our debate later and each group wrote our opening statements Then, we got into the service which consisted of painting signs for the park. We were all appreciative of the shade that the limoncillo trees provided which was much preferred to the relentless heat of yesterday’s service.

After we finished up painting, we followed Isaac, who led us to the much anticipated underwater cave. We hiked for 20 minutes until we finally descended the steps into Chicho Cave. The water was really clear but the cave itself was very dark. Nonetheless, the cave was definitely a favorite of the day and will definitely be something we will all remember. We stayed for an hour, swimming, exploring, and getting some much needed rest in the shade. We said goodbye to Lydia and Isaac, left Padre Nuestro, and walked back to home base, but not without making some friends along the way.

In our home base we took the opportunity to dip into the pool. This break from the heat was well deserved and well appreciated. Moments like these allow us to bond closer and be more comfortable around each other.

Following, we started the second half of the debate, our leadership activity, and taught us that in important situations, it can be complicated to come to an agreement, especially with a lot on the line, but talking it out respectfully and intelligently can help reach effective middle ground.

Wrapping up our long and passionate debate, we met for sunset circle and reflected on what went well, who we wanted to shout out, and what we wanted to take away from our experience today. Sunset Circle is always a great opportunity to appreciate highs and lows, but also who helped us throughout the day.

After sunset circle, we were able to enjoy a delicious rice and plantain dinner. Dinner is another great time for bonding, sharing different parts of ourselves and being vulnerable.

By the end we had our mentor groups, we engaged in a passionate, heartfelt conversation about our values. We started with our ten most representative values of ourselves, then narrowing it down to five that we think we can improve at GLA. Then we narrowed it down again to 2 major values that we feel that we need to develop in our lives. This activity allowed us to share parts of ourselves and experiences that helped us understand our different ways of thinking and personalities.

Finally, we did our health checks and got ready for bed!

– Parker and Rafe

BLOG POST FOR JULY 27

Buenos días familia!

The day started by knocking on everyone’s door to wake them up. We were

all eating a delicious spread of eggs bread and fresh fruit. Before the bus arrived we had time to bond as our new playlist bumped on background. After a quick ride we arrived at Benerito, a town next to Bayahíbe, at the Kids Camp consisting of young children ranging from ages 3 to 11 years, was an incredible experience.

After introductions and smiles, we started with our first activity which consisted of teaching them numbers and colors in english. after hard efforts and giggles, we moved on to something a little more fun. We showed them our favorite music genres and they played us authentic Dominican music. We danced and sang until we dropped. By 12:30 lunch was generously prepared by those who led the camp. We feasted on deliciously seasoned rice and salami served with a tasty side salad.

After lunch, we continue to play with the children and learn and dance with them while expressing ourselves with our music and outgoing personalities, we got the opportunity to make bracelets with the kids, and we also got led by the local jewelers who had their shop right downstairs. This time of the day was very great and helped us bond with the kids even more on a different level with patience, and attention to detail when making our bracelets.

Before at our return we were able to stop back at the store for any essentials or snacks that we needed or wanted for the rest of our trip here because we are halfway through our program. At the home base we got time to relax, and then we had a leadership activity called social sync and was a series of questions where we got into groups depending on if we agreed or disagreed with the statement about social media.

After we headed downstairs until time for Sunset Circle where we were able to reflect upon our day and talk about our highs for the day our shoutouts to other students and our takeaways for our daily adventure. With the day almost over we headed down to had an a delicious dinner that consisted of chicken rice and potato salad.

The last activity it was pulse check, were we was able to share anonymously our experience about the whole program and lights out.

The last activity was pulse check, where we were able to anonymously share our experience of the entire program, as we are halfway through (time flies!). And finally lights out, ready to rest for our next day.

Hasta mañana!

BLOG POST FOR JULY 28

Good morning family and friends!

We started our day eating breakfast and our plan was to visited a lake called “Hoyo Claro”. After a bus ride of about 45 Minutes we arrived and after just 5 Minutes of walking found ourselves in the middle of a forest, we walked around 25 minutes to arrived and a lovely clear waterhole that is about 25 feet deep was waiting for us, there was a big tree spanning from one side of the lake to the other, water was filled with little fish that were nibbling on your feet.

It was a great experience and we ate some Sandwiches afterwards. After visiting the Lagoon, we returned to Bayahíbe and went to Magallanes beach, got a view of how the locals enjoy the beach themselves. While at the beach we ran into some of the kids we played baseball with and reconnected with them.

We went back to home base to do some leadership activities to try and find out what kind of leaders we might be. Everyone found the server very enlightening because it forced us to think about what we are genuinely like as a leader.

After leadership activities, we had dinner which was a little bit different today, Chicken and Fries. It was refreshing to have a little bit of a more American taste since being here.

We ended the day with our mentor groups were we learned about the different aspects of culture, some hidden and some visible. Visible values are what we see as a culture like clothing or art, but the hidden ones we can’t know until we dig a little deeper and venture into local community. For the first time we get to sleep in until 8:00 so everyone is very excited for that, enough time to pack and rest for our next adventure!

Tomorrow we go to Saona which is the Island so wait to hear more about that tomorrow family!

Eli and Lucas

BLOG POST FOR JULY 29

Buenos días!

We started our day sleeping in and then traveling by boat to the island of Saona. While on our boat ride, we stopped to swim in the ocean and enjoy the turtles within the mangroves.

After we arrived on the island, we played beach volleyball and ate an amazing lunch. This included marinated chicken, rice, eggplant, and a cabbage salad. We then took a walk to visit Negro who taught us all about sea turtle endangerment. Since 2003, Negro has dedicated his life to sea turtle rescue and is his passion, also he will be our guide for Tuesday morning’s turtle walk.

On our way back to the house, we took a detour through the community and saw the solar panels which act as the island’s main energy source. When we finished our walk, many of us jumped off of the pier to cool down. We spent the rest of the afternoon with the locals playing beach volleyball, soccer, and swimming in the ocean. We learned that the language barrier doesn’t play a role in how we interact with others and people from different cultures.

Between activities, we had an a “merienda” consisting in fresh fruit, cake and some chips. For the evening, we did our usual sunset circle discussion and then ate dinner. We ended the night a little sooner today to prepare for our very early turtle walk tomorrow morning.

– Leah, Maeve and Claire

BLOG POST FOR JULY 30

Que lo qué!

Today we started our morning bright and early at 4:45 ready to head out on an hour walk! our guide, negro, and local islander Darling, lead us to all the spots around the island where negro found baby turtle nests. The reason why he goes is to check up on the turtle nests and protect them from dangerous environments and human poachers. We walked through the jungle, sand, and a bunch of rocky ground but our energy stayed high as the sun began to rise. After our walk we got picked up in sailboats and were dropped off back home to take some well deserved naps. Our breakfast of fruit, eggs, and bread started at 8:30 and our downtime, which included swimming and volleyball, lasted til 12. we got back on board and sailed back to the main land!

Lunch was at a main land restaurant El Patio, which consisted of rice, chicken, and yummy burgers.

After we headed to get some delicious gelato. It was an amazing way to cool off after a long afternoon in the sun. Once we got back we had some free time which we spend packing our bags as we descend back to Santo Domingo tomorrow morning. The rest of the evening was spent as a group doing our mentor group session which we discussed our final goal as a group and how we can put in practice at home. This goal of our was made based on what we had learned during our community service which was the reduction of waste as it can help community’s in many ways. We also had are last leadership activity where we recognized each other’s strengths and accomplishments during our time together.

Our last night in Bayahibe finished up with lots of music, singing, dancing, laughter, and memories that will last a lifetime.

Hasta mañana familia.
– Emma I. and Danielle

BLOG POST FOR JULY 31

Hi family!

On the last full day for the GLA program, we woke up around 8:20 to go and get ready for breakfast. Soon after, we had to finish packing for our long trip to Santo Domingo. As we started our departure, we listened to music and bonded one last time before leaving. We officially left around 10:30, as time went on, we sung karaoke, played car games, etc. As we arrived, we grabbed our luggage and found our rooms. Around 2, we went around the colonial zone. We walked with our guide named Tony who showed us different monuments around the town, while exploring the streets of Santo Domingo, we encountered a couple of tourist shops and some of the crew purchased a few accessories. After that, we got ice cream at a shop in town. We got home around 5, and were in our rooms for an hour until 6 when we filled out a survey about our trip.

At 6:30, we left for the restaurant, el conuco. We shared our highlights, shoutouts, and takeaways of the trip, before eating. The food was really good, we ate different and tasty local dishes. At the end, music turned on and everyone danced and have fun.

In general this GLA trip has been a whirlwind of learning, experiencing, and connecting with other people of different backgrounds and, of course, how to be the change when returning to our homes.

We got home around 9:00. At 10:00, we went to sleep, ready for rest and prepare for tomorrow at the airport and our returns.

Adios!

– Ryan and Caiden

June 7, 2024 by Ashley Welter

Dominican Republic: Island Service Adventure (July 10 – July 19, 2024)

PROGRAM PHOTO ALBUM

TIME CAPSULE LETTER

Written by Diego & the Dominican Republic Team

Hola pequeña familia!

We can’t believe it has been a while since we were all together in the beautiful country of Dominican republic! It feels like we just dropped you off at the airport hours ago, but time flies when you are having fun, it’s quite been an adventure.

Do you remember the first days going to Padre nuestro to meet Lidia in Cotubanamá National Park, how about our strenuous hikes under the sun where we picked up trash and marked the paths with moments of togetherness and surrounded by beautiful nature that showed us how much it was worth doing it over and over again?! what about Bienvenido, who invited us to his house inside the park, taught us how to peel sugar cane and gave us fresh mangoes directly from a tree in his backyard, as an act of hospitality and generosity?

We still remember when Alex and Lillia sang their hearts out during our car rides. and Raf enjoyed when the little fishes approached him in Hoyo Claro or Elena swimming under that log, exploring with a pair of goggles that a family kindly lent them (the power of connecting with others).

What about our great service at the kids camp in Benerito? Singing, dancing and teaching with them was amazing. I hope you realize how much the little kids enjoyed their time with you. They loved your games and you taught them so much.

Remember our turtle walk, everyone made an effort that early morning, the island rewarded us with a beautiful starry night and we could finish with a dip in those clear and warm waters with the sun’s first rays. With Carson and shamus trying to bodyboard on the shore, the whole team enjoyed that moment. Although we didn’t get to see turtles, they were able to understand and discuss the impact of our actions as humans on the environment. What about Darling? That island boy, with whom they played volleyball, swam and shared meals. That’s the wonder of travel guys, meeting other people and learning from other points of view. Those are experiences they should replicate at home when they return.

For all of the above, please never forget about our meaningful goal of being open minded to be able to understand different perspectives, being grateful and advocate for what’s right , taking an action to acknowledge others views that surround and affect you. When in doubt, think about all your experiences as a team, how you were able to come together and learn from each other.

– Ingrid, Gipsy, Diego.

Thanks for the checking out the blog for this Global Leadership Adventures program!

Here are a few things to know and expect:

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.
We typically receive 2-3 blog posts 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.
Blog updates received on weekends may not be posted until Monday.
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

P.S. Are you interested in supporting the Global Leadership Adventures International Foundation? We invite you to learn more about GLAIF and consider donating here.

Click here to jump down to the most recent post!

BLOG POST FOR JULY 10

Bienvenidos a República Dominicana! This will be your opportunity as parents and loved ones to keep tabs on our whereabouts as we continue on our adventure of service, learning and leadership here in this beautiful country.

All the students arrived here safely and called home. During our first day in Santo Domingo we waited for their arrival at the Las Américas international airport, they had lunch near the hotel and walked through the colonial zone.

We are happy to say that the last four of our new team members have arrived and are settled at he hotel. Due the delays in their flights, they arrived by night. But don’t worry, they are safe and sound. While tired, the students seemed excited for the adventure that lays ahead and the memories to be made.

Throughout the day we gave the students a chance to rest and recover from their travels while the last of the group arrived. In the afternoon dinner was served, allowing them to try Dominican empanadas.

We have an amazing group filled with lots of good vibes and curious about this incredible culture. Excited to begin, tomorrow our first stop will be the Los Tres Ojos National Park and then head to our home base in Bayahibe. Where we can talk about the basic details and rules of our new home. So, dear family and friends make sure to check back here for more details throughout our next days.

The staff

BLOG POST FOR JULY 11

Hi family and friends!

Day 2 started with an early morning wake up and breakfast down at the hotel restaurant in Santo Domingo. Before Tres Ojos National Park we had some time to learn and bond with each other and also go to a local supermarket to stock up on local food and snacks for our home base. We purchased exotic fruits and Dominican foods. We finally returned to the hotel and the shuttle picked us up. It was a short 30 minute ride to the park. We got introduced to our tour guide Domingo and he brought us down into an expansive underground cave system. We took a little boat that the ferryman nicknamed “The Dominican Titanic” across into a lagoon. It is called the Tres Ojos because inside the caves there are three bodies of crystalline water that descends into the caves due to the rain.

Once we finished the tour boarded onto the bus again for a ride into Bayahibe. We got introduced to our rooms at the home base also known as Altea Lodge. Then we had lunch and a orientation about all the necessary information, the rules and what we will be doing the next days.

For dinner we had a local Dominican dinner of chicken, rice, and beans. Finally we got a cultural night were learned about this beautiful country and how to dance to bachata and merengue!

We finished off our day by taking a quick dip in the pool and relaxing to music.

We are very excited about what awaits us tomorrow on our first day of service and what we can learn with our team.

Thanks for being with us.
-Carson and Breydan

BLOG POST FOR JULY 12

Buenos días a todos!

Today we woke up on a humid and sunny day before heading to breakfast consisting of fresh pineapple, papaya, and mango along with eggs, avocado, toast and chocolate cake. We then got ready for our first day of service and promptly left at 8:45 Padre Nuestro, a place inside of the huge Cotubanamá national park.

First we met Lidia and Mariely, a local tour guides who takes care of the park, who welcomed us and told us about the history of the place.

As a first part of the service we started picking up trash along the road, during that moment we stumbled upon limoncillo, a citrusy and sweet fruit, we bit the green skin to reveal the lychee-like fruit and suprised with a burst of sweet and sour, it was a fruit like any other.

Our second stop was Bienvenido’s house a local with a big heart and gifts to share. He gave us fresh mangos from his backyard and showed how to peeled surgarcane. It’s interesting to connect with those simple things and learn to be aware that simple acts can make a big difference.

As a second part of our service, we worked with Lydia to separate plastics from metals to help locals recycle and measure from the entrance to Chicho Cave, so we measured every 50 meters and placed signs that directed visitors to that cave. We discovered that all the water that feeds the town of Bayahibe comes from there!

After doing this we embarked on our journey back to home base. We then immediately changed into our swim attire and proceeded to walk to Magallanes beach where we were gifted with a beautiful sight of clear blue water.

We headed back to home base and participated in a debate called social sync regarding social media. This experience opened our eyes to the realities of social media and the impact of our cellphones.

For dinner we had a deliciouso rice with pork, plantains, and salad. By the end of the day we had our first mentor groups where we discussed our smart goals for the 10 day trip, thinking about what we want to achieve personally and as a team.

Although it was a little tiring and we are getting used to this tropical climate, it was an incredible day full of learning and new experiences.

Hasta la próxima!

– Lillia

BLOG POST FOR JULY 13

Day 3 we woke up on a sunny day we headed to breakfast and had eggs, toast, avocado, and fruit. We then got ready for our second day of service at Padre Nuestro.

Once we arrived at national park we found a nice shaded spot and all sat down to prepare for afternoon’s debate. We were all assigned groups and a stance for about the environment, knowledge and management of the national park.

After that, we started our service by walking up the trail to the underwater cave. We tied the signs to the cave to trees, helped by touching up the paint on the signs, we were able to clean and delimit the path.

Once the morning of service was over our service we went into the underwater chicho cave. Surrounded by silence, we went down and were able to swim in one of the most beautiful and clear waters. Becoming aware of and connecting with elements of nature as important as the water that sustains all of Bayahibe is undoubtedly an experience to appreciate and be grateful for.

We then went back to home base where we all changed and then surprised Elena with a cake for her birthday! We were also able to try some of the fresh squeezed mango juice, that Christian made with the mangos we got from Bienvenido’s

After that, we began our discussion about the Cotubanamá national park. It was a difficult session because everyone had their own valid points, demonstrated commitment and passion with their participation. The resolution of our debate ended up being the option that Elena and Shamus proposed to us. about the importance of collaborative work among stakeholders and how to be aware of our environment in the short and long term.

We continued with a pizza night and ended the day with our mentor groups, where we had an activity in which we talked about the transversal features that make up the culture and we were able to discuss ours and that of the Dominican Republic.

Excited about tomorrow and our service, we went to sleep and regain energy.

– Mira

BLOG POST FOR JULY 14

Hola familias!

We started off our morning with a delicious breakfast consisting eggs, toast, avocado, and fruit. We then went and got ready for service and headed for the bus at around 8:30. We arrived at kids camp located in Benerito, a town next to Bayahíbe, and were greeted by such exciting and joyful children. We played games with them, taught them popular American dances, played musical chairs and many other activities. We also help them improve their English by teaching them numbers, animals and colors. We made many bonds with the children that left them with smiles on their faces.

After the children left, we made bracelets which we all added a meaning to. These activities taught us how there are no barriers to friendship and how we can make an impact on people’s lives. We then headed to the local jewelry shop and viewed the wonderful Dominican jewelry.

At around 3, we left and headed back to home base. We had some free time to relax and then proceeded with a leadership activity where we all took a step forward if we agreed with certain scenario’s and aspects in life. Then, some of us walked to the beach while some other’s played basketball with the locals. The sunset was mesmerizing and as well was the water. We then headed back and ate dinner. The last activity was Pulse Check where we anonymously shared how we were feeling personally and as a team, and gave our opinion on this program since it is the halfway point of this experience. It’s interesting because with this, we help our guides understand and improve our group dynamics for our next leadership adventures.

After we finished, we hung out in the pool and played some games such as catch. Then at 10, it was lights out.

Adiós!

– Alex

BLOG POST FOR JULY 15

Buenos días!

Our day started with breakfast at 7:30 were ate eggs, sausage, mash potatoes and fruits. Then we left for Hoyo Claro, we got to the trail we had to walk around 30 minutes and to use team work such carrying the cooler which had the food for our group. Once we got to the lagoon we jumped in and started swimming, it was quite calm because we were the first to arrive there. After a while, people started showing up, and guess what! A family lent us their goggles and we enjoyed ourselves and had fun. It was nice to connect with other people and have them trust us. Then we ate our packed lunch and swam for the remaining minutes before heading back.

Once we returned to the home base we prepared to head to Magallanes beach and there we enjoyed the clear water and the sun, we were also able to walk around town and go to a local market to get what we needed for the next few days.

Before dinner, as always, we got ready for sunset circle where we shared our great memories towards this day and learned that team work makes the dream work. Then we ate burritos, rice and chicken.

By the end of the day we got into our mentor groups and talked about values of life and how important it’s to live your values as a leader, this is where the process of taking action and generating change comes from. This activity allows us to learn new perspectives about others, be open and strengthen the bonds we have built.

For tomorrow we expect to learn new things and exploring the beautiful Saona island we are all exited about.

Hasta mañana!

– Rafael

BLOG POST FOR JULY 16

Buenos días a todos!

The group started off with a portion of us doing a rooftop yoga session due to a delayed breakfast. We then all convened for a breakfast of fruits, eggs, and bread; a breakfast we know and love. After, everyone finished eating and conversing we prepared for a journey to Saona island. We walked our usual path down to the beach but instead of playing in the water we loaded onto a boat for an exciting ride through the most blue water we collectively have ever seen. We took a pitstop to indulge in some snorkelling in the marvellous water. Then we finished our boat journey gliding into a stretch of beach we now know and love as our home base away from home base in a place called Mano Juan. We took to the sand courts and played volleyball with some locals. After the sun got too hot we reunited with the blue waters for a refreshing swim. From there we had lunch on the beach and returned to swimming after. The constant activities made everyone hungry yet again and we returned to eat a snack of fruits on the beach. After our snack we walked to our turtle walk orientation learning the ins and outs of our early morning task. When that came to an end we took an eye opening walk around the island village learning about the local culture. Following that we returned to our beloved swimming spot and even had our sunset circle in the water. We wrapped up the day with the most delicious dinner of the trip(in my opinion) and our appreciation circle where we spread the love between our little familia. Even though we had an early morning, the group took to a bonfire and ended the day with bonding conversation, excited for the adventures we were to face in the morning.

-Shamus

BLOG POST FOR JULY 17

We awoke on a warm starry night at 4:15 am and set out on our journey along the beach. the sun began to peak through the palm trees as we kept our eyes peeled for sea turtle nests buried beneath the sand. Our guide, Negro, taught us how to ensure the nests were safe from poachers and predators. We were pleased to see that all of the nests were intact and protected from a compromising position. we continued our journey through a small path of mangroves and palm trees which revealed a beautiful clear beach- an oasis after our sweaty hike. the warm white sand met with the pristine water to create a majestic scene too irresistible to not jump in. a 6:30 am swim in the gentle waves set our day on the right foot. we hopped in a boat and headed back to our temporary home base where some of us decided to head to the local beach while the rest of us caught up on some much needed sleep after our early awakening. we ate breakfast along the beach- fried eggs, fresh fruit, bread and jam before we got our last minute beach time in. we packed up and waved goodbye to the friends we made playing volleyball the day before. The beautiful boat ride came to an end and we had a lunch of fish, chicken, salad, and rice along the pier.

We came back to home base and caught up on some sleep before we had our final sunset circle on the roof. Sancocho with rice was our concluding dinner- a traditional Dominican dish. Finally, we had our last mentor group meeting where we revisited why we came on this trip and the things we learned together and about ourselves. As a team, we wrote down our one meaningful goal that encompassed our values and take aways from our experiences this trip, so we could apply it when we return to our communities. After we finished, we began to pack up and prepare for our day of travel tomorrow to Santo Domingo, our final day together.

-Elena

BLOG POST FOR JULY 18

Buenos días!

We woke up on the very last day well rested from the night before. We had a great sleep and we were all anxious to discover what our last day would entail. After a solid breakfast courtesy of the Altea Lodge staff and a morning of packing, we embarked on the long journey back to our original hotel in Santo Domingo. On the way, we discussed our adventures and how much we grew and bonded with each other in such a short period of time. We talked about our experience in the caves of Tres Ojos and we all laughed when talked about our time in Isle Saona. After getting to the hotel, we quickly set up our luggage for the night and then headed out to our last adventure of the trip: A Colonial Tour of the City by a Mr. Tony.

While exploring the streets of Santo Domingo, we encountered a couple of tourist shops and some of the crew purchased a few accessories. While on the tour we stopped at several national monuments such as the House of Christopher Columbus, the Pantheon of the Fatherland, the Reloj de Sol (Sun Clock), the ruins of the Hospital of Saint Nicholas of Bari, and Independence Park. After the hike through the different places we ended up back in the hotel and stayed there up until our “cena” at El Conuco restaurant! During our dinner we recounted the day travels and had our very last sunset circle. We discussed our highlights of trip and the day, we shouted out those who we thought made the trip better, and we acknowledged what we learned during our 10 day trip. With that settled, we finished up our meals tearfully and returned back to home base for the last time. This GLA trip has been a whirlwind of learning, experiencing, and connecting with other people of different backgrounds and, of course, how to be the change when returning to our homes. GLA It can only be described as an “unique experience.”

– Christian