The Young Leader

by

Greene School Custom Group – Belize (February 14 – February 23, 2024)

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

Here are a few things you can expect:

  1. We typically receive 2-3 blog posts per week here at GLA Headquarters from our program staff and students, so please don’t be alarmed if you don’t see a blog post daily – that’s totally normal.
  2. Blog updates sent on weekends may not be posted until Monday.
  3. Due to many factors, including but not limited to internet accessibility, photos may not always be available to post onto the blog. Sometimes onsite program staff are only able to send text back to Headquarters, where our team updates the blog.

Thank you for your patience and understanding, and we hope you enjoy following along on these unforgettable adventures.

For frequently asked questions about the blogs, please visit our Program Blog FAQ page.

-The Global Leadership Adventures HQ Team

Click here to jump down to the most recent post!

BLOG POST FOR FEBRUARY 14

Dear Families,

We just wanted to check in and let you know that we’ve safely arrived in Belize!

Today was quite the journey as we embarked on three separate flights to get here, but the excitement kept us going.

Stepping off the plane onto the tarmac, we were welcomed by our GLA leaders, Brooke, Jemayel and Lauren.

We were excited to try our first taste of Belizean cuisine as we gathered around for a meal of rice and beans with chicken, washed down with fresh juice.

After fueling up, we loaded onto the bus and began our journey north to Orange Walk. Along the way, we stopped at a local supermarket to stock up on Belizean snacks.

In the scenic route to our new home community of Sarteneja we passed several Mennonite communities, an introduction to the diversity found within Belize.

Arriving at our Home Base, we were greeted with a traditional black soup, a fitting end to a day filled with new experiences.

Now, we’re off to bed to rest up for tomorrow’s adventures – we can’t wait to share more with you soon!

Warm regards,
Greene School Students

BLOG POST FOR FBERUARY 16

Day 3 started with a morning swim. Where we watched the beautiful sun rise.

We came back in time for breakfast and had morning meeting meeting where we talked about the plan of the day.

We played this really fun game where you lock eyes with a person and the first to yell “manatees” wins.

We listened to a conservation biologist from SACD talked about the importance of trees, how vital they are to the local ecosystem, ane how we would spend the day working around mangroves.

We took a bus ride to Warrie Bright where SACD runs a mangrove nursery.

We waded into Corozal Bay where we looked for Red Mangroves seedlings; we prepared small soil planters with a mix of soil, sand, and seawater, then planted the mangrove seedlings. By the time we finished, we ended up with 50 planted mangroves.

We celebrated our day of work by swimming and played games in the bay and laughed a lot.

We are closing our day after dinner with a structured debate about conservation and ecotourism.

Until tomorrow!

Lis and Rylee

BLOG POST FOR FEBRUARY 17

Today we learned about and explored local fishing traditions and simulated it during our
PESCA tour!

In the afternoon, we visited local artisans such as Señor Chuy and learned abont his work and bought some lovely art.

Then, we did a lionfish jewelry workshop and learned about how they are an invasive species harming the coastal ecosystem.

We spent our night eating out at a local restaurant Raquel’s and learned from our local tour guide and the restaurant owner about local folklore and myths!

We’re excited to continue our adventures here in Belize and can’t wait to share all of our memories with you.

By Rowan and Emil

BLOG POST FOR FEBRUARY 19

Today, Duncan and me were the leaders of the day. We led a stretching activity before sharing information about the day. We had an earlier wake up than usual.

We went to an island called Bacalar Chico. This area , and the people that work there, are conserving the natural resources.

We had a quick presentation there before we headed out on boats to go snorkel. Belize has one of the largest barrier reefs in the world. The water was wavy because the coral was so high that the waves would crash on it.

We split into groups and in Duncan and my group, we saw a nurse shark, a lobster and fish of many different colors. The other groups saw lionfish.

We then headed back while enjoying Mayan potatoes (jicama) to do a journal activity and eat lunch.

We sat and watched stingrays at Bacalar Chico until it was time to return on boat. We sang music all the way back to Sarteneja.

Until tomorrow!

Emery & Duncan

BLOG POST FOR FEBRUARY 20

Today was a very good day.

We woke up at 7:00 am and left for the school at 9:00.

We were there until 3:30 playing games, teaching them about important topics, and planting trees. A lot of students made strong bonds with the sahool’s students in that short period of time and leaving was difficult for a lot of us.

After the school we went to the beach to spend a little more time in the water before our night started.

We finished the day with an amazing karaoke party. People we had met throughout our time in Sarteneja came to visit and participate and we had a lot of fun.

Overall, it was a very good day for everyone.

Lucy and Veto

BLOG POST FOR FEBRUARY 21

At the beginning of the day, we had our last breakfast in Sarteneja. We said farewell and went on our way to Altun Ha.

The Mayan ruins site was amazing and everything I hoped it would be. Then we bought some gifts from the local shop.

After that we made our way to our new Home Base which are cabins in the woods. We sat down for a lesson taught by our fellow classmate Lucy about local birds.

We then had our first dinner in our new Home Base and some of us went on an optional night jungle tour.

Can’t wait until tomorrow!

Luke and Adriel

BLOG POST FOR FEBRUARY 22

We started off our last (and most exciting) day in Belize with a lovely breakfast at the Tropical Education Center and made our way down to a local ziplining course. After a short fitting process, we hiked through the jungle, spotting a troop of howler monkeys while waiting in line.

After a fast-paced morning of zooming through the canopy, we journeyed to a vast cave system where we tubed for a couple of hours in a sacred Mayan site for sacrifices, thought to be the entrance to Xibalba (the Mayan underworld).

We ended off the day with a heartfelt appreciation circle at Home Base and reflected on the memories we’ve made, along with ones we will create together.

Nico and Alex

by

Atmosphere Academy Custom Group – Florida (January 8 – January 16, 2024)

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

Here are a few things you can expect:

  1. We typically receive 2-3 blog posts per week here at GLA Headquarters from our program staff and students, so please don’t be alarmed if you don’t see a blog post daily – that’s totally normal.
  2. Blog updates sent on weekends may not be posted until Monday.
  3. Due to many factors, including but not limited to internet accessibility, photos may not always be available to post onto the blog. Sometimes onsite program staff are only able to send text back to Headquarters, where our team updates the blog.

Thank you for your patience and understanding, and we hope you enjoy following along on these unforgettable adventures.

For frequently asked questions about the blogs, please visit our Program Blog FAQ page.

-The Global Leadership Adventures HQ Team

Click here to jump down to the most recent post!

BLOG POST FOR JANUARY 8

The Atmosphere Academy has arrived in St. Petersburg, Florida!

It’s day 1 and this group is already engaged in meaningful conversation and activities.

The students are particularly excited about seeing manatees and experiencing the marine life that Florida’s crystal clear waters have to offer. We had our first mentor group, in which students shared their hopes, fears, and goals.

The historic Crystal Bay Hotel is setting the perfect environment for learning and team-building. The staff is eager to partner with GLA and Atmosphere Academy to make the students feel welcome and comfortable. The halls are full of softly playing classics from Frank Sinatra, reflecting an era from when Babe Ruth, Marylin Monroe, and even Al Capone stayed in this hotel.

To top things off, Chef Marcus has been brought in especially for our group. We had quite the banquet tonight. We are well fed and ready for bed. Tomorrow, we anticipate rain, but our hopes are high and our backup is looking fantastic. If it’s sunny, we’ll head to the beach. If it is raining, we will check out the Museum of Salvador Dalí.

BLOG POST FOR JANUARY 9

Today we woke up to a big breakfast with a waffle maker which was a lot of fun! We learned more about Global Leadership Adventures and created Community Agreements together for our time here. We practiced getting comfortable being in the water with some pool time before it got too windy. Due to stormy weather, we visited the famous Salvador Dali Museum instead of going to the beach. There was a neat virtual 3D experience that most of the students tried out where Dali’s artistic themes were illustrated.

Back at the hotel, we talked about what leadership is and went over the different types of leadership. We enjoyed a dinner of delicious hamburgers and macaroni salad. Tomorrow is an exciting day where we will be going out on a boat and swimming with manatees!

BLOG POST FOR JANUARY 10

We woke up this morning and got prepared for the breakfast before leaving on a long drive to the “Birds Underwater” Manatee Tour near Crystal River. When we got there we had to put on wetsuits, they were constricting and tight at first but soon we were used to it. We were divided into teams and went out on boats to look for the manatees. Trying out the snorkel masks to see underwater and breathe was hard at first but so cool. The manatees were so friendly and peaceful.

On the drive back, we stopped at a famous rest stop called “WaWa” which was fun to get some snacks. There was some good discussion in the evening about why the protection of manatees and marine life is important. Tomorrow we will be going to visit a research-based marine center known as The Mote and will be given guided tours with marine biologists.

Written by your student leaders of the day!

BLOG POST FOR JANUARY 11

Today On January 11th 2024, we woke up and had an amazing breakfast which left us full enough for our adventure. We then went to the MOTE marine laboratory and learned about the history and origin of it. Then, we had entertaining activities about learning more about sea turtles and other marine life. Eventually, we went to a lagoon nearby to catch different types of sea life. We found animals such as crabs, sea horses, shrimp and more. It was very nerve racking to go out into a local lagoon and catch sea life but with a lot of support from our guides, we were able to successfully face our fears into going in the lagoon around animals.

After, we went to visit the MOTE aquarium and got to experience meeting different sea animals. We were also able to touch different sea life such as sharks, stingrays, starfish, crabs, and more. Throughout this day, we all learned something new that could be valuable to us in the future. Written by leaders of the day (Emily, Devon, and Emilie)

BLOG POST FOR JANUARY 12

Today on January 12, 2024 we took a trip to downtown Tampa for a Black History Walking Tour. During this trip we were able to learn about historical buildings that were important to the community and that some of the old buildings are getting refurbished. On the tour, we learned about how the history of New York and Tampa Florida are connected. In the Tampa area, there has historically been a lot of spirit and community related to music. Lots of famous musicians spent time in Tampa on Central Avenue.

After lunch, we went to the beach! Even though it was a little foggy, the beach was an important part of the day and we were able to connect as a group. A lot of people swam in the waves. When we went to the beach we were able to have fun with each other and relax. Then we all got ice cream before heading back to the hotel.

From you’re leaders: Zoey, Evelyn, Dorian

BLOG POST FOR JANUARY 13

Today, we woke up at our own preference, enjoying a delightful breakfast and connecting with our peers, setting the tone for a fun-filled day ahead. The previous night, we were informed of a schedule change due to weather conditions, heightening our anticipation for the unknown adventure.

Our GLA leaders surprised us with a bowling excursion on Saturday morning, igniting excitement among everyone. Splitting into teams, we embraced the joy of strikes and shared memorable moments in the bowling arcade. Following the alley excitement, our next destination was Walmart, offering students a chance to socialize and make personal purchases. The day concluded with reflections at the hotel, highlighting the spontaneity and enjoyment of the day. Despite the initial plan of visiting an uninhabited island being thwarted, the impromptu bowling experience turned out to be an absolute delight.

Spending time with friends like Emilie, Fallon, and Evelyn added to the joy, and the Walmart visit, though simple, contributed to the overall fantastic experience. Sunday continued the adventure with a relaxing start, providing us with the responsibility of choosing our breakfast time. The highlight of the day was the bowling activity, complete with arcade fun, a trip to Walmart, and free time back at the hotel. The day ended on a serene note, preparing us for the exciting days that lie ahead on this memorable trip.

By Fallon, Chace, and Kira

BLOG POST FOR JANUARY 14

Today we ate breakfast at 7:30 am, it consisted of eggs, bacons, and waffles. We all headed to the Clear Water Marine Aquarium in the vans at 8am. We arrived in 30 mins and had a brief lesson on dolphins and how to identify fins of the different types of dolphins. We got on the boats at 10 to observe wild dolphins and identify their type, we saw a variety of 3 dolphins and a few birds. Due to the windy weather the boat ride was cold but everyone came in warm clothes. After the boat ride we witnessed a dolphin show and learned how the rescued dolphins were rehabilitated and trained by specialized trainers. We then played a trivia game to test our knowledge from the morning. After lunch we went on a fake rescue mission to save stuffed animal dolphins, everyone worked together in two different groups and had many roles to improve in the rescue. Then we did activities like fake urine sample testing and fake blood testing. We also took everyone’s blood pressure.

After the experience we went to the actual aquarium and saw dolphins, fish, otters and sea turtles. We also had the opportunity to touch sea creatures. After that we went to the gift shop to buy souvenirs then we went back to the vans to go to back to the hotel. Then we had free time with our phones and time to play with friends. For dinner, we ate tacos and journaled for an hour. At the end we had more free time before bed to play games.

Dylan, Nessiera, and Waleska

by

Atmosphere Academy Custom Group – Spain (November 27 – December 8, 2023)

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

Here are a few things you can expect:

  1. We typically receive 2-3 blog posts per week here at GLA Headquarters from our program staff and students, so please don’t be alarmed if you don’t see a blog post daily – that’s totally normal.
  2. Blog updates sent on weekends may not be posted until Monday.
  3. Due to many factors, including but not limited to internet accessibility, photos may not always be available to post onto the blog. Sometimes onsite program staff are only able to send text back to Headquarters, where our team updates the blog.

Thank you for your patience and understanding, and we hope you enjoy following along on these unforgettable adventures.

For frequently asked questions about the blogs, please visit our Program Blog FAQ page.

-The Global Leadership Adventures HQ Team

Click here to jump down to the most recent post!

BLOG POST FOR NOVEMBER 28

Buenos dias and welcome to Spain! On behalf of the entire GLA team, we welcome you. GLA staff has been working nonstop to ensure you have an incredible experience, and we can’t wait to share our experiences and snapshots of our adventure. Our first day started bright and early as we took off to the airport to pick up the Atmosphere Academy students and staff.

Everyone arrived safely and we did a quick intro and loaded the bus, and everyone saw a quick glimpse of the city of Madrid. Our first stop as a group was to Parque Del Retiro where Silvia, our Spanish expert, guided us through a beautiful nature walk. She elaborated on the history of the park, and some history of Spain, and answered all of our curiosities about her country. We saw ducks, geese, the Crystal Palace, a Lucifer statue, and even a black swan! How cool was that!?

We finally took a break from walking and started student orientation with a fun game of Where The Wind Blows. This was the perfect opportunity to solidify trip expectations, review our impressive itinerary, go over the code of conduct, review roommate agreements and brainstorm ideas on how to be successful on this trip. Students were very receptive and before we knew it, it was lunch time. We walked to a local burrito restaurant where we ate all of our calories we had just burned but it was worth it. We finally were able to check in into our hotel and settle in before heading out again to tour The Plaza De Toros De Las Ventas.

During the trip, we learned about how this venue is the biggest bullfighting ring in Spain, the architectural history and about how the bulls are maintained. By this time, everyone was hungry again, so we wrapped up our night at a local pizza spot where we ate pizza with a Spanish twist. Even though we walked more than 13,000 steps, everyone was in good spirits and ready for our Spanish adventure.

Sincerely,

Luismi, Ilana, Rudy and Silvia

BLOG POST FOR NOVEMBER 29

Written by Derickson and Carlos

Hi everyone,

We woke up in the city of Madrid with a cup of coffee and a very loud wake-up alarm in our beautiful hotel called Radisson Red. Everything in the hotel is red-themed and there is a lot of art everywhere. After breakfast, we explored Madrid starting with the Museo De El Prado, El Palacio Real, Antigua Residencia Real, and also a Christmas market. We were fascinated by the Royal Palace due to its exquisite architecture and its complex history. It was truly an opulent experience.

Then we walked over to a chocolate shop where we tasted different chocolates from Madrid and we tried local churros con chocolate. Today was a very long day as we walked over 16,000 steps but we are all in good spirts. Today was filled with art, history, and culture. We cannot wait to see what else Spain has in store for us.

BLOG POST FOR NOVEMBER 30

Written by Amaya and Laura

Hello everybody! Today we woke up early and had a wonderful breakfast that included eggs, various cereals and fresh fruit. We loaded the bus with our bags and we were off to Toledo!

It was an hour drive and during the bus ride we all played card games and got to know each other better. When we arrived at our destination, we had a walking tour of Toledo, we had a delicious lunch of chicken cutlet, fries and fried eggs. For dessert, we had a flavorful chocolate lava cake with vanilla ice cream.

Afterwards, we walked to the mountains, where we had an exhilarating experience zip lining over the river. My name is Laura and when I was getting prepared to go on the zip line I was feeling nervous and excited. When I was right at the edge, about to jump, I felt anxious but right after I jumped the feeling went away and I was just taking in the scenery peacefully. My name is Amaya and the entire day I was very enthusiastic about getting on the zip line, that wouldn’t have been my first time but I can say it was definitely a great experience. The feeling I got when arriving at the stand gave me butterflies but as soon as I took off I knew I was going to be fine.

We got back on the bus and reached our destination of Granada in the evening. We had a quick dinner and Rudy guided us in an art reflection activity. We are having a blast and we hope you enjoyed the day as much as we did, see you next blog!

BLOG POST FOR DECEMBER 1

Written by Donte

Good morning! My name is Donte and today I have a story to share with you. Today started out with breakfast where we ate croissants, eggs, and fresh fruits. After that we got ready to head out to the infamous Alhambra located in Granada. During the bus ride, we had a Q&A session with Silvia about Alhambra. One fact that stuck with me was that the meaning of Alhambra means Red Castle. During our tour, we learned about the kings and various religions. We also learned about the war between Germans and the Spaniards.

Afterwards, we took a break and went to a gift shop. The colors in the gift shop were beautiful! We also had hot chocolate, which was amazingly tasteful. We then walked and took group pictures and encountered tiny cute little cats. We had a pop quiz from our tour guide about the fruits, and I was able to answer some questions correctly.

As we came back to the hotel, we took a break but had an intriguing activity led by Rudy about the dangers of social media. As a group, we shared our thoughts and had great conversations. We wanted some fresh air, so we went for a walk into town and entered a famous guitar shop where we heard about the celebrities who had bought from the store. We wrapped up the day with dinner and a small prep about our business presentations. See you tomorrow!

BLOG POST FOR DECEMBER 2

Written by Benny and Justin

Hi everyone! We woke a bit tired this morning but with breakfast we got full energy. We didn’t know what to expect for the day but Silvia told us we were going to walk in a beautiful neighborhood. We met the tour guide and we learned about architecture and the old water reservoir systems. We took many pictures and then it was time to eat. This is the first time we tried Moroccan food at a local restaurant. It was different but tasty. Back at the hotel we started practicing our business presentations. After that we had an hour to get ready to participate and observe the flamenco dance that was incredible. We took a class to learn a few steps and then we had dinner. The highlight of the day was the flamenco show and it was so good. So much passion! The weather was very cold and we finally went to bed. See you tomorrow!

BLOG POST FOR DECEMBER 3

Written by Jeffer and Andrew

Another day in España. Yesterday we woke up, had breakfast, and got on the bus for our six hour expedition to Valencia! The bus ride was long but it flew by with all of the rest stops that we took. We took advantage of the bus ride and worked on our business plan. Our teachers asked tough questions to encourage revisions of our projects. For lunch we had french fries and chicken at a restaurant on the way there which was filling. Once we arrived, we got some well needed resting time in our hotel rooms. Afterwards, we went into the city to admire the scenery and take photos with one another at a famous structure called City of Arts and Sciences. Overall, yesterday was quite an exhilarating day even considering the large portion of it spent on the bus!

See you tomorrow.

BLOG POST FOR DECEMBER 4

Written by Stefano

Buenos días. Today we woke up early at 7, got dressed, and ate a big breakfast. Then we went on a bus ride to a business college to propose our business projects. My group’s idea was proposing a green grave and we got good feedback on it. After that, we ate lunch, which consisted of some sandwiches and fries. We were able to relax a bit before heading out for a boat ride on this lake that is important to the process of making Paella. The scenery was nice and we saw many birds. After the boat ride, we ate dinner, which was Paella, rice with chicken and spices. Valencia is known for Paella. It was delicious because I got a second plate. Hasta mañana!

BLOG POST FOR DECEMBER 5

Written by Sariah

Hi everybody!

My blog is about what we did yesterday December 5th. First we woke up got ready and went downstairs to eat breakfast which was fruits and eggs with meats. We went to the Museum of Sciences and Arts which was very cool and informative. There was another photo challenge in our teams where we had to take a picture of interesting points of the museum. We spent all morning there but afterwards we got on the bus for a 4 hour bus ride to our final city, Barcelona. The bus ride had beautiful sights (took a bunch of pictures). We got to our final hotel, checked in and went to dinner. Dinner consisted of 7 Spanish dishes and after dinner we made appreciation cards. Rudy talked about the importance of gratitude so we wrote a thank you note to a GLA staff, an Atmosphere Academy staff, a close friend on the trip, a distant friend, and a letter for ourselves. The letter to ourselves was to realize the significance of this travel opportunity. After that we went to bed because we were exhausted. That’s my blog so thanks for reading!

BLOG POST FOR DECEMBER 6

Written by Kymarli

Hola! We woke up after a fantastic slumber due to the fact this hotel has the softest beds throughout the whole trip. We got ready and went downstairs to enjoy the final days of this trip. We got on the bus and did a small bus tour around Barcelona and took pictures together as a school. We were given a bit of time to ourselves to take some pictures for us and our families.

Then we took the bus to the plaza part of Barcelona, which is called the Golden Strip because it has all the super high brand name stores. We saw Gucci, Dior, Prada, Boss, Rolex, Zara, Loui Vuitton, Balenciaga, and many more. Then we saw amazing houses built during the “Modern” age of Spain. The best architecture during this time was named Gaudi. He built a house that resembled a sword killing a dragon. After learning about unique, distinctive art in the form of architecture, we left to go explore the city of Barcelona some more. We walked for about two hours and saw many things. We saw a huge cathedral; we saw children hitting wood for presents, which is tradition. We also saw a building that looked like a palace which was actually meant for a queen during the Middle Ages. They turned into a building for old classical music. Then we walked to the bus and went back to the hotel to change and get ready for dinner. Currently eating Spaniard pizza. It’s amazing! Tomorrow is our final day.

BLOG POST FOR DECEMBER 7

Written by Edward Alberto Pimentel Garcia

Hello everyone, today is the last day in Spain, and I am conflicted; I am both sad and happy; I am happy I was able to experience this, but I’m sad this is ending because I loved meeting everyone. Today, I had lots of fun; when we woke up, I ate some yummy breakfast and got ready for the day. Today we got on the bus and we traveled to the Park Guell where we saw some beautiful sights and took pictures. After this we went to a very beautiful church named “Familia Sagrada”. This church had beautiful storytelling on the walls on the outside and beautiful stained glass from the inside.

After this church tour, we ate some yummy lunch where we all danced, sang, and had a blast. We left with our full bellies and happy faces. We got back on the bus and came to the hotel, where we got ready to move on to our final group activity. We did this activity where we all were given prompts, and if the person we thought fit these prompts, we would tap their shoulders, but they would not be aware of the people who tapped them, sort of like a secret Santa way of saying thank you but you don’t reveal the gift giver.

After this activity, we were given the time to go to the beach and appreciate this beautiful city named Barcelona. Now, as I write this, eating this tasty brownie, I am just reminiscing of the wonderful time I had in Spain. I want to say thank all the GLA staff and atmosphere academy chaperones for making one of my biggest dreams to come true. As a football fan and la liga fan I can say I reached a hefty milestone in my life. Thank you,

by

Atmosphere Academy Custom Group – Costa Rica (November 6 – November 14, 2023)

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

Here are a few things you can expect:

  1. We typically receive 2-3 blog posts per week here at GLA Headquarters from our program staff and students, so please don’t be alarmed if you don’t see a blog post daily – that’s totally normal.
  2. Blog updates sent on weekends may not be posted until Monday.
  3. Due to many factors, including but not limited to internet accessibility, photos may not always be available to post onto the blog. Sometimes onsite program staff are only able to send text back to Headquarters, where our team updates the blog.

Thank you for your patience and understanding, and we hope you enjoy following along on these unforgettable adventures.

For frequently asked questions about the blogs, please visit our Program Blog FAQ page.

-The Global Leadership Adventures HQ Team

Click here to jump down to the most recent post!

BLOG POST FOR NOVEMBER 6 & 7

Greetings from Parrita, Costa Rica. The Atmosphere Academy students and their chaperones arrived yesterday safely after a long day of travel. This morning everyone woke up early to the sounds of parrots, monkeys, and the ocean waves in the distance. We had a delicious Costa Rican breakfast to give us energy for the day’s activities. We also sang happy birthday to Armita! We have a few more birthdays coming up and will have a celebration for all on Friday.

Today the students will have Orientation to learn about the program and Costa Rican culture, and we will play some leadership games. We’ll also have some time to check out the beach and play in the pool. Everyone is looking forward to learning more about what the next week of adventure has in store!

We look forward to sending you more pictures and highlights over the next week! Stay tuned for lots of smiles.

GLA Directors – Heather & Lisa

BLOG POST FOR NOVEMBER 7

Today we learned a lot about Costa Rican culture and the spirit of Pura Vida! After a tour of Home Base we had a great afternoon in the pool playing games like volleyball, water polo, and Marco Polo!

We tried some Costa Rican food including rice and beans, known as “gillo pinto” and fresh delicious juices. The day ended with a beautiful sunset circle and walk on the beach. Excited for another day tomorrow going ziplining!

Pura Vida!

From the leaders of the day: Russlan, Armita, and Citlali 🙂

BLOG POST FOR NOVEMBER 8

The day was filled with many new adventures! We flew through the jungle on a series of zip lines with a “superman zip” at the end over a big river. Some people even went upside down! On the way back to home base we stopped at a local market and souvenir shop. During the afternoon we had some time to relax and play in the pool. We also saw a sloth way up in a tree and white-faced monkeys were running across the rooftops at the hotel. Dinner was really delicious with tacos, skewers and guacamole! In the evening there was a guest speaker who led a presentation about Costa Rica, Sea Turtles and gave an introduction to what we will be doing for community service. The group is excited to start service tomorrow!

BLOG POST FOR NOVEMBER 9

We started service today and all worked together to plant some trees and clear a designated trail for people to access to beach. This trail will help prevent people from stepping on the new growth and help combat erosion problems. The shoreline in Costa Rica is getting higher due to climate change and it’s important for natural growth to protect the ocean environment. Communities in this area have also suffered because of flooding, so these efforts will also help protect their homes.

A local Costa Rican environmentalist named Maurilio guided us through the steps of what to do and was a great leader. It was tough work, but it was awesome to see everyone come together for a good cause and help the community of Playa Palo Seco.

In the afternoon, had a dance class where we stretched our comfort zones! Not everyone wanted to dance at first, but we all learned the steps to some salsa, merengue, bachata, and a local Costa Rican traditional dance. After dinner we learned about our different leadership styles during and then watched a short film about eco tourism, specifically about Manuel Antonio National Park where we are going tomorrow! We can’t wait.

Leaders of the day: Anaiya, Giana, Isabella, Jayden

Pura Vida

BLOG POST FOR NOVEMBER 10

Today we started bright and early with a delicious breakfast of yummy pancakes, eggs, fruit and juice. We went to the Manuel Antonio National Park and saw tons of wildlife. We spotted three toed sloths, squirrel monkeys, howler monkeys, white-faced monkeys, colorful crabs, a rainbow grasshopper, lots of lizards, and more. It was really cool to learn about the special ecosystems in the park. At the end of the nature trail was the beach with turquoise blue water. We had so much fun floating in the gentle waves and playing on the beach.

After we got back to our Home Base, we rested a bit before doing some leadership activities. We played “the big question” which was a game that got us to talk to many different students and learn about each other. After dinner we had a birthday party for Amarita, Emiliano, Kiara, Anaiya, Ms. Gilbert and Josh. We danced and had homemade cake, then had a surprise pool party! It was an amazing day.

Leaders of the day,
Elizabeth, Jayden J., Janelle, and Leah

BLOG POST FOR NOVEMBER 11

Today was such a special day because we got to release baby sea turtles! As soon as we arrived at the community service site this morning, we were greeted by Victor with the exciting news that sea turtles had just been born. We all put gloves on and released two babies each. It was incredible seeing the little babies race towards the waves. Some of us gave our sea turtles names and it was like a competition seeing whose baby would get to the ocean the quickest.

After we wished our sea turtle babies good luck, we headed back to the hatchery and learned more facts about the Olive Ridley sea turtles, which are called “Tortuga Lora” in Costa Rica. The leaders of the day got to help with putting eggs collected the night before in a nest for safe keeping in the hatchery. Then we all worked together to paint the hatchery and we also sorted through trash to be properly recycled. It was tough work, but super rewarding.

When we got back to Home Base, we had some delicious burritos for lunch. Then we had some pool time and relaxation time. In the afternoon we had cooking class with a really nice lady from the community named Lulu. She taught us how to make empanadas and we drank fresh coconuts, too.

Tonight we reflected on leadership and people that we admire for their leadership skills. Many people said they admire their parents! We also shared things that we are proud of and things that we’ve learned so far from this trip in Costa Rica.

Leaders of the Day,
Jarely, Viance, Jayden H., Mishyla

BLOG POST FOR NOVEMBER 12

We had a blast today going out on a catamaran boat for a snorkeling excursion! It took some courage for those who have not been snorkeling before, but it was a great time and we saw some really pretty fish. The boat also had a water slide that went into the ocean and a high jump which was so much fun for the group to try out! We had lunch on the boat with some delicious juices.

In the afternoon we did an activity called One Meaningful Goal (OMG) where we individually reflected on a goal that we want to achieve and steps about how to work towards success. We were lucky to enjoy a beautiful sunset on the beach tonight before dinner. The last activity was a short film and discussion about how a movement is started with the important first few followers, talking about leadership in the form of courageous follower-ship. We unfortunately only have one full day left together in Costa Rica, but many memories to take back home!

Leaders of the day:

Maddison, Emiliano, Sashaly, Destiny

by

Dominican Republic: Global Health Initiative (June 22-July 5, 2023)

TIME CAPSULE LETTER

Written by Junior, Sara, Greta, Gustavo

¡Hola Amigos!

It is a little crazy to think about how much time has passed since our adventure in the Dominican Republic ended, it feels like just yesterday we were there together! We hope you are all thriving in school and having a great year so far and we hope this letter brings back a few great memories for you!

The time that we spent working with the communities in the Dominican Republic truly made an impact here, you planted a seed. The hard work that you put in to help each project improve and get better made a difference, whether you were working on the water bottle insulation for the homes or bathrooms or mixing cement to complete the walls of the houses and bathrooms, each project has grown because of your help. During the medical brigades you all used your different skills and strengths to assist the doctor and learn a lot about the medical field. The team from 7 Elements and all of the community leaders are very grateful for the service you provided and your great attitude while being there. More importantly, we hope that the knowledge that you gained from these projects and these communities will serve you and the communities that you will be apart of for the rest of your lives. Have you shared what you learned from this experience with your own community? If you have, we’d love to hear about it!

Do you remember the One Meaningful Goal (OMG) that you set for yourself? We want to remind you to work towards that goal throughout the year and share what you learned from our time in the Dominican Republic with others to BE THE CHANGE! Continuing working hard towards these goals – you will achieve great things! We believe in YOU! The group goal that you made together was:

As self aware, curious and motivated leaders we will recognize our priviledge by not taking things for granted and taking our own challenges one day at a time.

We can’t forget about all of the fun that we had together too! There wasn’t a day that passed where we didn’t laugh a lot or find something interesting to talk about! You guys were a super tightly woven group and we were impressed by how you bonded together so well. Whether we were having pool time, singing on Jaime’s bus, or having our silly riff-off you guys always made everything more fun and entertaining! We hope you continue to bring your positive attitudes and sense of adventure everywhere you go! Just to remind you of the good old days we compiled our top 10 Moments of the trip for you!

Top 10 Moments from the Trip

1. Dancing in the rain storm during our first service day!

2. Jumping into the beautiful Dudu Lagoon!

3. Visiting Playa Preciosa and riding all of the waves!

4. The first medical brigade when we got to understand and learn more about health care in the Dominican Republic.

5. Watching and singing along to Pitch Perfect!

6. Going to visit the Damajagua 27 waterfalls and going down the incredible natural slides! Also watching each other jump in was hilarious!

7. Visiting Puerto Plata and sightseeing in the colorful city! Shopping for souvenirs too!

8. Trying the tasty chocolate at the Chojoba chocolate shop and meeting the wonderful women who run the business!

9. The boat ride and snorkeling adventure where we saw all of the stunning coral reefs and cute fish!

10. Our final evening appreciation circle and reflection where we remembered all of the awesome moments we shared together!

This experience together was incredibly fulfilling because we worked hard, learned a lot, and had a blast at the same time! Thank you for bringing your unique personalities and leadership abilities to the trip and making it so special for all of us! We miss you and wish you the best of luck in all of your future adventures!

P.S. Interested in traveling with GLA again this summer? Sessions are filling quickly! Check out our 2024 Program Guide for available session dates! We hope to see you again soon 🙂

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

PROGRAM PHOTO ALBUM

Here are a few things you can expect:

  1. We typically receive 2-3 blog posts per week here at GLA Headquarters from our program staff and students, so please don’t be alarmed if you don’t see a blog post daily – that’s totally normal.
  2. Blog updates sent on weekends may not be posted until Monday.
  3. Due to many factors, including but not limited to internet accessibility, photos may not always be available to post onto the blog. Sjometimes onsite program staff are only able to send text back to Headquarters, where our team updates the blog.

Thank you for your patience and understanding, and we hope you enjoy following along on these unforgettable adventures.

Cell Phone Policy: The GLA cell phone policy is currently in place this summer to help foster meaningful connections between students. This means your student’s phone will be collected every day and returned to them after activities are completed to have with them through the night. Actual tech times and regularity will vary greatly by program location and time zones. During designated ‘tech time’, your student may use their phones as they wish. Please note that your student may not always choose to use this time to get a hold of their parents. If you are not hearing directly from your student each day, you can assume that no news is good news! We strongly recommend you follow the blog to follow your students’ experience without talking to them every day. If you are a parent and would like to get in touch with your student directly, you can call us at +1-619-758-3031 and we can set up a formal time for you to connect with your student.

For frequently asked questions about the blogs, please visit our Program Blog FAQ page.

-The Global Leadership Adventures HQ Team

Click here to jump down to the most recent posts!

BLOG POST FOR JUNE 22

Hello from the Dominican Republic!

All 20 of the students have safely arrived at our home base in Las Canas after a long day of travel! Despite the flight delays, everyone came with smiles on their faces and excited to start our 14 day program together.

We are all ready to rest tonight and get ready for a full day tomorrow starting with orientation, connecting with each other, and officially kicking off our amazing program together.

Our team is so excited to welcome these amazing leaders and we cannot wait to share updates here with you all!

-GLA team
Sara, Junior, Greta, and Gustavo

BLOG POST FOR JUNE 23

On our first full day in the sunny Dominican Republic we woke up bright and early for a delicious breakfast! In the morning students learned more about the awesome program that we will be participating in during our program orientation. We heard from Junior, our local director and program manager of 7 Elements who shared his knowledge about the DR and the service work we will do. Students also learned about GLA and what to expect from the upcoming days and were so eager to get started! We also got to check out the beautiful beach next to our home base!

After a hearty lunch we headed to our first service afternoon where we worked in a nearby community to build a bathroom for a local woman named Cirila. We worked as a team to use recycled materials to insulate the walls of the bathroom.

We stopped at a local supermarket for some snacks and cold treats and headed back to home base for some free time. It’s very hot and humid here and the students were happy to cool down and enjoy the pool and playing dominoes!

After dinner we learned and discussed global public health in a learning activity while also sharing our own insights about public health, it was a great discussion and presentation.

After an awesome day we are only even more excited to wake up tomorrow for another day here in the DR!

-GLA team
Sara, Junior, Greta, and Gustavo

BLOG POST FOR JUNE 24

Written by Blake and Tessa

We woke up and started with breakfast at 7 in the morning. Most of us slept very well after yesterday. After breakfast we got on the bus and headed to our first full day service project.

At our service project in Caño Dulce we worked with building the ground cement for the house. First we had to scoop the dirt from the dirt pile into 10 buckets and pour them out into a pile, then we had to pour a bag of cement into piles and mix it with the dirt piles. After that we did something called the “volcano method” which was moving the cement mixture to the into a donut shape to pour water in the middle, kind of like making pasta from scratch. After this the the cement was made and we had to put them in separate buckets so that the workers could use it to make the floor.

We got very dirty but the rain cleaned us off. It was super fun, we met a couple puppies and played with a couple of the young girls and boys from the family. Very tiring day but very fun. We finished with some pool, dinner, and mentor group!

BLOG POST FOR JUNE 25

Written by Eli and Maddie

Hey, hey, hey! Let me spill the beans about this freaking awesome day we had on our trip. We woke up for breakfast at 7am. Then we scarfed down a delicious breakfast to give us energy for the day. Hold on tight ’cause things got wild at Dudu Lagoon. Picture this: we dove into crystal-clear water and swam under freakin’ caves! It was like being in paradise. We splished, we splashed, and we felt like mermaids. Seriously, memories for life.

Now, brace yourselves: a buffet lunch that was a feast for champions. We hit up an amazing local joint and let me tell you, the food was off the charts! We filled our plates with local specialties, and it was divine. Seconds? No, we went for thirds, my friend.

After lunch we headed to the beach, la playa preciosa. There was lots to do here, many of us spent time swimming, tanning, and shopping from local vendors. The beach was beautiful and we all enjoyed the time in sun and water.

Several hours were spent at the beach and then we went back to home base for dinner. After dinner we had a training for our medical brigade tomorrow, given by a local doctor.

We are all very tired from our adventure day, but looking forward to the medical brigade tomorrow!

BLOG POST FOR JUNE 26

Written by Aubrey and Ronan

We started the day at 7 am with breakfast. Then we got on the bus and headed to our first medical brigade in the community of La Boca. There we split into 5 groups helping the community members with their symptoms. The first group was Registration where we got the people signed in and learned their basic information. The next group was vitals and we took people’s blood pressure, oxygen levels, and temperature. After that the people headed to the Medical History table where they explained what was wrong and past treatments. Then they headed to the doctor who would look at the information and prescribe a medication. Lastly there was the pharmacy table who help give out the prescriptions.

We ended early and headed back to home base where we chilled for a little and then began a mock debate centered around the implementation of a soccer stadium in La Grua. We discussed things like racism, gentrification, economy, and tried to come up with the best solution for both the government and the people who lived in the area. After that we had dinner and a malnutrition presentation. After dinner we celebrated Maya’s birthday with music, dancing, and cake. It was very long day but lots of fun.

BLOG POST FOR JUNE 27

Written by Davin and Nick

Hello to all parents and students! We had an amazing 6th day in the Dominican Republic by starting off the day with delicious pancakes with fruit and eggs! Then we got ready for an exciting day of service in La Boca where we spent the previous day doing a medical brigade. In La Boca, we split into 2 groups of 7 and 13, where one group worked on building cement walls for a plastic water bottle bathroom, then the other group smoothed out cement walls in the home of Miguel Angel Alejandro. This service day was long and hard, but very rewarding overall to make sanitary spaces to improve our Global Health Initiative.

We then got back to home base and relaxed by the pool before we had dinner. Dinner was very delicioso because we had tacos, then participated in a mentor group friendly competition. We had 3 challenges where we played the human knot, the floor is lava, and find the bottle. Only by one point did the CHURRRRROSSSSS win against the CHIMICHANGAAAAASSS! Then we went to bed and reflected on another great day in the Dominican Republic!

BLOG POST FOR JUNE 28

Written by Annabelle and Samay

Hello everyone! Today a group of us started the day with a beautiful morning walk/run along the beach while watching the sunrise! After that, we all met to eat a delicious breakfast before heading to the chojoba chocolate factory. At the chocolate factory, we were able to listen to the story of the women who work there and learn about the struggles they faced in the creation of the company and those that they continue to encounter today. We took a tour of the factory while learning about the process of making various chocolate products, and we even got to try some and purchase products to take home to our families!

Once we arrived back at the lodge, we ate lunch and then left for the community Caño Dulce. Once we were there, we split up into two groups. The Churrrooos (Greta’s group) were lining up and built the bee boxes together, while the Chimichangas (Gustavo’s group), were painting the boxes. At around 3:30, we all took a walk to the bee farm. we observed multiple colonies of bees and learned how honey was made. Once the tour was done, we all had a piece of honeycomb, which was filled with pure, rich honey. After we got back to the village, we packed up and went back to home base.

Once we arrived home and ate dinner, we had a “special activity” on the beach which was a bonfire! We all danced and hung out around the huge fire and then collected sticks to roast marshmallows and make s’mores. We had so much fun at the bonfire and were exhausted afterwards, so we headed to bed to prepare for another amazing day tomorrow.

BLOG POST FOR JUNE 29

Written by Maeve and Sophie

Today was an incredible day of surprises. We started our productive day with some scrumptious toast, eggs, and fresh fruit before heading to our second medical brigade at the community of Las Canas. Surprise number 1 was trying our hand in a new skill at the medical brigade. We all worked very hard to provide medical checkups to 30 patients and with our teamwork (and collective Spanish skills), we finished up our brigade very smoothly.

After taking a lunch break at the service, we faced surprise number 2 with a beach stop at Cabarete! At this beautiful beach we splashed around with our friends and soaked up the sun for a few hours.

Before heading back for dinner we entered surprise number 3, a stop at the supermarket. Many of you may think that a supermarket doesn’t sound that exciting, but when there are Oreos, Tostitos lime chips and mystery Doritos on the line you’d see why. We arrived back at home base to jump in the pool and our final surprise of clean laundry. For dinner we had fish, potatoes and veggies. Very filling after a long day! To end our day we divided into our “Mentor groups” to discuss the importance of certain experience in our lives much like the ones we encountered today that strengthened our connections with ourselves and our community.

BLOG POST FOR JUNE 30

Written by Pablo and Miles

Today we started our day with a breakfast of French toast, eggs and fruit to fuel our ourselves for the day. Today we had the final day of hands on work, working to prep a communal bathroom for cement. We walked twenty minutes through the streets of the Dominican Republic to our service site, the nearby town of Las Canas. Our day consisted of cutting and stacking bottles to fill the the bathroom for the 3 families that will be using it. To keep us company during service, we had Lady Gaga, Playboi Carti and Kanye playing all morning.

We followed with lunch and a lecture from the women’s ministry about domestic violence in the Dominican republic. We split into four groups to discuss why violence occurs and what we can do to prevent it. Following the conference we had an interlude of rain, allowing us to have an afternoon at home base. Our calm afternoon at home strengthened our connection with one another in the community and restored our energy for the week. We finished the night with dinner, and a surprise movie night. It was an acca-awesome night full of singing, choreography, as we watched student suggested “Pitch Perfect”. As our days are coming to a close, we are super excited to continue the rest of our journey together

BLOG POST FOR JULY 1

Written by Carolina and Maya K.

Helllooooo families and friends! Today we woke up bright and early at 7am for a delicious breakfast made by our lovely chefs! We departed at 8:00 for a long (but fun) two hour bus ride to damajagua water falls and exploration. Upon arrival, we were styled with cute life jackets and helmets. Then we went on a long and sweaty hike up a mountain ⛰️ until we finally reached the first waterfall. (However, there were no actual waterfalls just pools of water with cliffs to leap off of.) Every member of the group jumped off of a 15 foot cliff—which looks a lot taller than it sounds when you’re standing at the top of it. We then followed a trail that was a combination of swimming and sliding until we reached the next drop, which was 20 feet. Some of the slides were a bit sketchy, but we bravely persisted and many people conquered their fears of heights and jumping.

Next, we went to a delicious restaurant for a buffet-style lunch that was curated specifically for our group! However, our American urges were too overpowering…the group’s wishes of a trip to McDonalds were granted. The bus took us for a second lunch where we all got McFlurries and fries, and then felt way too full to eat anything for the rest of the night.

We finally returned to home camp, and sadly ate only a tiny bit of the delicious dinner that was cooked for us. The night cumulated with a presentation from Junior (Juju) about human security. All in all, it was another successful day in the Dominican Republic!

BLOG POST FOR JULY 2

Written by Grace and Delaney

Today was our earliest wake up day with breakfast at 6 am. We started off our day with pancakes and Nutella before heading to La Grua for our very last medical brigade. We met with 35 locals about their health! Then we ate lunch at the community leaders house on couches.

We then toured a Haitian community in La Grua and met tons of adorable children that wanted hugs and piggy-back rides.

On the way back to home base we stopped at a gas station to get snacks and drinks. We spent the rest of the day at the pool and ended with a nutritious dinner and a talk about healthcare in the Dominican Republic. Buenas noches!

 

BLOG POST FOR JULY 3

Written by Maya B. and Sophia

Hello everyone, this is Maya B. and Sophia here the leaders of this fantastic day!

Starting off with a morning beach walk we all had the opportunity to decompress and relax before a day full of fun and exciting adventures. Our first stop of the day was the beautiful Larimar and Amber mining museum…. Did you know the older amber is, the darker and less transparent? After, we emptied our wallets at several tourist trap shops- Don’t worry mom I bought you something cute!

We visited several more tourist attractions such as an entirely pink street. Following was a delicious buffet style lunch at an outdoor breezy bungalow. After our stomachs were full and minds were ready for more adventure, we headed to the beach and started our search for sea glass and other various beach collectibles. We also had the chance to explore a medieval fort made of strong brick walls that were filled with salty sea air.

After, we headed to the most SCUMDIDILYUMTIOUS gelato shop and helped ourselves to at least 1000 bolas of gelato. With a new sense of excitement (probably derived from our intense sugar rush) we scurried over to the pigeon plaza and sprinkled corn kernels for all of the pigeons to enjoy. After, we hopped on a long bus ride and all dreamt of sugar plums.

After dinner we had an intense emotional and reflective experience with our last mentor group. We debated over the idea of knowledge=power, and collaboratively decided upon our group goal that we want to pursue after our trip concludes; “As self aware, curious, and motivated leaders, we will recognize our privilege by not taking things for granted, and taking our own challenges one day at a time.” We are so thankful for another incredible day, and all of the people we met and experiences we’ve shared!

BLOG POST FOR JULY 4 & 5

Written by Greta, Gustavo, Sara, and Junior

On our last full beautiful day in the Dominican Republic we got to sleep in a little bit and have a delicious breakfast before heading out for our final adventure day! This adventure took us to Playa Sosua where we hopped on a boat and went snorkeling! We saw many fish and sea life in the coral reefs! It was so peaceful and colorful!

After snorkeling we got to eat some yummy pizza on the beach and shop for our final souvenirs. We got on the bus just before a storm cooled down the island!

In the afternoon we packed and played our last pool games before we did a full group appreciation circle. We even had our favorite last meal – tacos! After some ice cream we saw a Pitch Perfect inspired performance and played our own riff-off game!

We went to bed a little bit sad to say goodbye to our wonderful group but excited for the students to head home and share their incredible experiences with friends and family. We’ll always cherish these memories and we will miss you all! Safe travels home! ✈️

Brought to you by