PROGRAM PHOTO ALBUM
Thanks for the checking out the blog for this Global Leadership Adventures program!
Here are a few things to know and expect:
- 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
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BLOG POST FOR JUNE 20
Pura Vida!
Today, we had the joy of welcoming 51 incredible young leaders to the beautiful country of Costa Rica! Students arrived throughout the day at Liberia Airport in different groups.
Upon arrival, they headed straight to our home base, got settled into their rooms, completed initial health checks and a swim test, and started building connections with one another. We ended the day with a delicious traditional Costa Rican dinner—casado—featuring rice, beans, chicken, salad, and a taste of local hospitality. Afterward, we played some fun icebreaker games to help everyone get to know each other better.
We’re excited for tomorrow’s orientation and to dive deeper into the service projects we’ll be part of during our time here.
To all the parents, families, and friends—thank you for your continued support! Please stay connected with our journey by following the blog and leaving a comment below.
Warm regards,
Mentor RJ
BLOG POST FOR JUNE 21
Hey from Costa Rica!!
Today was our first full day of the program. We spent the majority of the day getting familiar with each other and the expectations of us while we’re here. We started off the day with some yummy breakfast of traditional Costa Rican foods. Then, we started our orientation, which included icebreakers, making skits, and some fun games!
After lunch, we headed to Playa Negra for an afternoon at the beach! We played volleyball, spikeball, and had fun in the waves before a storm rolled in. We made our way back to home base to have yet another delicious meal and then met with our mentor groups for the first time. Now, it’s time to head to bed to prepare for the early morning and fun, busy day ahead of us!
Written by Haley, Sami, Cheyenne, Dylan, Lily G., Katie, and Ella
BLOG POST FOR JUNE 22
Wasn’t too excited to wake at 5:30 this morning, everyone had to meet up at the Rancho at 6:05! We dropped off our phones and headed to the bus. We were all exhausted, but got super energized by our delicious empanada breakfast. After a bumpy, two hour long bus ride we finally arrived to our first destination…. ZIP LINING! We were worried at first, because it was pouring rain. But thankfully, we were able to go, got all our gear on, and got straight to zip lining! After about 15 zip line platforms full of swings, slides, repelling, and rock wall climbing, we were finally done. When we arrived back at the zip line base and dried off the rain was really coming down and our tubing trip got canceled.
But fortunately for us, about a two minute walk away there was a delicious buffet restaurant and an amazing mile long hiking path where we were met with Costa Rica’s abundant wildlife, and finished with a beautiful viewing of a waterfall. We got back on the bus, and after about 45 minutes, we had a pitstop at a souvenir shop. We got ice cream, T-shirts, keychains, and much more! We arrived home around 4:45 and had an hour to chill.
After our daily chow circle where we discuss our highlights, shoutouts, and take aways from the day and dinner… we were initiated into one of three tribes: NIMBU, KOYOMO, JUYU. Then we relaxed after a super eventful day! See you tomorrow!!!!
By Kobi, Eliza, Dylan W., Cameron, Damon, Albane
BLOG POST FOR JUNE 23
We started today bright and early with our first ever Pura Vida. We were led in a mini dance routine by some of the mentors and then did a quick icebreaker before breakfast. After we ate, (the pancakes were delicious) we all went our separate ways for community service. We then spent the next four hours shoveling sand, picking weeds, cleaning beaches, and most importantly making a real impact in the community. After lunch half of us took a power nap in our rooms while the other half spent the next hour playing volleyball and marco polo in the pool. Then it was time for beach olympics! RJ led us through four high energy activities to compete for points for our tribe. (Go green!) My favorite was the blindfolded obstacle course and the sand art.
We ended off the night with dinner and a debate that got us using our problem solving skills for real world issues. It is also worth mentioning that the Osuga has still not been caught but this blogger has a feeling that his or her days are numbered! That concludes day four of GLA. Good night everyone!!
BLOG POST FOR JUNE 24
Today June 24th, we started in the day at everyone meeting at the ranch for PURA VIDA at 6:45!! Each group headed off to their service work at 7:50. Verde Azul walked to the Turtle Hatchery, today’s work was continuing to build the wall of sand for protecting the turtle eggs. This service group end early at 11:15!! They were all able to dip in the ocean to cool off on this very hot day!! The next service group (GEA) spent the day cleaning a nearby beach! It was hot and Fred made us run but we ended up getting loads of trash and learning a lot about pollution and climate change, to conclude a long hot day we swam in the ocean then headed back to home base! The last service group, (UC) went to a local park and worked with local citizens to paint tires around the park and also paint a rancho. Everyone enjoyed the painting job, and some even got a little messy with the paints. The locals were very kind and even provided fresh fruits and snacks for all the volunteers. Overall, a great and successful day of service for the group. All service groups came back to home base to chill till we all went to a community to play traditional games and make empanadas.
When we made the empanadas we watched the traditional way to make corn tortillas we learned how to properly roll them up. Then we saw how they fried them. They were delicious! 😋 Next we played soccer connecting to the tribes to determine who gets points and some of the kids of the community played with us!! The traditional games include different versions of duck, duck, goose and some others.
Everyone had a blast leading everyone to come back to home base later than normal. To end off the day we had tacos for dinner!!!!
By Sophia Kyle Norah Charlotte
BLOG POST FOR JUNE 25
Today we started with Pura Vida, where the leaders of the day led with Simon Says. We then went to service, where each student went to work on their own specific areas. Then we went to a goat farm, where we saw pigs, went on a hike, fed and milked goats, tried fresh goat milk, cheese, and yogurt. There were a lot of mosquitos. We also did mentor groups and that concluded our day.
By Catrina, Alex, Lucy, Sammy, Maya, Kira
