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 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
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BLOG POST FOR JUNE 11
Pura Vida!
Today we arrived in Costa Rica to begin our Marine Conservation and Sea Turtle Expedition program.
We started slowly arriving to our first homebase near San Jose and spent a rainy afternoon relaxing and meeting some of our new roommates. Those of us who arrived earlier in the day enjoyed a delicious Costa Rican lunch that consisted of chicken, rice, beans, plantains, salad and garlic bread with some fresh fruit juices. Yummmm!
After lunch some of us took our swim tests in the pool and played a couple different card games with our new amigos.
Later in the evening we enjoyed another delicious meal for dinner, tried a new fresh fruit juice, and had a little dessert before turning in for an early night.
The rest of our new friends arrived later on and we’re so looking forward to meeting them all in the morning! Our late arrivals enjoyed dinner together as soon as they made it to homebase before also heading off to sleep to get ready for the early morning departure.
We’re so excited to venture off to the beautiful coastal town of Montezuma tomorrow morning where we’re looking forward to enjoying some sunny beach days and beginning our community service project. (We even get to hop on a ferry tomorrow to get there!)
We have a great feeling about all the adventure that lies ahead and we can’t wait to uncover the beauty of Costa Rica and develop meaningful friendships and connections along the way!
Buenas Noches!
BLOG POST FOR JUNE 13
It has been an exciting couple of days here in Montezuma.
We kicked off June 13th with our first leader of the day and a wonderful breakfast of pineapple slices, rice, beans, and some delicious fresh fruit juice. Everyone was buzzing with the excitement for our first service day! After breakfast, we got ready, loaded up the bus, and headed off, eager to see what the service site would be like.
After an amazing presentation about sea turtles, the group went to check out the hatchery (the place where sea turtle eggs can be relocated for protection against predators).
To keep the sand healthy and in the best condition for eggs, the sand needs to be replaced before each season. Everyone was so quick to join in on the hard work and lend a hand! Before long we had replaced a good amount of the sand and all felt very accomplished for the day.
We had another lovely lunch, after which we headed to a beautiful local beach where the group loved jumping and playing in the waves. Taking advantage of the time in the water to get to know each other more!
In the evening we did a super cool leadership activity where we explored social media usage and its impact on our daily lives.
After a dinner that was definitely a group favorite we got into our mentor groups. Here we reflected on the day’s activities and wrote letters to our future selves. Can’t wait to read them back at the end of programming!
Buenas Noches!
BLOG POST FOR JUNE 14
Buenas Dias!!!
Today’s leader of the day showed great enthusiasm from the very first moment, decorating the schedule with drawings and practicing their loud voice when announcing our plans for the day.
Day two of service had us clearing sections of the beach of debris and garbage. In order for a turtle to nest she needs to find the best spot for her eggs. So, we needed to clear the sand and create space for the turtles.
The group powered through the morning and was able to clear a large section of the beach. This activity really gave us the feeling that we were making a difference. After service, it was a race to the waves to cool off and enjoy some well-deserved beach time!
More and more of the group is embracing the culture of Costa Rica. Everyone was asking so many questions about every creepy crawly that we found during service, At lunch everyone is asking all about the food and trying things they had never had before!
After lunch laughter and smiles could be found in the “hang out room” (aptly named for all the hammocks that are hanging around) as card games, fun conversations, and friendship braiding took place. To continue the group bonding, we played some fun games that helped reflect on the work we are doing.
Dinner was taken to go as the group headed off on our first big adventure: kayaking in bioluminescent water! The group took off in pairs in their kayaks, some kayaking for the first time, to see this special plankton glow. Many of us even jumped in the water for a swim in the dark. It was SO cool to see how the water around us lit up with contact and movement. It was an amazing day!
Hasta Luego!
BLOG POST FOR JUNE 17
Hola Hola Famila y Amigos!
Today was an AWESOME and full day out and about in the beautiful town of Santa Teresa. We have been looking forward to this day since arrival!
First on the agenda today was… SURFING!!!
While some of us were already surfing pros, it was a lot of our first times out on the waves. So many of us were able to stand up on the board after just a short lesson!
When we finished our surf lesson, we were all rewarded with a fresh coconut. It revitalized us for the rest of our day in Santa Teresa!
We headed to another beach where we had a picnic lunch, played a huge game of volleyball, and jumped back in the waves.
Everyone was itching to head into town to do a bit of shopping and grab some food (the groups favorite location actually ended up being the local grocery store)!
After hanging in town for a few hours, we made our way back to the beach to catch the sunset. We played some more volleyball, dove back into the waves, and enjoyed our final few hours in the gorgeous town.
When we arrived back at homebase, we were surprised by a special guest performer. We had the most amazing barbecue for dinner and listened to some vibey music. When we finished eating, we all got up to dance and play instruments along with the performer. It was the perfect end to a long and exciting day!!!
Adios Amigos!!
BLOG POST FOR JUNE 20
Hola, Buenas Días!
Today we put the ADVENTURE in Global Leadership Adventures with our ziplining excursion!
We left bright and early for the park where we strapped right into our gear and started our ascent into the trees. We weaved our way through the course flying through the stunning Costa Rican forest. A lot of us were super brave and flipped upside down!!
One of our favorite parts (or maybe the scariest for some) was the straight drop down a rope where you could feel your entire stomach drop!
We also loved finishing out the course by doing a Superman down the final rope!
After ziplining, we checked out the butterfly garden next door and saw some crocodiles! The butterflies were this super vibrant blue color that was AMAZING!
Back at homebase, we spent the afternoon listening to a guest speaker teach us more about sea turtles, participating in a leadership style activity, and playing a team competition game that had us up and active.
In the evening, we enjoyed our incredible homebase facilities with some of us playing pool, others competing in fusbol, and some of us just chilling.
It was the best day, but man are we tired. Heading off to bed to prepare for another day of service tomorrow!
Hasta Luego!
BLOG POST FOR JUNE 22
Hi Hi!
Today was a day we were all tremendously excited for. We went to Manuel Antonio National Park and saw all kinds of incredible wildlife!
We set out with guides and telescopes and had the opportunity to see sloths, monkeys, iguanas, bats, snakes, and more!
After our trek to find wildlife, we had a chance to swim in the clear blue sea for the afternoon. We ate a picnic lunch on the beach and then returned to homebase to enjoy our last full day in Parrita.
The afternoon included a goal setting activity with our mentor groups and some chill pool/game time.
At night, we were surprised by an epic bonfire on the beach! We roasted marshmallows and reflected on our trip. We read the letters we wrote to ourselves at the very beginning of the program and were able to see how far we’ve come in the past two weeks.
It was an amazing way to conclude our time in Parrita. We had so much fun enjoying each others company on the most beautiful beach!
Talk soon!
