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 JULY 13
Dear readers,
Kick starting our Ocean and Wildlife Conservation Adventure on a beautiful sunny day in Costa Rica.
The day began by GLA staff doing airport pickups and receiving smiley faced and somewhat exhausted teens. The 20 minutes drive from the airport to the hotel allowed the students to see some architecture and businesses they don’t usually see.
Students arrived refreshed themselves and headed to lunch for some delicious Arroz con Pollo with some mixed berries juice which was delish!!! Students had the chance to choose if they’d like to do the swim tests and chill in the pool or just take it easy and relax or sleep to ease off the long flights and travels.
Health checks were done and some students decided to enjoy some time in the pool to cool off while the others just hung around making new friends or took a nap.
As more students arrived from the airport to the hotel they were greeted by the students and staff already at the hotel curious to know the group of teen they will spend the next weeks with.
Dinner was mashed potatoes, garlic bread, chicken and beef fingers along with some pasta with tuna to go with some savory tamarindo juice. Students participated in some name games and getting to know each other through a game “guess who’’ where students state facts about themselves that no one else in the groups know.
The students seems to be enjoying each others company and the night ended with some crucial info for tomorrow and some typical do’s and don’t’s.
Students had a good day overall off to end the night and this blog so we can all start our two weeks of adventure strong!
Buenos Noches!
BLOG POST FOR JULY 14
Buenos Dias,
Its day ONE of the program and the students have been very punctual and seem to be excited to have some delicious breakfast!
With a heavy heart students handed over their phones to us and got ready for breakfast and departure from robledal.
Gallio pinto with scrambled eggs, pancakes, frutas and juice + tea/coffee were on the Menu.
Students helped store luggage on the bus and prepared themselves for the 4 hour bus ride to our home base Uvita.
Some students preferred to nap/sleep on the journey whilst others decided to listen to play music and socialize with new friends for days to come.
About an hour into the drive we stopped at the famous ‘’crocodile bridge’’ and to our fortune we were able to see 4 crocs famously occupying the same spot as always, thrilled students discussed about size comparison with a regular human.
3 hours later we arrived our beautiful home base, students were given a tour of our home for the next weeks which they loved! Followed by some free time which most people used to get some tan and pool time.
Yellow throated Tucans blessed us with their presence, each one of us tried to look at them for as long as we had the privilege to.
Lunch was arose, pollo segado, en salada, tomati, picadado verturas, friholes.
Post lunch we did some orientation for the students to understand what their time with GLA will look like and understanding boundaries and rules.
We headed to the supermarket to be able to shop for essentials and some snacks followed by some playing football while the others played some volleyball in the pool as the day was coming to an end.
Best memories were shared have been during sunset circle some shoot-outs too, dinner followed by ”speed friending” that’s helping the students bond ever so tight.
Overall the group looks solid and we hope our days of adventure has positive vibes as today for days to come.
Chao!
BLOG POST FOR JULY 15
As the sun rose in Uvita, so did us campers. Swiftly making our way down to breakfast, we were met with a delicious breakfast of eggs, local fruit, and of course, rice and beans. Students arriving to breakfast before 7:00 were rewarded with a special treat– curfew would be pushed back an extra 15 minutes. With this, students jumped onto the bus to start the first adventure of the day.
We arrived at the site of our volunteering for the next two weeks – Kids Saving the Rainforest. Our wonderful tour guide led us around the site. We saw the kitchen where we would soon prepare snacks and medicine for the animals. Finally, the time we had all been waiting for arrived. We headed out to see the animals. Macaws, hogs, monkeys, and sloths captivated us as we learned each animal’s history of why they are in the sanctuary. We then headed to Dominical, a town with a market, excited to start the next part of our day, and more prepared than ever to come back to volunteer tomorrow.
The buses arrived in Dominical and we all began their walk through town, toward the beach and the market. At the market we practiced our Spanish, haggling to get better prices on our souvenirs. After the market, the group headed to a local fruteria (fruit store) where we bought many local fruits for cheap!
Soon, the buses pulled into the Canto Ballenas Hotel. Everyone was starving for lunch. The hotel chefs prepared a delicious meal of fried chicken, with the classic Costa Rican side of rice and beans. Then we rested up, preparing for our walk through the community of Bahia Ballena.
Full and rested, the group drove over to the centre of the community where we were doing our service to learn more about the history of Uvita and Bahia Ballena. Our two tour guides described the development of the town due to ecotourism and the national parks, which stimulated the economy. We ended our tour with a refreshing snack of fresh coconut water and looking at wild howler monkeys and caiman.
At last, we headed to the beach, which we had all been waiting to do since landing in San Jose. Everyone ran across the sand at Playa Hermosa to jump into the warm Pacific Ocean and bodysurf the waves. We watched the amazing sunset as the sky turned colours of orange and purple while floating in the water. Tired and happy, we trekked back to the buses to head home for our dinner of fish, and again, rice and beans.
After dinner, we concluded our first full day in Uvita by listening to a guest speaker teach the history and pros and cons of tourism in Costa Rica. The group learned a lot about the importance of conservation and the differences between supporting local businesses and multinational hotel corporations. Finally, after the presentation, everyone headed out for one last dip in the pool before lights out! Pura Vida!
Your leaders of the day,
Katie and Xander
BLOG POST FOR JULY 16
Today, July 16th, we woke up and had a delicious breakfast of eggs, rice and beans, fruit, yoghurt, and more. The first activity of the day was service, working with Kids Saving the Rainforest! We went back to our rooms and got our WITS together… Water, Insect repellent, Toes Covered, and Sunscreen. We hopped on the bus for about an hour to the service site, and passed the time with conversation, karaoke, and of course, friendship bracelets.
At the service site, we divided into three groups and followed the lovely staff to our activities. Today, we helped out with things like food preparation, dishes, building enrichment toys, feeding the animals, gathering branches for enclosures, and cleaning for the goats and chickens. It was very fun to see all of the animals again, and to get to know the organization better.
After lots of hard work, we got back on the bus to head back to home base for some rest and relaxation. We enjoyed a delicious lunch of rice and beans, salad, pork, and zucchini. We also sipped on some refreshing pineapple juice. After lunch, we split into our mentor groups, and one group got ready for yoga. While group 1 was busy with forward folding and warriors 1 & 2, group 2 played some volleyball in the pool and enjoyed free time. Once group 1 dried off we swapped; group 2 headed to yoga, and group 1 cooled down in the pool.
Next, both groups met up at Hotel Bahia Azul for a cooking class! We made empanadas with beans and cheese, and ate them piping hot out of the oven. They were delicious, and we tried our hardest to exercise patience and not burn ourselves gobbling them down too quickly (but it was hard, they were very very good).
After empanadas, we got back on the buses and headed back to home base for a little bit of free time. Some people chilled by the pool, did arts and crafts, and cleaned up in their rooms.
For dinner tonight we had some yummy spaghetti with meat or veggies (depending on eating restrictions), and enjoyed salad on the side. We did our sunset circle before eating, and everybody went through a highlight of the day and a shoutout to another person. Finally, we broke off into mentor groups for the first time after eating, played some games, and wrote letters to our future selves. It was a beautiful and fulfilling day, and we can’t wait for tomorrow!
Buenas noches,
Ruby & Luna, group leaders of the day 🙂
BLOG POST FOR JULY 17
¡Buenos Días a todos!
Today we woke up and had a delicious breakfast including: pancakes, fruits, granola, beans and rice and eggs as well. After breakfast we left for our first adventure of the day! We began our first day of service in the community with a couple of fun icebreakers. We then jumped into various volunteer activities including painting informational signs, planting trees, and posting signs. We ended the community service by playing a large game of volleyball and managed to get up to 20 volleys without hitting the ground.
We headed back to home base for another wonderful meal, which consisted of fried plantains, pasta with salsa, salad and rice and beans once again. Then we had a speaker from Biosur come discuss restorative actions that we as a collective community can take in the future to help protect the rainforests on our planet. We then were led to a fruit workshop, where we tasted many fruits native to Costa Rica and enjoyed a fruit punch type treat as well. Later on, we went on a short walk to the beach which was within the national park we did service at that morning. After the beach, a delicious meal waited for us back at home base. Notable items from the menu included fresh made passionfruit juice, mac and cheese, grilled chicken, carrot and sweet potato puree, and lastly, salad. We ended the night off with some choosing to chat with friends and others watching a surfing movie. ¡Buenas noches!
Your group leaders,
Addison and Claire
BLOG POST FOR JULY 18
The campers woke up on a terrific day in the beautiful community we call Uvita. A little rain never stopped these campers or squashed their spirits as they made their way to breakfast. The breakfast was incredibly delicious consisting of rice and beans (as always), cheese and ham quesadillas, some fresh fruit, as well as barbeque sausages, mmm mmm mmm. From breakfast, we departed and made our way down to Manuel Antonio National Park where our wonderful tour guides showed us the beautiful sights and pointed out some magnificent animals that we got to look at through a high-tech telescope to search through the forest and lock eyes with some mythical creatures such as red toed crabs, monkeys, sloths, anteaters, various amphibians and even a viper! Wow!
After a beautiful trek through the rainforest, we made our way to Manuel Antonio Beach located inside of the national park. Here we rode the waves, some campers played mermaids, we took in lots of sun rays and even some of our campers swam to a private island where they discovered many wild monkeys and saw a beautiful overview of the park and beach. So exciting! After enjoying the beach we trekked back through the rainforest and made our way to some picnic tables at a different beach outside of the National Park to eat a yummy lunch which consisted of a scrumptious pasta salad, some delicious fried rice and some wonderful chips and salsa. From there we took a little trip into town to do some souvenir shopping and some campers got the chance to enjoy some yummy fresh ice cream. The campers trekked through the rain back to the buses, on a fun exciting bus ride singing to music where everyone came back to the amazing Uvita. Everybody got to enjoy some free time, and many decided to go for a nice little swim in the rain, which was followed by a scrumptious dinner of hamburgers, french fries, various salad options and many dipping sauces. From here we had some mentor group activities where we had lots of fun and learned a lot about ourselves and others. Once again it was a beautiful day in Uvita and we are so excited for tomorrow!
Your wonderful leaders of the day,
Amanda and Kaylie!
BLOG POST FOR JULY 19
We awoke to a beautiful sunny day at our home base in Uvita. We quickly put on our bathing suits and headed out to the beach shortly after breakfast. We had a totally tubular time learning to surf on the beautiful beach of Playa Chapman. We quickly picked it up after a steep learning curve and had a blast! It was a perfect day to learn, as the tide was low but the sun was high. After we finished surfing, we stayed at the beach and swam, played volleyball, and boogie-boarded. We had wonderful beach snacks that consisted of mango, and watermelon, and even learned how to open coconuts with nothing but rocks and our hands.
Following that, we revisited our surfing instructor the Costa Rica Coral Restoration Center and learned about their efforts to save the ocean’s ecosystems via education on coral bleaching and restoration techniques. Then we returned to the home base for lunch and prepared for the afternoon rain. We were then faced with the tough decision of whether we wanted to shop or play football. The shoppers “shopped til they dropped” and didn’t let the rain dampen their fun. Similarly, the footballers gardened a group of both locals and tourists and played. When the rains started they made the most of the situation by playing in the mud and puddles. The rain quickly turned into pouring, and suddenly we were all soaked but that did not stop the game.
Afterwards, on the bus ride, the spirits were high when the sun was low. The footballers and the shoppers alike both had a fun singalong to hits such as “I Want It That Way” and “Party in the USA” Unfortunately, we did not have a speaker, but that did not stop the acapella. Then we ate a wonderful dinner prepared by the kitchen staff that consisted of; rice, beans, pork chops, and salad. We concluded the day with a lovely conversation on the effects of social media with our camp director. Looking forward to another amazing day.
Your leaders of the day,
Norah and Kyle
BLOG POST FOR JULY 20
Today was another beautiful morning in Uvita and the group was fortunate to receive an extra hour of shut-eye. We arrived for breakfast at 8 AM to feast upon a grand assortment of fruits, ham and cheese sandwiches, and chocolate croissants. After breakfast, we travelled to yet another local market. There, campers purchased various jewellery, clothes, and food products to bring back home. Next, we hopped on the bus for a short ride to the Uvita Paradise Adventure to begin our next excursion: ziplining. Despite initial nerves, the group swiftly gained confidence as they sped through the jungle from cable to cable. Some were extra adventurous, choosing to zipline upside down or plunge into the water. After the adrenaline rush, we relaxed in the natural water pools and gazed at the nearby waterfalls.
Upon our return to Homebase, another homemade meal awaited us. We had chicken, rice, beans, and pasta salad. Soon after, we departed for service in the local community with our lovely instructor Noilyn. Today, we did maintenance on the trash cans surrounding the football field. Others painted signs and some placed them as needed around town. The weather was gloomy, but it didn’t stop the group from participating in yet another football match with the locals. For dinner, our kitchen staff provided fresh tilapia, salad, and of course, rice and beans. The evening quickly became heated as the group commenced the debate. We discussed how to handle a bill regarding the protection of sea turtles. After many eye-opening positions on the topic, it was decided that a modified bill should be introduced to favor the local community’s needs and wildlife conservation. The group was thrilled to have another exhilarating day and are even more excited for our next adventure tomorrow.
Your leaders of the day,
Aida and Cameron
BLOG POST FOR JULY 21
This Sunday morning the group slept in and had a nutrious breakfast at 9 AM. We had delicous chocolate chip pancakes alongside scrambled eggs, enchiladas, and a variety of fruits. After that the group returned to the Uvita waterfall we ziplined at the day prior to have a couple hours of fun. The group swam and jumped off the platforms, everyone had so much fun we stayed an extra 45 minutes. Everyone was so hungry that we rushed back to the base to have a nice lunch, where everyone enjoyed the sweet potatoe chips. The group had an hour to relax before leaving for service with the community.
The group arrived to the local soccer field for service and split up into different stations. One group was painting signs for the local comunnity and Caño Island. While the other groups each decorated a garbage can and recycling bin. The bins were colorful and decorated with sea animals to remind everyone it is important to throw away your trash to not hurt the ocean animals. After three hours of service some students returned to homebase to relax and swim in the pool and others stayed to play some futbol with the locals. Everyone ran around laughing and having fun, ending with a tie. On the walk home we made a quick pitstop at a convenient store where we bought some nice cold drinks to cool off and snacks to have later in the night. Once the whole group we had a delicious meal of chicken, rice, potatoes, beans, and salad. After dinner the group split up into their mentor groups where we played some fun games. Ending our day we are finishing Chasing Maverik which we had started a few days ago.
Your Leaders of the Day,
Katia and Violet
BLOG POST FOR JULY 22
We started the day at 7:00 am with breakfast, we ate croissants, eggs, bacon, and assorted fruits Afterwards, we headed to Kids Saving the Rainforest and completed our third community service there. We split up into groups and completed different jobs such as using a machete to cut down trees and placing them in the animals enclosures. Another group cooked meals for the animals by chopping vegetables, washing dishes and creating enrichment. The last group cleaned various animal pens. We then returned to our home base and ate meatballs, rice, and salad for lunch.
Afterwards, we headed back out for our second community service of the day with Noilan and Henry. Today we went to a beach to complete this service from 2-5 PM. We split up into groups again and some planted trees while others painted signs that said “Area de reforestacion” so that others would be aware that a newly planted tree was there. In total of our community services with Noilan and Henry, we planted over 80 trees. During our break, we played quick games of volleyball and explored the beach we were servicing. Once we finished this we had the option of playing soccer at a local field or going back to home base and going to the supermarket. Once we returned we ate a delicious pasta with cheese, red sauce, rice, salad, and chips. Then we had a birthday celebration with ice cream. We ended our day with a guest speaker about the effects of plastic pollution and how fast fashion has grown to be the second biggest contributor to pollution.
Your leaders of the day,
Ziva and Deven
BLOG POST FOR JULY 23
We started our morning with breakfast at 7:30 am, eating various fruits, eggs, chocolate croissants (our favorite), rice and beans, and plantains. After breakfast, we headed to Kids Saving The Rainforest, where we cleaned animal cages, prepared animal meals, and used machetes to chop down branches. While returning from community service, we listened to hype music on the bus, involving a group singalong. We returned to Homebase for lunch: rice and beans, pasta, chicken tenders, veggies, and salad. Soon after a short post-lunch break, we had a 1-hour long dance class! We danced Merengue, Bachata, and other dances, and even got a special performance of Costa Rican dance done by the dance instructor’s daughter. This dance class was many of our highlights of the day when we concluded with a sunset circle.
After the dance class, we had a long rest time; some headed to the pool, some read, and some chilled around Homebase. It began to rain, so we changed our plan of going to the beach to the options of shopping, getting gelato, or watching a movie back at Homebase. We watched Pitch Perfect 2! Dinner was at 6:30 and we ate some yummy beef/mushroom tacos with french fries and salad. Following this wonderful food, it was pool party time! There were chicken fights, belly flop contests, synchronized swim competitions, and a race. We had time to relax before bed, excited for our day trip to Cano island tomorrow.
Your leaders of the day,
Talia and Marley
BLOG POST FOR JULY 24
We started our morning with breakfast at 6:30 am, eating quesadillas, various fruits, and yogurt as well as granola. After eating, we walked to the dolphin tour center, where we met our tour guides. Shortly after, we received our life jackets and took a 70 min boat ride to Cano Island. Once we arrived, we jumped off the boat and began our snorkeling adventure. We saw all kinds of marine life, including fish, sea turtles, eel, sharks, star fish, and more. After around a hour of exploring we headed back to the boat for a short break, including eating fruit and drinking juice. Afterwards, some stayed on the island to explore more and others continued snorkeling.
After the last group finished snorkeling everyone returned to the boat and we stared our journey back to Uvita. Once we arrived in the national park, the food was set out and we began eating. Lunch consisted of rice, pineapple, chips, beans, pasta salad, and juice. Once we ate, some people stayed at the beach for another hour while others returned to home base. Shortly after some people left to play soccer with the locals. Once everyone returned we met with our mentor groups and completed an activity based on reflection of our trip. Once that was finished, we headed to dinner all dressed up. For dinner, we ate chicken, fish, pork, falafel, mac and cheese, potatoes, salad, pasta salad, and juice. The kitchen staff were incredibly thoughtful with the food that they prepared. After dinner, we celebrated two people’s 17th birthday by serving a beautiful cake prepared by the kitchen. After singing happy birthday, we started the festivities which included eating cake and making slime. We then ended the night with a karaoke party. We relaxed, then headed to bed, excited for our adventures for tomorrow.
Your leaders of the day,
Abigail and Shae
