PROGRAM PHOTO ALBUM
Thanks for the checking out the blog for this Global Leadership Adventures program!
Here are a few things you can expect:
- 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.
- Blog updates sent on weekends may not be posted until Monday.
- 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
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BLOG POST FOR APRIL 3
Hola!
It is Spring Break here! And we are excited to start our fourth session of Costa Rica: Spring Break Service Adventure!
Today, our students made their way to Guanacaste Province in Costa Rica to jump into their adventures and learning opportunities that are coming along! We hope that you will enjoy using this blog as a way to experience this journey with us!
Our group has safely arrived and is getting comfortable in their new home on the beach of Junquillal. Most of the students shared that a long day of traveling tired them, but they are all super enthusiastic and looking forward to the adventure and service days to come!
We picked up our first 6 students in the early morning at the Liberia airport. After their 1.5-hour van ride they reached their home for a coming week to get settled, walk around, and start living the Pura Vida. With 14 students we departed the airport to meet up with the early arrivals followed by remaining 4 students. This week we have a group of 24 students and we are excited to make meaningful connections and work at the turtle project and Guanacaste Water Centre.
We can’t wait for the week of service learning , lifelong memories, and deep friendships that awaits.
Pura vida from Mag (International director) and Juan Carlos (Local director) and our amazing mentors AC and Amelia
BLOG POST FOR APRIL 4
Written by Sam, Ryan, Simon A, Simon L, and Reagan
Hello GLA Families!
Today was our first full day in Costa Rica. We woke up bright and early with an amazing breakfast including the traditional food of gallo pinto (Costa Rican rice and beans.) Next, we met our peers and started to learn more about each other at orientation. Additionally, we went over the Code of Conduct through fun team-building games. Through these exercises, we learned more about each other and our home base. After our morning orientation, we had an opportunity to have some free time and do what we wanted for a bit, whether it was enjoying smoothies or hanging out in the gift shop. In the afternoon, we took a bus over to a nearby beach called Playa Avellanas. There we boogie-boarded, played football, relaxed, and enjoyed the sun. At the beach there were some really good snacks and smoothies. On the trip back, some of us were even able to see a group of monkeys on the side of the road! Finally, we returned to home base, showered off, and reflected on the day together at Sunset Circle. This evening we are about to eat dinner and then get to know each other even more through some night-time activities.
Pura Vida!
BLOG POST FOR APRIL 5
Written by Your Leaders of the Day – Bergen, Harper, Savannah, Jimmy, and Carmel
Hola, GLA Familias!
Today was our first day of service, which was split into two groups. The first group went to the beach to help with baby sea turtles and clean up the beach. First, we spent around hour cleaning up the beach and park, which included picking up trash, making a safer environment for all animals that live on or near the beach, and even some cleaning competitions. Next, we helped the only baby sea turtle still in their nest after the rest hatched last night! Following that, we had someone from the hatchery teach us about sea turtle life and safety, as well as some super interesting facts about the sea turtles. Our favorite was that if the temperature of the sand the eggs are in is above around 89 degrees the turtles will all be females, and if it is below 82 they will all be males. We also learned how to open a coconut without any tools, and got to play in a sand pool that was created by high tide, which was a blast!
For the second group, we went to the Guanacaste Water Center. There we started by watering all of the trees using tubes to get the water down to the roots of the plant, which helps it hydrate and grow. We then went around to all of the trees we just watered and fertilized them. After lunch, we headed out to three different rivers to dig holes, and cemented signs into the ground, informing drivers and anyone interested of the name and location of the rivers. Lastly, we headed back to the water center to clean up our supplies, gather our things, and head back to home base.
For the rest of the night, we are having our dinner and will then listen to a guest speaker. Our guest speaker will be further educating us on Costa Rican culture, and all the awesome and foreign (to us) things here. Finally, we will do our mentor group activities and head to our rooms. We are strongly looking forward to our fun day of zip lining and tubing tomorrow!
BLOG POST FOR APRIL 6
Written by Camryn, Gabe, Mohini, Nick, and Noah
Good morning, good evening, goodnight!
Today we awoke at the crack of dawn (or 6:30) to enjoy a great burrito, apple, and granola breakfast on the bus. Some of us went back to sleep on the bus, but we were all excited to get to our destination: The outdoor adventure center. After applying sunscreen, we went white water tubing and had a blast! We then went back to the adventure center to eat an amazing buffet style lunch including a lot of fresh fruit and authentic dishes.
Next, we got changed and strapped on our gear to get ready to go zip-lining in the forest. The zip-line course included rock-climbing, a Tarzan swing, and wobbly floating stairs overlooking a canyon. After our adventure we were able to spend some time shopping at the souvenir store before getting back on the bus to go back to home base. One van listened to local music and chatted while the other one had a rap battle!
As leaders, we figured out a democratic way to modify our schedule in order to have more free time to hang out together after dinner with our new friends. We then reflected together in our mentor groups about our day and how we can help one another achieve our goals for the next few days. Additionally, we talked about what we are excited about and looking forward to for our service day tomorrow. We’re now heading to dinner and winding down for the night.
Buenos dias, tardes, y noches!
BLOG POST FOR APRIL 7
Written by Sophie, Norah, Olivia, Cameron, and Lev
Hola GLA Familias!
Today was our second service day! Groups were ecstatic to finish their service work right after breakfast. The sea turtle group started today by emptying and cleaning another turtle nest. This was followed by completing a service workshop where they learned about and identified the tracks of the four different types of turtles that lay their eggs on the pacific side of Costa Rica. They then simulated the location and excavation of a sea turtle’s nest. The turtle group finished off their service strong by cleaning another two turtle nests.
With the Guanacaste Water Center, we dug holes for and planted around 30 trees, and then watered them as well. We used a special technique that Marcia and the GWC uses, which includes putting about 45 centimeters of pipe next to the plant so that later, they can pour water directly onto the roots. After lunch, we then watered around 50 other trees that had been planted last year. It was really cool to know that we got to water trees that others had planted, and then plant trees that others will water later.
After service was completed, everyone set off to take a cooking class from the locals. Students learned how they made corn tortillas before industrialized techniques. They each got to hand-make, cook, and eat their own tortillas and added homemade frijoles y picadillo. Cooking was followed by a game of futbol. We were joined by a few locals and GLA staff for the game that ended in a 6-6 tie.
Tonight we will head to dinner and end our night with a turtle debate, which the leaders for tomorrow will tell you all about!
Buenas noches!
BLOG POST FOR APRIL 8
Written by Eitan, Jack, Matteo, and Henry
Hola, Buenas!
Today we woke up early and headed out to the catamaran. We had Empanadas for breakfast on the way there and once we arrived, we applied sunscreen and gathered all out stuff together. We rode the boat to an island where we snorkeled and went to the beach there. There was lots of fish and wildlife under our feet as we swam which we could observe without going up for breath. We came back to the boat where we ate lunch, which had a variety of food. After eating some of us did jumps and flips off the boat until we had to go back to the shore. We took the bus back and had a break to shower, pack, and double check our flight times.
After our break in the appreciation circle we anonymously appreciated each other by tapping each other for different statements. It felt great to know how we have impacted each other’s lives and let people know we were grateful to them. Next dance instructors came to teach us local and national dances, and after learning these we broke into groups and choreographed our own dances. After writing this blog we will eat burgers, each share one meaningful goal (OMG), and have free time before departing home.
Adios amigos!
