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 12
The students arrived Saturday morning in three waves and we headed to Hotel Cypresal, a lodge-type hotel in the mountains with an epic view of San Jose. They had lunch and settled into their rooms. Before dinner we had some group games and icebreakers before a tasty dinner. The students were already off to a great start socializing and excited for the upcoming program.
BLOG POST FOR JULY 13
On Sunday we started the morning with a breakfast with a view, followed by our GLA orientation and more games to get to know each other. In the afternoon we did our swim tests and health checks then took a little excursion to Heredia and Barva, two towns nearby.
In the main square of Heredia we enjoyed a local celebration of dancing and music for Costa Rican Independence Day. We visited a small museum, historic church, got ice cream, walked around the park, and headed to a supermarket for snacks. Next we stopped at a second park where half of our student played a game up pickup basketball with some locals!
After dinner we had our first mentor group session where the students identified and discussed their values. Then we returned their phones which they were eager to have after their first full day without them! The students unwinded and headed to bed tired after a full day.
-Kyle, International Director
BLOG POST FOR JULY 14
Today at Global Leadership Adventures we started the morning off with breakfast at our hotel. After packing up we took the bus to La Paz waterfall and animal sanctuary and spent a couple hours exploring, the animals and wildlife. We also took a challenging walk to a several beautiful waterfalls that consisted of about 800 steps!
After we had a short two hour bus ride to homebase where we received a tour of the location and explored our living space. We met the staff, including the chef and the owner of our residence. Later we had a fun scavenger hunt around the residence. That was followed by dinner with pasta, rice and beans, and pineapple juice. We all came together as a group to clean dishes and later had a meaningful mentor group going over our goal setting mentality. We resonated with a few questions and wrote a letter to our future self reflecting on our SMART goals (specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time bound) and expectations for the program. We then spent time together discussing our goals. We then went our separate ways and went to bed. Today was a great day 3!!
– Lexi S. & Sarah
BLOG POST FOR JULY 15
We started the morning with a delicious breakfast consisting of eggs, Gallo Pinto, and more! Next the group took a walk around the rural neighborhood while preforming a blindfolded trust exercise on the way home. Before lunch we split into our volunteer groups and created a volunteer plan for tomorrow’s initiative activity. Then many campers swam and kayaked down by the lake while also enjoying the view. After the lake Don Alfredo (the owner) led a cooking class in making empanadas! Lastly we ended our day with an important Spanish lesson lead by Marbella (Local Director). The students unwinded and headed to bed after an eventful day at home base.
– Gwen & Micah
BLOG POST FOR JULY 16
We started off the day with a delicious breakfast. We had eggs, gallo pinto, and banana pancakes.. After we ate, we went to the local school and taught students a variety of new games as well as new English words.
After we spent time at the school, we went back to home base and ate lunch, which consisted of a type of Hawaiian grilled pork, accompanied by fried potatoes, and a delectable salad.
After lunch we went to a pineapple farm and learned new things about how pineapples are grown, and were definitely the best us campers have ever tasted. For dinner we had Burgers and fries, a classic for our campers. To end the night, we shared our highlights from the day, and prepped for what’s to come in the next few days.
– Lucas & Meredith
BLOG POST FOR JULY 17
This morning, we ate a yummy breakfast consisting of gallo pinto, breakfast meat, eggs, toast, and fruit. We then made our way to the school, where we broke into three groups to play summer camp activities. We played hot potato, freeze dance, duck duck goose, and more.
After spending the morning with the kids, we headed back to home base for a lunch of chicken, rice and beans, and fruit. Then, we drove to a chocolate and coffee tour, where we learned about coffee and chocolate production in Costa Rica, as well as sampled fresh chocolate and coffee. Costa Rica is 13th in coffee production. After returning, we ate a delicious dinner of burritos, rice and beans, and salad.
– Kailen & Leila
BLOG POST FOR JULY 18
On Friday our students ate breakfast and headed to the local elementary school for service work providing “summer camp” activities with the children. They had a great time playing, teaching, and interacting with the local children.
After lunch we had our community soccer game. We split into two teams mixing with new local friends from the neighborhood of our home base. We had a blast running and scoring goals, and the competitiveness of some of our students really showed! We spent several hours there before returning for dinner, rest, and lights out after a tiring day.
– Kyle, International Director
BLOG POST FOR JULY 19
Today we had an adventurous day doing tubing at La Fortuna. We ate breakfast at 7:30 and left at 8:15 for tubing. From 9:30 to about 12:00 the group faced 5 rapids and exciting obstacles. After tubing we had lunch in town nearby and had pizza with various drinks. Although most of the group was tired following tubing we still enjoyed some shopping at the local boutiques and bought souvenirs. By 4:30 we left town and headed back to home base to get ready for our debate. At 5:30 we had our debate about pineapple farming to explore possible solutions to the side effects of pesticides. Lastly after the debate we had dinner and had free time to get ready for tomorrow.
– Kaylee & Anne Sophie
BLOG POST FOR JULY 20
Yesterday we had an early wake up call and headed on the bus to the hot springs in La Fortuna. Everyone enjoyed the relaxing hot springs and thrilling water slides. We had a delicious buffet lunch at the resort and got back on the bus to go to the home base.
When we got home we had a dance lesson with an instructor. We learned batchata, salsa and merange. After that we had a chill evening, had dinner and went to bed.
-Georgia
BLOG POST FOR JULY 21
Today we woke up and had our usual breakfast before heading onto the bus to visit the school. Once we got there we got into three rotating groups where we painted, worked on the garden and helped the students with their cross country race by supporting them and handing out waters!
Then we headed back to home base to enjoy another delicious meal before we got some free time at the lake with some of the local children. Afterwards we had our daily chow circle which led into dinner. To finish off our fun today we watched The Greatest Showman on the big screen TV were we got to all sing along and relax for the night.
-Natalie
BLOG POST FOR JULY 22
On our second to last day at homebase, we started off the morning with breakfast. Before going to our service at the school where we switched off in rotations with gardening and helping the school celebrate back to school. We arrived home early due to the heavy rain and started with our English lessson plans for the following day. We had a lovely lunch and went to a farm to learn about the producation of milk and how to milk a cow. We also explored all the animals on the farm and were given a cup of fresh homemade hot chocolate, cheese and tortillas. We then had time to rest before dinner to pratice our acts for the talent show.
After dinner the talent show began and Maia, Maya, Sarah, and Kaylee took the victory with their slam poetry. Following the talent show we had a movie night before going our separate ways to bed. What a great day to spend with GLA!
-Lexi S
BLOG POST FOR JULY 23
July 23rd marked our final day of service at the school in Santa Teresa. We began the morning with an early breakfast at 7:00am and departed for the school around 7:30am. Upon arrival, we got settled and stored our belongings, ready to make the most of our last day of service.
Our group was split in two: while one half taught English lessons, the other worked alongside the school gardener, helping with weeding, planting, and clearing rocks to support the garden’s growth.
Group 1 — Lexi, Maia, Kaylee, Georgia, Alexis, Madeline, Sarah, and Maya — led a lesson with four 1st-grade students. We covered introductions , weather, days of the week, and months of the year, reinforcing familiar concepts while introducing new ones in a fun, interactive way.
Meanwhile, Group 2 — Sam, Micah, Meredith, Gwen, Lucas, Ann Sophie, Kailen, and Leila — contributed in the garden, assisting wherever needed. After an hour, the groups switched. Group 2 taught a 3rd-grade class about the human body, while Group 1 jumped into the garden work.
It was a powerful and emotional final service day filled with dedication, connection, and impact.
Afterward, we returned to home base to begin packing and preparing for our departure. That evening, we wrapped up our time together at home base with a fun-filled night of s’mores and karaoke, a perfect, light-hearted way to celebrate the journey we’ve shared.
-Sarah
BLOG POST FOR JULY 24 & 25
On Friday morning we loaded the buseta with our suitcases and said farewell to our Home Base. We said goodbye to our support staff Don Alfredo, Doña Ibania , and Don Freddie then hit the road.
Our next stop was the excursion everyone had been waiting for – ziplining! We strapped up and soared through the sky in a thrilling course up in the tree canopies. Also we overcame our fears on the optional “Tarzan swing”. After ziplining we drove the rest of the way to San Jose for free time and our final night at Robledal hotel.
The students dressed up nice and took pictures before our farewell dinner. After dinner we had our heartwarming “appreciation circle” exercise, followed by a piñata. Later that night we had our first wave of airport departures followed by a second at the crack of dawn. The remaining students enjoyed a final breakfast before heading off the the airport on Friday.
The time has finally come to end our two-week program. To everyone we all said one more “¡Hasta luego! “See you later”, not “goodbye”! 🙂 The students, I think, wrapped up feeling great about the program. Our group stayed engaged and close-knit, smiling and laughing until the final hours.
I’m left reflecting on the past 14 days… The valuable service work in a local school and seeing our teens gain confidence and show leadership in the classroom teaching English! The incredible excursions – pineapple farms, extreme tubing through the jungle, waterfalls, lo even milking a cow to name just a few. The valuable leadership themes we learned about, goal-setting. All of the Spanish rhey practiced. The friendships made between the students, the fun days relaxing at the Home Base, adapting to a new culture and environments, and staying positive through life’s uncertainties!
As an educator, one of my greatest rewards is helping students open their minds, and hearts to new things. I witnessed each and every student step out of their comfort zone, try new things, and challenge themselves in many ways. Aside from all the fun memories, I truly hope this experience will have a lasting impact on their lives as they become young adults. It may not be obvious right away, but the impact will continue to show itself. As they grow, I hope they take these experiences with them, instilling humility, gratitude, curiosity, leadership, adventure, and a call to service in their lives. Call me cheesy, but I know they all can really “Be the change” in their own communities. Best of luck to everyone and thanks for a lovely two weeks!
– Kyle International Director
