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 23
Greetings from Santo Domingo!
Today marked the exciting kickoff of our Dominican Republic Island Service Adventure Session 1! Our students finally touched down in the vibrant capital of the DR, and we couldn’t be more thrilled to welcome them.
Most of the day was spent greeting students at the airport, helping them settle in, and getting to know one another. From the very beginning, we could feel the positive energy—there were lots of smiles, introductions, and even some friendly games as we waited for the full group to arrive.
We shared a classic welcome meal—pizza, of course! Some lucky students even got to enjoy live merengue music during lunch, a lively taste of the island’s rich cultural rhythm.
In the evening, we headed into the Colonial City, the historic heart of Santo Domingo, for dinner. Surrounded by centuries-old buildings and the warm Caribbean evening air, it was the perfect setting to launch our journey. We shared a delicious meal, talked about our hopes for the week ahead, and reflected on how lucky we are to be here together.
Tonight we rest up—tomorrow we head east to the beautiful coastal town of Bayahibe, where our adventure truly begins. From service projects to snorkeling and cultural exchange, the week ahead is packed with meaningful experiences, and we can’t wait to dive in.
Stay tuned for more updates—and thank you for sharing your amazing kids with us!
Warmly,
The DR Island Service Adventure Team 🌴🇩🇴
BLOG POST FOR JUNE 24
Good evening from Bayahibe!
Today we had a very productive day. Our morning started with a nutritious breakfast of eggs, fruit, bread, and cheese. After breakfast, we played an Ice-breaker game called ‘Zap’ and got to become more comfortable with each other’s names. After a few photo-ops, we loaded our suitcases, and said goodbye to Santo Domingo to go to home base in Bayahibe, la República Dominicana. On the way, we visired the Tres Ojos National Park. There, we climbed down several flights of stairs and discovered a beautiful underground world. We learned about cave pools called cenotes and saw stalagmites and lots of fish. To reach the last one, we took a boat pulled by hand on ropes across the cenote.
Unfortunately, one of the buses ended up with a flat tire. Luckily, we weren’t stopped long, and we occupied ourselves with games like heads up, wavelength, and 20 questions and made a quick pitstop to get a new one. We finally arrived at the local supermercado, Jumbo. The 23 of us broke into small groups exchanging dollars for Dominican pesos, trying new cultural snacks and sweets, and getting a feel for the Dominican grocery shopping experience.
A half hour drive later, we arrived at our home base, now called ‘the villa’, for its beautiful white walls, dotted with vibrant murals. We completed the orientation and talked about what we were going to do these next 8 days. We finished up the day with swim tests, uno, a dinner of chicken and french fries, a slideshow about the history of the Dominican Republic. Of course we can’t forget the Bachata and Merengue dancing! We passed on the leader of the day responsibilities, and headed to bed.
Most importantly, our final team member joined us after some unfortunate flight delays! His roommates were particularly excited for his arrival, and he could hear the group chanting his name before he even saw us.
We are so excited to start our first day of service tomorrow! Stay tuned to learn about Guaraguao National Park and Padre Nuestro Cave!
Thanks for reading!
Brianna and Briggs, student leaders on behalf of the DR Island Service Adventure Team 🌴🇩🇴
BLOG POST FOR JUNE 25
Welcome to another episode of Global Leadership Island.
We started off the day with a nice breakfast in the villa! As everyone was starting to settle in, we were eager to start our service work a Guaraguao National Park, where we partnered with local park rangers to clean up the beaches to prepare for the turtle nesting.
Following our service work, we got to enjoy the beautiful ocean for the first time. We splashed around for 45 minutes then took a lunch break of rice and beans on the beach! After lunch, we headed to a separate part of the national park called Padre Nuestro, where we learned about the culture of the past villages that used to inhabit it. After a long hike we were all exhausted so it was time to take another swim. We arrived at Chicho cave, ventured down the stairs, and were welcomed by a large cenote deep in the cave. We were astonished at the clear water and natural beauty of it. Following the rock jumping and swimming by flashlight, we hiked back and stopped at the store to stock up on goodies for the rest of the week.
Then we returned to the villa and took our respective rest time. We finished off the night with dinner and eagerly divided into our first mentor group session. The staff surprised us with pizza after our Leader of the Day ceremony. You could say we slayed the day away!!
On tomorrow’s episode of Global Leadership Island, more service in another part of the park called Boca de Yuma. Stay tuned.
-Laila,Sydney, and T-Rex (aka the best GLA leaders EVA!)
on behalf of the DR Island Service Adventure Team 🌴🇩🇴
BLOG POST FOR JUNE 26
Good evening from Bayahibe! Welcome to another episode of Global Leadership Island.
We started the day off with a traditional breakfast. Everyone was pumped up for the day ahead. We then grabbed our TWIGS, and hopped on a long bus ride of bonding. Once we arrived in Boca de Yuma national park, we met two enthusiastic local park rangers, Robert and Felix, who expressed to us their love for nature, and their influential jobs. We split up into two separate groups arranged by mentors, where one group went to clean up trash along the coast side trail, and the other group planted hundreds of new baby sea grapes trees, brown mangrove, and alamo tree. These efforts let us participate in reforestation to help bring more rain back to the coast.
At halftime, we took a lunch break, which was a traditional authentic Dominican meal, consisting of Dominican spiced rice, chicken, pork, beans, and an assortment of vegetables. Following, each group swapped jobs, and finished off the influential service day. Once finished, everyone was able to reflect on the amazingly impactful day, by looking at the planted trees, and countless bags full of trash. The group then went on another bus ride, this time to the museum of the historical home of Spanish conquistador, Ponce de Leon. Here, we were able to see one of a kind preserved armor, as well as many other antique artifacts, including classical furniture, all dating back more than 500 years. We also had time to run around in the big yard to play games, do acrobats, and make music with our hands and plants.
On another bus ride, filled with music, bonding, and occasional naps, we headed back to the Villa. Taking some down time, everyone was enjoying themselves, while either in the pool, hammocks, or taking a quick shower. Dinner followed, and after the new leaders of the day were announced during our LOD Ceremony! Over all, everyone was able to reflect on how much of an impact our amazing service efforts had on improving and preserving the beauty of the Dominican Republic.
On tomorrow’s episode of Global Leadership Island, Hoyo Claro and Beach time!!! Stay tuned.
-Emi, Oliver Nelson, Jacob
on behalf of the DR Island Service Adventure Team 🇩🇴🌴
BLOG POST FOR JUNE 27
Good evening from Bayahibe! Welcome to another episode of Global Leadership Island.
Today we had a great recovery and relaxing day, taking a earned break from service! After breakfast, we hopped on the bus to head over to the cenote Hoyo Claro. We had a downhill hike to the cenote but made the time fly with music and positive energy. When we arrived, people were eager to get in the crystal clear and cool water so immediately started jumping in. Everyone participated in many different flips, dives, and other ways to jump in. The group got in many good laughs and showed a lot of courage to try new things. We also showed leadership as we helped teach each other and motivate through nerves. Unfortunately, it was time for the dreadful up-hill hike back to the bus. Although, it was not as bad as it would’ve seemed, with music and cheerful conversation helping a lot.
After arriving back at the villa, everyone instantly made their way over to lunch, with the hopes of finishing quickly in order to get to the beach quicker. With a hefty, protein filled lunch consisting of chicken, beans, salad, and a lot of rice, everyone was itching (mentally and physically) to get their toes in the sand. As we made our way through the local town to the beach, we passed by beautiful scenery, consisting of the town and the shore. As we got close, we split into 2 separate groups, with the majority heading towards the beach, while the others made their way over to a basketball court to engage with the locals. We went running into the refreshing water, played volleyball, floated on their backs, took in the sun, and played intense soccer matches. Basketball was really fun while we interacted with the local youth and practiced some Spanish with them while they spoke English to us.
We decided that fruit smoothies would make the day so much better. Xander, Katie, Colin, and Counselor Jackson made their way over to the smoothie stand, and mass ordered mango and passion fruit smoothies for the group. After dinner, the mentors surprised us with a talent show, and everyone participated by either planning something to show or cheering on the rest of the team during their shows. It was a great way to get to know one another, have fun, and bond even more. The laughs were endless as we made our way back to our rooms.
On tomorrow’s episode of Global Leadership Island, we start our service in Benerito and Kids Camp!!! Stay tuned.
-Katie, Xander, Damian
on behalf of the DR Island Service Adventure Team 🇩🇴🌴
BLOG POST FOR JUNE 28
Good evening from Bayahibe! Welcome to another episode of Global Leadership Island.
Today we had a very eventful and enjoyable day. First off, we had a nutritious breakfast and hopped onto the bus for a short ride to a local children’s school in Benerito. Fun fact: the people of Benerito used to live in the national park Padre Nuestro where we swam in the cenote in the cave, but they were relocated to preserve the water for the town of Bayahibe, where our homebase is! So the different parts of our program are all connected.
Once we arrived, we gathered and started on our cement project to help refurbish the playground. We mixed sand and gravel, poured water, and carried buckets to create thick cement. Sweat and tears were shed by everyone and we showed an outstanding effort to help the community. In addition, we helped some local women in the kitchen to create our lunch with fresh and wholesome ingredients.
For the second half of the day we spent time hanging out with the local kids between the ages of 2-10. We tried to leave our best impact by teaching them fun dances, playing baseball, and eating local ice cream. We also played on the see-saws, built towers with plastic blocks, and made friendship bracelets for each other. Afterwards, we ate lunch with the kids and got to know them while practicing speaking each other’s languages.
After the kids went home, we bought jewelry from a small women-owned business downstairs from the school. We then made our way back to the villa and enjoyed a pleasant afternoon of pool time, debate, and an authentic dinner.
On tomorrow’s episode of Global Leadership Island, a Catamaran trip to Saona Island!!! Stay tuned.
-Skylar, Gabi, and Chloe
on behalf of the DR Island Service Adventure Team 🇩🇴🌴
BLOG POST FOR JUNE 29
Good evening from Bayahibe! Welcome to another episode of Global Leadership Island.
Today was a very eventful day for everyone present at the Dominican Republic. We got some extra sleep because breakfast was at 8:30 instead of 7:30 due to a laid back schedule. Right at 9:15 we walked to a shop near a local beach in Bayahibe where we grabbed some snacks for the boat ride to Isla Sanoa. We then walked to a dock where we got on a catamaran and the fun began.
The ride was extravagant all the way to the island, with plenty of merengue, bachata and dembow with dancing to keep us on our toes. When we arrived at the island we got off and learned about sea turtles from a local and bought souvenirs to support their organization. Then we had a delicious traditional meal at a beach side booth. After lunch, we went and had some beach time, swimming and playing sports like baseball and volleyball with some Dominican kids. Damian even taught a couple kids how to do a backflip. We then got on the boat to cruise toward a popular snorkeling spot, where we all found rare exotic creatures to remember forever. Our last stop was heading towards the section of the ocean locals call “the natural pool” to do some swimming.
Finally, our excursion was winding down while we were going home, and we even ran into a manatee near the docks. When the extraordinary day was close to an end we walked home and were embraced with free time. After we had a chance to wind down we headed toward the hotel restaurant to have a casual dinner, where many were playing interactive games, and inviting conversations. We then got into mentor groups to have discussions, and have our recoupling ceremony (picking new leaders). Finally, we had a debate on the impact of tourism on the Dominican Republic, considering the community, ethical, health, and economic impacts of building a sports arena and whether or not such things are sustainable.
On tomorrow’s episode of Global Leadership Island, snorkeling and our last day in Bayahibe!!! Stay tuned.
-Katy, Colin, and Oliver F.
on behalf of the DR Island Service Adventure Team
BLOG POST FOR JUNE 30
Good evening from Bayahibe! Welcome to another episode of Global Leadership Island.
Today was another very memorable day full of smiles and laughs! We began our day with a delicious breakfast (as usual) followed by a brisk yet calm walk to a beach still to be explored by our group. The pristine beach was beautiful with white sand and clear turquoise water. We enjoyed further pursuing our connections with each other through music and jokes.
At the beach, we bonded with the locals by playing volleyball and sharing things about ourselves, regardless of a language barrier. After enjoying the beach for a couple hours, we met up with a snorkeling instructor and learned new things about the coral surrounding the bay we were visiting, taking in new information about how important healthy coral is, and why we should protect it. We also saw various types of sea creatures, such as sailfish, lionfish, and sea urchins.
After a long morning at the beach, our group travelled to a nearby restaurant situated on a beautiful beachfront. We indulged in traditional Dominican food that included fried fish, stewed chicken, fresh salad, rice, and a Dominican soda called Country Club, Merengue flavored. After a much needed lunch, we had a few minutes to explore the sand right next to the restaurant that was filled with extravagantly colored seaglass.
With our bellies full, we walked to a nearby bungalow that was right next to the colorful Bayahibe sign! We climbed onto the letters and got a nice group photo, then walked back to the bungalow, where we participated in a bonding activity that brought up people’s confidence and brought us closer together. We shared what values we have seen in each other throughout this amazing trip, and found happiness while walking back to our home base.
After a quick break to recoup and pack, Jackson called a quaint ice cream shop that was supposed to be closed, but magic Jackson slayed and reopened the shop! We tried various flavors and finally started to cool off, right before we began our walk to the dock, where we shopped at local buisnesses. A couple of the guys veered off to go play basketball with the locals one last time (they won). The whole group met up again at the bungalow to take pictures and enjoy one last sunset in Bayahibe!
On tomorrow’s episode of Global Leadership Island, we have to say goodbye to Bayahibe!!! Stay tuned.
-Nola, Evan, and Mireya (the dream team)
on behalf of the DR Island Service Adventure Team
BLOG POST FOR JULY 1
Greetings from Santo Domingo. Welcome to the season finale of Global Leadership Island. We enjoyed our last breakfast and said goodbye to the home base in Bayahibe! We then headed out for the last time. During our bus ride we stopped at our favorite super market, el Jumbo to get some snacks for the ride back to Santo Domingo. We arrived in Santo Domingo and had lunch at a delicious pizzeria then walked to the Hotel where we left our luggage so we could further explore the town. We then had a guided tour around Santo Domingo to learn about the history of the town. After, we enjoyed shopping at a jewelry store to seek out the the national stones of the Dominican Republic. We then walked to a square and enjoyed our final mentor groups, where we reflected on our past days of the trip. We continued to walk around Santo Domingo and enjoyed ice cream on a stick from Bajo Cero, a local ice cream shop. After checking into the hotel, we got dressed up for the best dinner of the trip at El Conuco. We danced the night away to local music as an amazing way to end our trip. In the lobby of the hotel, we sadly said our goodbyes to Jackson, our local director.
Thank you for tuning to this season of Global Leadership Island.
-Addison and Elsie
on behalf of the DR Island Service Adventure Team 🏝️🇩🇴
