Letters from Alexa and Taralynn
June 10 – June 23, 2015
The summer kicked off to a great start with an amazing group of people. Mentors, Directors, and students were keen to explore what Ecuador had to offer and to have a strong start to the service projects as a team.
And what a team we were! We had Romulo’s cheeky grin and Wilson’s quick-witted comments.
We had deep conversations sparked by Allen’s intellect and cohesive team motivation lead by Ross.
We all learned the power of the Galapagos sun from Lizzie’s painful burns, but she toughed it out and made some great friends.
Who could forget Romulo and Wilson trying to carry those plants up the mountain on San Cristobal? Or the scene-by-scene movie conversation that lasted for ten kilometers! Or “Lizzie’s Lagoon?”
Egyptian Ratscrew surely kept every person in every village awake until the game was over, and by the end of the trip we could play Ninja in our sleep!
Everyone arrived being a little nervous, not knowing what to expect. We learned together as a team the power of stepping out of one’s comfort zone and supporting each other no matter what.
-Alexa
June 26 – July 9, 2015
What an amazing second session! A small session in numbers but it was big in leadership, community and family.
From Morgan learning how to ride a bike on a 7 MILE round trip bike ride through sand and hills with a huge smile on her face to Thomas’ spar with a rock divider (no idea what the real name of that tool is) to our happy times on the hill in San Cristobal, it was all wonderful.
Gwyn and her impression of an old Russian villager names Yuthka that almost made all of us choke on our own laughter!
Jaime and Elizabeth’s infectious energy gave us all a boost when we needed it!
Hakan, Thomas and Fabricio tumbling rocks down the cliff side to smother invasive plants was amusing for all of us to watch.
Who will ever forget “Daddy” written in red letters in that abandoned building and then being scared out of our minds when Hakan jumped out from behind a door!
Our meals together, our discussions, the highs and the lows, were all worth it. We were able to make significant impacts in each of the communities on Isabela and Cristobal and changed the lives for the wildlife and ourselves, forever.
I hope you never forget your amazement and wonder each time we were able to snorkel with sea turtles or get up close to a seal lion or work with Galapagos tortoises. Each of those moments will be memories for the rest of your lives.
I hope that you are inspired to continue to travel and to have a positive impact on the world.
-Taralynn
July 12 – July 25, 2015
Halfway through the summer and there was a lot of work to be done on the service projects, good thing this was the largest session of the program!
We made some real progress with these projects, from carrying massive rocks across Campo Duro for the tortoise lagoon, to putting in some intense machete time to combat the mora and create a cultivation area for native species.
There was some seriously cool snorkeling, with the sea lion pup stealing Cam’s shoe, and the amazing sea turtles everywhere we went! Good job standing up on that kayak, Kevin…practice makes perfect.
Thank goodness the boys brought their hammocks for that great spot to relax on San Cristobal (and spend the night). Star gazing on the islands is like nowhere else in the world.
Of course, there was that one day on the beach on San Cristobal, with a rogue sea lion, intense waves, Fabri trying to distract the sea lion so people could get out of the water, and Allison realllyyyyyy wanting to know what time it was. Despite the convergence of chaos, it was still Haley’s favorite part of the whole trip.
Eighteen students and loads of new friendships! Ups and downs and twists and turns; everyone learned so much about each other, but most importantly, themselves.
-Alexa
July 28 – August 10, 2015
Our time spent together in the Galapagos will have an impact on endemic wildlife and the communities we served for years to come.
Your group of twelve was a force to be reckoned with, accomplishing so much in such a small amount of time. I was so happy to see such a big smile on Wilfredo’s face! You made him and his tortoises very happy.
From impromptu soccer games with school children and nights filled with laughter, it truly was a memorable trip.
Ryan, Olivia, Natalie and Thomas racing ahead on our crazy 10 mile volcanic hike! Hannah taking care of everyone and handing out granola bars.
This was a group of many natural leaders who stepped up when we needed it with a smile, an encouraging word, a shoulder to lean on.
Don’t forget Claire’s funny voices and impressions or Lil’ Alexa’s excitement and joy for a new adventure or Ben’s first trip out of the U.S. which we all played a part in making it something he will never forget.
The BBQ on Cristobal was a highlight. How many of you remember the homemade hot sauce? It was delicious! That time spent together with the family was some of the best times on that trip.
It was everything we could have asked for; community, service, lifelong friendships being formed and most of all it was fun.
Thank you all for making the session a memorable one. I hope you stay in touch with each other and continue to be who you because you are all amazing.
-Taralynn
Letter from Lauren with Special Memories for Each of Her Sessions
Dear Galapagos Adventurers,
It’s hard to believe a few months have passed since our time together in the Enchanted Islands! It seems like just yesterday we were collecting fruit for marmalade and eating off the trees at Campo Duro. You all are off on different adventures at this point (even college, some of you!!!) and you’re probably up to your eyeballs in schoolwork, jobs and activities.
This past summer was truly amazing. The beauty of the islands far exceeded my expectations, and our close animal encounters will be forever etched in my memory. One EARLY morning at the harbor while we were waiting for the boat (those boat rides, tho!) to Floreana and San Cristobal, I was struck by just how unique and special the islands are. As the sun rose, I watched sea lions playfully chase penguins while dozens of diving boobies and pelicans fished alongside observant cranes and iguanas. It was a chaotic yet harmonious scene, and caused me to pause in a moment of true gratitude.
The hard work each of you put in this summer is truly a labor of love for this special place. Though tedious (and pokey and itchy!) at times, all that weeding, digging, planting and chopping directly works to preserve the natural habitat of the Islands. Each time we returned to our service sites, Nicole and I felt so incredibly proud to watch the weedy field become a resting place for Isabela tortoises and how strong and upright the trees were growing on the hill overlooking Hacienda Esperanza. It’s our job to protect such special places, and you should all know that you left the Galapagos Islands a better place than when you came. Continue asking yourself how you can do the same in your daily life back home, whether collaborating with a school club or by simply watching your water usage at home.
Thank you for helping me make awesome memories in a wonderful place. I will never think about the Galapagos without thinking about our guides, all the other wonderful local people we met and also each of you.
Thank you all for a great summer,
Lauren & Crew
Galapagos 2015
June 18 – July 1, 2015
- Cooking together in America’s kitchen (arroz con leche with Stefan!)
- Late-night talks with Felipe at Hacienda Esperanza – Matt and Maya
- Going to the top of the tower at the Basilica in Quito
- Planting with the kids at the school above Campo Duro
- Swimming through the mangroves on the bike day
- Standing on the lip of the volcano crater
- Hammock lounging at Campo Duro and Hotel Sandrita
- Swimming with baby sea lions at Las Tijeretas
- Eating passion fruit off the tree at Campo Duro
- Catnaps and good music on the boat rides
- Those awesome volcano day empanadas
July 5 – July 18, 2015
- Dolphin spotting, Natassia!
- Swimming in the mangroves with sea lions on our bike ride
- US Womens Soccer win on that first night
- The great turtle escape!
- Nighttime s’mores, games and dance parties
- Many ice cream breaks, and that yummy homemade ice cream spot on the beach
- The nesting turtle midday…amazing!
- Standing on the lip of the volcano crater
- Hammock lounging at Campo Duro and Hotel Sandrita
- Swimming with baby sea lions at Las Tijeretas
- Eating passion fruit off the tree at Campo Duro
- Catnaps and good music on the boat rides
- Those awesome volcano day empanadas
July 21 – August 3, 2015
- Soccer and swimming with Jorge
- Hammocks on the Sandrita rooftop
- Early morning swimming on Isabela
- Nighttime s’mores and games
- Many ice cream breaks, and that yummy homemade ice cream spot on the beach
- Cooking together in America’s kitchen
- Swimming through the mangroves on the bike day
- Standing on the lip of the volcano crater
- Swimming with baby sea lions at Las Tijeretas
- Eating passion fruit off the tree at Campo Duro
- Catnaps and good music on the boat rides
- Those awesome volcano day empanadas
August 6 – August 19, 2015
- Dolphin spotting from the top of the boat (lucky boys!)
- Crazy rain on the volcano hike
- Mixing cement-now we know how!
- Nighttime s’mores and games
- Many ice cream breaks, and that yummy homemade ice cream spot on the beach
- Cooking together in America’s kitchen
- Swimming through the mangroves on the bike day
- Standing on the lip of the volcano crater
- Hammock lounging at Campo Duro and Hotel Sandrita
- Swimming with baby sea lions at Las Tijeretas
- Eating passion fruit off the tree at Campo Duro
- Catnaps and good music on the boat rides
- Those awesome volcano day empanadas