Summer is more than halfway over — how crazy is that?! Our students have been soaking up every last second in Costa Rica and Panama. Read on to find out what each group has been doing this week!
Girl Scout Destinations
Service Challenge (Session #4)
Our SC group kicked off their time in Costa Rica volunteering close to “home” here at our base camp! They headed into the dense rainforest reserve behind base to do trail maintenance and reforestation projects. On Monday, they hopped into the van and enjoyed a beautiful drive through the country to the indigenous village of Boca Uren in Talamanca. After settling in with their host family, they’ve been giving back to the local community by painting the inside and outside of the community assembly hall. They’re spending today working on the community’s “huerta”; a small garden/farm area. This weekend the group will say “adios” to their new family in Boca Uren and head to Panama to work on sea turtle conservation projects in San San Pond Sak!
Scuba and Sea Turtle Adventure (Session #4)
Our SSTA group has been in Isla Solarte this week, hanging out on their homestay family’s beautiful dock and doing tons of diving! They started by learning about scuba diving theory and equipment from their instructors before they took to the water for their first shallow-water lesson. The group worked on their skills and confidence throughout the week, discovering tropical coral reefs on special compass navigation dives and deep dives. They completed their practical and written exams and celebrated with a bioluminescent night dive! The girls also enjoyed a beach afternoon and a wakeboarding session. Later this weekend they’ll head to the San San Pond Sak community to help with sea turtle conservation projects!
Summer Courses 14-18
Surf, Service & CPR (Session #3)
After finishing their First Aid and CPR certifications, the SSCPR group moved on to lots of new, fun activities! They went on an afternoon hike to a lookout point in Dominicalito, explored tide pools near their campsite, saw a live puffer fish, collected trash from the beach, and more. They even had time for a smoothie break and to drink out of fresh coconuts! Their coolest moment this week was getting to watch a real-life National Geographic moment happen two feet from their kitchen, when a Lora snake was eating a frog in a tree. The fight lasted an hour, and the girls got to watch the snake eat the whole frog!
Caribbean Scuba & Service (Session #3)
The CSS group wrapped up their time in Isla Solarte earlier this week and began their sea kayaking expedition through the remote, indigenous islands of Bocas del Toro. They’re lucky — very few people have the opportunity to visit this part of the world! After enjoying the end of their sea kayaking adventure, they made their way to San San Pond Sak in Panama. On Tuesday and Wednesday, the group completed nightly patrols to monitor mama sea turtles laying their eggs along the beach and released newly hatched baby turtles! Today the students are heading back to base, and this weekend they’ll be zipping through the rainforest at Canopy Carpintera and hitting the streets to tour San Jose.
Service, Hike & Homestay (Session #3)
Our SHH crew has spent time becoming expert experiential learners this week. They’ve also been stellar volunteers! While staying with homestay families, they helped cook different traditional Tico dishes and learned to make sugar using the “trapiche” method. They also lent a hand helping out with different community service projects, planting flowers, mixing cement, and more. On Tuesday, the group made their way to Manuel Antonio, a breathtaking National Park on Costa Rica’s central Pacific coast. They’ve been hanging loose and surfing! Today, the group will head back to base for a weekend full of whitewater rafting, ziplining, and touring the city.
Looking to explore Central America?
Join us on our fall Coast to Coast Expedition. Envision yourself spending 85 days in Costa Rica, Panama, and Nicaragua!
Submit an inquiry or contact our Enrollment Manager at 800-676-2018 or by emailing [email protected].
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