The last few days we left Turtle Trax and came to Chachagua. Meeting the new family and eating with them has been a great experience. Seeing the difference in the towns going from very rural to a bigger touristy town makes it feel like a different place. Being so close to people and animals in…
Today we visited Jungle Mike who found success by dedicating his career to insects. We visited his local open air butterfly farm home to many different species of butterflies. We learned about butterflies eye-spots and how they use them to scare prey. We also learned about the special toxins in the plants some butterflies eat…
Today we focused on turning service into learning, instead of “what can I do to help” we thought about “what can I learn about the problems and solutions.” One thing that was meaningful to me was the Barracuda we saw while doing our swim test. Many of us, including myself, were afraid. We were…
Today we started our day by visiting a local elementary school and watched the children perform traditional songs and dances of Guanacaste. The children and faculty welcomed our group, gave us traditional food, and taught us about the history of Guanacaste. When thinking about the way our group was welcomed by the community, I…
Today we helped clean out debris from a turtle hatchery. We spent a few hours working and a little while playing in the sand and ocean. We learned how important turtle watchers are so that animals and poachers don’t steal the eggs. Then we had lunch and went to the other hatchery where we collected…
99 turtle eggs hanging from a flimsy string bag down to my stomach. 99 chances. 99 hatchlings. 99 turtles. It only took 3 hours, a couple blisters, and a thousand steps. I lost hope 30 minutes in, walking in pitch black not really knowing what to look for. That’s when I started to think &…
After arriving in San Jose last night, our Turtles II group headed out earlier this morning to continue our journey to San Miguel and Turtle Trax. We had a nice pizza lunch by the water as we waited for our ferry to take us across to the Nicoya Peninsula. Following a 1.5 hour ferry ride,…
This trip has made me learn a lot and has made me feel comfortable feeling uncomfortable. I’ve learned lots about turtles from Turtle Trax, like how turtles lay eggs and how to best care for them.For example, we began making a hatchery to safely hatch the eggs without the risk of robbers. I have also…
We’ve received word that the group has arrived safely in Costa Rica and is now at the hotel after a long journey. Tune in here for more updates from the group!
One of the most valuable things I have learned on this trip is the power of passion. When we listen to the people at Turtle Trax, they have so much knowledge and compassion. There are many challenges when it comes to turtle conservation but that doesn’t stop them. It’s amazing to watch the amount of…
Another humbling moment for the turtles crew last night! On our night patrol, we came across some tracks and found a nesting turtle. Students were able to extract the eggs, helping to count them and gently place them in a bag for relocation! While eggs were still being extracted from the nest (92 total!!!), Josie…
I am here… Because I want to gain a new perspective of the world around me and learn more about the marine life, the culture, and the language of Costa Rica. I believe this trip is a once in a lifetime opportunity that will truly benefit me and help me to be more aware of…
The group is safe and all smiles in Costa Rica! Stay tuned here for more updates from the students.
“We are all connected through life,” Mother says. “Mother nature lives within each one of us, child. She is our guide to life. She will never let you go. You are born with her and you shall die with her. From the beginning and to the end, Mother will always be there for you.” …
Today, we visited the local nonprofit Sustain the Nine and spent time with their team and interns over a BBQ. We loved connecting with one another, and the interns shared their research on the Mississippi River’s path toward their watershed. They discussed how pollution affects their water, and helped the students understand the impacts…
The group has had a wonderful first few days in New Orleans! So far, they have worked in the Common Ground Nursery, learned about the Lower Ninth Ward on a tour with Sustain the Nine, listened to Jazz at the famous Preservation Hall, and enjoyed some of the city’s famous cajun food!
Today I finally felt well enough to go on the hike. The two prior days, even though I was sick, I felt like I was cheating by constantly taking the car to get to the next destination. I didn’t realize the difficulty of what everyone else was dealing with until today, even though it was…
Today, everyone woke up eager hoping that we might get a view of Everest. I walked outside to eat breakfast, and I could not spot a single cloud in the sky. I could feel the excitement rising in our group as the boys rushed everyone to finish packing and get out onto the trail. Poor…
Here are student responses to the prompt: Our group dynamic has helped me understand the meaning of “the danger of a single story” by … Our group dynamic has helped me understand “the danger of a single story” by sharing unique opinions and experiences which illuminated concepts and ideas which were previously negligible or incomprehensible…
Untaken – Clouds circling the mountains as smoke circles the fire Hot coals fuming the cabin Spiders making their way home Saying goodbye to puppies without collars and milk tea full of warmth Trek uphill. Step in puddles iridescent with mineral as the water mixes like potion under your feet Wait for bug bites and…
My time in Kenya has helped me realize help is not a zero-sum game; but rather, a gift that can wilt over time, the way flowers picked by the ignorant do, or can blossom into a beautiful flower tree that will create bouquets for generations to come. Help is offered with the purpose of…
We received several photos and a video from the team’s exploration in Kenya today — and when it comes to the students’ experience, the images truly speak for themselves!
Today we had a hard day at work in the morning. Everyone is doing very well digging their holes. My group has dug our hole to over five feet. We then came back and had a delicious lunch. We all rested for a little while, and some of us washed our laundry. Before it…
Today we put in the work for the kids. We started off the day with some pancakes from Dawa and then had a nice hike to a school nearby where we engaged with a 6th grade class by exchanging songs and knowledge. This is a poem about the experience. In Solukhumbu’s morning chill, We climbed…
We received an update from the group that they have arrived to the first destination of their trek. Using their satellite messaging device, they reported “In Cuncani, safe and happy.”
The team checked in from the field today — they’ve officially begun their trek and are on their way to the first high Andean community! We’ll be receiving daily check-ins from the group as they continue their journey through the mountains.
The Kenya team continues to make meaningful progress on their journey. The day concluded before there was time to capture it in a journal entry. One snapshot speaks volumes: students deep in conversation, sharing a meal and the moment.
We began our day bright and early at 3:30AM to start our bus-train-bus journey to Machu Picchu! We met our guide for the day, Puma, who has been to the site over 500 times and was incredibly knowledgeable. After a long drive, we arrived at the base of the mountain and caught the bus to…
We will definitely need to bring more Dramamine for the trip home… A “car ride” is a generous term for the ten hour rollercoaster we experienced today. With winding roads, uneven terrain, and eighty-degree weather, those sitting in the middle seat found themselves asking what they might have done to deserve such a punishment. All…