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23 June 2022 Tom from the recycling center/founder of Wasteless World reunited with our group a few days ago with boxes of his lionfish jewelry to sell. Everybody was very excited and swarmed around him to see the jewelry he had talked so passionately about on the recycling tour. As Tom told us on the…
We are now approaching the end of this trip with only one full day remaining at the community center. This trip has been a whirlwind of fun, emotions, learning, and connections. I can’t even begin to explain how grateful I am to have had the opportunity to spend the last two weeks in the community…
After a long, rewarding day, the Panama crew is off to sleep. The field reports that we will see a journal post tomorrow. Here’s to a restful evening – for all.
21 June 2022 Over the past couple of weeks, I have met a lot of eager kids who are ready to learn. Here in Panamá, the education system is not the strongest. While the Panamanian government does its best to help, it just isn’t enough. On Bastimentos Island, the island we are staying on, there…
20 June 2022 Yet another fantastic day filled with many amazing experiences here in Panama! We kicked it off with lesson planning for the remainder of our days at the community centers and a very informational meeting with The Sea Turtle Man. With the information he shared with us, we all gained greater respect and…
Today was quite exciting as the entire group had the opportunity to experience Cristobal for the day. As I work with the kids at the Bastimentos community center, I’d never met the kids on Cristobal or seen the island; my current picture of it came solely from the stories told by my friends that travel to…
18 June 2022 We are just over a week into our trip and honestly has been one of the best experiences of my life. I have tried so many new things, and have made so many new strong bonds with the kids in the group, and community centers. Today we went snorkeling and it was…
Today was great as we got to experience the Smithsonian research institute station in Bocas town. The facility was not was I had in mind. It was a big marine biology laboratory. There was heavy security all around the buildings. The institute was very open with a lot of outdoor work and labs. We saw…
16 June 2022 As we are approaching the halfway mark of our trip, Panama is starting to feel like home. I have gotten to know each and every one of the members in my group and the communities are always welcoming us with open arms. Taking a 20-minute boat ride to Cristobal and teaching and…
Bocas del Toro is not a place with one kind of people; there are so many islands and not a single one is the same. We have had the opportunity to visit the islands San Cristobal, Bocas de Toro (the main island), and Bastimentos. We are currently staying at the island Bastimentos. At first I…
14 June 2022 Another memorable and one-of-a-kind day in Panamá! I believe I speak for us all in saying that every moment of this trip has presented us with invaluable learning experiences and connections to people with different backgrounds, lives, and perspectives. Additionally, we have been pushed out of our comfort zones and have learned…
Today was an incredible day!!! After some lesson planning in the morning, a group of us went down to Isla Cristobal to be with the indigenous Ngobe tribe. Going down there and working with the little children was such an amazing experience. At first I was a little nervous, and the kids were a little…
At the beginning of the trip, I was nervous. Being surrounded by a group of complete strangers in a different country that I had no experience in is bound to spike a little anxiety. But, my nerves got cooled pretty quickly. The counselors talked us through our plans for travel, and I got to meet…
We just heard from the group that they are settling into their hostel Bocas. After a morning exploring Panama City they arrived in Bocas and met Emily Talentino, Executive Director of Give and Surf. We will be back with more detailed updates and photos from the students this week.
After a long day of travel and some delays, the Panama I crew has arrived in Panama, cleared customs, and is on their way to the hostel for the night in Panama City. The group will begin their orientation tomorrow in Panama City before catching their 1 PM (local time) flight to Bocas Del Toro…
The travel journal will be the place for students to share their experiences while traveling. Once the students are on-site, they are asked to post reflections, observations, pictures, stories, poems, and more. Our whole community appreciates the opportunity to be part of the group’s adventure, and as the course comes to an end, each group…