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
Click here to jump down to the most recent post!
BLOG POST FOR JUNE 18
The day has finally arrived for the students to come to Beachside Service Adventure!
We were so excited to see their smiling faces at the airport in Liberia. Students have been arriving and loading up onto the GLA bus to make the hour and a half drive to homebase. They are making friends and getting to know each other!
Once we arrived at homebase, students got to see their cabin and set up. They also got to spend some time with their new roommates for the week before completing health checks and swim tests. We spent some time playing volleyball in the front of the hotel and we watched the sun set on the beach.
We ate a traditional Costa Rican dinner called “Casado” – which is usually rice, beans, plantain, a protein (today was chicken) and salad.
We finished the evening with some announcements and plans for the next day. They are excited for the adventures that await us!
Thank you for trusting us with your teens, we are excited to experience this adventure with them over the next 9 days.
Students will have busy days fostering in-person community and getting to know each other. To keep you in the loop, we’ll send regular blogs and be available as a staff support team 24/7.
Our blogs will start with myself, Kaitlyn Johnson, a mentor, and Isa Bertoli, international director, and will transition to students writing from their perspective.
¡Pura Vida!
Isa, Jorge, Kaitlyn, Milena, Ana, Ella, and Kyle
BLOG POST FOR JUNE 19
After arrivals and introductions, our Costa Rica adventure officially began with a full day focused on building community, preparing for service, and connecting with the environment around us.
The morning started with orientation, creating roommate agreements, and reviewed our community expectations, code of conduct, and leadership principles for the program. These conversations helped establish a foundation of trust, respect, and accountability that will guide us throughout our time together.
Of course, no first day would be complete without some icebreakers. Students quickly got to know one another through games and team-building activities, and had fun at the pool, played charades, volleyball, giant Jenga, and the always-popular imposter game.
Meals throughout the day gave everyone a taste of local cuisine. Breakfast included eggs, rice and beans, cereal, yogurt, and fresh fruit. Lunch featured rice, beans, and French fries, while dinner was tacos!
One of the most important moments of the day was learning about the service organizations that students will partner with during the program. After an explanation of each organization, students voted on which projects they were most interested in joining.
This year’s service partners are:
Grupo Ecologista Avellanas (GEA) – Students will support environmental education, beach cleanups, mangrove restoration, and community projects while building connections with local students and residents.
Verdiazul (VA) – Students will work directly on marine conservation initiatives, including sea turtle protection, hatchery maintenance, and beach conservation efforts.
Uniendo Comunidades (UC) – Students will collaborate on community improvement projects such as school enhancements, reforestation efforts, murals, and public awareness initiatives.
CEN – Children & Family Support Center – New for 2026, students can help improve a local center that provides childcare, nutrition, education, and family support services for children and mothers in the community.
The day concluded with a special sea turtle conservation workshop. Students learned about the challenges facing sea turtles along Costa Rica’s coast, explored the conservation work being done to protect them, and even had the opportunity to practice locating turtle eggs. The evening’s highlight came during a turtle release, when students watched young hatchlings begin their journey to the ocean, and were able to release them themselves.
Day 1 was filled with new friendships, meaningful learning experiences, and the first steps toward the service and leadership work ahead. We can’t wait to see what the rest of the program brings!
Pura vida!
