PROGRAM PHOTO ALBUM
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 20
🌴 Day 1: Safe, Sound, and Settled in Costa Rica!
After a whirlwind day of staggered arrivals, airport high-fives, and anticipation, we have some wonderful news: all of our amazing student travelers have arrived safely and are tucked into bed for the night! 😴✨
We managed to snap a quick picture of 10 of our 12 rockstars (attached below!). Yours truly—a very excited but slightly sleepy International Director—missed getting Lucas and Teos into their own snapshot, but rest assured they are here, happy, and ready for action. I promise a complete group photo tomorrow! 📸
The adventure has officially begun. Pull up a chair and follow along here for nightly updates on the Costa Rica Middle School Service Adventure 2026!
Buenas noches,
Tiffany Lundy
International Director
BLOG POST FOR JUNE 21
🌋 Day 2: Stunning Views, New Homes, and Living Our Values!
We started our first full day in Costa Rica with orientation and swim tests this morning. The good news? Our group is already getting along swimmingly. 😉🏊♂️
After fueling up with a delicious lunch, we packed our bags and hit the road for our second home base. To be completely honest, the drive was definitely on the longer side (and our rockstars certainly let us know they were ready to stretch their legs! 🚌), but the views along the way were well worth it. We rolled past lush forests, cascading waterfalls, winding mountains, and even caught a glimpse of the magnificent Arenal Volcano framing the backdrop.
This evening, the students broke into their first official mentor groups to dive into the GLA Leadership Curriculum. Working with their mentor, Nic, the group focused on the first of GLA’s 5 Leadership Pillars: Live Your Values. 🌟
BLOG POST FOR JUNE 22
🦥 Day 3: Service, Sweet Pineapples, and Salsa Steps!
Today was a beautifully busy day packed with hard work, incredible wildlife, and a lot of laughs.
We kicked off our very first service day at the local school this morning. The students dove right in, spending the morning sanding down desks and chairs to prep them for a fresh coat of paint.
After working up an appetite, we headed out for a pineapple farm tour. The drive itself turned into an accidental safari—those who were looking out the windows were treated to sightings of sloths, toucans, and macaws! At the farm, we learned the ultimate insider secrets to picking the perfect fruit. From now on, you’ll definitely want to let your student traveler choose the pineapples at the grocery store! 🍍
We headed back to home base for a high-energy Spanish dance lesson. From the salsa to the merengue, our students showed off some seriously impressive rhythm (and definitely invented a few new moves of their own!). To cool off after all that dancing, we took a refreshing evening dip in the large lake right here at home base.
To wrap up the day, we gathered for our nightly GLA Leadership Curriculum mentor lesson. Tonight’s focus was all about mapping out future goals and self-reflection as the students created their own “My Passion Roadmap”.
Another fantastic day in the books!
Pura Vida,
Tiffany Lundy
International Director
BLOG POST FOR JUNE 23
🍫 Day 4: Chocolate, Big Surprises, and Hot Spring Slides!
Today was an absolute standout day filled with sweet treats and a massive surprise!
We started our morning at the La Fortuna Chocolate Tour, where we learned the history of cacao, tasted raw pulp straight from the pod, and even crafted our own custom chocolate recipes. Afterward, we hit a large souvenir shop where the kids picked out some wonderful treasures for you (and a few things for themselves!).
The absolute highlight of the trip so far, however, was our visit to Baldi Hot Springs. We had playfully let the students believe they were just visiting a tiny, rocky puddle of hot water. Their faces were priceless when they walked into a massive tropical paradise complete with cascading pools, wild water slides, and a natural sauna!
We wound down the excitement of the day by gathering around a cozy bonfire, roasting marshmallows, and sharing stories under the stars.
Pura Vida,
Tiffany Lundy
International Director
BLOG POST FOR JUNE 24 & 25
🔨 Days 5 & 6: Big Progress, Piñatas, and Powerful Teamwork!
The past two days have been completely dedicated to finishing up our service project at the school, and your students have truly shone as leaders!
The group put GLA’s Connect and Influence and Take Action pillars into full effect. They worked together to build great teams—assigning roles to prep the classrooms, creating creative English learning materials, and joining the local kids for some highly competitive fútbol matches at recess!
To celebrate all of our hard work and the completion of our service project, the school hosted a joyful piñata celebration for us this afternoon. It was the perfect way to wrap up our time there.
Our evenings have been spent cooling off in the home base lake and diving back into our nightly mentor groups, where the students have been reflecting on their teamwork, strengths, and areas of growth.
Pura Vida,
Tiffany Lundy
International Director
