Students are on their way home!

Hello parents and friends! After a wonderful program, the students have left San Jose on time on United flight #1560. The flight is scheduled to get into Newark at 9:16pm. Please don't hesitate to call the office with any questions 303.679.3412. Thank you for all of your support of this program.

Erin Lasky
Director of Operations.

Alex and Linden take on day 8.

enjoy <3

Day 8 from Dr. MacC and Miss L

We began our day at the Collegio Technico de Puerto Viejo where we broken into four groups to attend different classes:  biology, accounting, English, and technology.  Students at this school spend an extra year in high school (compared to the academic high schools) studying a specialty such as Tourism, Accounting, Agronomy, and Hotel Management.  The students and teachers were welcoming.  A group of students in the Tourism specialty gave us a tour of their extensive and beautiful 200 acre campus, which includes both farm and forest land.

A high point of the tour for Dr. MacCornack was the butterfly garden where we saw species in the four stages of development.  Students were able to converse with their peers during the tour.  Lunch in the Hotel Management classroom ended our visit. 

On our way home, we stopped for ice cream in the town of Puerto Viejo.  Students were tempted by many new flavors such as guanabana, pitohayo, fig, and old favorites such as chocolate, vanilla and even rum raisin.

We spent the afternoon working on our project painting the structure and designing signs to attract tourists and locals alike.  As teachers, we were very proud that the girls chose to finish priming the wood rather than choosing a dip in the refreshing river.  The girls are devoted to completing their project!

Tonight, we're going on a night hike in the rainforest where we hope to see the species who are shy during the daytime, such as the red-eyed tree frogs which are commercial symbols of Costa Rica. They sleep in the treetops during the day and climb lower at night.  We are all in need of a nap with the frogs at this point but are still looking forward to another day on our project, lunches with our gracious host families, and a fiesta with the whole community tomorrow evening.

Grace and Linden Discuss Day 7

Grace and Linden  discuss Day 7. The kids are all right.

La Fortuna Days 5 & 6

Day 4 Attempt 3 (Third time's the charm, right?)

Our fingers are crossed...

Day 4 Attempt 3 (Third time's the charm, right?)

Our fingers are crossed...

Day 5 and 6 by Mackenzie and Alex Part 1

We will soon be updating a video, (a short one so it can actually upload), about our fun time in La Fortuna! There were stunning sights and many new experiences that we can't wait to share with all of you. We hope that some of you were able to talk to your daughters on the phone this evening so you could all get a little more personal insight.

Day 4 by Maggie and Mimi

Check out our attached video!!  We are heading to La Fortuna and will be back and ready to blog on Day 6.  Stay tuned.

Day 3

                Today was a typical morning in Costa Rica, waking up at 7:30 and going down to the dining hall for a delicious breakfast.  We enjoyed a variety of fresh fruits, beans, rice, eggs, and yogurt.  The yogurt quickly became a favorite among the students.  We saw a star fruit tree right outside the dining hall and were fascinated with the close proximity of fresh fruit.  After breakfast, we walked to the van to go to the Pepper Farm.

                Within thirty minutes, we arrived at the Pepper Farm and were greeted with a warm smile by Daniel Vega.  The Pepper Farm is an organic farm that sells pepper, meat, and fertilizer.  The name of the farm truly displays its essence, La Finca el Paraiso or Paradise Farm.  Daniel Vega was an amazing host; he served us fruit juice before the tour.  He explained that he takes pride in running an organic farm, but sometimes it is financially difficult.  He is striving to become certified organic and he would have to pay a $3,000 as a certification fee.  The alternative process is longer but more cost effective and requires various groups to attest to his organic practices.  He is passionate about organic farming because of health problems resulting from pesticide use at a banana plantation where he worked.  Daniel is a pioneer in agro-forest farming, which is planting agricultural crops amongst the trees.  In addition, Daniel is working to expand the biological corridor.  Daniel and farmers similar to him have lands that are attractive to migrating birds and animals, especially the green macaw and jaguar.  Currently, the biological corridor is narrow and not continuous.    

                Daniel took us through seven stations throughout the farm.  Before the tour officially began, we learned how to milk a goat!  Many students took turns milking the goat and found it to be a fun experience.  The goat’s kids were adorable.  The first station contained a biodigestor that harnessed methane gas to power his house.  Daniel makes great use of the resources around him and does not throw anything away.  He composts everything possible and the composting materials give off the methane gas that is used to power his house.  At the second station, we visited the pigs and even got a chance to feed them.  The pigs and other animals on the farm are only fed a vegetarian organic diet.  In fact, the feed is grown on the farm.  Daniel uses the pig manure to make fertilizer and sell it to the local farmers.  It is also put in the biodigestor to create the methane gas.  The third station displayed the system they used to create the fertilizer.  The worms play a crucial role in making the final product.  The fertilizer is used on the farm and the excess fertilizer is sold to local farmers.  We walked up a large hill to reach the fourth station, which contained the pepper trees.  On the way, we learned about various medicinal plants, such as one that acts as a bug repellent.  Daniel Vega showed us a smart way to integrate different kinds of plants in a small area.  The pineapple plants were surrounded by habanero plants and rows of pepper plants encompassing a tree with its vines.  We tasted the peppers and they were spicy.  The peppers come from one plant, yet they come in different colors.  The color is a result of the time the peppers are picked.  There were red, green, and black peppers.  The black peppers are the dried version of the red peppers.  These peppers are used as a spice along with salt.  The fifth station was the charcoal station, where they burned leftover wood from the farm to make charcoal for sale.  The sixth station involved walking over a beautiful bridge in the rain.  Daniel discussed an endangered species of tree called the Monkey Guava.  It is important because many of the birds and monkeys eat the fruit from the tree.  However, this tree is rare because people are continuously cutting it down for lumber.  Daniel plans to preserve this type of tree and hopes that his grandchildren will see it.  On the way to lunch, we saw a porcupine in a tree.  Lastly, we went to the pepper drying station and looked at the black peppers. 

                Upon completion of the tour, we enjoyed a delicious lunch consisting of arroz con pollo y palmitas.  We drank more fruit juice and presented our host with a gift.  He was touched by the book of New Jersey and the Kent Place bag.  It was sad to leave this incredible and inspirational man.  He works extremely hard and remains humble and happy even with a small amount of material comfort.  We wish the best for him and hope others follow his lead. 

                After an inspirational morning, we had time to relax and rejuvenate.  Half of the group went for a run followed by a swim.  The rest of the group went swimming.  We all jumped off the 15 foot bridge into the water.  It was scary at first, but we conquered our fears and made the plunge.  Some local people were doing backflips and other jumps off of the bridge.  It was interesting to see how comfortable they were with something that seemed foreign to us. 

                We discussed leadership styles and the sides of the brain.  Before we went on the trip, we all took a personality test online to see which type best represented us.  There were four main types of people: Conceptualists, Guardians, Idealists, and Experimenters.  We did different tests at the meeting and chose adjectives that described our personalities in the best way.  People were surprised how they perfectly fit into their personality types. 

                We cannot wait to take a cooking lesson, visit our host families, and work with the children at the Chilamate Elementary School tomorrow!   

Pura Vida!   

Day 1 and 2: Arrival, Service Day #1 and Rafting! :)

We arrived in Chilamate yesterday after a 5- hour plane flight and a 2- hour bus ride through the beautiful mountains. On the bus ride, we learned from one of our world leadership instructors, Randall, about the environment and the geography of the country. We arrived at the Eco Retreat and ate our first lunch in Costa Rica. Afterwards, we went on a hike through the rainforest with a knowledgeable guide, William, who taught us a lot about wildlife, the rainforest, and safety. We saw poison dart frogs and many interesting plants and heard howler monkeys. When we returned, we unpacked and got settled in our rooms. In the evening, we created our own list of expectations, norms, and concerns. Afterwards, we did ANCHOR, a World Leadership School evening tradition. A is for appreciations: something we saw, did, or participated in during the day that we appreciated. N is for news: going over the schedule for the next day. C is concerns: any worries that anyone has. H is hopes: what we hope we will do or what we hope will happen during the trip. O is for obscurities: a new, fun, and interesting fact that we learned during the day. R is for reading: a quote we find meaningful and inspirational that will guide our actions throughout the trip.

We completed the first service day. We worked on the community center from 9-12. The community center will be used by the local artisans to trade and sell their goods. We painted several mallas with green anti-corrosive paint, which will be part of the final center. When we had a break, we interviewed three local artists who were selling bracelets, necklaces, earrings, key chains, hand-painted tote bags, jewelry boxes, and small pictures. We practiced our Spanish speaking skills and learned a few new words as well.

For lunch, we split into three groups, each with one instructor, and we ate with our respective homestay family. Molly, Mackenzie, Mimi, and Madison stayed with Zayda, her daughter, and her granddaughter. The food was delicious. They learned a lot about her family, about making jewelry, and what it is like to be an independent woman in Costa Rica. They petted the baby chicks on the family farm and helped her seven-year old daughter with some English. It was really inspirational to see a woman who has been through a lot and does not have much materially but still has a positive outlook on life. She said her home is her heart, and that her home is full of love. She made her guests feel very welcome. Alex, Chloe, and Jessica stayed with Digna and her family. Her grandson, Alejandro, who is 15 years old, showed them around the farm. They took pictures of the chickens, turkeys, cows, goats, horse, and their adorable dogs. They talked with the family about a typical day as a student in America and realized how different their lifestyles and schedules were. Throughout their stay, they met different members of the host family including cousins, aunts, nieces, and nephews. Maggie, Linden, and Grace stayed with Yamileth. There were six children in the family, five of whom they met. The little girls were fascinated by the camera. They wanted to know more about them and take a lot of pictures. Grace, Linden, and Maggie showed the girls the pictures they took from home. When they gave the gift, which was a picture book of scenes in New Jersey, to their host family, the host family was very excited. The little girls were fascinated by the snow because they had never seen it before. When they saw the maple leaf, they quickly recognized it as the “Canada symbol”.

After lunch, we met up together, and went white water rafting. The five freshmen and Dr. MacCornack were in one raft; the five sophomores and Ms. Lukeman were in the other. We were all very excited and going over the rapids was thrilling. Everyone got a chance to go swimming in calmer waters. We saw a lot of different types of birds and wildlife. The freshman group even saw a howler monkey.  As we looked around, we thought the view was “too perfect”. Many people spend so much money trying to make their homes look the way our surroundings did naturally. The forest and the river looked more like something out of a movie or a Jurassic Park ride. It seemed more like a simulation than reality. After rafting, we ate 2 pineapples and 2 watermelons that were actually freshly picked and dripping with delicious juice. We walked back to a bridge near the Eco Retreat, where we are staying. The bridge was a little over 15 feet above the water. Everyone jumped off the bridge. For many people, it was their first time jumping from so high. Some people jumped twice. Afterwards, everyone showered, had dinner, which was delicious as usual, talked about what we got out of the experiences of the day, went over tomorrow’s schedule (going to an organic farm and planning the curriculum for when we visit the Chilamate Elementary School on Monday), and then  went to bed to the sounds of the rainforest. 

Group is safe in Costa Rica

Hello Kent Place Parents,

I just got word from Randall that the group landed safely in San Jose and they are on their way to the Chilamate Eco Lodge! They will be served a welcome lunch upon arrival, then spend the afternoon settling in, going on a quick rainforest hike, and doing some orientation activities. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me at the office! Stay tuned for live updates!

Lizzy Leighty
Program Coordinator, World Leadership School
(303)679-3412