Coolin' in Costa Rica!
July 21, 2024
Hello again!!
Wow! We are teary eyed as we write this. We just sent our amazing little humans off (except for Marga!) to their lives back home after an adventure of a lifetime. The past few days truly couldn’t have been a better end to our trip.
Last time we checked in we were tucked away in the jungle completing an amazing chocolate class where we learned how to have a full sensory experience. After we woke in the morning we had a challenging hike up the mountain bluff, but were rewarded with a stunning waterfall and blue mineral clay to paint all over ourselves. Kacky, Ella, and Marion really enhanced the benefits of the clay by even covering their hair with the mask! It was so beautiful and everyone really felt like Avatar! After our hike down, we were greeted with a delicious lunch before heading out of Buenaventura toward the Pacuare river.
That night we stayed in an awesome bed and breakfast and treated ourselves to a different cuisine than usual and stopped at a lovely Asian restaurant. As we were enjoying our meal, we were surprised with live music and a clown entertainment show! Mia did not hesitate to rush the stage to see just what this show was about. She entertained us all with her dynamic persona and confident demeanor.
The next morning we left the lovely town of Turrialba and made our way to the Pacuare River. Once there, we piled into two rafts and sailed off into the wild waters. Patrick and Ford jumped at the opportunity to sit in the front of the raft, bearing the brunt of the fierce rapids with smiles from ear to ear. With a rewarding day of rafting behind us, the group relaxed at our lovely eco lodge nestled on the river.
As usual Bart tried the local tea they had at the river lodge and gave us a full tasting, rating the tea and getting others to join in his tasting. Kate and Leslie took initiative and created an Eno hammock sanctuary by putting up all the Eno’s in every direction and hanging out in them (pun intended).
On the river Jack and Ava showed off their physical skills by playing a vital role in the physical mechanics of the raft. They powered through some big rapids and conquered the Pacuare River.
It was our absolute privilege ending our summer with these amazing kids and we are so excited to see what this next year has in store for them.
All our love,
Michael + Marga + Meg
BCR A
Adventures in Costa Rica!
July 18, 2024
Hola Hola!
We are reporting back again, but now we are Jungle bound! We are sitting here under a canopy with the vastest greenest environment imaginable – deep in the Costa Rican Jungle! It took a long journey to get here but it is so worth it being so immersed and so far into nature! The past few days have been quite amazing and our group has bonded so much through our adventures!
We started our journey here in Costa Rica when we took flight on a zip line course! Ella impressed us all with her Spanish and communicated with the guides. It was so fun we all flipped over and zip lined upside down! After we finished, there were Monkeys to greet us! They were so playful and had us all laughing so hard as they jumped around the trees.
Next on our Costa Rican adventure was surfing, like a fairytale, there was magic in the waves! Every person got up. Kacky and Patrick absolutely wowed us with their surfing abilities and were dropping into the shoulders effortlessly and gracefully. Ava also came out of the corner of our views and dropped into a crazy wave that she absolutely shredded!!
The following morning we had another surf session before heading off to our bungalow oasis-like jungle home here in Buenaventura! For dinner, we made pupusas a traditional El Salvadoran meal similar to an empenada and the kids mastered the technique; they were delicious. Mia and Bart absolutely killed it and did the dishes for everyone, so helpful and high spirited!
Today we really indulged in the culture of Costa Rica and our surroundings, after a hardy breakfast we ventured down to the El Brujo community where we worked on sanding down bleachers and digging new garden beds. Jack and Leslie really dug deep into the rich soil when they broke up the garden beds for new plants!
When we finished our work we had a friendly yet very competitive soccer match on the field surrounded by beautiful mountainous jungle. Kate and Ford were both absolute walls of defenders on the soccer field and Marion absolutely crushed it scoring 3 goals for her team!!
After hard work and a soccer match the local women’s center cooked is an amazing rice dish to fuel us up for our walk back. We took a swim in the stream before a few of the kids ran all the way back to where we stay, while others took in the beautiful views and leisurely walked back. Marion, Kacky and Leslie jumped in the stream before running with Meg, while Patrick ran with Marga at a lightning speed!
Now we are having some down time before starting our chocolate making process from cacao pod all the way to chocolate bar! These kids sweet tooth’s will come in handy!
We couldn’t be having a better time and the kids are absolutely amazing, they make this job life changing!
Best,
BCR 3A
Splashing + Scuba!
July 16, 2024
Hello from Belize!
We cannot believe it’s already mid trip! Time really does fly by when you’re living in the moment! The past few days have been filled with great adventures and exciting new beginnings with our group.
The first day, after a lot of traveling and droopy eyes, we arrived at our wonderful hostel and the kids perked right up when they saw the pool. Marion and Kate were not shy to spark up the energy in the pool with games and getting to know everyone as they splashed around. Bart used his creativity and culinary curiosity to craft a great tea recipe with what the kitchen had to offer and shared his new creation with the group. We topped the night off with pizza and our first moonup!
The following days were absolutely breathtaking (literally) with our scuba tanks and our gear! We learned the skill portions in the mornings, and had lunch on the most magical islands, before testing our knowledge 40ft under the surface during our fun dives where we explored what the ocean had to offer. We scuba-dived on the world’s second-largest coral reef! What a crazy experience! Patrick and Ford felt right at home between the beautiful corals and colorful fishes. They were naturals and had an amazing time swimming with sea turtles. They also navigated this new territory by practicing skills, like sharing air and weight belt removal, all while posing for the underwater camera. Ella and Mia had the opportunity to snorkel closer to the island where they saw and swam with a bunch of nurse sharks. They could not believe that these creatures could be seen in such shallow waters. Mia channeled her inner Little Mermaid by being a total natural in the water. She blended right in with the fish and marine life!
On two of the nights in Placencia, we ventured into town where we hung out with the local Belizean kids. We learned about their culture and bonded over a mutual love for soccer and basketball. When frequently asked about her soccer skills, Ava was modest in her replies, but shocked everyone with her skills as a goalie, blocking most goals. Leslie and Kacky were also fierce competitors, keeping all the spirits high, and did not shy away from any challenge involving a soccer ball. They had a great time when it came to the local kids and made great friends and unforgettable memories.
Our final day in Belize was spent in paradise relaxing and taking in the beautiful scenery of the Caribbean! It was extra special seeing that the kids were under the impression the activity of the day was a strenuous kayaking trip into the ocean. When we arrived at the dock, a beautiful catamaran filled with sodas, music, and good vibes awaited us. Amazing! The kids cheered in excitement and hopped right onto the boat to start their fun. Jack casted a trolling reel and caught a tuna! He admired it and showed it off before releasing it back into to the ocean.
We had an unBELIZEable time in Belize and we cannot wait for the second leg of the trip in Costa Rica.
Best
BCR A
Hey Dad! I am having so much fun and have met so many new friends! Thanks for letting me come on this trip! Love you!
-Kacky
Hey mom and dad! Tell the zops I miss them. I’m having the best time ever. I touched a shark while scuba diving. I love yall also tell William barbecue sauce!
-Kate
Hey I’m having so much fun and my group is so good. When we went scuba diving and saw so many sharks and fish. I’m so excited for Costa Rica and love you!
-Ava
Hey Mom and Dad I’m having so much fun and have seen so much new stuff. Hope the dogs are well.
-Mawk Bart
Hey mother hey father hope we are doing good at the house same with Abigail and coop. I am have loads of fun and have a much better group than last year. I just got scuba certified I love yall and will see you when I get home
-your brilliant son patrick.
Hey mom and dad hope everything’s good at home having a great time can’t wait to see all of you all !
-jack
Hey mom and dad. Hope yall are doing well and having fun. Can’t wait to see yall. Love you.
-ford
Hey mom and dad I’m having the time of my life. Hope everything is great at home and I miss yall. Tell zops I said hello. Love you all so much
-Marion
Hey mom! I miss yall! I’m having so much fun. It’s so pretty here. Tell everyone I said hey! Miss you too Libby! Love yall so much!! Also can you please add money to my green light I have no idea how much is on it.
-Ella
Hey!! I’m having so so much fun and can’t wait to tell y’all all about it! Had a great birthday in the Guatemalan airport and will see y’all soon! Also put money in my account please if you haven’t already 😉 love y’all!
-Leslie
Hey mom dad and maybe Maggie. But probably not Luke, I miss you guys so much and I can’t wait to see you! Miss you guys. Love youuuuuuu
-Mia
Safe arrival in Belize!
July 8, 2024
Hello Belize + Costa Rica Families!
All students have landed safely in Belize and the group is headed to their first activity! The trip is off to a great start and we can’t wait to share more updates from their adventure.
-Moondance HQ
