Troy's ziplining video

Troy put together a fantastic video of our ziplining adventure that he filmed with his GoPro camera. Excellent work Troy! Check it out here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xcCTrZyPOw4

Student Post-trip Reflections

We have all returned safely to the USA after a fantastic week in Costa Rica! I suspect that for many of us today's emotions are bittersweet - it is great to be home, but we will miss the beautiful weather, delicious food, friendly people and everything else that makes Costa Rica such a wonderful place.

During yesterday's travels the students wrote down some of their reflections on the trip, and as you read them it will become clear that this experience had a tremendously positive impact on all involved. (Note: 3 students have not had a chance to write their reflections yet, but we will be posting those soon.)

Amanda A.

            When I was on this trip I learned so much. Not only did I learn about this wonderful country I found things out about myself. I learned that I am braver than I thought and a lot more adventurous. When I was standing at the gate that started the Tarzan swing I was so scared I almost didn’t jump. I am so glad I did though; it was a once in a lifetime experience. One of the main things I noticed while I was here was that everyone was so kind, relaxed, and welcoming. They have a saying in Costa Rica “Pura Vida”. It means to kind of live in the moment and be happy with what is around you. I was trying my hardest to live in a ‘Pura Vida’ way and I just became so much more relaxed and I appreciated things so much more. I want to live by this saying as much as possible and I think it can make me a better person all around. I will never forget this trip and all these memories and friends made here. Pura Vida!

Katie M.

        This was a life changing experience. Costa Rican people are the kindest and most considerable people on this planet. They were welcoming when we arrived, always smiling and waving. I received no dirty looks. In Boston if you look at someone the wrong way you would get beat up. Our Tour guide, Jose was a father figure to me this whole trip and taught me a lot about frogs. Lis was an amazing woman and very inspiring to me. She was always happy and passionate about her country. Going to Costa Rica was a once in a lifetime chance and being able to spend it with this amazing group of people was incredible. I am so lucky to have what I have and seeing the children with very little made me realize it. I would like to say thanks to my wonderful parents, family and friends for everything they do. Without them I wouldn’t have the things I have now. Hasta luego Costa Rica!

Austin C.

When I first came on this trip, I was scared I would not like the food. I came on the trip with a “try every food” attitude, hopeful to expand my taste buds. I tried everything and found a lot of foods that I like now. Also, the entertainment was amazing. The zip line tour and the Tarzan swing were amazing! It’s one of those things that you will remember for the rest of your life. Costa Rica is so different from Boston. In Costa Rica, if you say hello to someone they start a conversation, but if you did that in Boston you would get an ugly smirk and an awkward hello. The best part of Costa Rica is the wild life. I played with monkeys and it was so fun. I definitely want to come back.

Nina G.

        I was debating about joining the Eco Club at first. I thought of it as community service, boring lectures and kids that didn’t really care about what was going on, to be honest. I was totally wrong. This club has been one of the best decisions of my life. I have met new people from my grade that I thought I would never talk to. I came over most of my fears like heights and white water rafting, too! Also, we visited a rescue center, we went hiking, we visited the beach and much, much more! It has been a wonderful experience. The people here are incredibly kind. For example, I waved outside to a pedestrian and he waved back with a grateful smile. In Boston, you would be given a weird look like you were somewhat mental. The best part was getting closer as a whole group. I didn’t know everyone on this trip when Eco Club started, but coming back we are hugging each other and planning a reunion! Natalie, Katie, Amanda and I didn’t exactly know each other that well, to be honest - we had no idea the other really was in the meetings. When this trip was completed, I can call them a friend. I hope to see everyone in the club again and it truly was a lot of fun and the best experience that anyone could ever give me. I am glad I joined the Eco Club after all. It’s not about boring things, it’s about teamwork and just embracing the experience. 

Jack W.

            Bring your tastes buds to Costa Rica, the food is amazing with all the flavors and spices. The rice, beans and the chicken were the staples to this country’s food culture. The best part of this trip in my opinion was bonding with the kids that I really don’t talk to at school. You should always try the amazing zip line around the Arenal Volcano - the view is breathtaking. I will always remember the guides of this trip and the entire trip. Ms. Boote, Mr. Barnett, Mr. Twomey, and Mrs. Beaulieu thank you for the trip and experience.

Erin H.

            This trip to Costa Rica has taught me so much about teamwork, the environment, and a lot more.  When we first arrived in San José, everyone was so friendly and welcoming to us.  Throughout the entire trip, we did so many different activities like white water rafting, hiking, and zip-lining that helped us to build bonds with everyone that went on the trip.  The activity that stood out the most to me was going to the school and getting to interact with the students there.  We got to talk to the kids in Spanish, which was very cool.  It was very interesting how different the school was from ours.  It was much smaller and more simplistic, which I liked.  Overall, I would say that this trip definitely taught me so much, and to live more in the moment, or Pura Vida.

Julianne M.

There is no combination of words I could put on the back of a postcard to describe how AMAZING my Costa Rica experience has been.  The diverse culture welcomed me and now I want to move to Costa Rica!  The people here are always loving and enjoying life to its fullest.  I wish that everyone in the world would smile just like the people in Costa Rica.  It would make the world a happier place.  The culture in Costa Rica has something that cannot be found in the United States.  I truly discovered this at the school we went to.  I met a boy named Axel.  We had a conversation in Spanish.  We both laughed when one of us had no idea what the other person was saying. We constantly had to ask our guide Lisseth for translations of what we wanted to say.  I enjoyed my time with Axel and I will NEVER forget him. 

My experience at the school changed what I plan on doing when I grow up.  I would like to come back and move to Costa Rica.  Although this may seem crazy, after a lot of thought I actually have a worthwhile plan.  My dream is to open a school.  I will teach all of the kids how to play musical instruments and there will be an orchestra.  Who knows if I will actually accomplish this goal, but meanwhile I will live for the moment, as I have learned in Costa Rica.  Pura Vida!

Lizzie S.

         This trip has led to so many new memories and experiences I thought I would never have. The scenery is breathtaking. Its so beautiful it looks like a picture; sometimes its hard to realize its really there. Everyone here lives so simply. People think that the more you have the less you need, but really the more you have the more you want. The citizens of Costa Rica have only what they need in order to survive and yet they’re perfectly content and satisfied with the life they’re living. The local people are so friendly with one another. Back home, if you walk up to a stranger to introduce yourself they’ll look at you like you have three heads. In Costa Rica, everyone is always happy to meet each other. I’m so happy that I got to experience this trip. It’s been life-changing and I think if anyone turns down the opportunity to vacation here, they’re crazy.

Ruthie W.

            I am so happy that I joined the eco club and went to Costa Rica. This experience has been amazing and I will never forget the fun and exhilarating memories. Every small moment you can learn something new and you will have it forever. There are no real words that describe Costa Rica but the pictures can describe it clearly. A picture is worth a million words in Costa Rica. Every one in Costa Rica is really nice and friendly even to strangers in a big fancy bus. When meeting the children at the school I made a new friend that I will remember forever. It was so much fun to talk to the kids in Spanish and English. They were really smart and it was a great experience. This is an experience of a lifetime no one should ever pass up. Seeing all of the sights and meeting all of the people really is the best time anyone could ever have. I know that some day I will definitely return and I will pass on the experience I got with everyone I know.

Natalie B.

       Joining the Eco club was the best decision of all time! Costa Rica has been the best experience EVER! I love everyone that came along with me. I made so many friends! I’m now great friends with people I didn’t even say hi to in the hall before. I love my guides, Lis, Cristhian, and Jose more than anything! I could not stop crying when I had to say my final goodbyes with them. I am coming back and I am staying in Lis’s guest room with Katie, Nina, and Amanda. We are used to being in close quarters. Whenever I waved to someone from the window of the bus they would smile wave and blow a kiss. They are the happiest and nicest group of people here. Even though they don’t have a lot they are happier than most people in Boston. I love it here and I don’t want to come back but I guess I have to. But I do miss my parents and brothers, also Lisa and Lauren Blasi;) I love the eco club and Costa Rica I will miss it all so much.

Zack H.

         At the beginning of joining eco-club and going to Costa Rica I was nervous about it. My friend and I planned to go together but at the last minute he had to back out of it because he was going to go on a family vacation instead. I almost decided to back out of it since he was, but I am extremely glad I didn’t. This trip was one of the best vacations I have ever gone on. It was weird going on vacation to a place like this with your friends instead of your family. Every thing we did was so fun. Also all of the food that we tried was very good. If I hadn’t gone on this trip to Costa Rica I would have never tried so many new things but I am glad I did.

Troy T.

        This trip to Costa Rica wasn’t just a vacation; it was something bigger. Upon debating whether I should go to Costa Rica at this age with the Eco-Club, I realized that with the help of some of the best people in the world, I wouldn’t need to worry. Costa Rica was somewhere I’d always dreamed of going, and this week my dream came true. I thought Costa Rica would be like America, only with rainforests. Normal people, normal places, regular food, but I realized I was wrong. Everyone in Costa Rica was happy, and I noticed the people there weren’t just keeping the happiness to themselves, but instead they were spreading it, making everyone feel comfortable in Costa Rica. I loved this, because everyone was always happy, and always friendly. The guides made me realize this the most. Not only were they the nicest people I’ve ever met, but they were people who you could count on. I was shy from the beginning around the guides, but we ended up getting to know each other quite well. This showed me that teamwork matters, and that we constantly had something in mind everyday of our trip, such as Expedition Mentality and connecting your life with something that means very little to you, like leaf-cutter ants. I noticed this helped everyone, not just to get to know each other better, but to just become better people. I hope someday others will have this experience, and for now, this was the best experience of my life. ¡Pura Vida!

Emma P.

        This was one of the best experiences of my life that I’m sure I will never forget. Like all unforgettable experiences it had to begin somewhere. For me, it began in a classroom. This wasn’t exactly the first of our meetings as the Parker Eco Club, but it was when I had fully decided to go on this amazing trip to Costa Rica. Let me tell you, there is no doubt in my mind that I am happy that I decided to go. At first, as everyone probably was, I was nervous. Then again, who wouldn’t be; going to a foreign country for a week with a few of your friends and then some other students who you didn’t exactly know well? Still, I fundraised, I worked, and I made it. I made it to this once-in-a-lifetime trip. Throughout the trip my nerves began practically nothing and I found myself getting to know people that I’d never even spoken to much before. I learned a lot about the rainforest, Costa Rican life, and a new culture. Not to mention everyone was nice. If you were to look out the window of our fantastic bus at a random person on the street, they’d wave and smile at you. I don’t think many people would do this in New York or Boston. Then there were the guides that made the trip much better than if we were to just go on our own, it was because of them that we learned so much. They encouraged you to try new things and were always someone you could count on. Without them, the trip wouldn’t have been even as half as good as it was. This trip is something that I will always treasure and on rainy days look back on (remembering the good weather) and smile. Farewell, Costa Rica, I enjoyed my time.

Brian B.

        I was on the fence about going to Costa Rica at first but then everyone kept saying it was a once in a lifetime opportunity. When I first arrived I wasn’t very excited because it was very late and I wanted to sleep. The rest of the week was awesome. My favorite part was the white water rafting. Our guides were so funny and nice, they also knew everything about Costa Rica and taught us a lot as well. All the people there were so nice. On Friday we went to a restaurant and the owner came out and sang to us. She was a very good singer. The food wasn’t my favorite, although I did enjoy the fish. Some day I would like to go back to Costa Rica.

James A.

        I was excited about the opportunity of traveling to Costa Rica as soon as I heard about the Eco Club. It sounded like such an amazing place to go to, and I was also interested in the activities that were in store. When I felt completely exhilarated after a day of white water rafting on only 4 hours of sleep, I knew that this would be a trip to remember. I had a wonderful time immersing myself in the humble Costa Rican culture, and I made a point to try as much as possible. All of our guides were extremely kind and humorous, and they were the ones that truly made this a once in a lifetime experience. I’ve learned so many things in the last week about my peers, Costa Rica, and myself. Thank you to all the chaperones, the guides, and everyone else that made this magnificent trip possible.

Charlie D.

        Last year, Mr. Barnett showed me a video of him on the Tarzan swing and I thought that looks interesting but I didn’t think that I would be going on this trip the following year.  Early this year, I thought this looked like a great trip to go on.  The Eco Club seemed interesting to join so I did and then I went on the trip and now I look back on this trip and realize this was a once in a lifetime experience.  Our tour guides that helped us through this trip were great.  They made it fun and they were very nice and had a lot of knowledge about the country.  I cannot pick which day was my favorite - I could never decide.  The food was pretty decent.  Coming on this trip gave me a lot of knowledge and it is something that everyone who came on this trip can see as an amazing trip.  Thank you to all the chaperones, guides, and everyone who helped us on our trip.

Caleb D.                                                                                      

        I was at first skeptical of trying all the new things that we were going to encounter in Costa Rica. I got frequent headaches during the trip, but once we started doing all the activities all of it went away. It was one of the best experiences of my life. We were on the plane ready to go to Newark, NJ where we would then depart to Costa Rica. I was a bit nervous of the plane ride; you can even ask the people I sat next to. It was inconveniently my second time on an airplane since I was about 6. I was less nervous throughout the whole flight, I had fun before we even got to Costa Rica! I met so many new, and friendly people that I didn’t even think I was ever going to talk to. I learned a whole new fantastic culture, and I had some of the best guides in the world. They taught me so much, and I was so thankful for them to be there. I enjoyed everything so much that I can’t pick a favorite part; I will hold all the memories, the people, and the experience in my heart forever. Thank you to everyone who organized, and paid for me to have this wonderful experience.

Haley R.

       Going to Costa Rica was an unforgettable experience, and I can't believe I'm already back home! While in Costa Rica I learned some valuable lessons, and one of those lessons was Pura Vida. Throughout the trip I could see my peers and myself becoming more comfortable with trying new things, and living in the moment. I did not know many of the people on this trip, but because of our expedition mentality I was able to get know several of them. It seemed like everyone in Costa Rica was friendly, and truly lived by the motto: Pura Vida. I hope that as we go back to school that we can bring this with us, and keep the positive out look that everyone seemed to have while in Costa Rica.  I never want to forget the amazing time we shared together! Thanks for an awesome adventure! 

Thank you to all of the students for bringing such positive attitudes to this trip! It is clear that this experience has made a difference in all of your lives. May you always remember the memories you made in Costa Rica!

*Stay tuned for reflections from Elizabeth D, Mike T, and Matt T.