Snowstorm postpones trip until April

It is with great disappointment that I share some unfortunate news about Parker's trip to Costa Rica. Due to a snowstorm the night before our scheduled departure, our flight to Costa Rica was cancelled. After a frantic few days exploring every possible option, it became clear that there were just no more flights with space for our 27 travelers.

Several news stories have reported that this winter has seen more flight cancellations than we've had in the past 25 years! I guess that's the risk one takes when trying to fly out of New England in February...

We are all very disappointed that the trip could not happen this February, but the good news is that we have been able to postpone the trip until April vacation. Almost all of the students have confirmed that they can go in April, so they will not have to miss out on this amazing opportunity.

Certainly not the way we had envisioned things turning out, but check back again in April for "Take 2" of Parker Eco Club's Costa Rica trip. Hopefully there will be no April snowstorms to postpone our departure then!

Until next time,

Mr. Barnett

Students are looking forward to...

We are stuck at home with a snow day today with only three more days until our departure! Luckily the weather looks clear for our flight out of Boston on Sunday so hopefully we will not run into any delays in our travel schedule.  I am enjoying a little extra time at home to pack and get ready for the trip, as well as getting a chance to post some of the things our fantastic group of students has to say before leaving for Costa Rica.

At one of our Eco Club meetings leading up to the trip we had students write about what they were most looking forward to, and here is some of what they had to say:

“I’m really excited to see all the wildlife that Costa Rica has, and I think it will be really cool to see different things that we don’t see in Massachusetts. In Costa Rica, I want to be able to come back with more knowledge of the Spanish language after visiting the school, and to possibly conquer my fear of heights when we go zip lining.”

- Isabella A.

“I am most looking forward to Costa Rica for the fun activities like zip lining and white water rafting. I am also looking forward to trying new foods and visiting the school. I want to meet new people and help out the school.  I am looking forward to everything. I can’t wait!”
- Alice G.

“I’m most excited about meeting new people and being in a new environment. I accomplish to try something that I have never done before. I’m looking forward to seeing all the different plants and flowers. I’m also looking foreword to trying new foods. I am excited about everything!”
- Shelby G.

“I am most looking forward to experiencing the new culture.  I love trying new foods, activities, and traditions.  My 9^th grade friends have told me a lot about how much they loved Costa Rica.   I want to be educated well I’m having fun at Costa Rica.  I am very excited.”

- Molly O.

“I am most excited to experience the different culture in Costa Rica, like their food and their favorite hobbies. I am also looking forward to visiting the elementary school. I want to see the different animals and plants there, like the frogs, monkeys, and exotic plants too. I can't wait to go!”

- Sarah M.

“I am most excited about seeing a Red-Eyed Tree Frog on the Costa Rica trip. The Red-Eyed Tree Frog is my favorite animal. On this trip, I hope to have my first conversation in Spanish with a kid in Costa Rica.”

- Josh L.

“I am extremely excited to visit Costa Rica, and especially excited to see lots of frogs. I have a pet Dwarf African Frog named Kenny, who has been with me for over four years. I am also a "farmer" of sorts and I grow a variety of herbs and tomatoes. By participating in this trip, I hope to learn more about plants and some techniques for growing a very productive herb and vegetable garden. I am also excited about seeing lots of animals I would never see in snowy Massachusetts.”

- Jacob B.

“I am very excited to be taking a trip to Costa Rica. One of the things I am most excited about is seeing all the wildlife. I enjoy seeing animals in their natural habitat and learning about how they live. I also am looking forward to going zip lining. I like the thrill of trying new things and being challenged. That’s why I think I will enjoy being in Costa Rica.”

- Kirsten S.

“On this trip, I’m really going for the adventure and fun Costa Rica has to offer. However, I’m really looking forward to going zip lining and white-water rafting. Most of all though, I can’t wait to go to the Costa Rican school to get speak Spanish.

On this trip, I really want to learn about the different environment that Costa Rica has with its Rain Forests and Jungles. I really am excited to be able to see the different animals and creatures that Costa Rica. I can’t wait.”

- Ty W.

“Estoy muy emocionado de ir tirolesa. No puedo esperar a probar alimentos nuevos. Este viaje será una gran experiencia.”

- Mia L.

“I am really excited for the zip lining (of course), but I am also really interested in learning about the Costa Rican ecosystems and how Costa Rica implements sustainable tourism (maybe the US has some lessons to learn from them)! My goal on this trip is to at least attempt to have a decent conversation in Spanish with the students we visit while on this trip. Also, I would like to just have fun!”
- Molly J.

“What I am most looking forward to on the trip is to go see the frogs and to zip line. My goal is to meet new people and find animals, and also to learn more Spanish.”

- Shannon P.

“I am thrilled to be going to Costa Rica this February, and I truly believe that it will be a once in a lifetime opportunity.  One of the reasons I look forward to this trip is because the citizens speak Spanish; therefore, it will allow me to practice the skills I have been learning in class. I also can’t wait to be immersed in a completely different culture, and I am interested to try many new foods and learn new ways of life. Lastly, the adventures of Costa Rica, such as zip lining and white water rafting excite me.

            During the trip to Costa Rica, I hope to learn a few things. I hope to simply be taught more about the culture by learning about the people, food, and traditions within the country. I am especially interested in going to visit the children at the school because I want to support and play with them. In addition to this, I hope to be taught about the wildlife species and learn about their habitats and behavior. Additionally, I want to grasp a greater understanding of how Costa Ricans conserve the environment, so I myself can be more “green”.”

- Katelyn M.

*Note: Unfortunately not all of the students were able to be included in this post, so apologies to those who are not mentioned.

Almost ready to go!

Excitement has been building for the Parker Eco Club's 2014 trip to Costa Rica! We will be starting our journey in less than a week, leaving behind the snow and polar vortices of Boston for the sun and tropical rain forests of Central America.

This year's crew consists of 23 eighth grade students and 4 teacher chaperones. Students are looking forward to learning about Latin American culture, practicing their Spanish skills at a local school, exploring the nature of the rain forest, and experiencing the thrills of white-water rafting and zip lining. Thanks to some generous fundraising efforts we will be making a sizeable donation to the El Futuro School this year. We have a fantastic group of students who are excited to embark on what promises to be an unforgettable trip!