Highlights on the Halfway Point of Hawaii Mini

Just a few days ago marked the halfway point in our Hawaii Mini Semester adventure! We have been in Hawaii for a little over three weeks now, and I already have so many memories that I will cherish forever. Here are just a couple of my many highlights.  Camping on the beach under the stars at Ho’okena beach park in Kona was beautiful and definitely out of some people's stretch zone but a serene and humbling experience as well. During that week we got to attend surf camp… Read more

Category Hawaii
Departure Spring 2022

Homestays in the Agato Community

This week, the group has been adjusting to and getting to know our homestay families in the Agato Community in Otavalo, Ecuador. Five families welcomed 3-4 of us into each of their homes, and we’ve spent each morning doing volunteer work in the community. Some of the projects have included cleaning up community spaces such as parks and soccer fields, regenerative gardening, and moving debris. We’ve also gotten to experience Kichwa Spring Equinox traditions.   On Sunday… Read more

Category South America
Departure Spring 2022

Mangrove Restoration in Southern Thailand

Read about the adventures of the Thailand Mini Students on their second week of program!   What a week it’s been! The majority of it was spent at the lovely, environmentally conscious organization, NatureMind-Ed. Our homebase was Spirit Mountain, a lush tropical garden directly adjacent to a massive jungle-covered limestone karst. NatureMind is a project that inspires environmental connection and social and cultural sustainability to improve human health and nurture th… Read more

Category Thailand
Departure Spring 2022

Our Kayaking Adventure in Costa Rica

Starting this blog off right by sharing that we successfully completed our 3 day kayaking journey! That covered 25km of Costa Rican, clear crisp and sunny coastline! During this trip we saw a variety of wildlife including monkeys and some very social dolphins that came right up to the kayaks. We were led by our leaders who were up for the challenge, Nathan and Allie. When we stepped into our first campsite we knew it was special. We all enjoyed jumping off the dock, esp… Read more

Category Costa Rica
Departure Spring 2022

The Start of Hawaii Mini's Adventure!

We’ve just surpassed the one-week milestone in our Hawaii Mini Semester trip, here’s how it went! We began our adventure in the beautiful town of Pahala staying at a Sugar Cane Plantation, full of rich history and scenic views. Natalie and Liz, our instructors, laid out the laws of the land, risk management, and the importance of communication during orientation over the next two days. In between orientation sessions we got the chance to really get to know each other an… Read more

Category Hawaii
Departure Spring 2022

Our First Week in Costa Rica!

We’ve just hit the one-week mark of our Costa Rica journey, and we’re living that “pura vida” life. Our first stop was a beautiful lodge in San Miguel, aptly named Epic Adventure. In between orientation sessions, we found time to get to know each other, as well as the lush rainforest around us. Nathan and Jordan led multiple hikes down the mountain to a beautiful river, where Freddy was always enthusiastic to go for a quick swim. We also made time for a few impromptu soc… Read more

Category Costa Rica
Departure Spring 2022

Volunteering in Peru, Our Most Memorable Experience

When we first signed up for this trip, we all discussed the things we were most excited for. Machu Picchu, the Galápagos Islands, and rafting the Amazon were some of the group’s most anticipated activities. However, if you asked our group what our most memorable experience was thus far, I’m confident most would answer our stay with the Llama Pack Project. Our experience began with a grueling hike to Cancha Cancha, a rural village located high in the Andes mountains. As … Read more

Category South America
Departure Spring 2022

Chasing Volcanoes in Guatemala

This past week has been full of so many adventures! After our Volcan Pacaya hike last week, we stepped it up and climb Volcan Acatenango. This 8 hour hike took us up to an elevation of 11,480 feet (or 3500 meters). We felt like we were on top of the world. The best part? We were right next to the neighboring active volcano, Fuego. From our campsite, we watched as Fuego erupted every half hour. Fuego would alert us of an eruption with a sound similar to thunder, then a br… Read more

Category Central America
Departure Spring 2022

Our top 10 epic moments on the Central America Program

Throughout this past month we have had some of the best experiences of our lives. Here are our top 10 most epic moments of the trip so far.  10. The cenotes in TulumOne of my favorite parts of Tulum was getting to experience the various cenotes in the area. A cenote is a cave-like formation, typically with freshwater, where we got to enjoy activities like cliff-jumping and swimming. These formations were also sacred to the ancient Mayan populations, which made the exper… Read more

Category Central America
Departure Spring 2022

Taking a Gap Year Before Grad School: Should You Do It?

If you remember anything about growing up, you probably remember that nearly everyone has always encouraged you to go to college... and not stop going until you get the perfect job.  It's no secret that to get a higher-paying, professional full-time career, you usually need a degree higher than a bachelor's degree. However, that's not always the case. There are plenty of different paths to take after graduating college that do not mean you're steering away from a succes… Read more

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