Over Spring Break, students at John Carroll were given the opportunity to travel to Costa Rica. On the trip, they had an amazing time while engaging in service work and tourist experiences. The group which consisted of approximately 30 students departed from Philadelphia on the morning of Saturday, April 12.

For the first half of the trip, travelers settled into mini homes in Santa Maria. They were provided breakfast each morning, and then after eating, they would travel to Dota to begin their service work.

Inspiring individuals from the organization Green Communities led them in their work. The first two days of their service projects, they spent time painting a fence for a soccer field. The local people frequently play games outdoors, and their efforts were much appreciated because the paint gave the fence a fresh, clean look.

The third day of service work was a bit different; the group was able to work on a coffee plantation. They filled up buckets of fertilizer and dispersed them to about 2,000 coffee plants. The work that they did as a group would have taken a local farmer about two weeks to complete, so this was a big accomplishment.

After their service work was completed, the students were able to begin more leisurely activities. This started with an amazing experience hiking to go bird watching in the mountains. The high elevation levels allowed them to spot various species of colorful birds in the trees, and later that day, they were able to swim in a waterfall near a national park.

Nearing the end of the trip, the group traveled to a hotel in Jaco. They were able to swim in the clear waters of the beaches nearby, visit local markets, go zip-lining through the forest, and attend a crocodile safari.

Junior Mason Mowry said, “I enjoyed this trip because we ate amazing food and met amazing people. It was nice to see a life different from ours.”

The trip was filled with laughter and long-lasting memories. It was such an amazing opportunity to get closer to God and meet new friends. Chaperones Mrs. Cathy Edge, Mrs. Kim Zarzycki, Ms. Amanda Reid, and Ms. Katie Smith ensured safety and positivity among the students.

Next year, there is a language trip to Peru. Students who are interested should definitely consider this; they will not regret it.