Travel Update

We have landed in Seattle! We will board around 1:05 PM with our ETA in Redmond at 2:45. We will do out best to update where but please track the flight: Alaska 2014. See you soon!

Día 9: Señor Lyke

One of the things that has always left a huge impression on me when I have visited the jungle are the sounds. This place is never completely silent and especially not when traveling with thirty-one 8th graders! I really feel like it is something that you can't completely appreciate unless you are able to experience it in person.

Light comes early here in Costa Rica and we have been so fortunate to see and hear so many different animal species on this trip at all hours of the day. As the darkness slowly gave way to sunlight this morning, we were treated once again to a chorus of howler monkeys right outside of our rooms around 4:30 AM. 

I knew that there was an extremely long travel day ahead of us and sleepiness was beckoning me to stay in bed. However, I realized that I might not get this chance for a long time again. So I scrambled out to my balcony and enjoyed the monkey concert and acrobatics for a solid hour and fully immersed myself in the sounds of the jungle.

I also have seen a change in the students in the past 9 days in their ability to slow down and really listen to their environment and it has been an amazing process to observe. In addition to the constant hum of insects or the calling of macaws in the distance, there have also been lots of other human-related sounds. Laughter, heartfelt apologies, questions, lots of Spanish, deep discussions, personal anecdotes, rhythms of salsa and meringue, and so many more.  I think a lot of it has to do with the fact that the students have been completely technology-free during their time here without distractions from the outside world.  This has allowed them to completely immerse themselves in their surroundings as well as put their full attention into this amazing experience.  

It truly has been so special for me to get to know these special young people and I have appreciated their open-mindedness and trust in me. Although I think they have learned a great deal about Costa Rica on this trip, I believe that each of them has learned even more about each other and themselves. And isn't that what travel is all about?

After rafting (photos coming soon), we enjoyed one last shower and meal at the Eco-retreat as well as a final culminating learning session with our WLS leaders.  It is a WLS tradition to end with a candle ceremony where each student gets to share one thing that "rocked" and one thing that they felt like would "stick" with them after this trip all while passing around a rock and a stick.  As we were in the middle of the ceremony a strong rain moved in and we ended up having to finish the second half in a restaurant near San José.

The students showed a great deal of appreciation to the whole eco-retreat staff and were very thankful for the opportunity to stay in the special place.  We said our goodbyes with hopes of one day being able to come back to visit Meghan and her family in Chilamate.

We then took the bus over the pass and had a last yummy Costa Rican meal.  During the second half of the candle ceremony, one of the things that stood out were the connections that students have made with each other on this trip.  It is such a special time at the end of 8th grade when some people will be going their separate ways, but they made it clear that this is a trip that will live on in their memories forever and a big reason is because of the amazing connections that they have made with their peers.

Now we are all checked in at the San José airport and ready for our three flights to make it back home.  Although there is some yawning going on all around me, the energy is still high and there are lots of giggles.  Everyone is looking forward to giving their families big hugs and having a night back in their own beds.

Hasta muy pronto!

Quick Morning Update 6/6 9:00 AM: We are packing up before rafting (our final activity!) on our last morning in Chilamate. The day will go quickly as we need to get over the mountain pass to San José before dark. So, I'm writing now to assure you that we are doing well. I will update you when/if we have internet while waiting for our flight at the airport tonight. ¡Pura vida! -Megan

Día 8: Profe Ama

To recognize something as beautiful, sometimes all it takes is a change of perspective.

CHRISTIAN COOPER

Today we went off to La Fortuna to zip line and hike to the most famous waterfall. In Spanish, la fortuna means fortune. It can also mean luck, success, joy, and, in certain contexts, it also means by chance, by accident, or by coincidence.

As we near the end of the experience I feel so fortunate to have traveled with this curious, empathetic, and adventurous group. Therefore, I invited the kids to share more personally some of the moments we feel fortunate for…

Our zip-lining experience started with a baby sloth sighting and ended in intense rain, lighting, and thunder that made us all shutter. As the skies opened up and cried, we also felt sad to be unable to go see the waterfall and swim, but we were so very lucky to have finished zip-lining right at the perfect moment. Even when situations appear on the surface as “bad,” there’s always something to be grateful for and everything is just as it should be. I am constantly in awe of this group's flexibility and resiliency. They continue to embrace pura vida (literally, pure life but culturally, a way of life.)

With some big smiles, “ay ay aye’s,” giggles, and a touch of nerves, we flew through the canopy like the howler monkeys. As I let out a scream on pretty much all 11 zip lines, the rush of the wind against my face reminded me how alive I was. Flying through the canopies in awe of the jungle, I couldn’t help but feel so appreciative for the perspective of pura vida.

After some time wandering about the plaza in La Fortuna (our alternative to the waterfall hike), buying some souvenirs (and, to be honest, lots of ice cream, too!), we hopped back on the bus. Listening to some Julieta Venegas and some Ay ay ay como me duele, and many other Spanish hits from the past two years together, our tummies full of some rico tico food, full water bottles, and hearts happy, we went back to Chilamate. An iguana, the size of the entire lane, was crossing the road and a few minutes later we spotted two red macaws! This group has been so very fortunate to see so many different animals, most by accident! Truly, this group is very lucky.

Now, we're off to dance some baile folkórico, cumbia, merengue, bachata, salsa for the evening!

Before I sign off tonight, I can’t help but feel so proud of this group, this team, and this family. These soon-to-be high schoolers have been pushing themselves to speak Spanish, try new things, and ask good questions about themselves and the world. I am coming home with my heart full of gratitude for each person who has been a part of this journey this entire year and also my tummy full of rice and beans. ;) Thank you so very much to every traveler, their families, and the entire leader team for their confidence in us and support in this life-changing experience for these very fortunate students. I am beaming with joy and simultaneously sad that I won’t hear too many more “Profe Ama?’s” from these dear ones much more.

Día 7: Jacobo

Jacobo: Our last day of rotations means that everyone has completed the community excursions. Today La Finca was the last excursion for our group, and we saved the best for last.

Daniel runs a small organic farm outside Chilamate, focusing on sustainability and increasing the local biodiversity. Daniel greeted us today with a warm smile and a gigantic heart and led us through various aspects of his farm. The first part was feeding his pigs! He uses the pigs primarily for their caca, he uses it as part of his fertilizer mixture. The students’ hearts melted immediately feeding adorable pigs green leaves. The students smiled along with the squeaks and oinks.

Daniel uses the caca for his blend in organic fertilizer which he sells to other organic farms. Caca, worm dirt, calcium power, and sawdust is all it takes. hHe says it lasts 6 months, while modern industrial fertilizer only lasts around 22 days. The students used shovels to homogenize the mixture, taking turns to get the hang of it.

Two of the main crops that Daniel has are (the best in the world black) pepper, and vanilla. Daniel explained to the students that he has to pollinate the pepper plant by hand since the natural ones have been killed off by pesticides in the area. Then he showed the students how he uses other larger trees to help the vines grow up. Same with the vanilla, he uses larger canopy trees for the vanilla to grow up on. Needless to say, he has an organic solution for most things on his farm. 

After wonderful arepas y jugo, we listened to Daniel’s story of his life before the farm, working for local pineapple and banana farms. He illegally bulldozed the forest at night for companies, in order to increase plantation size. He buried all the trees and animals so there was no trace of the jungle in the morning. He was not allowed to tell anyone what he was doing, the company threatened them and their jobs. His sorrow and pain were the catalyst for him to stand up against the company which employed him, and with 7 others, buy his farm in 1999. Since then, he has been mending his heart day by day, plant by plant, spreading love and the benefits of organic, sustainable farming. Despite pressure from local companies and multinational corporations (like Monsanto), he continues to fight for his right to exist and thrive.

We then were asked to help him plant new trees on a lower section of his farm. He is trying to seed more biodiversity and bolster endangered trees on his farm. He had a bucket of seedlings and we followed him down the path. He explained to the students to consider each of these seedlings their own plants, and that he will simply take care of them. He hopes that we can come back to visit him and see how our trees are doing. Looking down the way, I saw where our trees from last year had already grown about 4 feet. Each student planted and left their own tree. Daniel reminded everyone that trees give us oxygen and, more importantly, life. It was a very profound experience, one that I think everyone will cherish.

We finished with a wonderful lunch in his house and had the opportunity to buy his pepper, vanilla extract/beans, and bracelets made by his (very popular) grandson, Josue.

After returning, everyone had an opportunity to visit a small group of local artisans selling their crafts. Gifts were bought, Spanish was used, and it was nice to support Local people.

The rain started in the early evening, and it continued through bedtime. Thunder and lightning were all round, but it couldn’t dampen the student’s playfulness or laughter.  We played bingo using our Spanish, and then finalized the night with ANCHOR. Tomorrow we head out for La Fortuna, and the end of our trip is coming into view.

Good night from Chilamate, un abrazo a todos

Jacobo

Día 6: Profe Kruer

We settle deeper into our Tica lifestyle every day. Though some students seem a bit over the beans and rice, others claim they could eat this comida muy rica for the rest of their lives. I don't think I have found anyone, though, who prefers the heat and humidity of Sarapiquí to our serene home in the high desert. It is hot. 

Tonight, Mag led an exploration of the UN Sustainability Goals during the WLS leadership lesson. She asked students to find examples of efforts to achieve the goals in Chilamate and then to select five goals that would be the foundation of their utopian country. I felt enormously proud of the knowledge and empathy students communicated during this discussion as they brought their learning from the MUN unit to life here in Costa Rica. 

The value of difference is something that makes the partnership between Seven Peaks School and the World Leadership School so special. Working with Johan, Mag, and Valeria (a Chilamate local!) shows students that global-mindedness isn't just something weird we do because we are IB. Rather, cultural connection begins when students can approach others with an open mind, empathy, and vulnerability. These traits have been modeled by each student throughout this trip. Our WLS Leaders have noticed this. Every day, they remark on how collaborative and respectful our students are. When they make a mistake, they not only own it but reflect--usually unprompted--and make a plan for how to do better. 

For these past six days, watching students overcome fears of bugs, the discomfort of an endlessly sweaty body, and the intellectual challenge to speak Spanish has confirmed for me something that, in the last weeks teaching 8th-grade L&L, I often forget. These students--your children--are incredible. They are resilient, supportive, patient, and deeply good. I know we adults can forget this when we see the silly choices kids this age can make. But when it comes right down to it, your kids are exceptional humans. 

-Megan

Community Rotation #2

Today my student rotation group went to the nature reserve: Refugio Lapa Verde (Green Macaw Refuge). So far, my group (shared with Chris Lyke!) has visited the refugio and la finca. Both visits focus on developing students' understanding of the impact of industrial agriculture on this biodiverse region. Learning about the negative impact of monoculture and the lack of regulations on land use makes me personally grateful for the ways that Oregon protects natural resources.

Lideres del día: Roark, Charlotte, y Hannah

Today's leaders of the day were Roark, Charlotte, and Hannah. They led us in our evening ANCHOR session. We have decided to do half the ANC- (Appreciations, News, and Concerns) as a whole group and then to break into our Community rotation groups for -HOR (Health, Oh, cool stuff!, and Reflection). Tonight's appreciations, lead by Hannah, marked a tremendous shift in the vibe here at the eco retreat. During out first ANCHOR, most students predictably shouted out appreciations to their friends. The extent of appreciation was, "thanks for being cool." Not tonight. Tonight, the students recognized the rotation group members, teachers, staff, and community members who supported them throughout the day. So many little gestures that made our students feel included, seen, and safe were acknowledged. 

But how is it really going, you might be wondering...

Honestly, it's going amazingly well. 

A bit from behind the scenes: every morning, the SPS teachers meet to check-in. We struggled to find time to meet last year, so we have made this time together in the mornings somewhat sacred. Among other things, it is the time when we collaborate on student concerns to reach a consensus. It is invaluable to go into a conversation with a student knowing that I have a team of leaders behind me and that our responses are intentional and consistent for all students. 

The other time SPS leaders connect this year is writing the blog. I can't help but smile as I recall each teacher taking a turn to write the blog these past evenings. Usually, the only time we have for this is between 9 and 10, after students must be in the rooms but before lights out. Each night, we sit together in a common area laughing, reflecting, and decompressing while one person toils to share a glimpse of this incredible experience with you.

While we are behind the scenes, I can't help but recognize Ama. The amount of time, care, and attention she put in to make this trip successful this year cannot be overstated. From "el diario de los intesintos" to behavior plan, each forethought at home makes this time together smoother and safer for everyone. Just this morning, Ama reminded us that though things are going great, such times are when we encounter greater risk because we let down our guard. 

I cannot express how grateful I am and how secure I feel with her vigilance and experience guiding us. I know you, parents, join me in appreciating her amazing and generous work. 

Día 5: Señor Lyke

“Outside of your comfort zone is where the magic happens!”  

This is my wife’s favorite quote and these incredible 8th-grade students have truly been living by this week.

For me, it has been an honor and a pleasure to be included in this special excursion and to be able to get to know these amazing young people over the past few days.  I have been so proud that they have successfully pushed themselves to be risk-takers and I especially enjoyed seeing so many of them making themselves vulnerable by speaking Spanish in front of their peers as well as in the local community today. 

The day started without any rain. So even early in the morning, it was clear that it would be the hottest day of the trip so far.

After another filling and delicious breakfast, the “leaders of the day” took us through AMP (analyze, manage, and prepare) to get us ready for the activities of the day. It has been really special to see the students take ownership of this process and display their communication skills with their classmates.

The students were very excited about the first excursion, which included a very short bus ride to the “Costa Rica Best Chocolate” ecotourism tour. Guía led us through the whole undertaking of turning cacao into chocolate. The students had the opportunity to see and try out each step in the process, which included fermentation, drying, roasting, shelling, and grinding.

In addition to the interactive parts, the guide helped us to realize that one of the most important things for their organization is to make sure that their chocolate production is done in an ecologically sustainable way and that the local community benefits from tourist groups like ours. They even set up one day each year when the locals are able to come to visit the chocolate tour for free!

The highlight for everyone was all the taste testing that we got to do: cacao beans right out of the pod, roasted beans, liquid chocolate, comparing industrial and homemade chocolate, milk chocolate, dark chocolate, more, more, more! It was all so good and we couldn’t get enough!

After all of the chocolate eating, there was some time for purchasing treats to share at home (if they don’t eat it all here!) and then it was back to the eco-resort for another yummy lunch that was all in Spanish!

In the afternoon, it was time for the “cultural challenge” activity, which was the perfect opportunity for the estudiantes to show their well-honed collaboration skills.

The initial test of their teamwork included being taped up together with their group members and walking as a unit to the “starting line” without breaking the tape!  Then it was on to the 5 “passport control” stations in the local community. The students had to orientate themselves with the map to the activities, which included learning about and tasting sweet yucca, flipping a raft over and climbing back into it, learning some local dance moves, making and eating their own tortillas, and even milking a cow!

Throughout the activities, the students did such an amazing job of speaking Spanish both within their group and with community members. I personally was able to witness so many special connections happening. One thing that stood out for me was seeing Caden mention to one of the women how making tortillas went so well for him because she was such a good teacher!

We were able to get back to the eco-resort with a storm rolling in and a nice rain to cool things down in the evening.  The students were then led through a reflection activity with the World Leadership School leaders where they presented the activities of the day to their peers in Spanish!  (There was really a lot of Spanish today!)

All are now winding down and preparing for a good sleep and another full day of activities tomorrow!

--Mr. Lyke

Día 4: Profe Ama

"And now here is my secret, a very simple secret: 

It is only with the heart that one can see rightly; what is essential is invisible to the eye." 

The Little Prince 

Waking up to the clouds and the deep groans of the howler monkeys, we stumble out of bed early this morning to take a nature walk around the property. With tea in hand and my 8 little patitos (aka El grupo élite) in tow, we began our walk around the property. To be honest, I had little expectation that we would see anything "exciting," but I couldn't have been more wrong. Immediately the tiny little red frogs came in sight showing off their blue jean pants, the bullet ants and spider ants began marching about, seed pods falling like gavilánes. Then later, bigger things came into sight -- a parrot, a sloth, a tiger heron, a toucan, a hawk, 3 of the biggest hummingbirds in Costa Rica (a very rare sighting, we hear!). Suddenly, just like that, the symbiotic relationship between my dear advisory group and the wild jungle--the place we are living currently--came into focus as the rain pitter pattered on the brim of my hat. We would have never known that there was a sloth above us or so many darting frogs near our feeters had we not stoped to pause, to really hear and fully listen. As I continued to look around today, soaking it all in, and listening to the sounds of life and what I am "seeing" among our group, our little family. From my small advisory group to the larger group, coupled with what we have been cultivating, the secret of Chilamate is definitely invisible to the eye. It is quite impossible to fully see it all but it must simply be experienced with the heart.

With love from Chilamate,

Profe Ama 

La caminata del bosque lluvioso 

As I sit here writing this post, Johan, one of our WLS guides (and expert wildlife photographer!) is engaging the kiddos in an icebreaker activity and shares, "It's easy to do any action but the hardest thing is to LISTEN." We played some Spanish charade games earlier, honing in on our theme of truly listening to nature and to each other. As we learned about pushing our comfort zones while staying in our learning zone, we tried to experience each moment presently, trying to see beyond what's on the surface. From interacting with our local soccer community players to sharing more deeply with those who are not in their friend group, from practicing one of our group goals of repairing to creating an laundry & water bottle washing businesses, we dove into "what is essential is invisible to the eye." Our evening ANCHOR question of What leadership skills have you been using? was a beautiful culmination to our day spent learning "the secrets" not only about ourselves and each other, but also the jungle and the special characteristics and moments that go by unnoticed. 

Profe Ama 

¡Jugando fútbol!

WLS Learning Sessions & some fun photos :) 

Las reflexiones del día...

Día 3: Señor Gonzales

Jacobo:  We awoke to light rain hitting tin roofs and cooler temperatures. After a wonderful breakfast in the Costa Rican style, we started out to one of our 3 main community activities: la escuela, la finca, y la reserva. Each group will rotate during our journey, and today my group headed out for la reserva Lapa Verde. 

A short bus ride from CRER, we headed up a small dirt path to the main lodge of the reserve. Jonathan greeted us, and started on the history of the reserve, and the animals that call it home. He showed the students pictures of the typical nocturnal mammals that were captured by various motion cameras. We learned about various frogs and snakes in the area, and then after the presentation was finished, we headed out on a hike to set up more cameras, hopes to find various wildlife, and to an observation platform.

The walk was green and the sounds of society were gone as we headed deeper into the jungle. In a clear patch we started our first scan for life. Due to the rain from the morning, finding our first frog took seconds. Small poison dart frogs started to appear left and rigth once the eye knew what to look for. The students were excited to be taught how to hold them and handle them and their smiles were contagious. Next we set up 3 motion cameras so that Jonathan can continue his count of wildlife migration patterns. After finding 2 Toucans and  8 Green Macaws, we made it up the final hill to a wonderful viewing platform. We could see into Nicaragua from the top, and enjoyed the climb and cool breeze. We headed back and had a wonderful lunch at the reserve lodge and said goodbye to the staff.

The rain gone, and bluer skies ahead, we made it to the river today as well. Students enjoyed the cold water and the group play. We settled down for another wonderful dinner and then finalized the day with our ANCHOR meeting. Led by Laila, Lucas, and Caden, we reflected on our day, how we are doing, and prepared for tomorrow. As we settle in tonight, the rains is back, temperatures are cool, and students await our new adventures tomorrow.

Jacobo

Ethnobotanist Activity

Our first activity was visiting Jaime, a local ethnobotanist, who taught us about the medicinal properties of just a few plants in this area. Here are some of the photo highlights from our visit. 

Russell Truell shared his reflection from his diario. Mag asked students to reflect on what they had observed about Costa Rica. 

Día 1

Arriving at the San José airport brought a rush of excitement for students anticipating their adventure and us returning teachers recalling the magic of this program. We were greeted as soon as we got through immigration and customs by our three WLS leaders. We created a bag brigade to load all the bags on the bus and made the short 10-minute drive to the hotel.  

We will take off around 9 AM tomorrow for the 2.5-3 hour drive to Chilamate, our destination for most of our stay. 

We landed in LA, ate, and are waiting to board our flight to San José. Students have been doing a great job using their honed ATLs and Learner Profile traits to enjoy the time together safely. Highlights include a suitcase fort, numerous card games, and a holiday sing-along while taxiing!