My GLA Dominican Republic Island Service Adventure Experience

My name is Shamus Davenport and I am a senior in high school currently. Every single high school summer I have participated in a GLA program. I went on this program, the Dominican Republic: Island Service Adventure during this last Summer from July 10 through July 19. Out of this one and the two other programs I have participated in, this one was definitely my favorite. Not only was this my favorite GLA program, but it was my favorite trip in general. Of course, it’s hard to have a bad time in a place as beautiful as the Dominican Republic, but there is something very special in how GLA forms the overall experience in any trip they put on. There was not a day, an hour, a minute, or a second where I wasn’t thoroughly having fun interacting with locals, my peers, and the environment around me while learning all along the way. Every GLA experience for me is absolutely life changing. I grow my values and widen my perspective. This one was especially life changing for me. I learned all about the local communities and environment and how the two interact with each other on a day-to-day basis. Whether it was through our service or any of the many adventures we went on, there were learning opportunities the entire time. I don't want to spoil all the adventures, but I’ll give you a short overview (as short as I can make it with soo many standout experiences and adventures.) We started off in Santo Domingo, and after a culturally immersive day and night, we started our journey to our home base in Bayahibe. We made a stop in the amazing national park called Tres Ojos. One thing I will say, the food is absolutely wonderful. At home base over the week there was a balanced mix of local cuisines of fresh fruits, rich cakes, and avocados. Then, there were dishes we were more accustomed to for a taste of home and for picky eaters. Then, the next two days had a lot to offer, but we were primarily doing our service which was trail maintenance in Padre Nuestro which is in another amazing national park called Cotubanamá. Following those days of adventure in service, we went to a kids camp and spent the day playing, interacting, and teaching local children. The next day was an adventure day going to a lagoon as well as the beach close to our home base. Following this, the next two days consisted of an eye-opening spectacularly beautiful trip to Saona Island off the coast of the DR. Then our final day was filled with our return to the city of Santo Domingo including a tour teaching us the extensive history of the country's capital. Overall, my favorite part about this experience was the people. The numerous locals we got to know loved showing us the very connected culture of giving and community the Dominican Republic has to offer to all of my peers. A similarity between all of the programs I have been on are the inspiring counselors. Every single one of them I got to know and respect. Just like all of the locals, the counselors bring a unique perspective that everyone enjoys and learns so much from. Then, of course, there are my fellow “campers.” This group was small with eight other people, and I came into the trip a little disappointed because I love connecting with all of the cool kids this organization attracts, but I was very wrong. The small group size allowed everyone to connect and get so close to each other. It’s hard to pick a favorite thing or aspect of any of these programs, but this time the people around me might take the cake. I still talk to both my counselors and friends. I will fully vouch that lifelong connections are made through this experience