Costa Rican Summer Service

This past summer, my cousin Ana and I had the incredible opportunity to participate in a Costa Rican summer service volunteer program, and it was honestly one of the most enriching experiences of our lives. We had initially chosen this program because we were excited about the chance to surf in Costa Rica – but the service component turned out to be the highlight of our trip.

From the beginning, we felt supported and welcomed by our program leaders, who were not only super fun but also great mentors. They created an environment where we could learn, grow, and genuinely connect with the local community. Their energy and passion for the work they were doing made everything even more impactful, and we learned so much from them both on and off the field.

The best part of the experience, though, was staying with local families in the community. The warmth and hospitality they showed us were beyond anything we expected, and living with them truly changed my perspective on life. The bonds we formed were so strong that I’m happy to say I still keep in touch with the family I stayed with, which has been such a rewarding connection to maintain.