Elle's Student Service Trip

Tell us about the service trip you just completed. Where did you go, and what was the main focus of the trip?

The service trip I just completed was with my school, Our Lady of The Bay Catholic High School. We were traveling to Costa Rica and flew into Liberia on Sunday Januray 5th, then visited the Camp Caño Negro in Los Chiles and went to Monteverde before heading back to Liberia to catch our plane home the following Sunday, the 12th. The main focus of the trip was to go to Camp Caño Negro and help out in the village and community however they needed us to. We didn't know exactly what we were doing until we got there, but they let us know that we would be restoring their greenhouse in the village, re-building a community garden in the camp, and planting trees along with cleaning up the trail where we were going to plant the trees.

What was one of the most impactful or rewarding moments from the trip?

I would say there were two moments that stood out to me from the trip. One was when my group got to play a soccer game with the kids in the community. We had been working in the greenhouse that morning, so being able to relax and have fun was really nice. When we first met the other kids, they didn't know that much English, and we couldn't speak much of their language either so it was a little hard to communicate, but once the game started none of that mattered. Whenever someone got a goal everyone would high five and we cheer and everyone could understand each other that way. It really gave us a chance to connect with people who live completely different lives for me and my friends. It was also nice being able to see what our couple days of work were going towards. The other impactful moment was when my group would sit down every night after dinner and have a "daily reflection". When I first heard of this idea I thought it would be annoying and just wanted some free time with my friends, but after the first few nights it became something I looked forward to. On the last night of the trip when we had our daily reflection it felt really special. I was with some friends, but mostly people I had never had a conversation with or even smiled at in the hallways at school. Having these talks really changed my perspective on who I was with and showed how amazing it felt when people are able to make genuine connections within such a short period of time. 

How did this experience shape your perspective on community or wellness?

It shaped my perspective because it gave me a chance to really live in a new community, not just go on a vacation. Most trips to Costa Rica are to the beachy and more favourable places, but I really liked going more inland and to a small village because it showed me how beautiful it could still be, even though not as many people give it the recognition. Part of the beauty was how strong their sense of community was. They made my group feel welcomed and empowered which made us want to work even harder, to repay the favour. 

What challenges did you face, and how did you overcome them?

Some challenges I faced were just being in a different environment overall. When staying at the camps, me and three of my other friends were all in one tiny cabin with three sets of bunk beds and barely enough floor space for us to put our bags down. As the trip went on, more and more examples came up and it allowed me to almost take a step back and realize how I can do things differently, and most times, for the better. When we were working in the greenhouse, one job was to empty out a bunch of these small plastic bags that were holding dirt, then wash and dry them so seeds could be replanted in them. Afterwards, I was talking with my teacher and we realized if we had to do this at home we probably would have just bought more bags instead of repurposing them because it was easier. That experience showed how even though the community didn't have as much money or things like we do here, they were still surviving and thriving because of their smart, not wasteful decisions and how they don't avoid doing the hard things, because it takes too much effort or time. The trip really put a new perspective on sustainability for me and what I can be doing better. I'm very happy that I got this experience and I won't forget the lessons that I learnt while I was there. 

Thank you Elle for sharing your incredible experience with us.

Your reflections on community, sustainability, and making genuine connections truly show your growth and thoughtful perspective. It’s inspiring to hear how this trip not only impacted you personally but also helped you gain a deeper understanding of the importance of giving back and being mindful of how we live.

We are so proud of your dedication to learning, your openness to new experiences, and your commitment to making a positive difference. You embody the spirit of kindness and growth, and we can’t wait to see where your journey takes you next. Keep shining, Elle—you're making a meaningful impact, and we’re lucky to have you as part of the LC community!