March 25, 2008, Yarmouth, Maine: Eleven North Yarmouth Academy (NYA) upper school Spanish students, along with Spanish teacher Patia Maule and Chair of the Fine Arts Department Ian Ramsey, traveled to Costa Rica during spring break (March 1 - March 11, 2008). They completed a community service project during the first half of the trip and traveled the country for the remainder of their stay. The trip was hosted by Sustainable Horizon and led by tropical biologist Julio Barrantes Morales.
The first four days were spent with host families in Boruca, a small indigenous community in the southwest of the country, getting to know their host families and building a concrete wheelchair ramp to the local museum and gallery. The NYA group was joined in their work and play by the local Scouts (similar to our Boy or Girl Scouts, except not divided by gender), with whom they played soccer, hiked to several nearby waterfalls to swim, and had a bonfire. During the evenings, the students had a Borucan language lesson, a lesson on painting traditional carved balsa masks, and a Latin dance lesson from one of the host sisters.
During the second half of the trip, they explored the country. They spent three nights in an EcoLodge at an organic farm called Finca Kobo, where they got a "chocolate tour" and learned about how chocolate is made, beginning with the cacao tree and ending with chocolate fondue. They also kayaked one afternoon and spent a day hiking through Corcovado National Park. After Corcovado, they traveled to Manuel Antonio, where they stayed for one luxurious night before a morning at the beach. The final night was spent in San José, where they were treated to traditional marimba playing and fireworks.
Maule summarized, "throughout the trip, we were impressed by how the kids rose to the occasion, and how they articulated their impressions, thoughts, and lessons during our periodic debriefing sessions. They were struck by the difference between Boruca and Manuel Antonio, remarking that the two places seemed like they were in two different countries. Many of them have already said that they want to return to Boruca. We honestly think that this trip--besides being fun, deepening their knowledge of Spanish, and showing them some of what is out there beyond Maine--has had an impact on how these kids view travel. Most of them have moved beyond viewing travel as 'vacation' to seeing travel as an opportunity to connect with people from other places, and to make a difference in their lives."
Participants included: Laura Eaton '08 (Yarmouth), Rachel Darby '09 (Yarmouth), Abigail Moss '09 (Yarmouth), Hallie Powers '09 (Harpswell), Adrianna Twombly '09 (Cumberland Foreside), Abbie McIvor '10 (Cape Elizabeth), Peter Hyndman '09 (Cumberland Foreside), Garrett Bowne '09 (Falmouth), Ben Morse '10 (Yarmouth), Ian Steinbach '10 (Yarmouth), and Eli Gilbert '10 (North Yarmouth).
North Yarmouth Academy is an independent, college preparatory, coeducational day school serving students in grades 6 through 12. NYA is dedicated to fostering integrity, character and intellect in young adults.
For more information, please contact:
Kristi Belesca
Director of Community Development and Communications
North Yarmouth Academy
148 Main Street
Yarmouth, ME 04096
207-846-2380 ext. 9327
kbelesca@nya.org