This past summer, 24 adventurous Girl Scouts from GSSNE traveled to Costa Rica to embark on a service learning adventure! Along with their leaders, these girls identified a community need that stretched across borders and developed a take-action project to address that need.
Well before the girls packed their bags, they researched Costa Rica’s warming climate, learned about the toll of heavy storms which are changing the Pacific coast of the country, and the wide-spread erosion which is contributing to lost land, homes and habitats. But girls also discovered how they could be part of the solution—by transporting and planting native trees with tight root systems they could help create a strong land mass to fend off erosion and stabilize the land.
Over the course of many months,
the girls successfully raised 25%
of the total cost of the Service
Learning trip. Then, over 9 incredible
days in Costa Rica, the girl’s trip
planning and organizational skills
helped them navigate a place that
was foreign to them. This allowed
them time to take every opportunity
to learn about the local environment,
culture and the sustainability of their
plan. These 24 girls transported, dug
and planted 140 trees, helping the
local ecosystem, the community and
making a difference in the lives of the people living there.
“It has been an amazing experience. I’m excited to help keep the rivers from expanding, so people like us can have the same opportunity as us.”
-Jordan, 2018 Costa Rica Travel Participant
GSSNE is thrilled to offer travel opportunities for girls to see new places, meet new people and learn about different cultures and ideas.
Council sponsored travel experiences are not only fun and exciting—they bring awareness of different perspectives and connections, expands girls’ knowledge about different customs, cultures, and beliefs, and strengthens girl’s interpersonal skills to
help them navigate new experiences with confidence, maturity and flexibility. Travel experiences are opportunities for girls to build valuable life skills that will serve them
now and throughout their lives.
“There is no greater reward than working from your heart and
making a difference in the world.” –Anna, 2018 Costa Rica Travel Participant
Please consider supporting these life changing experiences for our girls.
Click here to give today!
Service Learning: Costa Rica 2018!