Between June 15-23, fifteen Trinity Hall students and two faculty chaperones traveled to the Osa Peninsula in Costa Rica – one of the country’s most remote locales, which makes up much of the southern Pacific coastline and is considered one of the most biologically intense places on earth. The trip was planned in partnership with the World Leadership School (WLS), whose mission is to “empower young leaders to find new and innovative approaches to the world’s pressing problems.”
This is the second year of the program at Trinity Hall, which has included the establishment of a partnership with a village and school in the Osa: Dos Brazos De Río Tigre School. In addition to community service and activities at the school, and “homestay” lunches in the village, the trip combines elements of adventure (ziplining), exploration (hiking), biodiversity research (science center), cultural immersion (cooking), and Spanish-language immersion throughout.
Further, the WLS pre-trip and on-trip collaborative leadership development curriculum helps students advance in each of these three areas: self-awareness, listening, and identity. Every traveler disconnected from technology and their normal rhythms of life to fully engage in the program. As a result of the experience, Trinity Hall wants students to: 1. Be able to draw connections between global issues; 2. Develop confidence in the power of action; and 3. Embark on a path of leadership.
Melissa Fairchild, Trinity Hall world language teacher and the leader of this international trip, said, “The Costa Rica trip is something that brings everyone out of their bubble into a world of totally awesome and astonishing biodiversity and a community with open arms. It is pure joy to watch our students realize a new part of who they are because of their experiences during this travel opportunity.”
Read the travel blog here: http://trinityhall2017.weebly.com/blog