GLA Dominican Republic Summer Programs for Teens

My name is Shamus Davenport and I am a senior in high school currently. Every single high school summer I have participated in a GLA program. I went on this program, the Dominican Republic: Island Service Adventure during this last Summer from July 10 through July 19. Out of this one and the two other programs I have participated in, this one was definitely my favorite. Not only was this my favorite GLA program, but it was my favorite trip in general. Of course, it’s hard to have a bad time in a place as beautiful as the Dominican Republic, but there is something very special in how GLA forms the overall experience in any trip they put on. There was not a day, an hour, a minute, or a second where I wasn’t thoroughly having fun interacting with locals, my peers, and the environment around me while learning all along the way. Every GLA experience for me is absolutely life changing. I grow my values and widen my perspective. This one was especially life changing for me. I learned all about the local communities and environment and how the two interact with each other on a day-to-day basis. Whether it was through our service or any of the many adventures we went on, there were learning opportunities the entire time. I don't want to spoil all the adventures, but I’ll give you a short overview (as short as I can make it with soo many standout experiences and adventures.) We started off in Santo Domingo, and after a culturally immersive day and night, we started our journey to our home base in Bayahibe. We made a stop in the amazing national park called Tres Ojos. One thing I will say, the food is absolutely wonderful. At home base over the week there was a balanced mix of local cuisines of fresh fruits, rich cakes, and avocados. Then, there were dishes we were more accustomed to for a taste of home and for picky eaters. Then, the next two days had a lot to offer, but we were primarily doing our service which was trail maintenance in Padre Nuestro which is in another amazing national park called Cotubanamá. Following those days of adventure in service, we went to a kids camp and spent the day playing, interacting, and teaching local children. The next day was an adventure day going to a lagoon as well as the beach close to our home base. Following this, the next two days consisted of an eye-opening spectacularly beautiful trip to Saona Island off the coast of the DR. Then our final day was filled with our return to the city of Santo Domingo including a tour teaching us the extensive history of the country's capital. Overall, my favorite part about this experience was the people. The numerous locals we got to know loved showing us the very connected culture of giving and community the Dominican Republic has to offer to all of my peers. A similarity between all of the programs I have been on are the inspiring counselors. Every single one of them I got to know and respect. Just like all of the locals, the counselors bring a unique perspective that everyone enjoys and learns so much from. Then, of course, there are my fellow “campers.” This group was small with eight other people, and I came into the trip a little disappointed because I love connecting with all of the cool kids this organization attracts, but I was very wrong. The small group size allowed everyone to connect and get so close to each other. It’s hard to pick a favorite thing or aspect of any of these programs, but this time the people around me might take the cake. I still talk to both my counselors and friends. I will fully vouch that lifelong connections are made through this experience

This was a unique experience both both kids. They navigated the airline industry on their own to and from as teenagers. They dealt with all manner of challenges and learned they "Can Do It" - whatever it might have been. Both kids came home more mature and aware of the environment while getting some exposure to a very different culture. Upon arrival at the Airport in DR until departure from the same airport days later the kids both reported the trip as fun, informative, challenging, safe, and did I mention FUN?
Cheers from a happy parent.

My trip to the Dominican Republic was an amazing experience. I feel as if this trip had so many different things to offer. From unique learning experiences to fun adventure activities and even great lodging. I went on this trip with little background knowledge of ocean conservation. I went in with an open mind. The service that we did was centered around not only learning about the ocean but also helping the community support conservation. The biggest thing I took away from this learning was that by learning more about how to take care of our coral reefs, I realized how easy it is to make small changes. In my day-to-day life, I can do small things that add up to make a significant impact on keeping our corals and ocean animals healthy. When we weren't doing service, we spent time exploring all that the Dominican Republic had to offer. As I have gone on two GLA trips based on my experience, the lodging for this trip was very comfortable. At the heart of all GLA trips were the people I met, who greatly impacted my experience. Whether that was people in the community or other students on the trip, they all helped to broaden my perspective of the world around me.

My daughter had the most amazing 2 weeks of her life in the Dominican Republic through GLA. The friends and memories she made are priceless. She learned valuable lessons about the lives other people live and it opened her eyes to a life she never would’ve experienced if not for GLA. Along with lessons in volunteerism, she had so much fun doing exhilarating activities like zip lining and canoeing. This experience truly left my daughter open minded to a new world she’s never seen before. P.S she didn’t even mind the limited phone time :).