by Bethel University
COSTA RICA (Written by Joel Washburn) — Thirteen adults and high school students from Bruceton and Camden made a positive impact during their volunteer service in Costa Rica at an animal rescue center and along the beaches of the Pacific coast.
Jenna Patton, a Spanish teacher at Hollow Rock-Bruceton Central High School, served as the group leader on her third trip with Global Citizen Adventure Corps, a non-profit organization based in Dresden, Tennessee. The students were also eligible for three hours of college credit through Bethel University's Global Studies program. Students took an online course, volunteered in the host country, and wrote a capstone paper describing their experience.
Travelers included Faith Wallace (Camden), Melissa Wallace (Camden), Michele Maiden (Camden), Cody Hassell (Camden), Brittany Hassell (Camden), Winnie Hollingsworth (Camden), Brook Needham (Camden), Leah Bradley (Bruceton), Camryn Burke (Camden), Grayson Thompson (Camden), Xander Ivy (Bruceton), and Jonah Hill (Camden).
"This year’s trip to Costa Rica was a transformative experience that will always have a significant place in my heart," said Jenna. "On this journey, my past and present converged in a way I never anticipated. I traveled with not only my current students but also former students from my hometown, including one from my very first year of teaching and a high school friend. I am profoundly grateful for the opportunity to unite these three distinct eras of my life, which led to unforgettable memories that I will treasure."
Throughout the week, the group engaged in three vital volunteer projects, starting with a visit to Hogar Sol, where they donated school supplies and toys. The remaining volunteer work was divided between Wild Sun Animal Rescue and a beach clean-up.
At Wild Sun, the group split into two teams, dedicating two days to complete cage renovations and design interactive food boxes for the monkeys. The three male students — Grayson Thompson, Jonah Hill, and Xander Ivy — demonstrated exceptional leadership and were outstanding mentors for those who needed help with carpentry. The most significant lesson the group learned was the importance of teamwork. While creating the food boxes for the monkey cages, the students combined their ideas and problem-solving skills, fostering creativity through trial and error to design functional and safe solutions for the monkeys.
“I was genuinely impressed by how attentively the students listened to each other and how they persevered when initial attempts didn’t work out. When they encountered obstacles, they regrouped, reassessed, and adapted their strategies. The final outcome was even better than we could have imagined,” said Jenna.
The final day of volunteering involved collecting numerous bags of trash along the beach at Paquera, addressing the environmental impact of waste in various countries.
While on the peninsula, the travelers enjoyed exploring and shopping, hiking to a waterfall in Montezuma, and swimming underneath the falls. At the beaches of Santa Teresa, the group participated in surfing lessons, where the students quickly learned and exhibited the skills of experienced surfers. The water experience concluded with a captivating bioluminescent kayak tour.
“Our dedication to having fun matched our commitment to hard work! Before departing the mainland, we toured the coffee farm at Espíritu Santo, immersing ourselves in the entire process from bean to cup,” said Jenna. “The taste testing at the end of the tour was an undeniable highlight!”
For more information about student and/or adult travel programs, please contact info@globalcitizenadventurecorps.org or freemans@bethelu.edu.