CHP REP INFO | Costa Rica Community Service

Recently 2017 Senior Rep, Gabi, went on a community service trip to Costa Rica with others and I asked her to share the experiences she encountered. Here is her story:

This summer I had the incredible opportunity to travel to Costa Rica to take part in a community service project. I was privileged to work with sea turtles, more specifically, the Olive Ridley turtle, in an effort to conserve the species to prevent their extinction. My whole life I’ve had a passion for helping animals, and I’ve always been extremely interested in marine biology, so this was an opportunity that was perfectly suited for me.

This was an experience that undeniably required me to get out of my comfort zone, especially since I had to travel by myself and because I didn’t know a single person that would be on my trip. It was definitely worth it though, as it allowed me to grow as a person, and I was instantly able to create new friendships; we all connected so well because we all shared the same passions and goals for our futures.

Once we got to our base camp we completed a total of 30 community service hours for the week. Primarily these hours were spent working at the hatchery and going on night walks. We worked to fill up sand bags to prevent flooding, and we also weeded around the hatchery to prevent predators from living in the grass. On night walks we would look for turtles laying their eggs, which we would then collect and rebury at the hatchery where they were safe from natural predators, like raccoons, and human poachers. At the end of the week we were able to see the impact we were making first hand, baby turtles had hatched and we got to release them into the ocean. Being able to help this one species was great, especially because by conserving them we are also conserving the ocean as a whole.

This trip also taught me not to take the simple things in life for granted. While traveling around Costa Rica I was able to see how different their culture is from ours. I quickly realized that they don’t have many of the luxuries that we are blessed with every day, but that doesn’t stop them from enjoying life. I would actually say that most of the Costa Rican locals were happier than many Americans, simply because they were thankful for what they were able to have and weren’t focused on material items and living an extravagant life.

This trip opened my eyes and showed me that happiness really doesn’t come from wealth, but it comes from being involved with something you love to do. I would say that if you have an opportunity to pursue your passion, you should definitely take it. I was able to learn so much in this one week, from conservation, to the impact that travel can have on a person, and my perspective on the world around me has changed for the better. In the future I hope to continue to make a difference, locally and globally. I’m thankful that this trip was able to show me what I want to do with my future and how it granted me new friendships that will last a lifetime. It was an experience that I will cherish forever.

~ Gabi, 2017 Senior Rep