What Monkeys, Kids, and Trash Taught Us in One Week

By Jenna Patton, GCAC Co-Leader

They say no two GCAC trips are ever the same—and Costa Rica just proved it again.

This spring, our group of travelers stepped into a week of unforgettable connection, conservation, and community service on the Nicoya Peninsula. From wildlife sanctuaries to sandy shorelines, we showed up with open hands, a few power tools, and the kind of enthusiasm only GCAC travelers know how to bring.

A Warm Welcome at Hogar Sol

We began the week with a visit to Hogar Sol, a safe and loving home for children in need just outside the capital. We arrived right around dinnertime—arms full of donated school supplies and toys, hearts full of anticipation.

It wasn’t a long visit, but it was a powerful one. As the kids ate, we got the chance to sit beside them, laugh, listen, and hand-deliver a little joy. Sometimes impact starts small—and starts with listening.

Wild Sun Rescue: Carpentry, Compassion & Monkey Enrichment

Midweek, we shifted gears and headed to Wild Sun Rescue Center, where our group split into two teams for a multi-day volunteer project. Our task? Help renovate animal enclosures and build interactive feeding boxes to support the rehabilitation of monkeys preparing for release.

These weren’t simple “hammer-and-go” jobs—this was real conservation work.

Shoutout to our three incredible student leaders, Grayson Thompson, Jonah Hill, and Xander Ivy, who truly took charge on these projects. Their carpentry skills turned raw materials into problem-solving tools for curious primates—and they did it while guiding the rest of us who had, let’s say, more heart than hammer experience.

Watching them lead was a reminder that service isn’t just about what you build—it’s how you bring others along in the process.
Leaving the Beach Better Than We Found It

Our final volunteer day was spent at Paquera Beach, where ocean currents had washed ashore trash from dozens of different countries.

We got to work.

By the end of the day, we’d filled bag after bag with debris—reminders of how interconnected our world really is. Standing in the sun, shoulder to shoulder, with the ocean on one side and a growing pile of trash on the other, it was clear: this work matters.

Real Work. Real Impact. Real Growth.

In one short week, we made a small dent in some very big issues—and we did it together.

Whether we were cheering on student leaders, learning from Costa Rican conservationists, or swapping stories over dinner, this trip was about more than just where we went. It was about how we showed up.

And if this week proved anything, it’s that when you give students the space to lead, listen, and learn—they rise. Every time.