By Bonnie Frankel, Alumni Traveler
Recently, our family of fourteen took a memorable trip to Costa Rica with Discover Corps.
I was looking for a meaningful way to celebrate my 70th birthday with our kids and grandchildren and came upon Discover Corps as an option. For years, we have gone together to an all inclusive resort in Mexico because of its ease; but now, I felt the grandkids, ages 5 through 13, were ready for more of an adventure. We could do more in the way of travel!
The itinerary for this trip seemed perfect. Not being familiar with Discover Corps, I requested references. DC supplied me with a long list of families who had taken this trip to speak with, and after talking to several of them, I was convinced that this was a good fit for our familiy.
From the beginning, the Discover Corps team was helpful and responsive. They were always willing to answer my endless questions and provide helpful feedback.
The thing that made this trip so special was that it was a perfect combination of volunteering, cultural immersion and pure fun! We did so many things but never felt rushed. Spending time with the children at the school, dancing with them and the Q & A session for the kids led to learning about each other–something they’ll never forget. The 40 year olds and the 10 year olds all enjoyed playing on the playground and playing basketball and football with the students.
The time at the wildlife rescue center was also something everyone enjoyed. The parents painted, dug and washed and the children prepared food for the animals and put it in their cages. It was educational, purposeful and enjoyable all at the same time. Again, an experience none of us will ever forget. In addition to those activities, this trip had plenty of time for Costa Rican fun: Zip lines, hot springs, night walks, rain forest walks, cocoa making, great meals and plenty of beach time.
The memories that were created by experiencing these together with our kids and grandkids will last forever.
Certainly more than merely a beach vacation!