If our planet is truly a global classroom, a group of Okanagan Mission Secondary students are raising money to take a class in Costa Rica during spring break.
A group of 28 Grade 10 to 12 students will be traveling on an “expedition of transformation,” venturing into new territory to be educated and inspired.
Mission Park Travel is working together with OKM and G Adventures, which offers socially and environmentally travel experiences, to arrange the trip.
It will take students to several locations around Costa Rica where they can learn about global citizenship, social leadership and ecological literacy.
The students will have such opportunities as to volunteer at an animal rescue centre, learn about eco-tourism and sustainable agriculture efforts in Costa Rica, and take part in tropical jungle and ocean field studies.
They also won’t be arriving empty-handed as the students are collecting computer software equipment for donation along with soccer balls and jerseys for youth.
A fundraiser to help cover the travel costs has been organized by the participating students for Saturday, Jan. 24, at the Okanagan Mission Community Hall which will feature a dance, with music by the band Cover To Cover, and silent auction items.
“The dance is going to be a fun ho-down event, as the kids are organizing all this themselves,” said Laurisa Stinson, with Mission Park Travel who is also volunteering to help co-ordinate the trip.
“My daughter graduated Grade 12 last year and as a grad present I took her on a trip to Costa Rica through G Adventures and she loved it, it being both fun and educational at the same time,” Stinson said.
Stinson talked to other moms about their experience as well as OKM leadership teacher Michael Ross, and the interest from the students wanting to participate soon followed.
She says the Costa Rica trip is an opportunity for the students to contribute to a meaningful initiative designed to transform their lives.
The public can support this endeavour through charitable-status donations to School District 23. All donations will be distributed as follows:
25 per cent to the Proyecto Asis Animal Rescue Centre
25 per cent to Costa Rican children in the form of soccer balls, cleats and jerseys
50 per cent to sponsor the students taking part in the trip
For more information call Laurisa Stinson at 250-762-4400 (email laurisa@missionparktravel.com) or Wendy Delcourt at 250-469-0930 (email wdelcourt@telus.net).
