Twelve students from the Little Wolf High School (LWHS) Spanish Club left the General Mitchell International Airport in Milwaukee for a nine day visit to the Latin American country of Costa Rica on June 22.
The trip was organized and chaperoned by Mrs. Ellen Celske, the Spanish teacher at LWHS, along with Mrs. Holly Bauer, the school nurse, and three parents.
After an early morning departure from Milwaukee, the group switched planes in Atlanta before continuing to San Jose, Costa Rica.
The following day, the Spanish Club continued to their next destination: Arenal Volcano.
En route, they had the opportunity to visit a local school. The students of the Linda Vista School performed some traditional Costa Rican dances. Following the dances, the children were presented with some gifts the Spanish Club took along for them, including school supplies, jump ropes, bubbles, Frisbees, and chalk.
After a game of fútbol (soccer) with the students, the Spanish Club had the opportunity to go white water rafting. The rest of the once in a life-time trip continued with adventurous and eco-educational activities which included hiking Arenal Volcano, visiting an organic, self-sustained farm, hiking to La Fortuna waterfall, swimming in the hot springs, both a crocodile safari and mangrove swamp boat tour, zip lining through Monteverde Cloud Forest, horseback riding at a ranch and swimming in the Atlantic Ocean.
The group experienced the wildlife first hand on nature hikes through the many National Parks; highlights included seeing a sloth and several varieties of monkeys. The trip was a huge success and students are already asking for another.