Puerto Rico: Middle School Service Adventure
DETAILS & ITINERARY
Experience Puerto Rico’s ‘boriqua’ culture with this program designed to introduce intrepid middle school students to community service work and adventure travel! This trip has it all – meaningful rebuilding projects with a longtime Global Works partner community, exploration of Old San Juan, a sunset environmental paddle board excursion, and snorkeling! Connect with local communities while making an impact on projects, all while practicing your Spanish and learning about Puerto Rico’s culture and natural wonders.
Itinerary
Participants fly into San Juan, Puerto Rico (no passport necessary!) and meet their Global Works leaders at the Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport. We pack up the vans and head back through San Juan and west 30 minutes to our group lodging in the small, beach side town of Cerro Gordo.
Day 1 is dedicated to getting to know each other and learning about our upcoming projects. On Day 2, with our professional guide, we tour Puerto Rico’s many historic sites including the old fort of “El Morro” and the Rio Piedras market, with its colorful murals and paintings. Hit the beach in the afternoon – can you spot any turtles?
For the next two days we dig into our community service work in nearby Villa del Río. This close-knit village consists of relocated families that are rebuilding and fortifying their homes- they are thrilled to have students come join them in work. The projects we work on will improve infrastructure for families to withstand a future hurricane and also recover more efficiently. Our two community leaders will walk the group through efficient work techniques to get the job done!
On the afternoon of Day 3, we will enjoy the local neighborhood beach and take a professionally-taught dance class back at the Big Yellow House.
On the afternoon of Day 4, transfer east to the small beach town of Luquillo. Meet our friend Ramon who guides the group through a relaxing and educational sunset paddle board tour on a calm ocean inlet. Learn about local flora, fauna, and sustainability initiatives from a community leader!
Suit up for a catamaran snorkel excursion out of the nearby port of Fajardo! Professional tour guides will give you tips to make the most of your time exploring various coral reefs. Spot colorful fish, rays, turtles, and corals. Eat lunch on the boat and enjoy the archipelago from an ocean-point-view! Later in the afternoon, engage in a hands-on workshop related to unique local wildlife. On our final night, we enjoy a celebratory dinner at a local restaurant to close out our time together with some local fare!
We say our goodbyes to Puerto Rico and our new friends, excited to share new memories with our families back home. Participants depart of the San Juan airport.
Please note that this itinerary is subject to change.
SAVE A SPACE FOR 1 Week!
Tech Free Programs:
Global Works does not allow phones/internet-capable devices on our summer programs. We believe this enhances group cohesion and allows students to be fully present to their experience.
Service Projects
Home Building Projects in a Rural Community
Complete home construction projects with families in the community of Villa del Rio
Ecology & Wildlife
Learn from local experts and engage with Puerto Rico’s wildlife
Adventure & Cultural Activities
Snorkel Catamaran Tour
Visit Old San Juan
Beach Adventure
Educational Paddle Board Excursion
Gallery
Accommodations
CERRO GORDO
The “Big Yellow House” is the Global Works Puerto Rico base and is perfect for groups! Students stay five-six per room in bunk rooms with private baths, with breakfast and dinner catered by a local restaurant. Our home is on an acre of land with sand volleyball courts, group meeting space, and is a 5-minute walk to pristine beaches.
LUQUILLO
The final two nights are spent in a locally owned hotel just steps away from the beautiful Luquillo beach. Rooms are dorm-style, just for our students, with shared bathrooms and meals catered by a local organic restaurant. Group space abounds in this quiet corner of town, allowing for an intentional closure to our days together in Puerto Rico.
