For 11 Middle Grades students at The Children’s School, this summer brought more than a passport stamp. It brought new perspectives, meaningful friendships, and a deeper understanding of what it means to be a global citizen.
In June, TCS embarked on its first international service learning trip in school history. Accompanied by Head of School Elizabeth Miller and Director of Upper School Justin Ryder, students traveled to Costa Rica’s Nicoya Peninsula, where they partnered with the local conservation organization Turtle Trax and participated in a week of environmental service, cultural exchange, leadership development, and adventure.
Learning Through Service
At the heart of the trip was a partnership with Turtle Trax, an organization dedicated to protecting endangered sea turtles along Costa Rica’s Pacific coast.
Students rolled up their sleeves to support conservation efforts at the San Miguel sea turtle hatchery, helping prepare nesting sites and learning firsthand about the challenges sea turtles face. Rather than simply observing conservation work, they became part of it.
“One of my favorite parts of the trip was watching our students step outside their comfort zones,” said Justin. “Through travel and shared new experiences, they built resilience, broadened their perspectives, and developed empathy in ways that simply aren’t possible inside a classroom.”
Alongside local conservationists, students also learned about Costa Rica’s unique ecosystems through a mangrove tour, visited a macaw recovery center, explored a butterfly sanctuary, and discovered the remarkable biodiversity that makes the country one of the world’s environmental treasures.
Discovering a New Culture
Service was only one part of the experience.
Throughout the week, students immersed themselves in Costa Rican culture. They learned to prepare traditional foods, explored the local town of Coyote, sampled fresh smoothies from a family-owned business, and experienced everyday life in a rural coastal community.
For Cameron (’27), seeing how people lived broadened his understanding of the world.
“I was kind of excited to see more diverse and different cultures,” he said. “It was really different there… seeing how they conserve water, the food they eat, and just how people live.”
One of his favorite memories came during a cooking experience at a local ranch, where students prepared a traditional Costa Rican meal together.
“It was really fun to cook there,” Cameron said. “We got to make tortillas and cook with fresh ingredients. It was one of my favorite parts of the trip.”
Theo (’27) also found himself noticing differences in daily life that changed his perspective.
“We saw houses built with metal scraps and other materials you wouldn’t really see in America,” he said. “It made me realize that we take a lot of things for granted.”
Building Connections Across Languages
One of the most memorable days took place at Colonia del Valle School, where TCS students spent the day with Costa Rican children.
Together, they played soccer, created art projects from recycled materials, completed scavenger hunts, and shared school supplies, sports equipment, and toys.
“It was really cool getting to see other kids in a different country who speak a different language,” Theo said. “We’re learning Spanish at TCS, and they’re learning English, so it was cool to see the other side of that.”
For Cameron, the visit was an opportunity to practice one of TCS’s Building Character and Community (BCC) traits.
“While we were down there, we experienced lots of different things, and when I’m uncomfortable, I really don’t like to learn new things,” said Cameron. “So I just had to learn how to treat everything with respect. That’s one of the BCC traits, and it helped me keep an open mind and try to learn instead of saying I don’t want to do this.”
Growing Beyond Their Comfort Zones
For many students, the trip represented a major milestone in independence.
Both Theo and Cameron described it as their first time traveling internationally without their parents.
“It was kind of scary at first,” Cameron admitted. “But once we got there, it felt like an extra-long camping trip.”
Theo agreed.
“This was the first international trip I’d ever taken without my parents,” he said. “I was nervous because I didn’t have my phone, but it turned out okay.”
The week challenged students in unexpected ways, such as sharing living spaces with roommates, adapting to unfamiliar routines, embracing new foods, unpredictable wildlife, and life without many of the comforts of home.
Some challenges were more humorous than others.
Both Theo and Cameron spoke about the colorful crabs on the beach and wandering through their rooms. One memorable morning, two crabs tumbled out of a classmate’s shoe just before the group departed for the airport!
Leadership With Purpose
TCS partnered with Shoulder-to-Shoulder, an organization of schools, nonprofits, businesses, and philanthropists that create a broad range of programming to inspire and support ethical leadership. Each day of the trip included opportunities for reflection through Shoulder-to-Shoulder’s ethical leadership curriculum.
Students explored values such as humility, compassion, inclusivity, and moral courage while considering how those ideas applied to their daily experiences in Costa Rica.
Rather than simply volunteering, students examined what it means to serve alongside a community.
“What has stayed with me most is that we weren’t just there to volunteer,” Justin reflected. “We learned alongside local conservationists and community members, and those relationships changed the way we saw the work. I believe those experiences will continue to shape how our students think about service long after the trip.”
For Cameron, experiences like this are especially valuable during the middle school years.
“Middle school is one of the most developmental times in your life,” he said. “It’s important to try new things because they help grow your perspective. The more you’re exposed to different experiences, the more you learn about yourself and the world.”
