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Dominican Republic: Beachside Service Adventure
Appreciate the beauty of the island and its people, and be part of sustainable solutions to end its poverty.
Highlights
- Build safer homes and community centers for underserved families
- Snorkel in the Caribbean among multi-colored fish
- Zipline along a cable and free-fall into a freshwater lagoon
- Hike through the island’s lush interior
- Ride a boat over crystal blue waters
Overview
Riding along rural byways past coconut sellers and corner stores blasting merengue, you’ll take in the island’s lush interior and idyllic ocean vistas. To most visitors, the Dominican Republic is a travel destination famous for its resorts, but go beyond the capital and you’ll discover that much of the country is distinctly rural, and true beauty lies in everyday village scenes where local hospitality can be appreciated. Volunteer with families who have shown grace and resilience in the face of natural disasters and political unrest, and learn the challenges they still face in accessing basic human necessities. You’ll find that the allure of the island becomes almost secondary to the warm spirit and strength of the Dominican people.
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Community Service
Beyond its beach resorts lies a very different Dominican Republic—still beautiful, but full of need. Much of the DR isn’t developed sufficiently, revealing gaps where volunteers are needed to accelerate initiatives for bettering life in underserved neighborhoods. Community service opportunities for high school students here focus on constructing community buildings, safer homes and schools using sustainable building materials and methods. You’ll also work to provide families with safer cooking methods, ensure a clean water supply, and plant trees for reforestation.
Hands-On Learning
Sustainable development is crucial for all civilizations in our changing world. Through your service work and nightly seminars, you’ll learn in depth about how communities come together to take collective action against shared issues: poverty, climate change, lack of quality healthcare and education, discrimination and more. You’ll discuss what makes solutions sustainable, and how to implement them for lasting success in developing countries. You’ll also participate in vibrant Dominican culture—a mix of indigenous, African and European—through music, dance and everyday community life.
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Adventure
Hundreds of miles of coastline define the DR—some of it white-sand beaches, other parts lined with dramatic cliffs. Ride a boat over clear, warm water and learn about delicate marine ecosystems while snorkeling. Join the Dominicans in traditional “Family Day” with an outing to Lago Dudu, where you can zipline straight into the turquoise lagoon, play volleyball and explore caves. In the lush, rural interior of the DR, you’ll hike Mt. Brisón to a remote village and learn about daily life on the mountain.
Lodging
The GLA Home Base is a rustic ecolodge built from locally available materials in the style of the Taíno Indians. There is a small swimming pool and home is literally steps from the beach. Students will have four to six roommates per room. Bathrooms have Western style toilets and cold-water showers. Food will be healthy and locally grown consisting of meats, beans, rice, vegetables and fruit. This Home Base is exclusively used by our students and staff.
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GLA Dominican Republic Group
Dates & Tuition
Dominican Republic: Beachside Service Adventure 10-Day Program (2017)
| 2017 Dates |
|---|
| Jul 2 - Jul 11, 2017 |
| Jul 14 - Jul 23, 2017 |
| Jul 27 - Aug 5, 2017 |
| Aug 8 - Aug 17, 2017 |
Dominican Republic: Beachside Service Adventure 10-Day Program (2018)
| 2018 Dates |
|---|
| Jun 11 - Jun 20, 2018 |
| Jun 23 - Jul 2, 2018 |
| Jul 5 - Jul 14, 2018 |
| Jul 17 - Jul 26, 2018 |
| Jul 29 - Aug 7, 2018 |
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Lily
Over the course of my ten days in the Dominican, I helped to build a bottle school, participated in trash cleanups and reforestation projects, and learned how to live with less. We got to work side by side with the villagers, which shows Global Leadership Adventures' true passion in helping out the right way.
Our 21-day Flagship programs provide the ideal amount of time to satisfy every dimension of the GLA Experience.