Molly Winchenbach, a 13-year-old member of the US Girl Scouts of Potomac, completed the 14-day Costa Rica & Panama Service Challenge Destination with Outward Bound Costa Rica in the summer. Alongside Girl Scouts from all over the country, Molly contributed to two service-learning projects.
Molly and her group began their time in Costa Rica working to maintain the trails and plant trees on the rainforest reserve located near the Outward Bound Costa Rica base. Next, the Girl Scouts journeyed to the small indigenous village of Amubri in the Talamanca region where they helped to paint the local classroom. The group spent time with the elementary students and wider community, practicing their Spanish and learning a few words in the local dialect.
Just across the border on the Caribbean coast of Panama in San San Pond Sak, Molly participated in another service project to protect endangered leatherback sea turtles, working with local biologists to build habitats, catalogue nests, measure, weigh and release hatchlings and perform night patrols to protect mama turtles as they lay their eggs.
After returning to Outward Bound’s rainforest base in Costa Rica, the group tackled Class II and III rapids on the Pejibaje River, ziplined through the canopies, and visited the vibrant artisan market of San Jose to finish up their adventure.
“[Outward Bound] was experiencing new foods, new activities and new cultures. It was laughing all the time and meeting some of the nicest people ever,” said Molly.
“Outward Bound Costa Rica’s programs, like the one Molly participated in, create environments that allow for personal and leadership development through challenges, group effort and cross-cultural understanding,” said Jim Rowe, executive director of Outward Bound Costa Rica.
Since 2006, Outward Bound Costa Rica has been partnered with Girls Scout of the USA to offer Girl Scouts Destinations trips in Costa Rica and Panama. For more information, visit www.outwardboundcostarica.org.