True Nature Travels Blog

"BE THE LIGHT" WEATHERING THE STORM AND SPREADING LIGHTNESS THROUGH SERVICE

 Student Service Trip in Costa Rica and Overcoming Obstacles

True Nature Education had the privilege of partnering with The National Society of Leadership and Success this past month. 25 lovely students with hearts full of compassion and eagerness adventured to Costa Rica to provide service to the local communities, and in the process had a blast!  A student service trip is a fantastic opportunity to broaden horizons and participate in global community service. 
 
True Nature Education works with some amazing individuals in the local villages. One of these leaders is Lindsay Padilla. A Costa Rican native, her mindfulness and guidance always touches our hearts.
Check out some of her insight on shining bright through the storms and spreading this light through service!
student service travel
student service travel
 
 
 
“It was a rainy night and I was at home with my two little boys.
No more people there and lots of thunders dancing and singing in my backyard… I love to listen to Mother’s Nature sounds, however sometimes it seems like a different rhythm… Mother’s Nature wasn’t as peaceful as I wanted her to be specifically that night.
 
So I decided to sit on my favorite rocking chair, with my kids. We played a game, it consisted of imagine us to be sailing, enjoying of the blue ocean and the bright sun… Everything was fantastic until the moment when Andres, my 8 years old asked me if I was scary…
 
Game over! They discovered my feelings and guess what? I was really scary…
We were expecting to welcome a TNE group next day and the volunteer action already planned was to work on a sustainable farm, a new project that is going to benefit a group of people from my community.
service
 
I am not always so dramatic, but Imagine your plans, imagine your dreams surrounded by lots of rain and maybe lightening… I was scary for the moment, for my present and I was not sure about next day, about my future, about our tomorrow…
 
I was expecting to share my “tomorrow” with people from different places, coming from far away to make a difference and the weather was not the perfect from my perspective.
 
As soon as I listened my husband opening the door, I felt better, I felt my family completed. My kids went to sleep and we sat on the floor, with a candle.
 
All the house was dark, but  there was a little light… Poor darkness, I bet darkness was not feeling completed because of our little light…
 
And I suddenly thought of our actions… Sometimes we feel it is not too much what we can do, sometimes we think of the storms, we think of the scary moments, we think of the darkness around the world, but we were born to be a light, to bring light, to make the darkness a little clear. Do we have to limit our good intention because of our doubts about the future? About tomorrow? No!!!
 
We were talking until our candle decided not to light… And it was a good night, the light is still inside us and you know what? Next day we enjoyed of the sun. No more rain until the moment when we finished our volunteer service… Mothers are known because of their DEEP love and Mother Nature showed us what love means, even during the rain…
 
It feels incredible to be part of the ones that are doing something, anything.
 
We have been welcoming too many “lights” from TNE. People that decided to be the difference, to be grateful even for the stormy days.
 
The stormy days are not totally bad, during the stormy days, maybe you can find out inspiration to be the light that others are needing.
Let’s your light be!”
 
 
Shine on True Nature family!
 
Interested in joining a service student trip? Check out our calendar here! http://truenatureeducation.com/events/
student service trip
 

True Nature Travels Blog

Day 3 & 4: The Tikkun Olam Retreat Journey Continues…

Day 3: Toucan Olam
We began our day of Toucan Olam (yes we have renamed it Toucan Olam 🙂 driving through the palm plantations to the Blue Banyan Inn, and the Kids Saving the Rainforest Animal Sanctuary, the site of our day of service. We were met by Tiki, the blue macaw, the first official resident at the sanctuary. Tiki showed off for us by spreading his wings and dancing to Elvis “Nothing but a Houndog.”  Barbara (aka “The Monkey Lady” or “Jane Goodall of Costa Rica”) introduced us to her children, the monkeys. We saw Marmosets, Spider Monkeys, Titi’s, Tamarin’s, and White-Faced Monkey’s.

We later split into two groups, “The Play Group” and “The Rock Stars.” The Play Group created entertaining enrichment for the monkeys, as we learned it is very important for the monkeys to have stimulation, especially when they are rescued and unable to return to their native environment.

The Rock Stars built a stairway to the new multi-species complex, which will be built soon. “It was hard but fulfilling work,” shared Janet Oppenheimer. “Through serving and completing a project it really help solidify the oneness and unity of our group.”

We were joined during the project and for the remainder of the day by the Eastman family, a Jewish family from Palo Alto, California, who were “inspired by the mission and energy of our group.” Ethan and Daniel Eastman (age 9) helped pour the last shovel of rock to complete our 30th and final stair.

During lunch we were visited by Barbara and the Marmosets, the highlight of the day for many. After lunch and a refreshing swim we went back to work for a couple of hours. We completed our day with a powerful walking meditation through a labyrinth, which Beverly Harris called, “a deeply spiritual experience.”

Day 4: Spiritual Sailing
We began our day by saying our farewell to Mono Azul, our home for 3 days, and headed to the pier. We spent the morning on the great Pacific Ocean, exploring Manuel Antonio National Park in a Trimaran.

After checking out some islands off-shore and catching some serious rays we spotted a pod of dolphins. The dolphins swam with our boat for a while until we stopped where they proceeded to show off with some incredible  jumps and spins.

We followed our dolphin meeting by meeting some fish while we snorkeled in the bay of Manuel Antonio. We sailed back to shore where we met our shuttle and began our journey north.

This evening we arrived at Finca Luna Nueva Lodge where we will spend the next three nights. It feels so nice to be deep in nature, surrounded by only the sounds of the jungle, the bright full moon, and our wonderful groups which continues to grow closer each day. Buenas Noches…

Today’s blog was written by guest bloggers and retreat attendants Beth Eckstein and Beverly Harris.

True Nature Travels Blog

Day 2: Inspiration in the Wild on the CR Tikkun Olam Service & Adventure Trip

Today began with a shot in the arm of enthusiasm and inspiration when after breakfast we were introduced to Jennifer, president of Kids Saving the Rainforest, who told us the story of how she encouraged her 9 year old (now 23) to start a non-profit to plant trees, which has now grown into a full operation of a wildlife sanctuary and monkey conservation efforts. We left for a full day in Manuel Antonio looking forward to our service work with and her long-term volunteers tomorrow. Our challenge will be entertaining the monkeys!

We met our naturalist, Freddie, at the gate of Manuel Antonio National Park. Together, we marveled at the spiders, lizards, rainbow crickets, two-toed and three-toed sloths, and white-faced monkeys. No wonder they want to save the rainforest! The only rival to Freddie at spotting the wildlife was eagle-eye Noa Meiri.

Our nature hike ended at the beach where we set up to eat our bag lunch just in time for a cool shower. That didn’t last long enough to interfere with our afternoon activities: parasailing, horseback-riding, duck diving the waves, ocean kayaking, and shopping. Sandy and tired, we watched the sun sink into the ocean, as we sang “Eli Eli- we pray that these things never end: the sand and the sea, the rush of the water, the crash of the heavens the prayer of the heart.”

 

 

Today’s blog was written by guest blogger and retreat co-leader, Rabbi Batsheva Meiri, from Congregation Beth HaTephila of Asheville, NC.

True Nature Travels Blog

Real-Time Costa Rica Updates for our First Retreat of the Season

It’s hard to believe that the holiday season has surrounded us already and 2012 is coming to a close, which means that our 2012-2013 Retreat Season is just about to begin!

To kick things off we will be Costa Rica Service (“Tikkun Olam”) Adventure Program beginning this Sunday, December 23, and continuing through New Years Eve on December 31. The retreat is in partnership with the Jewish community at large in Asheville, NC, where True Nature Education is based out of.

Co-hosted by TNE Founder Joshua Canter and Rabbi Batsheva Meiri of Beth Ha Tephila, the retreat will also include participants from Warren Wilson College and The Asheville Chabad House. The focus of the retreat will be to deepen the commitment of service through  outreach projects in the local villages, working with the local population, and the native environment of Costa Rica. Participants will also take part in exciting excursions and adventures throughout Costa Rica.

Stay tuned to the blog for real-time updates from the retreat with photos, thoughts, and event happenings from the trip. You can also follow along with periodic updates from our Facebook page, as well as join the conversation on Twitter via #costaricaservice from our handle @truenatureed.