Orphanage and School Visits

On this particular itinerary, we are doing a lot of service projects. Some of our service projects will include a visit to both an Orphanage and School. The people of Costa Rica are at no economic state to afford and provide as much as we do in America despite the economic state of our own country. With that, I would like to solicit donations of any types of school supplies or athletic equipment such as soccer balls and jump ropes. These kids really can use a hand and I will be glad to provide them with that hand with this amazing opportunity. You can  shoot an email over to jqrp2p@gmail.com or drop by my websites contact me page to assist me in this. I look forward to your support in this endeavor.


Yours Truly,
Justin Robinson
Student Ambassador

Take A Look at our History

Travel Travel Travel

Well, 

Travel is practically right around the corner. I'm so excited about meeting my new delegation at the airport in Miami.  I'm really looking forward to Beautiful Costa Rica. I'm so excited about the opportunity to do this for the 2nd time. I really feel as if I ran for public office with all of the fundraisers and things I have done to put my self here. I really can not thank you all enough for helping me out in whatever way you did. It is truly a blessing getting to be an Ambassador. I have been blessed for the past two years with continuing my ambassadorial career and representing our local area. I still feel like my work is not done with these two years. There is a gut feeling that I will return to the program in the fall. But I don't know how this will go as I will be a senior. But only time will tell on what the man upstairs truly wants for me in the upcoming months. As for now I plan to do a good job this summer and have fun doing so!

Justin Robinson

Student Ambassador

2011 Supporters Annouced

Business Sponsors

Bruster's Ice Cream of Newnan

 

 138 Newnan Station Drive, Newnan, Georgia 30265

Visit them on the Web

Dairy Queen of Palmetto

 

9125 Roosevelt HWY, Palmetto, Georgia 30268

Visit them on the Web

  

 O' Charley's of Fayetteville

   

 1350 HWY 85 North, Fayetteville, Georgia 30214

Visit them on the Web 

Majestes Car Service & Repair Inc

4035 Great West Pkwy, Union City, GA 30291

 

Contact them by Phone at  (770) 969-3088

Metro Alloys, INC 

 

1024 Sampler Way East Point, Ga 30344 

Visit them on the Web 

RBC Bank Palmetto

 

9115 Roosevelt HWY, Palmetto, Georgia 30268

Visit them on the Web 

Personal Doners

  

• Mr. Jeff & Debbie Thompson
• Ms Rita Nicholson
• Mr. John Miller (Palmetto Mayor and Program Advocate)
• Ms. Kathy Berdan
• Ms. Laura Mullis 
• Mr. Randall & Mary Ballard
• Mr. Randy & Jenni Cunningham
• Ms. Sandra Rozes
• Ms. Bianca Hall
• Mr. Arthur & Linett Edgar
• Mrs. Barbra Lott
• Ms. Ariel Bishop
• Mrs. Beverly Simmons-Johnson
• Ms. Alice Redding 
• Mr. David & Maria Allgood
• Mrs. Marianne Cook
• Mr. Bradley Cook
• Mr. Richard Anthony
• Mr. Kevin Jones

 

 

 Other Support

 

 

 

 

• Mr. Bradley Cook- Leader Recommendations/Jr. Leader Mentor
• Ned Granville- Senior Leadership/Jr. Leader Mentor
• Jen Hohman- Senior Leadership/Jr. Leader Mentor
• Marianne Cook- Fundraising ideas/ Moral Support
• Pentrola Washington- Senior Travel Leadership/Jr. Leader supp
• Nancy Cook- Senior Travel Leadership/Jr. Leader Supp
• Peter Cook- Senior Travel Leadership/Jr. Leader Supp
• Ms. Ariel Bishop- Teacher/Personal Recommendations
• Mrs. Beverly Simmons-Johnson- Teacher/Personal Recommendations
• My Family- Moral and Financial support
• My Neighbors- Donations of Cans
• Mr. Donny & Rita Thomas- Donation of Ink Cartridges
• Community- Donation of Ink Cartridges
• First Baptist Church of Fairburn- Donation of Event Facilities 

 

Costa Rica Expedition Itinerary

Costa Rica Expedition 2011

San José, Costa Rica

• Greet your fellow Ambassadors in your gateway city before boarding your

international flight to Costa Rica.

• Welcome to Costa Rica! Upon arrival in into Juan Santamaria International

Airport in San José, you’ll be met by your Delegation Manager and motorcoach

driver who will accompany you to the hotel for dinner and a good night’s re

 DAY 1, July 23

San José, Costa Rica

• Greet your fellow Ambassadors in your gateway city before boarding your

international flight to Costa Rica.

• Welcome to Costa Rica! Upon arrival in into Juan Santamaria International

Airport in San José, you’ll be met by your Delegation Manager and motor coach

driver who will accompany you to the hotel for dinner and a good night’s rest.

DAY 2, July 24

Jacό, Costa Rica

• Depart this morning for the Jacó Area, where you will begin your surfing lessons.

• Surfs up! Work with experienced instructors to develop your surfing skills. You

will have a great experience!

• Jacó is world renowned for having consistent waves and an easy beach break,

which allows you to surf almost the entire beach.

• Enjoy the afternoon being part of a service project at Playa Hermosa Wildlife

Refuge. You will help with activities such as reforestation, beach cleaning, trail

maintenance, or a beach project where you learn how to prepare hatcheries for

turtles.

DAY 3, July 25

Jacό, Costa Rica

• Prepare to get wet when you board your raft for some of the world’s best white

water rafting in Costa Rica’s Manuel Antonio Area.

• Experience Costa Rica’s beautiful rivers from a different perspective as you

plunge through dramatic and largely unexplored tropical wilderness.

• These rivers descend from the mountains above Quepos, through jungle gorges

to near sea level farmlands and palm oil plantations.

• Your rafting adventure will bring you to Rio Naranjo, where you will get out and

explore the area.

• Afterwards, enjoy a leisurely afternoon at Manuel Antonio Beach

• Note: Be sure to apply sunscreen and reapply it frequently to avoid

sunburn.

DAY 4, July 26

Palmichal de Acosta, Costa Rica

• Depart for the community of Palmichal de Acosta, which has one of the closest

cloud forest reserves to San José.

• At Nacientes de Palmichal, work with your fellow delegates on one of several

different projects ranging from maintenance of the reforested areas, repairing the

rural lodge, to making trash cans for recycling different materials.

• Learn about how earthworms help compost the waste from the Beneficio

Palmichal.

• Tonight, enjoy the rhythm of the music as you practice your Latin dancing.

DAY 5, July 27

Heredia, Costa Rica

• Travel back to San José, where you will visit an orphanage. This nongovernmental

organization is dedicated to providing orphans with a caring home

until they can be adopted by families or come of age to be on their own.

• You will have the opportunity to interact with the children and provide some

donations, or work directly in a service project.

• Continue your journey to Santa Barbara de Heredia, where you will spend the

next two nights in the home of your home stay family.

• Gather to enjoy a welcome dinner with your host family and participate in Latin

dance lessons.

Day 6, July 28

Heredia, Costa Rica

• Today, visit a Recreational Park in Heredia where you will experience traditional

recreational activities, such as sack-races and other games.

• Make new friends and spend time with Costa Rican students while enjoying a

picnic lunch.

• Spend time with your host family and enjoy this truly unique opportunity to

experience the daily life and customs of a real Costa Rican family.

• Remember to thank your home stay family, as this will be your last night with

them.

• Be sure to bring your pictures of friends and family back home, as your host

family will enjoy seeing them.

DAY 7, July 29

Arenal, Costa Rica

• Don’t forget to exchange address information with your host family so you can

keep in touch!

• Continue your journey to the Arenal Area and stop along the way at the town of

La Fortuna, located in the valley of the Arenal Volcano. Bordering the Rio Burio,

La Fortuna is the closest town to Arenal Volcano.

• Participate in a service project which allows you to work alongside community

members to make a difference within their communities. Examples of

social/cultural projects include painting or light construction/maintenance at local

schools or community institutions, building a sidewalk or a bus stop.

• In the afternoon, visit a local school where you have the opportunity to interact

with children and bring donations, such as school supplies. Time permitting, you

can read to the school children before they perform traditional folkloric dances

for you.

• After your hard work reward yourself with as you relax in the Ecotermales Hot

Springs. Here you will find several different pools filled with warm mineral water.

Volcanic hot springs are the result of rainwater heated by magma in the Earth’s

interior and are a natural wonder of the area.

DAY 8, July 30

Arenal, Costa Rica

• Begin a hike through the tropical rainforest of the Tenorio Volcano National Park.

You will arrive at the “Los Teñíderos” of the Rio Celeste, the site where two

streams of crystalline water come together and form a heavenly color blue that

gives the river its name. Along the river you’ll find hot springs, varied flora and

fauna, and a pristine waterfall.

• Ecological trails lead you to the “OLLAS” openings in the earth where you can

excavate healing mud to take a mud bath. Dip into the natural hot springs while

observing the wonders of Tenorio Volcano.

• Continue your hike through the jungle to seek out the volcano’s furnace vents

that expel gases of extreme high temperatures. Enjoy the heat from a safe

distance and marvel at one of Earth’s natural wonders.

• Note: For the hike please bring - long pants, swim suits, towel, hiking

shoes, camera, binoculars, sunscreen, insect repellent and a raincoat.

DAY 9, July 31

Sarapiqui , Costa Rica

• Continue your journey to the Sarapiqui Area

• Enjoy a canopy tour over the verdant rainforest and canyon, traversing cables

and platforms over 90 feet high! Your unique experience will take you through a

canyon where you start from the edge at the ground and after several tree and

ground platforms you end up at a landing platform on the ground, having crossed

the canyon 2 or 3 times.

• learn how to make traditional Costa Rican dishes in a cooking class lead by a

local community leader. Learn about the history, botanical names and cultivation

of each fresh ingredient.

• Your menu may consist of guacamole (avocado dip), batidos (milkshakes),

empanadas (turnovers), Costa Rican tortillas, or patacones (fried green

plantains). Enjoy sampling all of your culinary creations at the end of the class.

• Note: Bring comfortable shoes, long pants, sun block and camera for your

canopy tour.

DAY 10, August 01

Sarapiqui, Costa Rica

• Later today you will explore the Tirimbina Biological Reserve, one of the most

protected areas in the country.

• Take part in an exclusive People to People experience when you learn what it

takes to be an environmental scientist for a day! Learn about cutting edge

research and how scientists around the world are looking at the rainforest

ecosystems to solve complex questions.

• Fall asleep to the harmonious lullaby of the jungle´s night sounds during an

overnight stay in a tent suite. Each suite has its own deck, surrounded by lush

rainforest foliage. What animals do you imagine you’ll hear tonight?

DAY 11, August 02

Limόn, Costa Rica

• After breakfast, travel to the Caribbean side of Costa Rica and arrive in Brisas,

near the historic Port of Limόn.

• Begin your discovery of the reserve with an aerial tram ride through the tropical

rainforest canopy to explore trails found in this unique rainforest habitat.

• View Costa Rica’s National Institute of Biodiversity (INBio) biological station.

Here, researchers are actively working to discover and catalog new species.

• Wind your way through walking trails full of interactive live exhibits including

snakes, butterflies and the world’s largest nocturnal frog exhibit.

• Participate in an environmental research project involving rainforest butterfly

catch and release, and insect identification. After your identification and data

collection project, enjoy dinner at the Veragua Rainforest camp.

Take a night hike down the main road of the Veragua Rainforest property and

listen to night sounds. Keep your eyes open for nocturnal mammals including

kinkajous, opossum and the five different species of owls found in Veragua. You

might also spot some interesting nocturnal insects

DAY 12, August 03

Limόn, Costa Rica

• Participate in a school service project! Enjoy a true People to People day of

activities as you help with projects such as painting the local school, planting

trees and interacting with the local school children.

• Continue your journey to EARTH University..

• Tonight you will enjoy a barbeque dinner with a special folkloric activity.

Note: Please come prepared for your service project with insect repellant,

rain gear, and comfortable shoes. Be ready to help the community, make

new friends and have fun!

DAY 13, August 04

San Jose, Costa Rica

• Learn about Costa Rican agriculture when you visit EARTH University’s banana

farm. Banana farms in the area are managed under the principles of sustainable

production and utilization of human resources. Follow the entire production from

fruit harvesting, handling and packaging to markets in the U.S. and Europe.

• After lunch, depart for San José.

DAY 14, August 05

Depart for the U.S.

• After packing your suitcase for the last time, make sure you have everything you

need for the flight in your carry-on.

• Depart for the San José International Airport.

• Don’t forget to thank your motorcoach driver and delegation manager before you

step off the motorcoach for the final time.

• Welcome back to the United States!

Costa Rica Expedition

Hello everyone,

This has been a long week dealing with the program office and the various travel departments within it. With that being said, I have some good news and some bad news. BAD NEWS: I will no longer be apart of the Atlanta based Journey through the South Pacific Program/Tour. GOOD NEWS: I have been reassigned to a National People to People Delegation (with myself representing the Atlanta area) on the Costa Rica Expedition program! What this pretty much means is that I 'm now part of an Alumni only delegation that is set to depart for the beautiful country of Costa Rica in Late July. I know this news comes at the very last minute as travel was set for Sunday. This happened because of some financial and scheduling issues between the program office, my self and other third parties. I'm sadden to leave my Atlanta based delegation, but I'm pleased to join this National Delegation as a Jr. Leader. I will be editing all of my online People to People sites to convert them over to Costa Rica information. Therefore, somethings may not be available when accessing my sites. Thanks again everyone for your tremendous support and understanding! 

Sincerely,
Justin Robinson
Student Ambassador

2012 Reassignment

Dear Friends & Supporters,

It has been a very long road these past few months as we both prepared for this years journey. Unfortunately, yesterday I was notified by the program office about some financial conflicts as well as scheduling issues that have caused me to terminate my 2011 ambassadorial tour. What this means, is I will not be traveling this summer to the South Pacific.It was very heart breaking news with just 8 days until departure and so much invested in this years trip. What I can say now is that everyone who has donated money towards my 2011 journey will not go to waste as I have put in for 2012 reassignment. This will place me on a 2012 delegation where as it looks now, I will be traveling to the Mediterranean (France, Italy and Greece). But only time will tell and I will keep everyone posted on what will be happen in the next few weeks as far as 2012 assignments. Sorry to be the barer of bad news, thanks for your understanding!


Sincerely,
Justin Robinson
Student Ambassador