Andover High School Students Attend Global Summit in Costa Rica

Andover High Global Summit group
Front row - Steve Sanborn (faculty), Dustin Yang, Melanie Cutler (faculty), Jonathan Monderer,
Meredith Hunt, Qiqi Zhang, Sophie Uluatam.
Back row - Evan Lungren, Dan Perrone, Connor O'Griffin, Meghan Johnson,
Samara Dowe, Catalina Ayacardi, Carolyn Holden

A dozen students with two faculty chaperones from Andover High School travelled to Costa Rica in mid-march to tour parts of Costa Rica and attend the EF Global Sustainability Summit in San Jose, Costa Rica.  Arriving in San Jose's captial city on March 15, the group set off for five days of exploration in different parts of Costa Rica viewing their travel through the lens of global sustainability.  Throughout the tour, the EF tour director highlighted the many ways in which Costa Rica has turned to environmental preservation and sustainability as a course for economic development and environmental conservation.

Sophie Uluatam, Catalina Ayacardi, QiQi Zhang, and Meghan Johnson tear into some mangos

The first destination for the group was the Tortuguero National Park where the group travelled by boat to stay beachside near one of the most prolific sea turtle egg laying beaches in the world.  Despite being out of season, students were treated to unexpected surprise as a leatherback turtle arrived early to the beach to lay its eggs at night.  In the glow of amber flashlights and with close supervision by park rangers, students were able to observe up close the 800 lbs leatherback laying its eggs in the darkness of the night.  While in the Tortugeuro area, the group also enjoyed boat-based tours of Costa Rican wildlife and a visit to a local village elementary school where spirited soccer match was played with students.

Researchers monitoring leatherback turtle laying eggs.  (Stock photo - no photos
allowed by park rangers due to impact of flashes on the turtle)

Alvaro, our tour director, talking bananas with Dan Perrone

Next stop for the group was the Arenal region dominated by the famous Arenal volcano.  Here students participated in a tour of a cocoa plantation, zip-lined across the canopy of the forest, experienced the thermal baths in Fortuna, and braved the rapids while rafting on the Serapiqui River. On the way back to San Jose, the group spent several hours at One World College interacting with students from around the world living on the culturally diverse campus of this unique boarding school.

Our rooms with a view of the Arenal volcano

Swimming at the spectacular Fortuna Water Falls

Navigating the Serapiqui River

Arriving on Friday night in San Jose, the Andover High students joined several hundred other high school and middle school students at the Wyndham Hotel for the 3-day EF Environmentally Sustainability Global Summit, a program that featured keynote speakers Jane Goodall and Severin Cullis-Suzuki, numerous workshops and speakers addressing environmental issues and concerns, and training in using the the design thinking process to develop solutions to environmental problems. Andover High students were sorted into teams to collaborate with other students from across the US and Costa Rica as they worked on solutions and prototypes exhibited at a global village exhibition where ideas were pitched and voted on by summit attendees.  The summit ended with a big farewell party at the Hard Rock Cafe before heading back to Andover late on March 23.

Building a prototype of the device to address an environmental problem

Pitching ideas at the noisy, high energy Innovation Village showcase

In the months prior to attending the summit, each student prepared an online introductory video that highlighted an environmental issue or theme important to the student.  Sophomore Catalina Ayacardi's video was one of nine selected as the finest and as an award, Catalina joined the other winners for a special private luncheon with Dr. Jane Goodall.  Catalina also had the honor of speaking on behalf of the other students during a special welcoming toast to Dr. Goodall.

Video project winner enjoy private lunch with Dr. Jane Goodall

Dr. Jane Goodall and AHS sophomore Catalina Ayacardi

In the months leading up to the summit, AHS senior Meghan Johnson applied and was selected to be an intern summit.  Among other responsibilities, Meghan helped coordinate a student press conference for Dr. Goodall as well as writing and presenting a thoughtful, well received introduction for closing speaker Severin Cullis-Susuki.  All members of the Andover High group enjoyed an educational, enjoyable, and memorable experience in Costa Rica.