4 Feature The Bear MARCH 30 2023

Students spend spring break in sunny Costa Rica

Kinnick Boelk, Carver Boelk, Bailey Walker, Baylee
Piegors, Emmersen Thomas, and Auron Marsh at Ma-
nuel Antonio National Park.
Nina Torkelson and Izaiah Hansen with others at Lin-
dora Farm, Monteverde, to go horsebackriding.
Logan Graves, Ellie Walsh, Beth Gallagher, Rediet
Boelk, Baylee Piegors, Lu Guetzko, Hunter Niles, and
Diego Carrillo at Místico Hanging Bridges.
Twenty-eight students traveled to
Costa Rica from March 11-19 over spring
break. Every day, the students had some-
thing fun and educational to do. These stu-
dents were chaperoned by Laura Góngora,
Abby Noelck, Annie Popkes, and Beth
Gallagher.
The first activity the students did
was traveling to see a waterfall. Then after
the waterfall, they went on a hike to see the
Arenal Volcano.
Popkes said that her “favorite as-
pect of visiting Costa Rica is always just
experiencing the different wildlife/envi-
ronment when we go on hikes and visit the
national parks.”
The next day, the first activity the
travelers did was kayaking. Then, they
went on the hanging bridges excursion.
After the hanging bridges, they went to
visit the Baldi hot springs.
“My favorite activity on our itin-
erary was definitely when we kayaked in
Lake Arenal, where we also got to swim in
the refreshing waters,” said Oliva Naber
On the third day the students
planted a tree and went to hike in the rain-
forest.
The following day they went
horseback riding in the morning. In the af-
ternoon they took part in the El Trapiche
farm visit and chocolate tour.
“My favorite activity of the trip
was horseback riding. The crisp morning
air and mountain views were stunning and
my horse, Diamante, was so much fun to
ride!” said Noelck.
On the fifth day, the travelers
went ziplining. After the zipline, the stu-
dents had time to visit the beach or go on
a crocodile safari. The next day they vis-
ited Manuel Antonio National Park.
On the seventh day, the students
traveled to San Jose to visit the Sarchi craft
village. After the craft village visit, they
had a Folklore evening, and they said
goodbye to their tour guide Pavel and bus
driver Yogi.
One thing that wasn’t on the itin-
erary was a party. On the last day at their
hotel, there was a quinceañera, which is a
special 15th year birthday celebration.
Some of the chaperones and students were
invited into the party.
Travelers were Carver Boelk,
Kinnick Boelk, Redi Boelk, Cooper Caleb Pedersen, Emily Coleman, Ashlynne Nash, Claire
Burger, Diego Carrillo, Emily Coleman, Jarrett, Kya Montgomery, and Gabby Rushton obsere
a coati (pizote) outside of Místico hanging bridges.
Asa Dingbaum, Lynzi Dykstra, Jade Gon-
gora, Logan Graves, Lu Guetzko, Lily
Hahn, Izaiah Hansen, Ava Hazlewood,
Alex Heithoff, Claire Jarrett, Auron Marsh,
Maryam Martin, Kya Montgomery, Olivia
Naber, Ashlynne Nash, Hunter Niles,
Caleb Pedersen, Baylee Piegors, Gabby
Rushton, Emmersen Thomas, Nina Tork-
leson, Bailey Walker, and Ellie Walsh.
Olivia Naber and Gabby Rushton play in the water at
Manuel Antonio National Park.
Ashlynne Nash takes a selfie with fellow travelers Caleb
Pedersen, Mayam Martin, Kya Montgomery, and Students pose near one of the beautiful waaterfalls seen
Claire Jarrett on a hanging bridge. on their rip. All photos by Laura Gongora.

Students travel for Spring Break Left:Avery Shultes

and Addie Shultes at
the Housten Rodeo.
Photo contributed by
Schultes.

Right: Kristen West-

pheling travels in
New Orleans. Photo
contributed by West-
pheling.

Brooklyn Nash, Eli Huntrod, Addie Nash, Anna Nash, Sydney Nash, and
Nash Huntro pose in front of the resort they stayed at. Photo contributed
Alex Poppen and Marisa Herring go hiking in Arizona. Photo contributed
by Keri Nash.
by Kami Poppen.

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