This past summer, I was able to attend a Road Less Traveled program with the help of a George Gardner Fund scholarship. The program took me to a small town in Costa Rica where I helped remodel a preschool, enjoy Costa Rican cuisine and interact with locals while fully immersing myself in the culture. I was able meet other kids that I’m sure I will remember for the rest of my life and my leaders were kind and lifechanging with their wisdom. After the service aspect of my adventure, I went surfing, zip lining, hiking, and whitewater rafting in the Costa Rican jungle and along the black sand beaches. I was able to interact with and explore the wildness of an environment I have never known.
I slept on concrete floors and in small tents on the side of the Pacuare river, yet I have never been happier. I was never dry and I was always dirty, but it was one of the best experiences of my life. I have never felt more exhausted, nor lived life so genuinely before. It was probably the hardest thing I’ve ever done, but the experience was one of the most incredible things I’ve ever experienced. It would not have been possible without the help of the scholarship I received from the George Gardner fund.
I want to express my gratitude towards the GGSF in regard to the scholarship granted me, because they helped provide me with an incredibly life changing experience that I know I will never forget. I respect the fund for helping kids pursue the adventures that interest them, even when they seem financially impossible.
Many thanks to the George Fund
Emily
George Gardner Scholarship Fund 