Published on Nov. 14, 2024
“I have been a member of Jumpstart for the past two years, where I serve at-risk preschool children. Additionally, over winter break, I served on a sea turtle conservation trip in Costa Rica.”
– Jade Sapp, senior Interdisciplinary Studies and Occupational Therapy Assisting student
Jumpstart is a national early education organization working toward the day every child in America enters kindergarten prepared to succeed. We provide language, literacy, and social-emotional programming for preschool children from under-resourced communities and promote quality early learning for all children.
“When we began this program, we saw shy, unconfident girls who didn’t believe in themselves and how much they could accomplish… Introducing a sense of acceptance and welcomeness into a child’s life can make such a large impact on them. Now, at the end of the program, I am coaching bold, excited girls that are so confident in all that they want to achieve.”
Students participating in the Costa Rica Global Service Program earn three credits during winter break. Led by Dr. Donette Alonzo, projects will involve working on a sea turtle conservation and protection program coordinated by ASVO (Asociación de Voluntarios para el Servicio en Áreas Protegidas de Costa Rica). Program activities include:
• Staffing the turtle hatchery
• Monitoring the hatchery nests
• Interacting with tourists and locals to provide information about the sea turtle population
• Collecting data when turtles hatch and releasing baby turtles into the ocean
• Participating in beach and community clean-up efforts