As an anxious mom, I had an assortment of worries about my son taking this trip to Costa Rica – How safe would he be? What if the host families are not nice? How will he reach me if he needs to if leaving his cell phone at home is recommended?  He came back saying it was one of the best trips he’s had. When the trip was offered again the following summer, he definitely wanted to go back again and did. Sara and Johel do an excellent job of planning activities, keeping everyone safe, and introducing kids to their host families (which were great!) ahead of time. Leaving the phone at home was A good call, as it allowed my son to be fully present and appreciate the new experiences as they were happening. If needed, the kids do have access to Sara and Johel’s phones. They also call or email home regularly during the trip to check-in. I am so grateful to Sara and Johel for giving my son the opportunity to join them in Costa Rica. He came home with great stories, beautiful pictures, new friendships, and a deeper understanding of culture and connectivity as related to the bigger world picture.