ACE in Costa Rica 2025

For the third year, the ACE in Costa Rica team spent two weeks living in the community of Gandoca, where they engaged in organic farming, environmental conservation, and sustainability practices. As a team, they completed over 58 hours of night patrols in support of local sea turtle conservation efforts and contributed over 30 hours to beach cleanup efforts. The ACE in Costa Rica team also led three youth sports camps at the community’s school, focused on soccer, volleyball, and running.

“Looking back on my ACE experience in Costa Rica, I’m filled with countless memories of new experiences, challenges, and most importantly, gratitude. For two weeks, I stepped out of my comfort zone and into daunting cold showers, scary bugs, and an entirely new way of life. The phrase “change begins at the end of your comfort zone” couldn’t have been more fitting. ”

-Avery Hamlin, Duke Volleyball

The ACE team engaged in a variety of project work, including volunteering on local cacao farms where they learned about the agricultural practices and processes behind cacao production in Costa Rica and assisted in harvesting cacao. The team also assisted local conservationists in beach patrols and beach cleans to help conserve the leatherback sea turtle population that nests on the beaches of Gandoca.

In the second week of the program, the students traveled to Bribri indigenous territory in Sepecue, Costa Rica. There, they learned about indigenous Costa Rican culture and engaged with local community members through storytelling and cultural games. In addition, the ACE team connected with students at the local school and assisted in sanding desktops with them.

Finally, the ACE team coordinated three sports coaching sessions in soccer, volleyball, and running with local Gandocan youth. These projects came out of an impromptu running lesson the previous year’s ACE team facilitated. The Gandocan community members found it so impactful, it was decided to make sports coaching a scheduled component of the program.

Being with the kids for two weeks taught me that service is really about patience, presence, and trust. It’s about creating a safe and joyful space where the community feels valued and seen. Watching the kids’ faces light up when they recognized me, hearing their excited chatter, and sharing laughs revealed the power of human connection. It showed me how trust and belonging can grow between people, even when we don’t speak the same language.

-Caroline Dysart, Duke Women’s Soccer

The program concluded with a reflection on the ACE in Costa Rica team’s impact on the community. Casa Tucán staff shared how the students’ presence and efforts in Costa Rica supported the Gandoca and Sepecue communities.