“That whole week was like one of the best weeks of my life.”
Watch the full interview here:
We’re so happy to have this podcast interview with Nia, one of our 16-year-old participants from this summer’s Costa Rica Sea Turtle Program — and her dad, Ted.
If you want to hear their full story, the full interview is featured right here on this blog. But below is a quick recap for anyone curious about what these trips are really like, both from a teen’s perspective and a parent’s.
Every summer, GoEco runs one of the most unique products we offer: teen-only adventure volunteer programs, designed exclusively for ages 15–17. They run once a year, for two weeks, and bring together motivated teens from around the world to explore a new country, volunteer with purpose, and build independence — all in a fully guided, safe, supportive environment.
This is Nia and Ted’s experience.
How It Started: “I brought it to my dad… and then we signed up.”
Nia discovered the program herself:
“I was just online looking for stuff to do over summer… I brought it to my dad and we looked up reviews to see if it was real, and then we signed up.”
From the Parent Side: “I felt very, very comfortable with her going.”
Ted shared that the preparation and communication made all the difference:
“You guys were really buttoned up… the portals were very easy to navigate.”
“The pre-Zoom call… seeing the other people like ‘okay, this is real.’”
“The WhatsApp chat… being always in the loop every day… allowed me to leave Nia alone and not say ‘what’s going on?’”
For any parent reading this — yes, we keep you fully in the loop while letting your teen grow independently.
Arrival & First Impressions: “It was completely fine.”
Traveling solo at 16 can feel huge, but for Nia, arrival was smooth and supported:
“They were texting the whole time… she sent a photo of the sign… it was completely fine.”
The Adventures & Friendships
The first week is full of adventure and tours, which Nia loved:
“Every tour I enjoyed… it was fun to see all the animals.”
The group dynamic was a highlight:
“Everyone was from different parts of the world… everyone was primarily interested in the turtles.”
She even preferred the smaller group size:
“The smaller group was actually way better… I think it made it a lot better.”
Alejandra: “She was like the best.”
This Costa Rica teen group has a full-time coordinator — and Nia adored hers:
“She was like our mother for two weeks… but also our friend.”
“She made it a really big focus to educate us… and she taught me Spanish.”
The Turtle Camp: “One of the best weeks of my life.”
The conservation week was the standout:
“That whole week was like one of the best weeks of my life.”
She patrolled for nesting turtles, counted eggs, and even held baby turtles:
“We held them. It was cool.”
She also loved the remote, eco-friendly lifestyle:
“It was really nice to not create waste for a week… it was just different than living anywhere else.”
Advice for Future Teens
Her best tip:
“Bring less than you think you need.”
Would They Recommend It? Yes.
Nia:
“Yeah, definitely. A hundred percent.”
Ted:
“Absolutely… I’ll certainly leave a great review. That was, that was awesome. Really. And I really, I will say, because you were talking about the, testimonials and things, that was really helpful for me to go in and see real people. You know, you could tell it wasn’t, you know, sh**, it was real. Yeah. These are real buttoned up people, and you guys kept proving that a lot.”
If you want to hear their energy, their laughter, and their full story, make sure to watch or listen to the full interview featured right here on the blog.
Nia and Ted offer an honest, uplifting look at what happens when a teen chooses something meaningful — and when a parent feels confident enough to say yes.
