As in prior years, the itinerary of our time in Nicaragua has been planned and arranged by the staff at , our host non-governmental organization. Here’s the plan, in brief.
Travel to Nicaragua, leaving “as Kansans.”
Arrive in the evening. Settle in at .
Visit , Coyotepe and the Masaya craft market.
Nicaraguan history lesson at the . The center is affiliated with Augsburg College in Minneapolis, Minn. (.)
Visit historic sites of Managua, the Nicaraguan capital city, including and the .
Visit Los Quinchos’ farm and Las Yahoscas, residential programs for boys and girls in San Marcos. We will visit with the children and likely play soccer.
Return to Quaker House in Managua.
Travel to Matagalpa to visit , a Michigan-based NGO serving rural Nicaraguan women with high-risk pregnancies.
Tour , famous for its black pottery, and stay overnight at Casa Materna.
Visit in San Ramon, which includes a program teaching young people to work as eco-tour guides.
Visit the home of delegation guide Aldo Marcel in . before checking in to hostel
Visit the of Estelí. The mother of a fallen Sandinista soldier will give us a tour and speak about the impacts of the Contra War and the revolution in .
Travel to El Limón with community leader Ismael Blandón and meet our host families.
Begin work on the service project. We will work each morning alongside community members.
This afternoon we will do a Basic Basket activity at the market. Could you live on less than $3 per day? ($3 US is approximately 79 Córdoba as of Dec. 17, 2014.)
Service project work with the residents of El Limón.
In the afternoon we will accompany our homestay families on their Sunday activities.
Service project work with the residents of El Limón, a hike to the nearby La Estanzuela Waterfall and a night of celebration.
Depart for La Garnacha, an example of community-driven ecotourism. Return to Managua after lunch.
Depart for San Juan del Sur and Playa El Coco. We will visit a turtle nursery and learn about conservation efforts underway.
Depart for Granada and . Our tour includes a visit to Monkey Island, home to several species of monkey, rescued by a local veterinarian.
Visit historic sites and museums in .
Departure. Return to Kansas City International airport “as Nicaraguans.”