VOLUNTEER CLEANUP FESTIVAL WITH CEPIA

Our fun CEPIA volunteer group at the start of the clean-up.

Kip, Brian and other volunteers pose in front of
what we were told is the oldest building in Huacas.

It's been a while since we've done a good trash clean up. At least a month or so. We were really beginning to miss it (no, really!)

And then we saw a flyer for the "Festival de Limpieza" seeking volunteers to help clean-up a sleepy town just outside of Tamarindo called Huacas. Yes!

A group of enterprising kids decided their town had a serious trash issue. Together with CEPIA, an impressive local nonprofit that helps area youth and their families, the kids designed flyers and organized the town-wide clean-up to help beautify the city before the its annual festival and bull-riding tournament. 

Liz, Brian and our little helper Joel.

We grabbed our friend Brian and headed out early on a Saturday morning. But, not before the fantastic folks at Villa Amarilla, who supported the Festival de Limpieza last year, outfitted us with some great t-shirts! Thanks, Cinde and TJ!

In true Costa Rican fashion, the clean-up started on "Tica time," about an hour and a half late. The delay gave us a chance to meet the kids who participate with CEPIA, as well as get to know a group of San Diego State University students who were volunteering with CEPIA for the summer. 

As we milled about tapping our watches and waiting to get started, one SDSU student explained that when the volunteers leave in a week, it will be up to the older youth in the CEPIA program to continue the projects they've all been working on, and they wanted to be sure the youth were ready to lead the events. 

As we would soon learn, the kids are more than ready.

Kip and Liz show the group our mad clean-up skills.

Just like a Tica clock, when they were ready, the older kids took charge, putting us into groups armed with separately-marked bags meant for aluminum, plastic, and trash. We each went our separate ways, led by a designated guide who knew the town and our planned route. 

We walked along the main road as hands waved from passing cars. We crossed streams and passed under bridges. We even dodged cowboys on horseback and the herd of young cows they were leading. 

Between the 30+ volunteers, we scoured the entire city cleaning streets and litter-pocked parks. It was great to see the difference the group had made. And it was even better to watch the young boys and girls take control and work together to make such a big difference in their little town. 

Thanks to Super Compro for donating the bags and rubber gloves for the clean-up!

Joel shows off the flyer for the upcoming festival.

 Joel helps Kip clean up a field.

A big thanks to the students of CEPIA for organizing the Festival de Limpieza clean up. We had a great time meeting all of you!

The happy clean-up crew showing off our garbage next to the park sign that says "Don't
throw trash here. We  take care of Huacas."

BROTHERLY LOVE AND FAREWELL

Todd and Kip enjoy a romantic sunset on an unnamed beach.

After a fun visit from Kip's brother Todd, it was time for him to head to his new "retired" life in London. 

Kip pretending he's a surfer in Tamarindo.

But not before one last surf session in Tamarindo. 

Farewell, big brother. 

Yes, Todd caught a few waves. 

We had an amazing time and are so glad you came...but...

Most of them briefly.

Here's hoping you retire better than you surf! :)

See you in London!

PHOTO FRIDAY: KIP'S OCELOT IN NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC

A female ocelot looks for her lunch at an animal rescue center in Costa Rica.

Actually, what National Geographic published was Kip's photo of an ocelot, together with a story he wrote about the issues Costa Rica is having caring for some of its most vulnerable animals. 

Read the full NatGeo story here, or check out the preview below. 

More next week on our time prepping lunch for an ocelot, toucan, tamarind, and spider monkey while volunteering at Costa Rica's animal-rehab centers. 
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Costa Rica Closes Zoos--Where Will the Animals Go?
Influx of captive animals has wildlife-rescue centers strapped.

By: Kip Patrick in Tamarindo, Costa Rica

for National Geographic
Published August 5, 2013

At the Monkey Park wildlife-rehab center near Tamarindo, Costa Rica, volunteers clean animal cages, wash dirty dishes, and even prepare the animals' meals.

"It's a labor of love," said Cinde Jeheber, a California native and frequent volunteer at the park. One of her duties might be cutting up fruit for the white-faced monkeys or slicing beef parts to feed to the resident ocelot.

"To be surrounded by all these amazing animals that might someday be released back into the wild—I wouldn't miss it for the world," she said. "Plus, I get to feed an ocelot!"

Yet Monkey Park and other such facilities are facing an unprecedented crunch as Costa Rica struggles with how to care for its captive wildlife, most of which will soon be without a home.

In July, the government announced controversial plans to close the country's two public zoos...

Read more here...