By Tonya Decker

This year I achieved my highest goal in my 12-year Girl Scout career; I went to Costa Rica. It was 10-days of backpacking, waterfall rappelling, rafting, tree climbing, and surfing.

Everything that comes to mind when you think of Costa Rica was true: rainforests with giant plants and trees, bugs, and crystal clear waterfalls around every bend.

I arrived at the main lodge with 16 other girls from all over the United States. Every morning we would wake to the sound of the jungle and the rushing of a waterfall. We hiked between three and five hours a day, then stopped to set up camp, make dinner, and have a group meeting.

The last five days of our trip we stayed at three different native homes. Each day was filled with some adventure: playing soccer, milking a cow, resting in a homemade sauna, swimming, picking fruit, and chopping wood for a school. A natural doctor lived at the last home we stayed at. He showed us healing plants, and let us climb a 65-foot tree in his front yard.

What touched me the most was how close every family member is with each other. Love was pouring out of their hearts, instilling in every child the importance of hard work, respect, God, inner peace, and love.

Being a Girl Scout is the greatest thing I have ever done. Because of Girl Scout Destination trips, I will continue to travel to new places and learn as much as I can from others. To all my Girl Scout sisters, I want to tell you to “go for it”. Dream all your dreams, and achieve your goals with no hesitation. The support from your leaders and other Girl Scouts will be behind you all the way.