Surf and Service Dominican Republic Information
With this itinerary, Knowledge on the Run will introduce students to the unique Caribbean culture of the Dominican Republic, which is full of European, Latin, and African influences. Our time in the DR will be split between the capital city of Santo Domingo and the coastal town of Cabarete. In Santo Domingo, students will learn the complicated history of the Hispaniola island including the arrival of Columbus, independence from Spain, the Trujillo dictatorship, and recent history up to modern day. Students will have the invaluable opportunity to participate in service projects that focus on the betterment of Dominican communities through education, clean water initiatives, and a particular focus on children in the community. Through this service, students will gain perspective and appreciation for the privilege in their life and further develop their social-emotional skills.
10-Day Program
Day 1:
On our first day, we will fly from Houston to Punta Cana. After landing and getting settled in our hotel, we will spend a relaxing afternoon in Three Eyes National Park. We will return to Santo Domingo proper for our first
dinner in the city.
Day 2:
Our second day will be spent exploring historic sites in Santo Domingo including La Casa Museo Hermanas Mirabal, the Alcazar de Colon, and the Plaza de Espana.
Day 3:
On our third day, we will continue exploring the rich history of the Dominican Republic with a visit to the Museum of the Royal Houses and the National Pantheon, both of which are fine examples of Spanish colonial architecture.
Day 4:
Day four will be spent continuing our adventure into the colonial Caribbean with a visit to the Catedral Primada de América. Our afternoon will be spent relaxing on the beach.
Day 5:
Our halfway point in our trip will be spent traveling from Santo Domingo to the small beach town of Cabarete. Our afternoon will be spent getting settled in our
hotel and relaxing on the beach.
Day 6:
Our first full day in Cabarete will be spent meeting the boys and families from the InspireDR organization. We will meet the families of the InspireDR students to distribute our Waves For Water filtration systems and demonstrate how to use them to each family. The remainder of our day will be recreation time on the beach.
Day 7:
Students will have the opportunity to volunteer with the students from InspireDR and participate in recreational activities such as hiking, kayaking, surf lessons and much more!
Day 8:
Just like the day before, students will have the opportunity to volunteer with the students from InspireDR and participate in recreational activities such as hiking, kayaking, surf lessons and much more!
Day 9:
Similar to the last two days, students will have the opportunity to volunteer with the students from InspireDR and participate in recreational activities such as hiking, kayaking, surf lessons and much more!
Day 10:
We will journey to Punta Cana, from where we will fly home to Houston.