Here I am again, ready to gush to all our loyal Kalu Yala readers (I know you’re out there- over 8,000 hits this month!) about this internship and the incredible people I work with.
Five of my six incredible Business Interns are working together on a group entrepreneurship project, Kalu Yala Jungle Adventures and they are getting ready to launch!
As a team, they are developing the entire business proposal, from legalities to run-of-show, with the intent of not only running the 3-day/2-night trip twice, but also presenting it to potential Kalu Yala company investors.
Their first soft-opening trial run happened October 18th through 20th. They discounted the trip, which should be $100 based on our costs, to $50 for the all-inclusive weekend, which includes transportation, incredible meals by Chef Zac Long, and a boat-load of activities!
As most of you know by now, I moved here because of my first stint in the valley last July. It’s an incredible place that I think everyone should get a chance to visit. From swimming holes and jumping rocks, to hiking trails and bonfires, it’s my idea of the perfect oasis. It’s somewhere I can get away- like no place I’ve ever been. No cellphone, no computer. Possibly a good book. Definitely a sleeping bag (and they’ll provide those for the weekend!). There’s just no way to describe the feeling of playing volleyball in the middle of a rainforest valley.
To quote myself, here is my Facebook status update after returning from the Kalu Yala Valley last July… I think it sums up my feelings pretty well, and I hope it makes you want to come too:
I´ve spent the last 7 days in the Kalu Yala valley and neighboring town of San Miguel. I expected to only spend 4 days here and now I´m leaving feeling short on time. I am so impressed with each intern and director- each one working to make this place a better place- from machete trail blazing, to building stairs in the valley, to teaching English in the local school, to instant beautification through neighborhood trash pick-up, to amazing, scratch that, INCREDIBLE meals made on a camping stove. Community is something you can define in all the books you want, but until you live it you have no idea. I’ll take a tent, the Kalu Yala valley, the folks who inhabit it, work that makes you sweat, and a bottle of rum over a beach in Mexico or a ski slope in Colorado any day. Best vacation EVER.
This place is what makes me buzz. I’m so proud of the Business Interns for realizing the specialness of Kalu Yala and wanting to share it with those visiting Panama. It’ll be an experience unlike any other and I’m just so impressed with the thought and effort they’ve put into it. I’m pumped to see how this weekend goes as well as their final presentation- 10 weeks to build a business and I think they’ve done it!
If you’re interested in coming out on their next trip, it’s November 7th-9th for $50. You can email Haley at [email protected] or call 6894-7830. I’ll be out there!
In what other internship could you build a company from scratch, use all the resources and amenities the parent company has to offer, and then actually run the trip?! I love my job!