Source: Twitter

Justin Smith is a United States high school student from Maryland who dreams of coming to Costa Rica for two reasons: He wants to do volunteer work at a local orphanage and also at various wildlife rescue and research centers.

Justin is a reader of The Costa Rica Star. He is enrolled at Salisbury Christian School, where students are given opportunities outside of the classroom to discover the work of God and how spiritual values can make our world a great place for everyone. Justin and other volunteers will travel as part of trip managed by Appleseed Expeditions, an agency that specializes in educational trips.

This is how Appleseed Expeditions describes the Costa Rica trip experience:

Costa Rica has the landmass equal to half that of the state of Florida, yet it contains twelve zoographical ecosystems compared to just a handful in Florida. Each of these unique habitats is rich in plant and animal biodiversity containing up to 7% of the world’s flora and fauna. Students will learn about sustainable ecology with regards to preservation of tropical ecosystems, as well as aid communities that we serve in Costa Rica such as impoverished people in need and orphaned children. Additionally, students will assist scientists heading up conservation projects. We are committed to ongoing projects that provide relief and hope to communities in need.

Justin is raising money for this trip. He has established a GoFundMe campaign for this purpose. The following is his campaign writeup. If you would like to donate, please visit his campaign site. Please note that the following writeup is being posted unedited.

Hi, I am Justin Smith a Senior at Salisbury Christian School and I have set up this gofundme for my senior trip to Costa Rica. I am raising this money for the trip because I do believe that this will have a great impact not just on my life, but those peoples and animals lives I will be helping while in Costa Rica.

While we are in Costa Rica we will be doing the following:

-Helping at a humming bird sanctuary

-Visiting various waterfalls and forests

-Voulenteering at a local orphanage

-Helping restore the rainforests

-Visiting the Orginization for Tropical Studies

-Voulenteering at Rainforest Restoration Center

-Visiting a turtle conservation center

-Helping with a crocodile and caiman alligator study

-Nesting sea turtle study

-Caring for endangered rainforest species at Eco-center

With your donation, you will be able to help me make a difference to the country of Costa Rica. This means so much to me personally because I want to help the orhpan kids and endangered animals of Costa Rica so that they can live a normal and long life like they deserve.

Since I have been young I have always followed the saying “every penny counts” which has led me to save every coin I have found and means that even a donation of $0.01 means the world to me and I cannot express my gratitude more for your gratious donations