I’ve already described the life of a destination staff. I alluded to what happened during the week. But here are my 5 daily activities during my week in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic that made working as a Destination Staff an incredible job and not just fun for the students!

1) Giant blow up objects

Now seriously – Who wouldn’t want to have giant blow up toys to play with. It was like those bouncing castles kids get – but for full-grown kids! There was the rock climbing wall, the sling shot, and a fighting ring. All filled out of air. All for our entertainment.

2) Sand Castle Competition

If you are on a beach than you must build. And build they did! Buckets, Cups, Moats, Turrets, and Animals – the castles had them all. 6 teams competed and created sand castles of all shapes and sizes. Above are the winners of the challenge and they reign from my former high school of Sir Winston Churchill in Thunder Bay.

3) Mr. and Miss. Grad Trip Competition

This was a competition that the entirety of the students got involved with. Mr and Miss Grad Trip was a competition of the best and the brightest. Boys were doing push-ups and the ladies were doing dives. Piggy back rides to dancing. The competition had it all and it was great fun being involved in the laughter, cheering, and loud music rocking as the students competed throughout the afternoon. It didn’t even matter who won because the whole afternoon was entertaining for both students and staff.

4) Parties in Caves

Because if you are going to have an incredible party than it better be INSIDE a cave with strobe and black lights while you are painted in glow in the dark paints. The music was loud, the cave was an incredible setting, and that music bounced off the walls. The students danced the night away and I had my own little dance party at the back of the cave – under the air conditioner!

5) Volleyball Competitions

Beach volleyball is some of the most fun you can have in the sand. It is right up there with the sand castle competition. Teams formed, 6 per team, and they battled it out. We even had a group of boys who played in Alberta provincials on one team! Most people played for fun, and many played more competitively, but all played to have a great afternoon in the sun.

From cave parties, to sand castles, to volleyball – the activities that filled the afternoons kept everybody active and taking full advantage of what a beach destination can offer. Instead of just sizzling in the sun all day with a lemonade in hand, everybody was up and about, laughing, and competing with their friends for an incredibly memorable Grad Trip.

S-Trip was made for the students, but as Destination Staff is certainly is still a blast!