My name is Sophie Scholl, and for the next 10 weeks Jack Wolfskin will be sponsoring me to take part in an expedition to Costa Rica and Nicaragua run by the charity Raleigh International.
 

Last summer I had the privilege to take part in the Ice Climate Education Camp with the explorer Arved Fuchs. Although in school I had often learned about the impact of Climate Change and the importance of protecting our planet, it was not until those 10 days in Iceland that I truly felt the need to do something myself. So now, 11 months on, armed with the freedom of graduation, the optimism of a youth, about a zillion vaccinations and four years worth of Spanish lessons that are not to go to waste, I am preparing for a trip that will hopefully not only do a bit of good on the planet, but also test my own perseverance and strength.

Costa Rica is renown for its rich diversity of wildlife, but it is also home to many threatened and endangered species, which is why I will be helping to build trails and protect the country’s National Parks that hold large areas of jungle. As my grandparents used to live in Costa Rica, I also have a personal interest in the country. Nicaragua, on the other hand, is one of the hemisphere’s poorest countries, with many communities lacking basic amenities such as water and safe sanitation, so in this part of the expedition I will be living and working alongside a remote community to improve health and educational services.

Finally, I will also have the chance to take part in a personal challenge in form of a 19 day trek that will cover over 250km, through jungles, rivers, and past volcanoes! Aching bones, blisters, cramps? Bring it on!