History of Rustic Pathways
Rustic Pathways was founded in 1983. The first group that traveled with Rustic Pathways was seven students from Western Reserve Academy in Hudson, Ohio. These modern explorers used heavy-duty Toyota Land Cruisers to travel aboriginal lands in the Australian desert outback.
The trips were ten weeks long and off grid; students hunted their own food and bartered with local cattle stations and Aboriginal people for supplies. It was transformational travel.
Rustic Pathways’s legendary journey continues to this day. For over 40 years Rustic Pathways has helped students get their hands dirty and their hearts full. Today, Rustic Pathways spans over 20 countries, employing 30 full-time and over 500 seasonal staff. We’ve evolved, but our mission remains: empowering students to positively impact communities worldwide.
We want to make a difference in the world, and we are achieving this. We’re proud of our work:
- Building homes on the Thai-Burma border
- Supporting global elephant conservation in Thailand
- Protecting endangered turtle species in Costa Rica and Greece
- Awarding scholarships to students worldwide
- Inspiring youth to launch their own nonprofits and NGOs
We are the world leader in student travel. This is thanks to our smart, hard-working people, and thanks to the support of our school partners, student travelers and their families.
Join us in making a difference. With Rustic Pathways, you’re not just traveling – you’re becoming part of a global community dedicated to positive change.
