Lessons Learned from a Discouraged Mother Turtle
Sage Kehr
Turtle Conservation Project, Costa Rica 2022
Collecting Memories in Faraway Places
Elyse Lebrun
Surf and Service Costa Rica 2021, Big Fiji Explorer 2022
Finding Peace and Purpose in the Mountains
Krish Khemlani
Himalayan Trekking and Temples, Nepal 2022
Unforgettable Experiences That Were Worth the Wait
Bridget Day
Turtle Conservation Project, Costa Rica 2022
I Met My Life-Long Best Friend in the Dominican Republic
By Alison Sawyer
Summer Camp Leadership 2016
The Rustic Experience is Like No Other
By Leelee Caudill
Peru 2014 | Fiji 2015 | Southeast Asia 2016
Markuray: The Village that Changed My Life
By Zach Gross
Sacred Valley Service, 2017 | Bats, Hats & Gloves in the Dominican Republic, 2018
Nothing Short of Epic
By Lillian Stone
Service in the Clouds in India 2017 | Sacred Valley Project in Peru 2018 | Tanzania 2019
Dreams and Hardwork
By Zebulan Lyons
Sun, Sand and International Service 2017 | Rice Fields, Monks, and Smiling Children 2018
The Little Things Can Mean The Most
By Liv Woodruff
Marine Life and Coastal Restoration, Dominican Republic 2019
More Than Just a Summer Trip
By Quinn Bissetta
Soccer & Service in La Paz, Costa Rica 2013 | Mountain Air and Village Service, Dominican Republic 2014
If Only I Could Be in High School Again
By Victoria Tadewald
Caribbean Adrenaline 2014 | Seven Wonders of Australia 2015 | Leader Corps: Peru 2018
How Rustic Shaped My Being
By André Mershad 
Safari and a Splash of Paradise 2014 | Moroccan Wanderer 2015 | Escape to the Fiji Islands 2016 | Epic Outback 2016 | The Backroads of Southeast Asia 2017 | Great Barrier Reef Dive Expedition 2017
What it Means to be a Traveler, not a Tourist
By Audrey Mitchell
Big Fiji Explorer, 2017 | Moroccan Wanderer, 2018 | Southeast Asian Adventure, 2019
My Thank You Letter to Rustic Pathways
By Deandra Forde
Summer Camp Leadership 2013 | Advanced Leadership Challenge 2014
Prioritizing Our World Rather Than My World
By Gabrielle Antolovic
Big Fiji Explorer 2012 | Medical Service Certification Program 2013 | Elephants and Amazing Luang Prabang 2013 | Lake Titicaca Service Adventure in Peru 2014
How Rustic Taught Me to Find the Joy in the Simple Moments of Life
By Linnea Martin
Spring to the Sacred Valley 2017 | Intro to Community Service in Fiji 2017
Experiencing Gratitude Among the Most Gracious Cultures
By Reese Peters
Island Living and Eco-Service 2017
Taking Rustic Home
By Abigail Golden
Rustic Pathways Children’s Home in Thailand 2016 | Innovation in Action: Cuba 2017
Finding My Passion
By Valentina Baccianella
Sticky Rice Service Adventure, 2014 | From the Ground Up: A Seminar in International Development, 2015 | Elephants and Amazing Thailand, 2016
Creating Community
By Isabel Arya
Bri Bri Village Service Experience, 2016 | Mountain Air and Village Service, 2017 | Intro to Community Service in Thailand, 2018
Traveling Back in Time
By Tal Nagar
Island Living and Eco-Service, 2017 | Sun, Sand, and International Service, 2018
My Spark
By Kristen Gadbois
Elephant Training and the Hill Tribe Experience, 2015 | Sun, Sand, and International Service, 2016
Planting the Seed for Global Consciousness
By Perrin Duncan
Ghana, 2010 | Climbing Kilimanjaro, 2013
Unforgettable Memories in the Land of Smiles
By Fumie Watanabe
Medical Service Certification Program 2018
Breaking Barriers Through Rustic Ties
By Sarah Karp
Children of India, 2014 | Ultimate African Adventure, 2015
How Travel Changed My Life
By Holly Henkel
Surf and Service in Costa Rica, 2017 | Island Hopping and Diving, 2018
Gaining the Understanding of Others
By Ryan Barish
Heart of the Jungle 2017 | Big Fiji Explorer 2018 | Southeast Asian Adventurer 2019
My Attempt to Change a Life Through Words
By Addison Rhodes
Highlands and Islands Service Immersion 2018 | Culture and the Crater 2019
Making the World a Better Place
By Holly Lippman
Surf and Service, 2014 | Highlands and Islands Service Immersion, 2015 | Highlands and Islands Service, 2016
Life Lessons Through Travel
By Rachel S.
Summer Camp Leadership, 2015 | Beyond Capitol Hill, 2016 | Rebuilding New Orleans, 2017
Get Comfortable With Being Uncomfortable
By Sammi Fuller
Sun, Sand, and International Service in Fiji, 2015 | Peru Sacred Valley Service, 2016
Discovering My Path Within a Changing World
By Alexandra Pyne
Fiji Diver’s Dream 2015 | Caribbean Adrenaline 2016
Little Frustrations That Lead to Big Improvements
By Patricia
Into to Community Service in Thailand x The Rustic Pathways Children’s Home, 2018
Are You Ready to Change the World?
By Sarah Altieri
Good Works and the Grand Canyon 2015 | Beyond Capitol Hill: Refugee Youth Tutoring in Baltimore 2016 | Rebuilding New Orleans 2017 | Marine Life and Coastal Restoration, Dominican Republic 2018
Being Brave About Who I Am
By Tingyuan Chen
The Amazing Thailand Adventure, 2014 | Escape to the Fiji Islands, 2015
Only Regret: Not Going Earlier
By Abigail Evangelista
Amazing Thailand Adventure 2018 | Spring to Fiji 2019
My Introduction to the World of Wildlife Conservation
By Brice Cooper
Thai Elephant Conservation Project, Thailand 2015 | Turtle Conservation Project, Costa Rica 2016
Taking A Leap of Faith
By Rachel Rowland
Intro to Community Service: Fiji 2017 | Ricefields, Monks, and Smiling Children: Thailand 2018 | Off the Map: Mongolia 2019
What Travel is Really All About
By Pablo Gonzalez Ruiz
Fiji Leadership Challenge, 2015 | Costa Rica Adventure, 2014
A Journey to Remember
By Maria Araujo
The Hill Tribe Support and Refugee Camp Experience x The Amazing Thailand Adventure, 2015
The Rustic Recap
By Hannah Gutenstein
Thailand Wanderer, 2016 | Moroccan Wanderer, 2015
Elephants, Tooth Pain, and Fireworks
By Caitlyn Morris
Rebuilding New Orleans 2013 | Thai Elephant Conservation Project 2015
Five Rustic Trips Later
By Megan Kahrs
Rebuilding New Orleans 2015 | Good Works and the Grand Canyon 2016 | Island Living and Eco Service 2017 | Wonders of Laos, 2018 | Culture and the Crater 2019
The Land of Smile
By Patricia
Into to Community Service in Thailand x The Rustic Pathways Children’s Home, 2018
How Rustic Pathways Has Changed My Life
By Annabelle Bragalone
Escape to Fiji 2014 | Elephant Training and the Hill Tribe Experience 2015 | Awesome Aussie Service Adventure 2016 | Ultimate Latin America 2017
You Can Do Anything
By Camille Greening
Awesome Aussie Service 2018 | Ricefields, Monks, and Smiling Children 2019
Wonderful Little Moments
By Rachel Judson
Mountain Air and Village Service, 2015 | Rebuilding New Orleans, 2016
Friends that Became Family, Places that Became Home
By Freja Tellefsen
Thai Elephant Conservation Project, 2018 | Highlands and Islands Service Immersion, 2019 | Sun, Sand, and International Service, Fiji 2019
Gaining New Perspectives with Travel
Intro to Community Service, 2014 | Sarapiquí: A Tropical Service Adventure, 2014 | Surf and Service 2015-2016 | Seven Wonder of Australia, 2017
What Really Matters
By Lil Keller
Sacred Valley Service 2016 | Ultimate Latin America 2017 | Elephants and Amazing Thailand 2018
Taking Action at Home
By Nick Makris
You, a Roo’, and Australia Zoo, 2019 | Thailand Deep Dive and Global Issues Design Challenge, 2020
There’s No Limit to Love
By Socia Morrish
Service in the Clouds, India 2017 and the Yeti Expedition, Nepal 2017
How My Gap Year Prepared Me For So Much More Than Just College
By Hannah Repke
Rustic Pathways Gap Year
The Summer of No Regrets
By Sully Sim
Culture and the Crater, 2018 | Spring to the Sacred Valley, 2019 | Hanoi to Halong, Hill Tribe Service and Elephant Conservation, 2019
4 Letters from Students
By Charlotte, Cassie, Ryan and Izzy
Costa Rica, Fiji Islands, Morocco, Tanzania, Thailand
Why I Took a Gap Year Before Becoming the First in My Family to Go to College
By Sharif Campbell
Golden Lands and World Heritage Gap Year, 2015
How A Student Travel Program Helped Me Overcome My Anxiety
By Megan Gallagher
Rebuilding New Orleans, 2012 | Big Fiji Explorer, 2013
I Used My Travel Experience to Write the Essay that Got Me Into College
By Alex Boulet
Climbing Kili, 2011
The #sorustic Spirit
By Caroline, Molly, and Natalie
Seven Wonders of Australia | Moroccan Wanderer | Soccer and Service in Costa Rica
Two Summers in Video
By Nicho and Jake
Off the Map, Peru | Mountain Air and Village Service, Dominican Republic
Go After What You Care About
By Dan, Sasha, and Molly
Photojournalism in Thailand and Laos | Service in the Clouds, India | Marine Life and Coastal Restoration in Fiji
Rustic Reflections
By Kaleigh, Tristan, and Allie
Seven Wonders of Australia | Moroccan Wanderer | Soccer and Service in Costa Rica
A Transformative Gap Year
Interview with Cailey Newton
Ricefields, Monks, and Smiling Children | Sacred Valley Service in Peru
2016 Top Fundraisers
By Madi, Cate, and Sydney
Hill Tribe Service and Elephant Conservation | Culture and the Crater | Souqs and Service | Nicoya Turtle Expedition,
Travel Influenced Post-High School Plans
By Basil, Rachael, and Sloane
Mountain Air and Village Service in Dominican Republic | Turtle Conservation Project | Off the Map Ghana | Amazing Thailand and Elephants
Travel Lessons and Advice from a Gap Year
Interview with Zoe and Camila
Kilimanjaro to Zanzibar Gap Year | Gap Year, Southeast Asia
Program Highlights and Advice to Travelers
Interview with Eric and Besart
Come With Nothing: The Mekong Expedition | Marine Life and Coastal Restoration
Eye-Opening Experiences
By Nabilla, Sarah, and Maggie
Souqs and Service | The Ultimate African Adventure | Children of India | The Thai Elephant Conservation Project | The Hill Tribe Support and Refugee Camp
Diving Into Unfamiliar Territory
By Isabella, Cameron, and Maria
Intro to Community Service in Fiji | The Amazing Thailand Adventure | Come With Nothing, Go Home Rich | Mountain Air and Village Service | Namaste India | Sacred Valley Service
How to Continue Service After Your Program Ends
Interviews with Nicole, Maddie, and Lena
Come With Nothing, Go Home Rich | Thailand Hill Tribe
Advice on Immersing Yourself in a New Country
By Emma and Carolyn
Namaste India | The Thai Elephant Conservation Project | Green Island Service | Village School Service, Fiji
How Travel Changed Everything
By Taylor Brennan
Sacred Valley Service, 2015 | Surf and Service in Costa Rica, 2016
Travel Taught Me to Stand Up for What I Believe In
By Carey Davis
Bribrí Villages Service Experience, 2014 | The Thai Elephant Conservation Project, 2015 | Culture and the Crater, 2016 | Dreams of a Nation, Myanmar, 2017
A Continued Journey into Positive Impact
Interview with Calista Schloessmann
Mountain Air and Village Service, 2019
7,295 Miles of Gratitude
By Mazzy Rosenast
The Children’s Home and Elephant Sanctuary Project, 2018 | Mountain Air and Village Service, 2019
My Experience During Spanish Immersion and Service
By Ilana Hamer
Spanish Immersion and Service in Costa Rica, Peru, the Dominican Republic, and Cuba, 2017
How Travel Helped me Identify my Academic and Career Path
By Heather Lyon
India, 2006 | Sacred Valley Service, 2007
Shwedagon and Sunrises
By Brooke Cornetet
South Pacific Service and Ocean Skills Semester, 2013 | Golden Lands and World Heritage, 2014
Stories from Rustic Travelers
By Michael, Brielle, and Sam
Peru, Fiji, New Orleans
The Impact of a Gap Year
By Kelsey, Sharif, and Lance
Spanish Immersion and Service Gap Year; Golden Lands and World Heritage Gap Year; Southeast Asia and India Gap Year, 2015
Hear from Two Alumni Parents
By David and Melissa
Australia, Cambodia Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Fiji, India, Peru, Mystery Trip
What I Learned From Traveling
By Olivia M.
Refugee Youth Project in Baltimore, 2018
By Liz Ronzio
Tanzania; Fiji; India; China; Southeast Asia
By Charlie M.
Costa Rica, 2003; Thailand 2004; Gap Year – Backpacked 22 Countries with Rustic Pathways
By Brielle Friedman
Fiji, 2005; Thailand; New Orleans
By Andrea Bouch
Australia, 1998
By Lena Baker
Tanzania, 2008; Thailand, 2009
Have a Story to Share?
Everybody has a story and we want to hear yours. Not only do we want to hear it, we want to share it with students who will be traveling with us, your fellow Rustic alumni, and the Rustic family! We want everyone to know how great our alumni are, but more importantly, we want them to be inspired.
Rustic Pathways Alumni are known for being hard working, dedicated and solutions-oriented. We want to hear how your #sorustic experience helped you carry forth these and other traits beyond your experience with us.
Are you in school? Graduated? Do you have a new cool job? Or, do you have a cool story of making an impact and engaging with the world? We’d love to hear it!