Director of School Partnerships Lauren brings experience from across Rustic Pathways’ sales and operations, including as our Strategic Partnerships Manager and USA Country Director. She lives between two Caribbean cities—New Orleans and Santo Domingo—and spends time by the ocean in New England where she grew up. She is a Temple University alumnus and non-fiction reader. You can usually find her hosting unexpected parties, exploring cities, or hiking the bayous with her family. Published Latest Travel Reflection Questions on a Teacher Led Trip June 30, 2024 · 5 min read Throughout our programs, we have group discussions and reflections to hear how students are engaging with their surroundings and the program. Use some of these prompts to start conversations with your students about the experiences they’ll have on your trip. Read more Using Travel as a Tool to Discuss Social Justice July 18, 2019 · 3 min read A good place to start is to understand what you’re trying to accomplish, and work to find which programs and community partners will allow for the most meaningful cross-cultural learning. Global programming lends a boost to any thematic curriculum if you can draw creative parallels and have a good understanding of your intended learning moments. Read more Using Travel as a Tool to Explore Leadership July 12, 2019 · 4 min read Schools with integrated education models point to Leadership as one of the skill sets necessary to develop well-rounded students. Separating leadership development from the dynamics of school culture and community power structures can allow for students to see practical and organic applications of leadership in the real world, sometimes more clearly than in their own home contexts. Read more Using Travel as a Tool to Discuss Privilege July 10, 2019 · 3 min read Privilege is a difficult concept to discuss with students, especially while they’re in their home environments. The many layers and dimensions make it an uncomfortably ambiguous conversation, and even harder for students to deduce what they can do with this complex new understanding of self. Read more Interweaving a Costa Rica School Trip with Zoology and Evolution Class July 4, 2019 · 6 min read Find out how one educator worked with Rustic Pathways Group Travel to customize the perfect trip for his biology curriculum and his students' needs. Read more Why All Teens Should Participate in a Student Travel Program April 8, 2019 · 2 min read Providing your teen with a culturally-immersive international travel experience is the best investment you can make as a parent. Read about how stepping outside of their comfort zone and daring to participate in a student travel program can benefit your teen. Read more What to Ask Your Students Before Taking Them on a Class Trip Abroad March 29, 2019 · 3 min read Prepare your students for their upcoming trip with these open-ended questions to get your students to think broadly and exercise their travel brains. Read more A to Z: Everything You Need to Know About Traveling to Mongolia March 27, 2018 · 5 min read This is part of an ongoing series featuring each country where Rustic Pathways operates. To see more posts from the A to Z: Everything… Read more How to Teach Your Students to Talk About Development and Service June 28, 2017 · 6 min read Development is complicated. Sometimes it’s incredibly difficult to describe what you’ve learned (or what you’re preparing to learn) during a culturally-immersive travel experience to friends and family back home. It’s easy to exaggerate the differences… Read more