Dear Students,
At Rustic Pathways, we encourage students to limit cell phone use during their programs so they can fully experience the people, cultures, and communities around them.
Every minute spent texting, doomscrolling through TikTok, or checking notifications is a minute missed during a once-in-a-lifetime travel experience. Educational travel is about being present and living the moment: building friendships, learning from local communities, trying new things, and stepping outside your comfort zone.
Rustic Pathways lets students keep their phones and does not confiscate them, but there are times during your program where phone use is not appropriate. These include during meals, activities, group discussions, and service projects. You are welcome to use your phone as a camera, but the goal is to participate in the experience first-hand, rather than to watch it through a screen.
Research published by the American Psychological Association and other researchers studying digital distraction has found that smartphones and constant notifications can negatively affect attention and in-person engagement.
Students can contact home as often or as little as they want. Rustic Pathways does not and will not come between families and their communication.
Technology will still be there when your program ends. The opportunity to experience life in places like Thailand, Costa Rica, or Japan may not come again in the same way.
Explore upcoming student travel opportunities here:
2026 Rustic Pathways Programs
