Get to Know Some of Rustic’s Returning Program Leaders

From now until mid-August, more than 300 seasonal staff members will help students get from their homes to 15 different countries where they’ll have a variety of transformative international travel experiences with Rustic Pathways.

Each year, we retain more Program Leaders and our Country Teams get even better at what they do. More than half our Program Leaders have returned to work another Rustic summer this year and our in-country management teams are more experienced than at any point in Rustic’s history.

In addition, we’ve invested more resources in recruiting the most-qualified Program Leaders and continue to expand our training programs making those already skilled leaders that much more prepared to facilitate unforgettable summers for students. So get to know a few of Rustic’s talented Program Leaders and check out which trips they’re currently scheduled to lead this summer.

Please note that these Program Leaders are currently scheduled to lead the programs listed below. However, due to the inherent nature of travel, sometimes Program Leaders’ schedules change throughout the summer.

Australia

Mat Millard | Kulpara, South Australia Leading: Epic Outback Mat led our Seven Wonders program until 2011. Since then he’s led programs in numerous other countries, including two of our gap semesters. He’s down to earth with heaps of experience and a huge passion for traveling, specifically learning and exploring while teaching the next generation about different cultures around the world.

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Cambodia

Yusos Sles | Kampong Chhnang, Cambodia Leading: Access to Education: Cambodia Full of energy and always smiling, Yusos is the first one to the project site and the last one to leave. Born in a small Cham village outside of Kampong Chhnang, he now resides in Phnom Penh where he is a recent graduate of Royal University of Law and Economics. Yusos enjoys traveling, seeing new things, and meeting new people. He has traveled to the United States, Australia, and all around Southeast Asia with Rustic. He especially loves meeting new students and showing them around his country.

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China

Hailey Savage | Waitsfield, Vermont Leading: Panda Conservation and Wild China Raised in ten locations across the United States and Canada and adopted at a mature age, Hailey Savage grew up curious and able to adapt to new surroundings. A volunteer trip to China to work with giant pandas when she was 12 drove her to learn Chinese and focus on international education. Hailey has led Rustic programs in China and Australia, lived in Shanghai for a year, and backpacked by herself through Europe. She is currently pursuing a master’s degree in East Asian Studies from Columbia University and works as a part-time professional dog walker in New York City.

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Costa Rica

Cristian Arce Valverde | Cartago, Costa Rica Leading: Turtle Conservation Project Cristian has worked with Rustic Pathways since 2015. He has a degree in Ecotourism from the University of Costa Rica. Since he was a child, Cristian has been passionate about nature and ecology. He also enjoys spending time traveling and discovering new places in his own country. As a tourism professional, Cristian is always excited to explore new cultures and meet new people.

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Cuba

Katie Bailey | Raleigh, North Carolina Leading: Intro to Photography in Cuba and Advanced Photography Workshop in Morocco Katie is a photojournalist who has spent her summers with Rustic Pathways in Costa Rica and across Southeast Asia since 2016. She has a degree in global studies from The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Katie is her best self when she is traveling and loves being part of helping students become the best they can be.

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Dominican Republic

Adrián González Navarro | Cartago, Costa Rica Leading: Life in the Bateyes Adrián is a tourist guide from Costa Rica working his fourth summer with Rustic. He has a degree in tourism management and also studied gastronomy, further developing his love of cooking. He is passionate about sustainability and volunteers with animals rescue centers and environmental organizations. During his free time, he loves hiking and enjoying nature. Adrián always has a positive attitude and a big smile on his face.

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Fiji

Sarunas Genys | Panevezys, Lithuania Leading: Sun, Sand, and International Service Sarunas has enjoyed participating in experiential education in China, Fiji, and the United States. He’s a believer that intercultural dialogue has the power to bring students and cultures together to solve the most pressing issues of our time. During his downtime, Sarunas likes relaxing in a hammock with a good book.

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Laos

Olivia Nordling | Jörlanda, Sweden Leading: Wonders of Laos Olivia is an avid nature and animal lover. She enjoys being around people from different cultures and she loves learning new languages and traveling around the world.

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Mongolia

Anya Buyan-Erdene | Bayanzurkh, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia Leading: Off the Map: Mongolia An avid learner, Anya believes that every chance to travel and every experience is a vital learning opportunity. In search of learning about the diversity of people, history, culture, and nature, Anya is always on the go.

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Morocco

Khadija Sadik | Marrakesh, Morocco Leading: Moroccan Wanderer Khadija is Ph.D. student majoring in mathematics. She has a passion for education and wants to use her skills and knowledge to positively impact future generations. Khadija was born in Casablanca but has lived most of her life in Marrakesh. Rustic Pathways in Morocco was lucky to find her and use her local expertise and knowledge about the Moroccan culture. In her free time, Khadija enjoys learning foreign languages, watching documentaries, and hiking.

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Peru

Max Carine | Killington, Vermont Leading: Off the Map: Peru and Sacred Valley Service Eight years ago, Max quit his job as an emergency medical technician to go play outside. He now patrols the slopes of Killington Ski Resort in Vermont all winter and works in outdoor education during the summer. He is an avid skier and cyclist, and loves to play frisbee and disc golf.

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Tanzania

Emma Ramirez | Yosemite, California Leading: African Wildlife Conservation A naturalist by nature, Emma is an outdoor educator who loves getting to know new places and people. She’s worked for Rustic the past three summers in different regions. When not hiking, Emma loves sea kayaking, snorkeling, wood burning, and everything spicy.

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Thailand

Theresa Brecker | Medellín, Antioquia, Colombia Leading: Ricefields, Monks, and Smiling Children, Intro to Community Service in Thailand, and Come With Nothing: The Mekong Expedition United States-born, but Amazon jungle living, Theresa loves dancing, nature, and meeting new people. Between summers leading programs in Costa Rica and now Thailand, Theresa teaches English in Colombia through Fulbright.

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United States

Malik Blue | Malden, Massachusetts Leading: Race in America Malik moved to Maryland for work about two years ago to be a university study abroad advisor, supporting students preparing for international experiences. For fun, Malik loves to travel, play social sports (volleyball and dodgeball), and binge watch shows on Netflix. He is joining Team USA this summer after having lead programs in Cuba and Thailand.

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