Australia: Golden Sands and Helping Hands

Arrive into Brisbane Airport (BNE) and meet your Program Leaders who will be with you for the duration of the program. Head to our Glass House Mountains Base and settle in, relaxing after your long flight. Join the group for an orientation discussion about the week ahead, expectations for your adventure, and an introduction to the local culture.

See many of Australia’s native animals firsthand. Feed kangaroos, watch the famous croc show, discover wombats, and pet the koalas. Visit the Wildlife Warriors Animal Hospital—the most advanced wildlife hospital in Australia. Learn about the animals that are unique to this part of the world and be inspired about conservation through exciting education. In the evening, enjoy the base house’s beautiful views and peaceful sounds as you get some rest for the evening.

Spend the day working with one or more of our amazing community partners to support an ongoing project, which might include helping out in a school, contributing to an environmental project, coaching athletes with disabilities, assisting with wildlife conservation, or providing food relief for local community members.

In the afternoon, visit an indigenous family and learn about ancient and modern Aboriginal culture, including demonstrations on boomerang throwing, fire making and didgeridoos.

Head to the famous Eumundi Market, one of Australia’s largest outdoor markets and a vibrant center for shoppers on the hunt for unique Aussie souvenirs. Grab your beach towel and bathing suit and travel to Noosa, one of Australia’s most famous stretches of sand to spend the day relaxing and enjoying the beautiful natural resources of Australia’s Sunshine Coast. In the afternoon, head to the Farm Camp that will be your base for the next few days.

Wake up on the farm to kangaroos grazing in the paddock and kookaburras sitting in the gum trees. Enjoy activities such as working with horses and helping a farmer with her daily chores. Spend the afternoon trying your hand at cracking stockwhips, throwing boomerangs and perfecting your campfire cooking. In the evening, join your group for a mid-trip discussion where you’ll begin to reflect on what you’ve experienced and learned so far.

Learn to surf and develop ocean safety skills during a morning at the beach with a certified instructor. Help the local community with one of our long-term partners—either in social services or education-based projects, depending on the need and the season. After a big day, join your group for a post-service debrief in the evening, discussing what you experienced and learned through hands-on work in the community.

Explore the city of Brisbane and take a bike tour along the river. Pick up some souvenirs along the promenade, then dine in the city to celebrate your final night in Australia.

At the end of each program, students reflect on their experiences and the issues they engaged with, and talk about how to apply this new understanding to their own worlds. During or after their closing discussion, groups participate in Rustic Ties, a unique and powerful activity that allows students to capture the memories and learning moments of their program to process and share with their communities back home.

Say goodbye to new friends and prepare for your journey home. Your Program Leaders will take you to the airport for your departure as you say goodbyes and reflect on your adventure.