Rustic Pathways Staff Alumni

 

What do you like most about Rustic Pathways?

My favorite aspect of Rustic Pathways is the overall business model of the organization. We take students to remote villages in developing countries to work on community service projects. The core product/service that we offer creates life changing experiences for our students and positively impacts the communities.

We go to great lengths to align with best practices in international development as it relates to the community service projects. Similarly, we’ve carefully curated every program to include intentional student learning outcomes. The #1 thing I hear from students and parents is “that program completely changed my life”.

Why do you view travel as an essential part of every education?

Travel naturally challenges peoples’ assumptions on how the world works.  It introduces people to new cultures, religions, music, food and ways of living.  Traveling on a program with people you’ve never met gives you the chance to reinvent yourself, without the baggage of what your friends and family back home think of you.

Travel prepares people to be successful in the world.  Not only does it make people more resilient, durable and adaptable, but it provides them with the skillsets to perform at a global level. I believe that the next generation of leaders will all have the skills to operate across language barriers, religious differences, sexual orientation, and ways of being.

What makes Rustic Pathways different from other international program providers?

Rustic Pathways has local staff from all of the communities and countries where we operate. We invest long term in those communities and people to create lasting relationships that grow stronger each year.

Additionally, running programs with community service projects is hard. There are a lot of unintended consequences of this type of program model. It’s extremely important to develop relationships from the inside out, build multi-year project plans, have a year-round projects, and always rely on the local perspective to drive decisions. It’s taken a long time to thread this needle correctly.

What have your own international travels entailed?

I’ve traveled to 56 countries across the world. More importantly than the countries I’ve traveled to, it’s the people I’ve met and the lessons I’ve learned.

There is a whole world of wisdom out there that is available for free. All it takes is a plane ticket, a willingness to ask questions, an open mind, and a giant serving of humility. One of my favorite quotes is “The real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new landscapes, but in having new eyes.”  THAT is the greatest lesson that I’ve learned.

What is your favorite project you have worked on and why?

My favorite project at Rustic Pathways was helping launch a non-profit called Thrival Academies.  The vision of Thrival Academies was to create the largest network of charter schools in the USA that was solely dedicated to taking middle and low income public school students abroad for a semester for FREE.

The model was to create a brick and mortar-LESS “school” of teachers and students.  We then used the standard per student public tax dollar allocation to equip everyone with tablets, travel overseas, and make the world our classroom.

For the first two years of running this program 95% of the students were students of color, from low income backgrounds, who had little to no international travel experience. Their personal and academic growth was profound!  So much of the personal learning came back to a confidence that they could do anything in the world.

I had the opportunity to travel to Thailand with Board Members of the Indianapolis Public School District and the Oakland Public School District and those board members were mind blown by what they saw. Unfortunately, the project ran into a brick wall of public school politics, a lack of funding, and administrative turnover.

That said, the model works. If we could get every state Governor to say YES, we could take 50,000 American public students abroad each year without them paying and without adding any cost to the existing public school system.

Prior to joining Rustic Pathways, you could find me in the international classrooms of Colombia, South Korea, Ecuador, and Chile! My firsthand experiences as an ESL teacher have made me an even more valuable addition to the Rustic Pathways team. Our programs are developed by educators for educators and students! I can relate to so many educators who are driven to provide quality and life changing experiences for their students.

What is the most fulfilling aspect of your job?

The most fulfilling aspect of my job is connecting with educators, learning about their dreams and goals for their students and being apart of making that dream become a reality. I absolutely love to stay connected to student experiences through our social media coordinator, Janette’s LinkedIn posts and Instagram stories. To be able to provide that type of joy that you see on the students faces is unsurpassable.

What makes you proud to work at Rustic Pathways?

Everything that we do! I am so proud to be working with a team of people with the same goal and those that stand behind our inspiring mission to empower students to positively impact lives and communities around the world. I am so proud of the programs Rustic Pathways has built, the experiences we provide, and the hope and inspiration we have created to better our world.

What makes Rustic Pathways different from other international program providers?

At Rustic Pathways, we provide more than programs. Our programs gift students and teachers life-changing experiences, everlasting memories, and sustainable support to communities all over the world. Rustic Pathways stands out from the crowd because of our dedication to sustainable and service learning travel. We support educators from day one of planning their programs to executing them with perfection.

Why do you view travel as an essential part of every education?

It’s one thing to learn about a different culture and country from a textbook than it is to learn about it first hand. There’s a huge world out there to see and I have learned that when you experience it, you see life from a different perspective and when you gain that perspective you can use it to make a positive impact in the world.

What have your own international travels entailed?

My fiancé and I have a saying that we’ve been using since the day we met, “And we’re just getting started.” Back when I graduated university, I had the goal of living in one place for no more than two years so that I could truly live and learn about the culture I was immersed in.

Since 2014, I have lived in Ibague and Santa Marta Colombia to reconnect with my mother’s roots, met my fiancé who is also originally from Iowa in Seoul, South Korea, backpacked through Ecuador and Peru, adopted our dog Ziggy in Chile, came eye to eye with a beautiful spider monkey in the jungles of Brazil, and have since expanded my goal past two years of staying in one place since arriving in Lisbon, Portugal. And to be honest, I feel like I’m just getting started.

What have your own international travels entailed?

I have spent a lot of my travels in the back countries of the United States, mostly in the Upper Midwest on Lake Superior, and the Boundary Waters region. During my college career, I spent a full year backpacking, canoeing, and leading outdoor expeditions for teenagers and children.

Later, I had the opportunity to study abroad in India. During my time in India, I taught English to students, learned a bit of Hindi, trekked in the Himalayas, and lived with a family whom I’ve come to love and adore. I hope to someday travel back there with my family.

I also interned in Argentina as an environmental educator for Argentina’s first and only Environmental Education Center, La Lucena.

In the future, I plan on traveling to Guatemala with my family to escape the bitter Wisconsin winter and stay in the local towns and villages surrounding Lake Atitlán.

What is the most fulfilling aspect of your job? 

The most fulfilling part of my job is to be able to meet with students who had life changing experiences on their programs. Many students who travel with us on our programs, come home with new friends, newfound interests, and a different perspective of the world.

Knowing that I have part to play in making sure our students can travel on our programs, and have a wonderful time, really puts a smile on my face and remind me how rewarding intentional travel can be.

What has been one of your favorite moments at Rustic Pathways?

One of my favorite moments while working at Rustic Pathways so far, has been meeting with students for Personal Pathways.

Personal Pathways is a pre-departure program in which we meet with students virtually, to get to know their interests, why they want to travel, and what they look forward to while on their program.

Since I don’t work directly with students on programs, I really enjoy getting to know them in a different way.

Personal Pathways has been a wonderful program for making sure students feel comfortable, heard, and excited for their upcoming travels.

Why do you view travel as an essential part of every education?

I believe travel is an essential part of every education because of the overwhelmingly positive, life changing impacts it can have on people.

Travel gives people the opportunity to step outside of their comfort zones and become a citizen of the world for a moment.

During all my travel experiences, no matter where in the world I was, it was always the people that I met and cared for that meant the most to me when I look back on my time away. Travel also has a funny way of showing people a deeper understanding of themselves and their place in the world, both of which, I think are essential qualities to have.

How has your international experience evolved to make you an even more valuable addition to the Rustic Pathways team?

Living in Manchester, England from 2016 to 2021 was a life-changing experience, especially by offering me the opportunity to learn first-hand about another culture. I welcomed the initial culture shock and viewed it as an opportunity to learn more about a beautiful country and people, and to grow personally. Wherever I go in life, my experience living in the UK and its impact on my life will always be with me.

Residing in England afforded me many opportunities to travel around Europe as well. Just after living in Manchester for several months, I had become confident in my abilities to plan and to navigate trips around Europe. Aside from traveling around the UK and Ireland, I spent time in Germany, France, Switzerland, Italy, Greece, and Czech Republic.

With every new adventure traveling internationally, I’ve observed similarities and differences between cultures. Still, I’ve learned to set aside presumptions and expectations while remaining open to learning from new experiences.

Traveling has given me a deep appreciation for meeting new people, trying new things (and foods!), and participating in new customs. My international experience has equipped me in these ways to be an even more valuable member of the Rustic Pathways team.

Why do you view travel as an essential part of every education?

I’m convinced that traveling is the best way to experience cultures and customs other than one’s own. Viewing images or videos of other parts of the world is informative, but limiting. Nothing can replace a truly immersive experience of being in another part of the world.

Learning through first-hand experience about a particular place, culture, language, and people is irreplaceable and indispensable; there simply is no substitute for travel or the experiences it offers!

Since the experiences and opportunities of travel—including serving alongside local communities—allow us to grow in many ways, socially and culturally, I understand travel to be essential to human learning. Education without travel simply is limited.

Therefore, at Rustic Pathways I aim to help more students have opportunities to learn outside of the classroom and through travel.

How do you stay focused on Rustic’s mission to positively impact lives and communities around the world?

By helping educators every day with planning group travel for their students, my endeavors move us all one step closer to making Rustic’s mission a reality once again.

It’s my daily goal to help educators and their students participate in our mission of positively impacting lives and communities around the world by helping them discover and determine the most ideal service-learning programs.

I’m continually inspired by the fact that the lives of students on our programs are also changed forever and that they return home to share their life-changing experiences with their own communities, continuing their positive impact in the world.

What is the most fulfilling aspect of your job?

When I speak with educators who are eager to organize group travel with their students and are grateful for all I do to help with their planning, I’m reassured that I’m accomplishing Rustic’s mission.

Knowing that I played a significant role in helping educators turn initial planning ideas into a reality, thus allowing students to travel and serve alongside others, is indeed the most fulfilling aspect of my job.

Having lived abroad and traveled extensively myself, I understand the importance of travel as an essential part of education and personal growth. It’s rewarding for me to know that my efforts result in so many changed lives of students, educators, and the communities they meet and serve.

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Read more about the Rustic Pathways team. Learn about Rustic Pathways programs.

What have your own international travels entailed?

I grew up going on long family road trips every summer, but my first trip abroad was as a high school student going to France with my French class. That experience had a huge impact on my life, because I ended up studying French and education.

When I graduated from college, I worked in France as an English teacher assistant, and that led to visiting lots of new places during school vacations.

In graduate school and as a high school teacher I began working for a language immersion program and spent my summers in France teaching and guiding students.

I also helped establish a sister school partnership between my school and a high school in France; it was exciting to see how families could establish ongoing relationships with each other through a short-term exchange.

Later I got the chance to spend a summer in Nicaragua, and another in Morocco, both times to study languages. My first big travel adventure since 2019 was to Newfoundland in Canada, and now I can’t wait to go back to “the rock.”

Domestically I still love a good road trip, but my hobby has been traveling by Amtrak’s long distance routes; I have gone by train to New York, New Mexico, Montana, and Utah so far. I love the slowed-down pace of overland travel.

How did you get involved with Rustic Pathways?

I first became aware of Rustic Pathways as a high school teacher. Encouraging students to travel has always been a focus of mine as an educator. I was researching programs to recommend and found Rustic Pathways.

The more I learned, the more I was impressed with what I saw, and so now it feels exciting to say that I am working here!

How did you first go about getting a global perspective?

I think that I was always interested in the world around me, but some of my biggest strides toward a global perspective didn’t happen until I participated in a professional development program for teachers called the Global Competence Certificate.

They paired coursework with on-site learning in Nicaragua, and that program did wonders for me in terms of being able to listen and learn from others, as well as understanding how much I didn’t know about the world.

It also taught me how much of a tool language is in hearing someone else’s perspective and set me on a path to learn Spanish.

Why do you view travel as an essential part of every education?

I think that changing our routines can have a powerful impact on our perspectives. When students travel, they get a chance to step back from what they know and are comfortable with and push themselves to try new things.

I’ve noticed that when students travel, they go on to have bigger and more ambitious goals for themselves when it comes to the next steps in their lives. They gain a sense of independence and self-efficacy, and a better understanding of how others live.

Beyond that, there can be such joy in travel – I hope every student gets a chance to feel that sense of connection, excitement, and deep learning!

What have your own international travels entailed?

My family is from Norway and as a kid, we would travel from Michigan (where I grew up) to Norway to spend time with the rest of the family, so traveling was something that I associated good things with from a very young age.

Once I was in my teenage years, I was encouraged to use the money I had saved to “venture out” with a backpack and seek interesting people and places.

It didn’t take long for me to realize this was something I wanted to pursue much more than every once in a while. I had a plan to backpack Europe for 6 months and after saving up a small chunk of money, I found myself in Scotland having the time of my life, with other travelers, mostly a bit older than I was, who were “traveling and working” which I had never heard or thought of.

After a month of rubbing shoulders, learning and becoming very good friends with these savvy travelers from across the globe, I was running out of money! So I had two choices, go home and get a job, or try my hand at what my traveling friends were doing.

This was one of the easiest choices I have ever made. “Stay on the road!”  I found a number of different jobs and continued to meet incredible people that told me their own stories, shared experiences they’d had during their own travels, life in their countries, about interesting places, cultures and delicious food. At this point I was totally hooked. I spent the next 12 years traveling and working between Europe, Southeast Asia, Africa and the Caribbean.

How did you get involved with Rustic Pathways?

Back in 2009, I was living and working in Hikkaduwa, Sri Lanka when I met and became friends with a member of the Rustic Pathways team. He told me about the amazing company he worked for and that he thought might be a good fit for me. I was absolutely interested and arranged for an interview for a potential summer position in Thailand, which I was lucky enough to get!

Working that summer alongside the incredible local and international staff and eager students, everything felt right. I was once again hooked and as fate had it, the gap year programs were in need of leaders which I eagerly applied for and was again lucky enough to find a spot on the roster.

I loved it, every second, every day and every month of it, which turned into one year, then two, three, four, five and then somewhere in my fifth or sixth year of leading gap semesters during the spring and fall and working our summer programs in Southeast Asia, I found myself easing into an administrative role in the gap year department which I have happily continued working directly with the people I had been supported by, became good friends with and learned so much from during all of my time as a program leader.

Why do you view travel as an essential part of every education?

Once you step away from your home turf, you find yourself in unfamiliar places, which at first can feel strange, a bit uncomfortable and sometimes a little scary. This is pretty normal and everyone that really gets out there to seek and explore the world away from home, feels this at one time or another.

After a couple of days of being “in this new place”, the things you might have been worried about, (this is a little different for everyone) you find aren’t quite as big of a deal as you might have thought and that other people have felt that way as well. Then something, typically small, like a tasty local meal, a kind hearted local interaction or a small positive experience, eases the nerves and opens the door to feeling comfortable in a setting that just a few days ago, didn’t. This, somehow, usually happens very quickly and at this point you are all of a sudden absorbing everything, curious and hungry for more. Much more. More of what?

For me it was interacting, working alongside, discussing, listening, watching, asking questions, eating, laughing and ultimately learning about the importance of perspective, culture, values, reasons and the list goes on and on forever. When you are out in the world with an open heart and mind, you are absorbing information through all of your senses whether you realize it or not. This, over time will shape how you think, how you perceive the world, how you interact with people and who you are as a person. Just writing this makes me want to go get back out there!

What countries have you traveled to?

When I was in college, I studied abroad for a year in Italy, and from there also visited France and Germany. I have since then also visited Morocco, Costa Rica, Mexico, and the Dominican Republic.

How did you get involved with Rustic Pathways?

I first heard about Rustic Pathways while I was working as a barista at a local coffeeshop, just around the corner from the original RP office. The staff would pop in every once in a while to order coffee and after getting to know some of their stories, it was clear what a great company it would be to work for and how much fun the people were.

I had majored in International Studies in college, traveled abroad through school, and worked previously for an international exchange organization in New York City, so I was so excited there was a company aligned with my interests, right in my own back yard.

How long have you been working with Rustic Pathways?

I have been working for Rustic Pathways since May 2012.

Have you traveled with other Rustic Pathways employees? What was your experience like?

I have! My first trip with Rustic Pathways was to Costa Rica as a flight leader, together with one of my colleagues. The Rustic Pathways staff in Costa Rica put together an itinerary so we could visit where many of our students travel and learn about the programs they experience firsthand.

I remember being so grateful for the warm welcome and hospitality of our hosts. The colleague that I traveled with is now my neighbor, and lives about ten houses down the street from me.

Aside from traveling with colleagues to other places, we have also hosted colleagues from out of town during their visits to our central office in Ohio. That is always a great bonding experience. One colleague was even here on my daughter’s first day of kindergarten and got to see us send her off on the bus for the first time.

What has been one of your favorite moments at Rustic Pathways?

A couple years ago, I was able to travel with my daughter to the Dominican Republic and visit the communities where Rustic Pathways works there. She was only 8, and it was her first time out of the country. I was so grateful to be able to show her a new perspective and let her see what life is like outside of our small community.

It was an amazing experience to witness firsthand how she processed all the differences and how she had to challenge herself in real time. There is nothing quite like seeing your child interact with a group of other children who do not speak the same language as her, and somehow get along just fine and feel like she has made new best friends.

I love hearing her tell stories now to her friends at home – I can tell it left a lasting impression on her. She often talks about what it was like when we visited the Bateyes and helped mix cement for a new floor in someone’s home, and of course about all the lizards we saw.

How did you get involved with Rustic Pathways?

In 2015, I was working as an art teacher in Baltimore, Maryland when my friend from University posted the Program Leader application on Facebook. She helped me with the application and before I knew it, I was headed to Thailand to run what is now the Intro to Community Service program.

I was so overwhelmed by the powerful combination of student and community impact. The students on that program grew more in the two weeks I spent with them than my students in the classroom accomplished in years. It was like magic! Plus, completing 39 hours of community service in 2 weeks showed me a side of the world that I didn’t even know to miss.

Fast forward a year and I left the classroom to lead programs in Fiji for a year and a half. I had so many beautiful experiences in Fiji- sky diving three times in one day, learning to surf, endless Kava sessions with people I now consider family. The students continued to blow me away and the more I learned about our community service impact, the more passionate I became about Rustic.

All good things must come to an end, though, and my time came to return home to Ohio. I wasn’t sure what the future held in the fall of 2017, but I was hopeful that the road would somehow lead back to Rustic Pathways.

Fortunately, the same friend who helped me start out with Rustic Pathways was able to hook me up once again and I started in the Personal Travel Advisor position soon after I returned to Ohio.

This position has allowed me to learn about our operations throughout the world, interact with parents and families who share our passion and vision, and grow in personal and professional ways that I never could have predicted.

Why do you view travel as an essential part of every education?

An incomparable shift occurs when people realize how big the world truly is. When you’re young, it’s easy to get caught up in your direct surroundings- drama at school, sports, grades… it can get overwhelming and it’s easy to have a narrow scope of what’s important.

When you go outside of your comfort zone, your priorities can change in a massive way. Rustic Pathways opens up that opportunity for high school students and watching the shift in students’ perspective is something I could never get enough of.

If EVERY student had the opportunity to step outside of their comfort zone and grow in the way that only traveling to another place and experiencing a different culture can provide, the impact on the world would be monumental.

What have your own international travels entailed?

I would like to think that the beautiful aspects of each location I’ve visited make me who I am, as much as they make up the Rustic Pathways vision and mission.

The resilience and grit of Cambodia, the warmth and laughter of Fiji, the smiles and deep consideration of Thailand, the fun and adventurous spirit of Australia, and the beauty and wonder of Costa Rica.

The stamps in our passports represent the most incredible moments of our lives and to be a part of that for Rustic Pathways students drives my passion for this company.

How do you embody Rustic Pathways’ vision and bring it to life?

I try to carry the philanthropic spirit of Rustic Pathways into my everyday life. Every action can have a massive impact on the world around you, so I try to make mine positive.

Being mindful of the privilege that traveling has provided and trying to pour those joys back into my everyday life is how I carry out our vision.

What have your own international travels entailed?

I’ve travelled to over twenty countries and worked in many different countries around the world.

How has your international experience evolved to make you an even more valuable addition to the Rustic Pathways team?

My international experience has allowed me to grow and have a different perspective for what is truly important. It has allowed me to meet people and help those less fortunate in ways I wouldn’t have had the opportunity too. It’s allowed me the opportunity to collect data for foreign governments to help protect coral reefs, sharks and ocean ecosystems around the world.

How did you get involved with Rustic Pathways and how long have you been with Rustic?

I was asked in early 2019 to run marine programs in Fiji and while there, fell in love with Rustic Pathway’s mission around the world. I continued leading in Fiji for the remainder of 2019.

In 2020, I was asked to come on full-time and lead student outreach in the Midwest, US. I am currently working to help pair students with the program best suited for them. I continue to love the work I am doing here at Rustic and am extremely grateful to be working for such an amazing organization.

What is the most fulfilling aspect of your job?

The most fulfilling part of my job is that I am a part of something much bigger than myself. The best way to explain it is through a quote I love, that states “Individually, we are one drop. Together, we are an ocean.” – Ryunosuke Satoro

What do you like most about Rustic Pathways?

I like what we are able to accomplish as an organization, which allows us to make the world a better place.

What makes Rustic Pathways different from other international program providers?

The many amazing, local community-partners in each country we work sets Rustic Pathways apart from other international program providers. The immersion with local communities brings so much more value to every program.

What is your favorite project you have worked on and why?

One of my favorite projects I worked on was the coral reef research in Somosomo, Fiji on an island in the Yasawa Island Chain. We provide data to the government of Fiji and share it with other NGO’s. That data can be used to help create better political policy to protect these coral reefs from being destroyed.

How did you first go about getting a global perspective?

I grew up in a small beach town in San Diego, which was less than an hour drive to Mexico. As a kid, I’d go to Mexico once a month to go surfing and camping, and to experience a completely different language and culture.

When I was in high school, my family went to Indonesia for a little over a month. That was an experience that truly gave me a global perspective.

In Indonesia I learned how to SCUBA dive and was able to see a totally different marine ecosystem on my first dive. It happened to be a shipwreck dive with octopus and one of the most gorgeous coral reefs in the world. 

How do you stay focused on Rustic’s mission to positively impact lives and communities around the world?

It’s easy to stay focused on what I am passionate about. I’ve wanted to make the world a better place since I was five, so I am extremely grateful Rustic Pathways has given me the outlet to positively impact the ocean, environment, and many different people and communities around the world.

Why do you view travel as an essential part of every education?

I believe that travel not only makes you more cultured as an individual, but it makes you a more empathetic and compassionate person.

The more cultures and communities you not only see, but you live with, the more you realize that human connection and helping others is much more important and valuable than anything you could ever buy. The memories and connections you make with amazing human beings around the world are priceless.

What is the most important thing participants bring home with them?

The most important thing that participants bring home with them is a new perspective. Meaning, the students go home a much more compassionate and empathetic individual. They bring with them a global perspective and the knowledge of how important human connection truly is.

What is some of your best advice for incoming participants?

To live in the moment and find the beauty in every second of your program, because it’s a life changing experience that you’ll remember for the rest of your life.

Part of the “ethos” of Rustic Pathways is to start meaningful dialogues and create real interactions with the local communities. How do you ensure your programs abroad include these immersive aspects?

In Rustic, we have a saying, “disconnect to connect”, which means to put your phone and technology away and live in the moment. Get to know the people around you, from the local community members, to all the other participants in your program, to all the amazing Rustic Pathways program leaders who’ve been all over the world.

Your experience will be amazing no matter what, but it will be even more memorable and life changing if you “disconnect to connect” and take in every moment while on program.

What have your own international travels entailed?

When I started working with Rustic Pathways, I was fortunate enough to be given the opportunity to travel to Costa Rica. I had never traveled internationally before and while I always thought it would be something I would enjoy; I had no idea how much the experience would change my life.

Since that first trip abroad, I have not been able to shake the travel bug and have made it a priority to visit at least one new place every year. Over the last six years I have traveled to Fiji, Australia, Panama, England, Scotland, Iceland, Italy, Greece, Germany, France, and the Dominican Republic. Travel is something that has become incredibly important to me and you can always find me planning the next adventure. Just a few more countries that are on my bucket list are Thailand, Egypt, Tanzania, and Morocco!

How did you get involved with Rustic Pathways?

I found Rustic Pathways through complete happenstance. One of my hobbies outside of work is photography so naturally, I spend a lot of time on Instagram. One day I was scrolling through and found myself on another photographers feed in complete awe of his work. I couldn’t believe the incredible places he was visiting to photograph and thought to myself, how on earth is he doing this?!

Through reading his bio I found out that he was a Photographer Guide at Rustic Pathways. At the time, I had no idea what that meant but a little internet sleuthing later, and I knew that Rustic Pathways was where I needed to be. When I realized that the headquarters were located just 20 minutes from my home, I spent the next 6 months scouring the internet for job postings until the perfect gig popped up. I haven’t looked back since!

What has been one of your favorite moments at Rustic Pathways?

One of my favorite moments at Rustic Pathways was our company-wide summit in 2017 when around 100 employees from countless countries came together to connect, learn, and celebrate. At the time, I had been with Rustic Pathways for almost three years.

At such a global company often, you never meet the people you work with day to day or you might only see them once a year. This was an opportunity to finally meet those amazing colleagues on the other end of the phone! In that week, I realized how connected we all were over our shared love of Rustic and passion for travel. It felt like in a week my family grew 10x in size and spanned the world, and those connections have never faded!

What makes you proud to work at Rustic Pathways?

I am proud to work for Rustic Pathways because I believe that what we do every day changes the world. It may not happen overnight, in a week, or even a year but it’s a ripple effect that can cross time and distance.

I have witnessed firsthand the difference that our program experiences have on young people across the globe. Just a week or two in a new place can show you how another person lives, the difficulties they face in life, and the way they view the world. These revelations can change the way you live your life from day to day.

You might simply find yourself more appreciative of the comforts available to you, like clean drinking water or access to vehicles. Or it might strike a chord in your heart that completely changes the trajectory of your life. You could witness the devastating effects of global warming or third-world poverty and devote your life to a new cause or career. It doesn’t matter how big or small the change in your life, travel broadens your mind and bridges gaps between people in a way nothing else can.

What have your own international travels entailed? 

I started traveling when I was 11 years old on a Rustic-like program to Honduras. Ever since I was an adolescent, I knew this was the type of work I was meant to do. Traveling is such a major passion of mine, but incorporating the community service and conservation aspect as well has made this work the most rewarding and important work of my life.

I have returned to volunteer in Honduras 8 times. I studied abroad in college 3 times: Dominican Republic, Spain and England. I am excited to announce that I was able to visit 25 countries before I turned 25. One of my favorite parts of travel is the new food. I will try everything, just may not want to know what it is until after I’ve tried it.

How long have you been working with Rustic Pathways?

I have been with Rustic Pathways since May of 2018. I started working as a Program Leader in Costa Rica. I led there for two summers and a Spring Break season. I lived in Costa Rica for a year and a half, and I fell in love with the country. The only reason I asked to lead in another part of the world was because I knew I’d never leave CR if I didn’t leave then.

I then led programs in Fiji in the fall of 2019, with some of the most amazing people I’ve ever met. In the winter of 2020, I started on the road for Rustic Pathways, visiting high schools to encourage international travel amongst students. Now in my third position with Rustic, I am happy to help pair students with the program of their dreams as a Global Program Advisor.

What is the most fulfilling aspect of your job?

I love being able to bring a group of students together from all around the world, starting on a program as strangers, and leaving as a family. I love being able to show students the importance of environmental conservation, encourage them to think critically about international development and support them in being exactly who they want to be in this world.

Have you traveled with other Rustic Pathways employees? What was your experience like?

The people I’ve met at Rustic Pathways have become some of the most important people in my life. I have best friends all around the world now. I’ve made relationships I know will last forever and that have already changed my life. With my Rustic friends, I have traveled to Australia, Panama, Fiji, Costa Rica, Chicago, San Francisco, Portland and more to come!

How do you stay focused on Rustic’s mission to positively impact lives and communities around the world?

There is no job I have ever loved more than Program Leading. However, in order to get these amazing trips ready to run every year, there’s a long list of work to be done for that to happen. I truly believe in Rustic’s Mission and live my life with the need to achieve the Student Learning Outcomes for myself.

While I am not able to find myself leading and interacting with students year round, I am able to stay focused on the Mission. With each new Rustic role I take on, I am reminded how lucky I am to work for such a globally conscious company that strives to do good everywhere we set foot.

What makes you proud to work at Rustic Pathways?

 There are so many reason why I am proud to work for Rustic Pathways. One that always comes to mind is the fact that Rustic never barges into a community and tells them what they need. When it comes to community service, community partners come to us and ask Rustic for support on a specific project.

We do our best to work with them on that solution, especially when it comes to materials and hard-working hands for the job. Rustic leaders discuss with community leaders the best way to provide the support they need. Rustic will make suggestions for the project, but if a community wants it a specific way, that’s the way we do it. Rustic never pushes our ideas on another community or forces them to change their ways. We never go in and start a project, then dump the materials when the summer is over.

We have 3 year plans that we are constantly updating as progress is made to ensure the support we provide is continual and productive. I am extremely proud to work hand in hand with my company, the communities we work in and with students from all around the world to make this earth a better place for all.

What have your own international travels entailed? 

I grew up as a small child in the Dominican Republic, Santo Domingo with my siblings and parents, as well as my gram.  That has been the extent of my international travels, thus far but won’t be the last.

How has your international experience evolved to make you an even more valuable addition to the Rustic Pathways team?

It gives me great pleasure to know that I am helping parents set up trips for their child to further educate them as well as allowing them to trust us so they can have a good time.  I have gained the ability to work successfully in the diverse workplace to be more valuable. Working with Rustic, I am more knowledgeable about other cultures and lifestyles as well as having greater sympathy for the struggles of international students.  I understand and appreciate how much educational systems can differ across cultures.

What is the most fulfilling aspect of your job? 

Being able to meet the needs of the parents who are looking to send their child to another country is fulfilling to me. My purpose and guiding principles align with my values and make this job fulfilling. I care about what Rustic does and offers, and it feels great to give back in some way by making a difference in the lives of the kids. At Rustic, I am encouraged to positively impact the lives of others and that is what is most fulfilling.

What do you like most about Rustic Pathways?

What I like most about Rustic is everyone shares the same vision and is dedicated to the mission.  It’s such a family environment at Rustic and everyone has a genuine spirit of cooperation. I also like that I get to have a voice and my boss listens to my ideas.

What makes Rustic Pathways different from other international program providers?

Rustic has been in business for 36 years and is still going. It provides programs in 20 different countries. We offer programs for middle, high school and college students. Over 10,000 students travel with us every year. We create lasting impact on our students and in our partner communities. The families love the Rustic experience and the referrals make up 80% of our students each year. We have full-time year round local staff in every country where we operate.

Have you traveled with other Rustic Pathways employees? What was your experience like?

I have not traveled but would love to do so.  I would use the experience while talking to parents and students about the different programs.

What has been one of your favorite moments at Rustic Pathways?

One of my favorite moments was talking to a mom who had similar experiences with her kid that I did with my mom being from the same background. We were the same nationality and talked about what it was like to grow up being from where we were. She gave me a little bit of her background and her life and she welcomed me to her home if ever I was in the area.

What is your favorite project you have worked on and why?

One of the projects I enjoyed working on had to do with the Pandemic that went on in 2020 with COVID-19. Reaching out to and talking to different families to get their feel for things and where they stood with Rustic was absolutely amazing. It felt so good to know that families were willing to keep their investment with us and believe in what we do.

How did you first go about getting a global perspective? 

Listening to international music and being a part of a culture that is from Santo Domingo and Haiti.

How do you embody Rustic Pathways’ vision and bring it to life?

I bring the vision to life by connecting all people together for travel no matter what gender or race. Also by connecting them to a shared humanity.

How do you stay focused on Rustic’s mission to positively impact lives and communities around the world?

Focusing on connecting people and doing the right thing.

Why do you view travel as an essential part of every education?

It gives people an experience of a lifetime and helps them to grow as a person because of it. Traveling helps you to see who you really are and your potential as a person. Travel will never fail you and will always be a teacher. It gives you the opportunity to learn different languages, cultures and history. More importantly, you learn about the world today.

What makes you proud to work at Rustic Pathways?

I am excited to learn all things about traveling that I did not know. I am proud to work for a company that cares about the employees as well as the students and what it stands for.

What have your own international travels entailed?

My experiences abroad to date have been expansive, challenging, and incredibly rewarding. I have led programs for Rustic in Cambodia, Costa Rica, Laos and Thailand and have visited over 45 countries.

How has your international experience evolved to make you an even more valuable addition to the Rustic Pathways team?

The best part of working at Rustic is the diversity of countries within our team and our students. However, working with people from all over the world requires intercultural competence and empathy, all things best learned by leaving your comfort zone and visiting a new part of the world!

How did you get involved with Rustic Pathways?

I started as a program leader in Costa Rica in 2017 because I wanted to travel, work with young people, and feel good about the work my company does when I went to sleep at night.

How long have you been working with Rustic Pathways?

I started in 2017, so just over 3 years now!

What is the most fulfilling aspect of your job?

I love getting messages from my students and their parents six months later telling me how much their program impacted them (especially when they tell me about all the money they have raised for the foundation!) and I love working with people who are so knowledgeable, adventurous and open,

What do you like most about Rustic Pathways?

I like working with co-workers and clients who are committed to making the world a more open, kind, and better place for all humans to live.

What makes Rustic Pathways different from other international program providers?

Rustic Pathways is different because of our highly trained, highly knowledgeable, and extremely cool staff, both local and international.

Have you traveled with other Rustic Pathways employees? What was your experience like?

Yes! The last trip I took with a fellow Rustic person was amazing because we understand the importance of making local connections, by the end of our time in Indonesia we had been invited to stay with a local family and had given a few performances with our half American/ half Indonesian band at coffee shops and parks (none paid, YET). 

What has been one of your favorite moments at Rustic Pathways?

Once on a trip with students in Udon Thani Thailand, we were driving in songthaews waving to locals working in the rice fields. One of the Thai program leaders happened to know the elderly woman and so we decided to stop and chat. She took us out into the rice field, we tried baby rice, caught crickets, and watched one of the most beautiful sunsets of my life. A moment I would have never been able to facilitate without P’Tee.

What is your favorite project you have worked on and why?

I have loved working on the school and the floating houses in Prek Toal. It is one of the most unique places I have ever visited, and I feel so lucky to have experienced their lifestyle and to have contributed to the education of their youth.

How did you first go about getting a global perspective?

Curiosity! The only way to learn to think globally is to care about what is happening globally.

How do you embody Rustic Pathways’ vision and bring it to life?

When I travel, I like to still live the Rustic life. I shop local, support local guides, and make connections with everyone I can.

How do you stay focused on Rustic’s mission to positively impact lives and communities around the world?

I volunteer locally when I am not leading programs, and I always try to get involved when I travel.

Why do you view travel as an essential part of every education?

I always want my students to understand that there is no right or wrong way to do something, there is only different. I want my students to be open to their surroundings and embrace feeling out of place. When you let go of your comfort zone and the snap judgments that come with it, you make room for multiple perspectives, cross-cultural understanding, and true self-efficacy.

What have your own international travels entailed?

I have traveled to 27 countries; Australia, British Virgin Islands, Cambodia, Canada, China, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Fiji, France, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Laos, Mongolia, New Caledonia, New Zealand, Singapore, South Africa, Switzerland, Thailand, United States, Vatican City, Vietnam, Zambia, Zimbabwe.

How long have you been working with Rustic Pathways?

I have been working with Rustic Pathways for thirteen years.

How did you get involved with Rustic Pathways?

I started as a flight leader to Thailand in 2007. In my thirteen years with Rustic Pathways, I have been a flight leader, program leader, program manager, Australia country manager, sales coordinator in New York and New England, client recruitment manager, and global program advisor.

What is the most fulfilling aspect of your job?

The most fulfilling aspect of my job is helping clients find the perfect program.

What do you like most about Rustic Pathways?

What I like most about working at Rustic Pathways is that it is not just a job, but a way of life. My experiences with Rustic Pathways have shaped the person I am today, and I am forever grateful.

What makes Rustic Pathways different from other international program providers?

For me, what makes Rustic Pathways different from other international program providers is the authentic cultural immersion and the meaningful service.

On every Rustic Pathways program, students will learn about the culture of each region they visit from one of our incredible local program leaders. We guarantee at least one local program leader on each trip so that all students learn about the lives of the local people from the source.

Our local program leaders are passionate about sharing their country and its people with our students. Students will taste the local food, learn about the religions practiced, pick up some of the languages spoken, and gain a true understanding of how community members live. Rustic Pathways programs take students “off the beaten path” and offers students the unique experience to “live like a local.” Authentic cultural immersion causes students to reflect on their own beliefs, values, and behaviors, to reevaluate what is important to them, and to realize what they have taken for granted in their world at home. It allows them to see and appreciate their own life in a different way after their Rustic Pathways travel experience.

Rustic Pathways offers students the opportunity to participate in meaningful community projects across all of the countries we serve.  Our programs are built around our service projects with adventure activities and cultural exploration added into the itinerary, not the other way around. We work with the same communities, year after year.  We monitor each community’s needs to make certain that we deliver what services are most needed at all times and to ensure sustainable development within each community.

Students are given the background and history of each project on which they work; why it’s important, how it will help the local people, what has been done previously on the project, how their group will influence and improve the project, and what the students after them will do to advance and/or complete the project. This gives our students “the big picture” of the project, how their contribution fits in, and how it makes a difference in the lives of those receiving the service. Rustic Pathways’ meaningful service deepens our relationships with local community members whose lives we aim to improve.

These loyal and longstanding relationships with communities across the globe enable us to deliver authentic cultural immersion experiences to our students. Authentic cultural immersion and meaningful service are what makes Rustic Pathways different and what makes our students different once they have travelled with us.

How did you first go about getting a global perspective?

I took a class called Global Perspectives in High School. My teacher had been a Harvard Fulbright scholar in China and Japan. Taking his course got me interested in learning about the different cultures of the world.

Why do you view travel as an essential part of every education?

Travel provides life experiences and learning opportunities that cannot be found in a classroom or book.

What countries have you traveled to?

I have led Rustic Pathways Programs in Thailand, Myanmar, Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam, China, Dominican Republic, and Fiji.

What is your favorite project you have worked on and why?

Scouting the Myanmar Mystery Trip and working with our Burmese and Karen staff to design an unforgettable experience galavanting through an amazing country with a powerful narrative.

One of the top discoveries during that scouting trip was a two day hike that incorporated a steep climb up to a mountain Buddhist monastery where we met the local monk and were invited to bring students for an overnight on the floor of the monastery. We woke up to an incredible sunrise with monks chanting in the background and a troop of monkeys wandering the jungle side balcony.

Why do you view travel as an essential part of every education?

One year ago, after much apprehension, I stepped out of a comfortable career and watched a whole new world open up for me. I had worked as a policy analyst in Washington, DC for three years, a great job by conventional standards, but there was this nagging desire to explore life beyond the ‘weekend warrior’ trips initiated every five days. I sought total freedom and independence in a foreign place.

So, I packed up all my climbing gear, my camera, three pairs of underwear, and set off on an adventure of a lifetime. It was more epic than I could have imagined. I climbed world-class limestone over the Andaman Sea in Thailand, slept on the floor in remote villages in Laos, wiped out surfing reef breaks and trekked high volcanoes in Indonesia, bought a motorcycle and rode from Sapa to Saigon in Vietnam, explored the ancient temples of Angkor in Cambodia, meandered the streets, mountains, and beaches of Hong Kong (and… dumplings), navigated the subways in Tokyo, Japan, and culminated my 11 months of travel with a 27-day trek to Everest Base Camp in the relentlessly beautiful Nepal Himalayas.

Upon returning to the States after such a transformative experience, I struggled to coherently articulate what I learned from a year on the road. I came up with a few revelations while strung out from jet lag after a three-day journey from Bangkok to Atlanta that I think all travelers can vouch for:

• The goodness of humanity. We often forget it from watching the news, but people are overwhelmingly kind, trustworthy, and welcoming. Be good to one another.
• The importance of self-love. Truly learning to love and be with yourself is critical to withstand the challenges and sacrifices of long-term travel, and life in general.
• The realization that less is more. Traveling for 11 months with only what you can fit into a backpack, and seeing how local communities thrive with so much less, really puts materialism into perspective. Simplify.
• The paradox of comfort. It became increasingly evident that getting far outside your comfort zone is one of life’s most formative experiences. Embrace discomfort, for it leads to personal growth.
• The innateness of empathy. The capacity to understand another man’s plight is an essential human condition. It just has to be triggered and developed.
• The power of travel. It is the transformational experience that unleashes new perspectives and, for me, led to the aforementioned reckonings. Small risk, big reward.

Although less existential, another lesson that I learned is that work and school will always be there—for the rest of our lives. There’s no harm in taking a leap for your own self-preservation. It’s a commonly accepted practice in most affluent countries. Less so in America, but I am optimistic that our generation will embrace long-term travel, reignite the idea of a self-imposed sabbatical, and foster the rebirth of the American adventurer.

What is some of your best advice for incoming participants?

My best advice for incoming participants is to be open minded and curious; challenge yourself by reaching outside your normal comfort zone; and PACK LIGHT. Also… eat the bugs.

What have your own international travels entailed? 

My first ever international trip was my high school graduation gift to myself of traveling to Mexico with my best friend. Four years later, another graduation gift to myself was a trip to Italy to visit family living there! Fast forward a couple years and I’ve traveled to Costa Rica a couple times, the Dominican Republic, Fiji, Ireland, and Tanzania (and thought to myself when I landed ‘oh my gosh, how is this my life?!’).

Most recently I’ve traveled to England and France on my honeymoon and I can’t wait to see where I go next! I’m also a huge fan of traveling domestically and hope that 2020 will bring me to some new and exciting places that the US has to offer – there’s so much beauty in our backyard and I hope to explore as much of it as possible!

How did you get involved with Rustic Pathways? 

I was previously working as an event planner and winery manager and was looking for a more impactful career move. Throughout high school I had done summer volunteer trips with a local organization to different cities around the states and saw firsthand how life changing trips like that can be for a high school student. So, when I heard about an opening with Rustic Pathways through a friend, I jumped at it and haven’t looked back in 7 years.

Have you traveled with other Rustic Pathways employees? What was your experience like?

Numerous times – and always incredible. My first time was actually by accident when I was planning a trip to Costa Rica to visit some local staff and another co-worker of mine was traveling there at the same time too! So, we spent almost 3 weeks together traveling through Costa Rica with our local staff members and words can’t describe how wonderful it was! I’ve also traveled to some co-worker’s hometown of New Orleans and they housed me and showed me around their beautiful city and helped me fall in love with NOLA. There are many other times I’ve travelled with co-workers, or met up with them, internationally and domestically, and each of those times was just as wonderful and special as the one before it.

Why do you view travel as an essential part of every education? 

Because I saw firsthand with my own experiences in high school that leaving the community you know, even for a short amount of time, will open your eyes to a world full of so many wonderful exciting things. I also struggled with figuring out who I was and what I wanted (as many people do in high school) and taking these trips let me meet so many new people, learn about different ways of helping communities in need, and seeing how just one person can help make a difference to someone. There’s so much to learn, see, and experience, so any chance you get – get out there and explore, near and far.

What is some of your best advice for incoming participants? 

Be open and push yourself. Be open to the unknown, to the uncomfortable moments of meeting new people, being in an unknown area, eating something you’ve never eaten before, doing something you’ve never done before. Just be ready to experience everything that comes with traveling to a new part of the world! Know that so many of your peers are in the same boat as you – nervous about being with new people, a bit scared to be so far from home, but still really excited! Embrace it all and you won’t be sorry.

How did you get involved with Rustic Pathways?

I have been working with Rustic Pathways since October 2018 in both Sales and Operations. I am currently working as a Global Program Advisor, helping families find the perfect program for them. Prior to Rustic I worked at the SeriousFun Network, a network of camps providing free summer camp for kids with serious illnesses. This experience gave me a passion for working with young people and after a backpacking trip sparked a curiosity in exploring new places and meeting new people, I found Rustic Pathways in Outside Magazine’s Top 100 places to work. It turned out to be a perfect fit.

What is the most fulfilling aspect of your job?

The most fulfilling aspect of my job is knowing that we are challenging young people by placing them outside their comfort zones, but at the same time providing the necessary support for them to grow as individuals. I also really enjoy getting to know families and recommending programs that fit their goals and interests.

What makes you proud to work at Rustic Pathways?

What makes me the most proud to work at Rustic is the commitment to the local communities which we visit. This commitment combined with the guidance of our local staff members provide both our students and international staff with a feeling of being visiting friends rather than unwelcome strangers.

Why do you view travel as an essential part of every education?

I view travel as an essential part of education because of the perspective it allows people, especially adolescents, to gain. High school is a crucial time where kids build the foundation for who they will be as individuals. Being exposed to a new culture, meeting local community members, and forming relationships with kids who have different world views can provide the perfect nudge for kids to become more empathetic and self-aware.

How has your international experience evolved to make you an even more valuable addition to the Rustic Pathways team?

My international experience helped me learn the importance of investing time and resources into people rather than things. I also learned the value of a diverse set of opinions and world views. To me, taking the time to ensure decisions both large and small are being made with a global perspective is important to creating as much positive impact as possible.

What has been one of your favorite moments at Rustic Pathways?

One of my favorite Rustic moments was getting the chance to snorkel with manta rays in the Yasawa island chain in Fiji. I grew up in Cleveland on Lake Erie where the water is so murky you can’t see your hand in front of your face. So going from that to swimming alongside these gentle giants in the crystal clear waters of Fiji gave me a new outlook on marine life and the ocean.

How do you embody Rustic Pathways’ vision and bring it to life?

I try to embody Rustic’s vision by sharing my passion for responsible travel with families. This helps to educate and normalize the positive impact the experience can have. It is difficult to explain the intricacies of what makes Rustic programs so special because most of the learned skills are intangibles. But the more students that travel with us, the more people that grow up to view responsible travel as essential to their development and education.

Have you traveled with other Rustic Pathways employees? What was your experience like?

What I appreciated the most about traveling with fellow Rustic employees to Vietnam was the flexibility they showcased. One of my favorite things about traveling is allowing yourself to be pulled in interesting directions rather than rigidly planning your itinerary. Highlights included: motorbike trips over mountain passes, hikes along rice paddies, and awesome street food.

What have your own international travels entailed? 

Travel played a pivotal role in my self discovery and learning as a young adult. My first trip abroad was right after college graduation. I traveled through Peru and Bolivia with a friend. It broke me open, traveling the terrain as a backpacker and witnessing a completely different lifestyle while meeting people from around the world with similar likemindedness. The initial passport stamp paved my path for future trips; solo and with others. I sought out Ghana, West Africa, my first solo travel adventure. At 23, without social media or a cell phone, I found a local organization to place me with a host family outside of the capital, Accra and volunteered in a school for two weeks. With a small dose of confidence, I felt ready to explore on my own and traveled by local bus around the country. I hiked mountains led by local boys in exchange for a coca cola, paid honor to the slave fort in Cape Coast and met the market with color, smells, and sounds of hard working women.

I have had the privilege and priority of making travel a part of my life: bridging my passion for dance to the hard floors of folkloric workshops in Havana, Cuba and Salvador de Bahia, Brazil. Digging deep to my familial roots of Italy and spiritual curiosity through Kerala and Madurai in southern India. One of my most beloved experiences was leading a program for gap year students through East Africa (Tanzania, Uganda, and Rwanda) and SE Asia (Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam).

These experiences have cultivated a depth and knowledge to what travel as an education can play in one’s personal transformation.

What has been one of your favorite moments at Rustic Pathways?

A valued aspect at Rustic Pathways is the relationship our (Personal Travel Advisors) team seeks to build and nurture, while also choosing to rally in support, encouragement, and share in the responsibility of making each day and client facing encounter meaningful and purposeful. We are a unified front who care about how each of each others wellbeing affects the whole community and how that behavior modeled naturally extends to benefit our customer success. This shows up in our daily communication, our team meetings, and in-person conferences / training; reiterating an environment of heart-led individuals.

How do you stay focused on Rustic’s mission to positively impact lives and communities around the world?

From personal experience I can reflect the mission with integrity, seeking to support and strive towards experiences that foster learning that only global travel can provide. Textbooks and classroom activities are supplement to in field learning; you get the pulse of the community. Client communication helps bring into perspective opportunities to support Rustic’s mission. When concerned parents call, afraid to send their child abroad, this is the moment that can change a mind; sharing personal stories that shaped me as a young adult. As well, being a parent myself I can extend an arm of compassion to their valid concern with reassurance that their eager child is in the best hands that will foster learning, personal growth and empathy for others and the new environments they find themselves in.

Why do you view travel as an essential part of every education?

From first hand experience, travel has been one of the most informative teachers by the essence of it being experiential. Travel as an education ignites (cross cultural) relationship building, cultural understanding and breaks down stereotypes while simultaneously challenges personal belief systems and social structures for awareness and inclusivity. Travel ignites confidence in places within that were untapped prior and offers critical thinking to local and global issues.

How did you first go about getting a global perspective?

The travel bug bit hard when I studied abroad during my junior year of college. I lived in rural Kenya and Tanzania studying Wildlife Management and Ecology through the School for Field Studies.

My second semester, I took film classes in Tel Aviv, Israel. I currently live in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, and have been based overseas since I started working for Rustic Pathways in 2015. My study abroad experiences undoubtedly led me to the job and life I lead today.

What countries have you traveled in?

I’ve been to 21 countries while on the clock at Rustic Pathways. I’ve led programs in Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, Laos, Burma, Fiji, Morocco, and New Orleans in the USA.

I regularly visit our partner schools in South Korea, Japan, Taiwan, China, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Spain, Switzerland, and France.

Thanks to Rustic Pathways training, I’ve been to Costa Rica and the Dominican Republic. Other countries I’ve visited include Kenya, Tanzania, Ghana, Israel, Jordan, Italy, Greece, Portugal, Argentina, and Mexico.

What is your experience with Rustic Pathways?

In May of 2015, I left my hometown of Portland, Oregon and flew to Southeast Asia to lead programs for what I thought would just be a 3-month summer job and a 6-month backpacking experience. Pretty quickly, I fell in love with both the Rustic Pathways philosophy and this part of the world, and have been based in the region since.

After leading elephant conservation and cultural immersion programs for Summer and Group Travel experiences for a year, I managed our village immersion programs in Fiji, one of Rustic’s oldest community partnerships.

In 2016, I joined the international outreach team and have spent the last four years doing what I do best: traveling constantly, and talking about Rustic. I regularly visit our partner schools throughout Asia in hopes of creating a world where travel is an essential part of every student’s education.

What have been your favorite moments on a Rustic Pathways program?

Playing takraw in Soethan’s village in Burma. Listening to Vili and Jone in front of the kava bowl sing songs passed down for centuries in Fiji. Taking bucket showers in Laos. When Ben ripped his pants planting cassava. Cooking dinner with Supanee in Thailand and laughing about who knows what. The moments where nothing really happens but you’ve never felt so present.

What makes you proud to work for Rustic Pathways?

During my experiences abroad over the last ten years, I’ve learned that there are many different ways to travel. There are the family vacations, the sites to take pictures of, and the tourist trails to follow.

But there are also the homestays, the kindness of strangers, and the long conversations with local people who grew up very differently than you. Rustic encourages young people – and the adults who work for us – to focus their travels on the people they meet, and how wonderfully heartwarming it is to lean into the temporary awkwardness of meeting as many of those people as possible.

To laugh under the stars with the little kids in Fiji making silly noises on the ukulele, to sip Moroccan tea in a riad discussing tolerance and understanding, to sit on the floor together eating som tam and sticky rice in Thailand.

To just spend time with others and come to understand that “normal” is relative. It’s the kind of traveling that focuses on learning and listening, not just consuming and capturing.

Rustic believes that the best way to get to know a culture is to get to know the people, and that leaving the country with stories and jokes and songs will travel with you much farther than the souvenirs and trinkets ever will. What makes me proud to work for Rustic Pathways is that they’ll take you somewhere new, but the people you meet will make you feel like you’re already home.

Best advice for incoming participants?

Always go on the optional sunrise hike.

What have your own international travels entailed?

I have been to Mexico, British Virgin Islands, Croatia, Colombia, Italy and France. As most Californians, Mexico is a popular destination for your first “out of country” experience. Mexico is awesome, they have great food, friendly prices, and beautiful golf courses. I have been with family, my wife, and bachelor parties and never seems to disappoint.

I traveled the BVI’s for a 10 days by boat and it was one of the best vacations of my life. We had to opportunity to visit 8 different islands during our time in the US and British Virgin Islands – while all share similarities they all have something unique about them as well. Not only does the white sand for miles and clear blue ocean water not get old, the hospitality is outstanding. I always say to friends and family that is now my retirement destination.

I had the opportunity to visit Dubrovnik, Croatia for only 4 days but was 100% worth the journey from California. We had the opportunity to stay right on the water right outside the castle walls from Dubrovnik. We got to walk the castle walls, visit multiple filming sights for Game of Thrones and visit cliff/cave bars. The best part of the trip was sailing the Adriatic Sea and visiting a few of the islands in the area. I plan to go back to spend more time one day. I got to visit Medellin, Colombia with a handful of my best friends and what a time we had. We got to play soccer and Tejo with the locals. Visit multiple famous sites and hike a famous rock in Guatape.

Most recently I got to travel Italy for a couple weeks and Paris, France for a week. I started in Venice which was amazing to see the canals and architecture of that city in person. Then to Florence and wine country which was amazing before heading to Napoli to try a pizza in the “home of the pizza” before spending the rest of our time in Positano, which is my second favorite place beside the Virgin Islands. Positano is a beautiful place, with plenty of seafood and lemon gelato for everybody. Taking a boat to Capri for the day was also a great experience visiting the green and blue grottos. After Positano I had the opportunity to visit Paris, France which reminded me of a much older New York City. The unique blend of culture in Paris is what I admired most, it made for great fusion food restaurants as well.

What do you like most about Rustic Pathways?

The thing I appreciate most is the opportunity Rustic provides for teens and young adults to visit cultures all around the world and not just observe, but take part. I believe is it important to immerse yourself in other cultures in order to really understand the rest of the world and the people who live in it. The social skills that these experiences help develop at an early age are crucial for development into their adult life. It’s really awesome to say that you works for a company that is helping positively shape today’s youth for the future.

What are you passionate about?

I would say today my top hobbies and passions are as follows, my dog, hunting, bbq’ing and cooking, vegetable garden, golfing, and traveling with my wife. We have a chocolate labradoodle name Tully and she is the center of our house hold. She lives to play ball, go on runs, and any human food she can find. Any vacation that does not involve a flight must include a dog friendly hotel nowadays. I love the outdoors in general but more specifically hunting in order to provide for me and my family. Hunting is a great discipline as you learn respect for firearms and wildlife. Helping the conservation of today’s wildlife lands is one of my main interest.

My garden is another hobby of my learned at a young age. Luckily living in California, we grow fruit and vegetables for about eight months out of the year in our backyard. Now of course, with all the proteins and vegetables around, somebody has to cook it. I love to cook, would even like to open a restaurant one day, although bbq’ing is my passion. I think food brings people together and I truly appreciate the social aspect. Once being an athlete and now many injuries/surgeries deep, golf is my sport of choice now days. It is a great way to stay competitive and get 5 hour outdoors in the sun. Last, any opportunity to travel with my wife is always a good one. Being a fellow foodie we often can’t find a place we don’t disagree on for a good meal.

Why do you view travel as an essential part of every education?

I believe travel offers an opportunity for students at a young age to experience other cultures and communities around the world which helps shape their global perspective in a positive manner. Classroom knowledge is valuable but being able to physically travel to another country and experience their community and culture first hand is unforgettable. Especially in a day of age where technology and social media platforms shape so much of what teens/young adults believe to be true verse getting outside of their comfort zone to have the experiences themselves. Not to mention the network it allows you to build as you make friends and memories while traveling at a young age.

How did you get involved with Rustic Pathways?

I started working with Rustic Pathways in 2006 as their store manager/office manager. Coming from a small town in Northeast Ohio, walking into this store with teak tables, saa paper umbrellas and spirit houses was intriguing and eye opening, to say the least. Of course, at that time that I had no clue that my post-high school summer job would turn into my full-time job of 14 years! Working with Rustic Pathways, I have had my hand in essentially every aspect of office administration, such as client services, finance, forms, and shipping, before making my way to the Operations team as a Travel Administrator.

How long have you been working with Rustic Pathways?

I started back in April 2006, in a time that Rustic Pathways had only several hundred travelers. Experiencing such a magnificent growth over the years has been amazing, especially in knowing that so many more students are gaining global perspective with the work that we do.

What is the most fulfilling aspect of your job?

Working in Travel Administration, it is a great feeling knowing that my position is step one of the Rustic experience. Getting our students where they need to be on departure day, knowing that they are traveling with the best flight leaders, and about to be on one of the greatest experiences of their lives is super fulfilling. International travel can have unexpected challenges, but I enjoy working through these and obtaining outcomes that viable for our travelers.

Have you traveled with other Rustic Pathways employees? What was your experience like?

I have, and it is likely the most authentic travel experience that a person could ever have. Our local employees’ hearts are truly invested in their country. The pride they have when they show you hidden local gems that normal tour operators would never put on the itinerary is significant.

What do you like most about Rustic Pathways?

The amazing people that I have worked with. My heart has been opened to so many people all over the world. These are some of the hardest working, kindest, most caring people you will find on the planet. Something as simple as cooking a local meal in the kitchen with our staff is something that will be engrained in me as long as I live. Learning about so many different cultures and perspectives has been transformative to me. Also, knowing that the work that we do with local communities as a partnership in sustainable development makes me very proud to be a Rustic Pathways employee. I also love to know that I have very close friends in dozens of countries. A sofa in any number of countries is just a message away!

Why do you view travel as an essential part of every education?

Traveling lets you experience things that you will never learn in a classroom. Sure, you can learn about different cultures, people, beliefs, etc, but it is the experience of being immersed in that culture that will really open your heart and mind. In the times that I have worked at our airport hubs, it is very rewarding to see a student leave for a country sort of blasé about the whole ordeal, and then upon their return talking nonstop about their experience, the people that they have met and seeing how much it has opened their eyes and changed their perspective. They talk about the impact that we have had on the local communities and many students end up having a lifelong bond with their homestay families or local staff, and it is an absolute transformation.

How do you stay focused on Rustic’s mission to positively impact lives and communities around the world?

I currently live in Chiriqui, Panama which is located close to the border of Costa Rica. During my weekends and free time, I volunteer teaching English and technology to kids in the Ngobe Indigous Community at the Biblioteca de Boquete. I like to think my lessons are fun and allow me to share my American culture – even when I fail miserably at making a New York pizza.

I deeply believe that cross-cultural interactions allow people to learn so much about one another. While all my students learn about American music and food, I also learn about Ngabe traditional dances and holidays.

Rustic Pathways creates that same connection between students and small communities. While they may not speak the same language or even eat the same foods, just being together allows everyone to learn.

What have your own international travels entailed?

While I love to travel, my favorite destinations are the ones where I really spend time in the communities becoming a “local”. I believe someone needs to spend months in a country to truly understand the community’s way of life.

I lived and volunteered in Santa Elena, Ecuador where I worked as a gym teacher at a high school. I also spent a large amount of time teaching and volunteering in Salta, Argentina and Cuipilapa, Costa Rica. I have traveled to over 50 countries and am constantly planning my next destinations.

I also highly encourage people to explore our own beautiful country. The United States is full of such diverse landscapes and interesting people.

I always love traveling to different national parks but my favorite is Yellowstone because I spent a summer working there scooping ice cream at Canyon Village. If it wasn’t for all the hiking, I would have been gigantic from all the ice cream.

What is the most fulfilling aspect of your job?

I have been so fortunate to have had amazing cultural immersion experiences that have deeply impacted my life.

Before serving in the Peace Corps, I participated in a high school community service program in Cuipilapa, Costa Rica. My group helped refurbish the community center that had essentially been abandoned. This was also my first time living with a host family and they quickly learned that I was a picky eater.

I loved that experience so much that I decided to travel the next summer to Salta, Argentina and volunteer at a school. All these experiences led me to finally serve in the Peace Corps in Colombia.

I truly believe the experiences we give students and teachers change their lives. Sometimes school can be so boring, especially when trying to learn a new language. Our cultural immersion trips are fun and students get to learn at the same time! Our students not only get impactful educational moments, but they are also making the world a better place at the same time.

Why do you view travel as an essential part of every education?

I believe that experiential learning is one of the most important parts of someone’s education. There is a difference between learning about the Inca Trail and Manchhu Piccu in a stuffy classroom then hiking through the Peruvian rainforest to finish at the Incan ruins.

Students need to see what they are learning in the classroom being used in the real world. It is impossible to truly understand the Inca history without interacting with Quechua people in Cusco!

Studying Spanish for me was boring until I realized that learning the language would allow me to communicate with more people. My experiential learning helped me to become a better student because it brought me closer to the topics we discussed in class.

How long have you been working with Rustic Pathways?

I have been working with Rustic Pathways for 6 years. I got involved when a friend of mine mentioned that there was an open position at the most amazing company in the world. She told me about all of the incredible life-changing programs that they offered for students, and how she, went on them as a teenager and then decided she had to work for Rustic too. She couldn’t say enough good things about Rustic Pathways and what they do, and I knew I just had to work for Rustic. So, I applied and got the job and haven’t looked back since.

Not only has it allowed me to travel to Costa Rica and the Dominican Republic, it’s given me the chance to work with the best coworkers in the world. They are truly what makes Rustic so special.

On my trip to the Dominican Republic, I was lucky enough to stay with staff members and work from our office in Santo Domingo. It was so great learning what the in-country teams do and what challenges they face day to day. I would have never known how things work in country during our busy season if I hadn’t gotten out of my office and traveled to theirs.  And it gave me a chance to see the country from the perspective of a local and not just a regular tourist.

One of my favorite parts of the trip was that it really got me out of my comfort zone. One particular day a few coworkers and I wanted to check out this beach that another coworker had told us about, little did we know that we’d end up hiking (in flip flops no less), to get to the beach. Hiking isn’t something I do often, so I have little skill doing it especially in flip flops, but we did make it to the beach. Once we got to the beach we went swimming for a while and then made the hike back to the car, headed to another beach and celebrated our impromptu hike with some fried fish and tostones from a little family-owned stand on that beach. It was exhausting but so much fun.

What is the most fulfilling aspect of your job?

The most fulfilling part of my job at Rustic Pathways is going to work every day and knowing that we are making a change in the world. We are taking teenagers on these trips and opening their eyes and giving them a global perspective. A friend of mine’s child went on a trip to Costa Rica with Rustic 2 years ago. He came back a different kid. He had more confidence, better interpersonal skills, and couldn’t wait to get involved with more community service work when he was home.  We are also changing lives in the communities that we do work in. It’s great to wake up every day knowing that the company you work for is doing great things and helping people all over the world.

Why do you view travel as an essential part of every education?

I truly think that travel is an essential part of every education. Every student should be able to travel and gain a global perspective regardless of their situations. Travel teaches us to be better listeners, better teachers, better students, how to overcome difficult situations, how to leave our comfort zones, how to be more patient, how to appreciate other cultures and others differences, how to try new things, how to think outside the box, how to adapt quickly, and how to appreciate experiences over “stuff”.  The things you learn when traveling aren’t things you can learn from a book, they are things you learn from the experience you have while you are traveling.

How has your international experience evolved to make you an even more valuable addition to the Rustic Pathways team?

Most folks will say that travel has altered them in some significant way. For me, that came in the form of the extended contact and enduring relationships I’ve made with people around the world, who have been the lodestars of both my career path and identity. I imbue my work at Rustic with a sense of gratitude for these experiences and a passionate dedication to extend these opportunities to the next generation.

How long have you been working with Rustic Pathways?

I started at Rustic Rustic Pathways at the start of 2018. Since then, I’ve seen some incredible leadership to navigate us through the upswell in interest from educators and schools across the world and retaining our status as the world’s best youth travel provider. Most importantly, though, the last two years we’ve served more students, across more continents, and laying the groundwork to make travel a part of every student’s education.

What makes Rustic Pathways different from other international program providers?

I work with educators and institutes from Morocco to Pakistan, and in doing so have had the chance to observe and compare not only the product we offer but also our philosophy in a discerning international market. What separates Rustic Pathways from other travel providers is the thoroughness of our programs and the dedication to creating a customized experience that fits school objectives. This isn’t just my own thought—it’s echoed by our partners (who return for subsequent trips more than 95% of the time).

Instead of forcing educators to adjust their goals and learning outcomes to the programs we offer, educators benefit from the Rustic philosophy to approach each trip as a canvas where schools can incorporate the learning goals, content, and talking points they want to cover. Our Country Teams and Program Leaders are also more than just tour guides, and come all parts of the world, bringing their perspectives to students and most importantly delivering on the curriculum we develop in tandem with our educators.

What has been one of your favorite moments at Rustic Pathways?

There’s a collection of them, but all of them with teams. Spending a few weeks in Tanzania and observing programs, meeting our team in San Francisco and attending a Cavs game near our HQ in Ohio, or just the time I’ve spent working with our fantastic coordination/logistics team across airports around the world. I guess my favorite moment is each time I get to travel with Rustic Pathways, and the feeling that I’m not alone, even when I’m on the other side of the world.

How did you first go about getting a global perspective?

I grew up in a military family and moved from place to place, living in different state or country for each year from 6th grade through University. It had its moments of difficulty, but moving and adapting to new places gave me the tools to appreciate the outlooks of others and how they came to them, and also what my own beliefs and values were in relation to them. Each of us are products of our environment, and the ability to inject new cultures, new places and new perspectives strengthens our own outlooks and strips away biases we may not be aware of.

What makes you proud to work at Rustic Pathways?

I love to share in the accomplishments and success of our programs, whether over summer student travel or in our partnered school and group travel programs.

The ability to observe and celebrate young peoples’ life-changing transformations matches my gives me great pride, and Rustic Pathways has been an excellent vehicle to continue this work and fulfill my purpose.

After every trip, I get the chance to debrief educators and parents about the impact that our curriculums and country teams have had on their students. To know that we deliver these results, and sharing this feedback with a largest team of like-minded colleagues who have contributed to this result, brings me joy and keeps me focused everyday on how and what we at RP deliver to young people and communities across the world.

What countries have you traveled to?

I’ve enjoyed the opportunity to travel and lead programs for Rustic Pathways in the Fiji Islands, New Zealand, Cambodia, China, and Morocco. Prior to joining the Rustic Team, I spent 10+ years leading outdoor leadership expeditions around the world.

How long have you been working with Rustic Pathways?

I started with Rustic in 2016.

What makes Rustic Pathways different from other international program providers?

The people! Once you join Rustic Pathways as a staff member or go on a program as a student or chaperone, you become part of the Global Rustic Family.

Our in-country local teams have some of the most experienced, talented, compassionate people out there, they have an incredible ability to connect students and staff from all over the world to their culture.

Our Risk Management and Safety Team is the best in the industry, providing the highest standard of training to all our staff worldwide. Our Personal and Global Travel Advisors are available 24/7, and work closely with all of our teams to ensure that students, teachers, and parents have the support necessary to fully enjoy their Rustic experience. It is an honor getting to work with all these incredible people.

Have you traveled with other Rustic Pathways employees? What was your experience like?

Traveling with other Rustic Pathways employees is beautiful! Getting to see the world with others who are so open minded to new experiences and excited to learn about new cultures is incredibly inspiring.

I’ve been able to travel to multiple countries from the South Pacific to Northern Africa with other Rustic Pathways employees and each trip has been full of adventure, delicious food, breathtaking views, meaningful conversations, and loads of laughter.

What is some of your best advice for incoming participants?

The best advice I can give is to be open and present to all of the new places, people, and activities you get to experience on a Rustic Pathways program.

The more you invest in the experience, the more you will grow.  Talking with our local team and community members gives you  a chance to hear their stories while sharing some of your own.

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View the current Rustic Pathways team. Learn about Rustic Pathways programs.

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Read more about the Rustic Pathways team. Learn about Rustic Pathways programs.