Students and program leaders took hundreds of pictures to celebrate the return to international student travel in 2021. In part 1, we share the best photos from the United States and Morocco.

Watch our 2021 Summer Highlights video to catch a glimpse of what our students experienced during their travel programs and read about their most memorable moments!

5 ways teens benefit from more travel

Rustic Pathways' programs in Peru are quite an adventure, and there are pictures to prove it.

It certainly can be challenging for teens to try to figure out what to do with their lives. Some students rely on their high school experiences to make that decision. But when they travel, things often change.   

Indigenous groups often lost some of their artwork and cultural identity as conquering forces arrived in their lands. Here is a look at artwork travelers may and may not see while on the road.

No pressure, but it takes a lot of work to learn how to successfully navigate the world of "adulting." To make connections, launch a career, and inspire change, teens need key abilities that allow them to rise above the noise. Here are 11 of these skills.

This summer's Hawaii program included a hike through a lava tube, snorkeling amid the reefs, service in a remote valley, and an unexpected twist.  

Numerous students quickly responded when asked about their favorite foods during their Rustic programs. The delicacies they highlighted included options from Asia to Africa to the Americas. Take a peek at the foods they named "the best." 

Toucans can sound like frogs. That is among the things teen travelers may learn while visiting the world's rainforests, where they may encounter tropical birds, sloths, monkeys, and other fun creatures during their Rustic trips.

Students from 21 countries participating in Rustic's Global Youth Climate Summit set out to find solutions to environmental problems in Fiji after an eye-opening presentation. The brilliant and enthusiastic ideas they shared certainly foster hope for the future.  

Long after the trips with Rustic Pathways end, the friendships remain. Alumni often share stories about how they have traveled together, inspired each other, and reached out in times of need. Here are just a few of these stories.

Stories about powerful gods and frightening creatures have influenced the cultures of people on islands ranging from the Fiji Islands to The Dominican Republic. For #FolkloreThursday here are just a few of those stories.

Storytelling gives teens the ability to find their voice and master the art of persuasion. It's an important element of leadership - and science since our brains love stories.

A number of super talented teenagers with a #soRustic spirit will be competing in the Summer Olympic games. Here is a look at some of these athletes whose specialties range from skateboarding to swimming.

Stanford University professors have found an extraordinarily effective way to help people understand different points of view. This groundbreaking process will be shared with Rustic Pathways students from 25 countries who'll be participating in the Global Youth Climate Summit.  

Surfing will debut as an Olympic sport in Tokyo in the summer of 2021. To prepare for the games, here are seven interesting facts about surfing, along with reasons why it may be time to hit the beach.  

An unforgettable trip to Morocco takes students to a place that is often very different from home. It may be the first time they view the Sahara Desert, fortified villages or ksars, the "red city" of Marrakech with its clay structures and more. It's often the people though that teens meet during the trip that they remember the most. 

Teens from around the world are getting ready to participate in this summer's Global Youth Climate Summit being held in collaboration with Stanford University's Center for Deliberative Democracy. Teens from El Salvador to Indonesia shared details about what issues concern them and why they hope the summit will help them foster change.

As we celebrate the return to student travel, we've gathered a list of more than 20 songs that'll help you prepare for the journey, and rejoice in all the world has to offer.