Blog

It's important for travelers to promote the three pillars of sustainability, which is easier during an immersive travel experience.

Students with anxiety disorders may hesitate to travel, but there are key reasons why taking trips can help ease mental illness.

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!

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.   

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.  

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.

Today’s teenagers are regularly tuned in to issues about climate change and the environment. Parents can foster that interest and plan family activities around official events that focus on nature. Here is a look at some of these upcoming events and programs that may help, along with some Rustic Pathways’ alumni thoughts about these issues.

Mental health statistics show that the well-being of many teens drastically declined during the pandemic. Parents can help teens find their way back through international programs that are designed to build connections.

If you have never taken a Rustic trip before, this is the advice I wished I knew before I went on my first trip!!

"I looked around and took in every detail. Some were struggling to use a chopstick, food was being switched around so people could try everything, and laughter was everywhere. I thought to myself, how lucky am I to be here, right now, in this moment? I felt such inner content and joy, it was hard to believe that I was ever anxious about being there."

We are beyond proud of all of you. No matter your next step, we are not worried for you. We are ready for you.

Calista Schloessmann, Rustic alumni, shares her Rustic journey and what has led to her continued efforts to help provide safe and dignified housing to families in the Dominican Republic.

"Vivid in my memory are those first moments of extreme heat, hustle and bustle, and a rapid intake of a culture far different than my own. Needless to say, I was overwhelmed but excited! I’d be spending the next two weeks in a small community providing what help I could, then heading to an elephant sanctuary. Little did I know that the first week would change me forever."

The second part of my blog series covers my time during my Global Fellowship in Southeast Asia. Over three weeks I traveled to Thailand, Laos, and Cambodia.

Last summer I became the first Global Fellow for the Rustic Pathways Foundation. In this two-part blog series, I’ll share my experiences during this fellowship and what I learned from it.

A well-written essay can get you into college. Tell the right story and you'll stand out amongst the competition.

Meet Mary. Mary traveled to Thailand this past summer with Rustic, and returned home to Alabama and immediately started training for her first half…

Taylor Brennan, of Montclair, New Jersey, brought a smile and a beam of hope into our inbox and we think she’ll do the same for you. Read Taylor's full email—and how travel inspired her passion for helping others—below, published with her permission.  [caption id="attachment_18066" align="alignright" width="640"] Taylor with a student during her time spent on the Sacred…

Hannah Repke graduated from high school outside of Washington DC. She was accepted to the University of Virginia, but something about going straight to college didn’t feel right. Hannah recognized she was burned out, and decided to look into other options—which is the moment she fell in love with the idea of taking a gap year.…