We can all be a service learning trip participant. Every local community around the world could benefit from engaged community members demonstrating leadership skills and global citizenship addressing community needs to solve local problems.
Key Takeaways
- Service learning trips focused on community service are available for all ages.
- International programs begin as young as 12 years old.
- Younger students often prefer service learning programs with a broader range of education and service activities.
- High school students have a wide range of options, including many focused on specific topics like animal conservation. Learn more about the types of service learning trips.
- Young adults also can participate in service learning trips that are led by travel experts.
The Positive Impact of Learning with Service Trips
According to psychologists, children as young as 12 months old begin learning altruism and empathy. And, as children grow, service learning project opportunities create awareness, which can help that altruism and empathy grow.
Still, you may wonder at what age a student may be ready for a service learning trip, and if it’s a good idea for all children and teens. Do they really need to travel to gain perspective on social issues in a community of low resources? Can’t they gain the same knowledge from the teachers in their local community in their own daily lives?
In most cases, student do benefit from service learning projects in their local communities. However, service projects abroad open students’ eyes to issues in other parts of the world. Plus, an interest in travel has grown among teens in the last few decades, opening the door to more international service opportunities.
A Gallup Youth Survey back in 2005 found that 27% of teens had traveled overseas. That compares to just 16% in 1986. The majority of the teens traveled to Europe. Since then, teen interest in travel has grown, particularly to destinations beyond Europe.
Now, service learning and community outreach opportunities extend across the globe and well into your adulthood and careers. You can take service learning trips in places ranging from Fiji to Peru.
Explore the various destinations available for service learning trips abroad.
Select Service Learning Programs By Age:
Service learning trips for students in middle school
Rustic Pathways offers service learning trips for students as young as 12 years old. By this age, young people begin to develop their independence and are comfortable traveling without their family.
For the education of younger or newer travelers, students often pick service learning trips that have these attributes:
- Locations that are closer to home so plane rides are shorter and the time zones are similar
- Accommodations with Western-style amenities
- Limited on-program travel so less time is spent on the road
- A low program leader to student ratio
- A large variety of activities since tweens are less certain about what they want
- A shorter overall program
- Chaperoned flight options that make it easier to travel as an unaccompanied minor
- Service activities that are easier for younger people
Great service learning trips that meet these all or most of this criteria include:
Young Explorers: Pura Vida in Costa Rica – ages 12-13
Pura Vida Service in Costa Rica – ages 14 – 18
Dominican Republic: Island Living and Eco-Service – ages 13-16
Hawaii: Surf, Snorkel, and Service – ages 14-18
As students mature later in middle school and then in high school, the service learning trip options expand. In these years, service learning trip participants are usually more comfortable traveling farther. Plus, they may have a better idea of what interests them.
Service learning trips for high school students
Service learning trips for high school students are more diverse. There are trips focused on a specific topic like the Turtle Conservation Project in Costa Rica. Other trips center more on adventure with a smaller amount of service. Then there are programs with extensive service learning and service projects throughout.
Whatever the service goals, teens clearly have indicated they are ready to travel. A Gallup Poll found 91% of teens said they are willing to travel overseas in the summer. Here are some of the best service learning trip options for high school students who are ready to hit the road:
Service Learning Trips with a Specific Focus:
Thailand: Thai Elephant Conservation Project
Costa Rica: Turtle Conservation Project
Dominican Republic: Marine Life and Coastal Restoration
Guatemala: Climate Leaders Fellowship Summit 2024 (full for 2024; join the Climate Leadership Fellowship for future opportunities)
Greece: Island Turtle Conservation (enrolling for 2025)
Service Learning Trips with Extensive Community Service Work:
Thailand: Come With Nothing – The most service available with 60 hours in remote communities of Thailand.
Fiji: Sun, Sand, and Island Service
Pura Vida Service in Costa Rica
Students on the Come with Nothing program in Thailand often work on projects with local villagers. Copyright: © 2014 Rustic Pathways
Service Learning Trips with a Smaller Amount of Service:
Rustic Pathways students participate in educational exchange projects in South Korea.
Factors that may play a role in the travel decision include a student’s interests, independence level and mental health. Students on a Rustic Pathways program are guided by experienced program leaders. That makes the journey a smaller step to independence. They are away from their family but still are being closely monitored.
On the mental health front, the University of Oxford has found that volunteering helps teens make social connections and reduces anxiety. It’s also that volunteers are an important factor in what it terms “mattering” – the idea that we have value and matter to others. This is key to positive mental health.
Numerous students with anxiety and mental health challenges have thrived while traveling with Rustic Pathways. Plus, we work with students with health problems like food allergies, so there aren’t too many challenges that would prevent a high school student from traveling. And numerous students show the benefits of student travel are enormous.
Service learning trips for college students
Service learning trips for adults also have expanded over the years. College students have the greatest number of options.
College-aged service trip participants have the maturity to grasp larger community issues during travel programs. Here are the best service learning trips for young adults who want to have this experience:
Costa Rica: Turtle Conservation Program (College)
Peru: Andes to Amazon (College Program)
Moroccan Wanderer (College Program) – look for new dates in 2025
Peace Corps: Making meaningful impact in local communities
For older adults, many service-related trips are not technically focused on service learning. The Peace Corps would be an example of this.
The Peace Corps looks for adults with particular skills to serve and help communities throughout the world. Certainly the adults who participate learn from their service work abroad, but the learning is not structured like a service learning trip for a young adult. These programs include deep topic discussions and guidance from program leaders.
Summary on participating in service learning
Overall, there are many community service learning trips for people of all ages. Check out our program page for all the available options for service learning trip participants.