Did you know we spend about nine hours a day consuming some type of media on our phones? That number startled me until realizing I read this statistic on one of the eight tabs open on my Macbook while snapping on one of my iPhones and scrolling through Instagram on the other. Whether I’m texting…
One of the most amazing things about travel is who you meet and the connections you make along the way. You learn that all people are basically the same. We have the same hopes and dreams, the same concerns and fears. It doesn't take long to realize that we're all connected by a shared humanity.…
The Rustic Pathways staff who operate our programs in more than 20 countries where students travel have a ridiculous amount of travel knowledge. Many have worked in multiple countries so we thought who better than them to ask about what programs to recommend? If you're still trying to decide between summer travel experiences, check out the…
With the latest news this week in Washington, we want to reassure families that Rustic Pathways programs are open to all students — including those who identify as transgender or gender non-conforming. As an organization, we have been committed to these principles of inclusivity for decades. In 2014, we established a formal policy that outlines…
Ten years after traveling with Rustic Pathways, we caught up with Rustic alum Heather Lyon to find out how traveling as a teenager forever changed the trajectory of her life. In 2006, Heather traveled to India and participated in two programs with Rustic Pathways. She enrolled in two more programs the next summer in Peru, including Sacred Valley…
Last year, Rustic Pathways students completed 1,351 service hours with Baltimore City Community College's Refugee Youth Project. Those students served 100 refugee youth, one-third of the 4 to 21 year-olds the Refugee Youth Project supports each year. We're proud of that, but we need your help to continue our work with the Refugee Youth Project…
With the recent changes in Washington many parents are asking themselves "is it safe for my child to travel abroad this summer"? Watch our most recent info session to learn more about how we keep your child safe on a Rustic Pathways program. In this session, we also address safety concerns about traveling abroad right…
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…
How do you know you're a Rustic parent? You know when... Have you heard the news!? Star Alumni is back now through February 14! Check your inbox for more details on how to use your exclusive special rate—don't miss out. Or email hello@rusticpathways.com for more information.
We wanted to know what really makes a RP alum. So we asked the experts. You know you're a Rustic alum when…. Want to submit your idea? Comment below for your chance to be featured! Also, don't miss out on your opportunity to take advantage of your Star Alumni special rate (It's BACK!),…
The first Thrival World Academies class is leaving for Thailand today. Since the school year began in August, the students from Oakland have been preparing for their three months abroad as part of our partnership with Thrival to build the largest network of publicly-funded study abroad high schools in the country. As part of that…
Travel has the power to connect us to other people and cultures. It exposes us to new ideas and helps shape who we become. It also reminds us that we're all part of a shared humanity. That's why we made this video, featuring the following poem written by Louis Bryant III, one of Rustic Pathways' program leaders. Although it seems as…
Rustic Pathways has a lot to celebrate about what our students, staff, and community partners accomplished in 2016—from the number of service hours our students completed to the results of our first Student Impact Evaluation. So we broke down 2016 by the numbers. We added operations in Cuba, including two new programs—of the nine…
It's not hard to find anecdotal reports about the benefits of student travel. Knowing that students return from our programs having experienced some type of growth wasn't enough for us. So we created a framework to intentionally design our programs and assess what and how students learned from them. According to the results from our…
We're excited to present our 2016 Impact Report! Every year we share findings about the impact our programs have on the communities where our students travel. In 2016, our programs impacted 37,491 lives. That number includes our community partners, international staff, and the students who participated in Rustic programs this year. This year, we also…
Today is Giving Tuesday and it's never been easier to get involved! The Rustic Pathways Foundation supports locally-driven projects and programs in the regions where we travel. In 2016 alone we raised more than $250,000 to support 15 projects in 10 countries. We work directly with communities to identify high priority needs and then collect donations…
Resources: Why You Should Spend Your Money on Experiences, Not Things Hill Tribes of the Golden Triangle Intro to Photography in Cuba The Refugee Youth Project Spanish Language Immersion Pacific Adrenaline To give the gift on an experience, start with Rustic's 2017 catalog.
Rustic Pathways is excited and honored to be named one of Outside Magazine's Top 100 Best Places to Work in 2016. According to Outside, this list "showcases companies that make employee health and happiness a point of pride." Maybe we're biased, but Rustic exemplifies these qualities by allowing us to work from literally anywhere and providing free travel perks. Rustic also…
Creating a crowdfunding page isn't the only way to fundraise for a service-learning trip (but it can be a great one). We chatted with a handful of alumni who have successfully fundraised for their Rustic Pathways programs. They wanted to share the keys to their success. For more ideas, read our fundraising tips and tricks and get started! Make…
Together we're building a world that celebrates diversity, inclusivity, acceptance, and peace. These photos remind us that we live in an amazing world where diversity and a connected humanity should be celebrated.