In January 2015, I quit my job and packed my bags to trek through Southeast Asia. During this time, I led Come With Nothing programs in Laos and Thailand with Rustic and recently started full-time as Thailand Program Manager this past January. Read my revelations from the road here, and check out photos from my adventure below:…
Rustic Pathways supports sustainable development. We work with community partners to develop projects that address important social, health, and environmental needs, enabling our students to take a hands-on role in creating change. If you are traveling with us this summer, we ask that you do not bring general donations for the communities you are visiting…
Being rustic is being your authentic self, putting cliques and stereotypes aside, trying new foods (and toilets!), and having an absolute blast while doing so. Being rustic is not being afraid to get dirty. It’s laughing until your face hurts. It’s putting down your phone and taking in the most stunning views with a mental…
Dear Students, We are going to ask you not to use your cell phones on your Rustic Pathways program. Before anyone panics, we want to explain our reasoning and hope you will commit to going phone-free while traveling with us. Every minute you are on your phone—texting home, sending Snaps, choosing an Instagram filter—is a…
Dear Parents and Family Members, Most of us working at Rustic remember traveling before smart phones and WiFi hotspots. We packed our bags, said our goodbyes, and disconnected from friends and family as we embarked on our own adventures. We returned home inspired and transformed from our time abroad, ready to take on bigger challenges…
This month, our Alumni Spotlights are two international Gap Year semester students: Zoe, hailing from north of Sydney, Australia, and Camila, from Mexico City, Mexico. In spring of 2015, Zoe joined us in Africa; traveling to Ghana, Morocco, and Tanzania. Camila traveled with us on a Gap semester in Southeast Asia in the Fall of…
I'd like to introduce you to Lauren Dahlhauser, a talented photographer that helped guide students through Moroccan cities and deserts throughout our 2015 summer season and captured its magic and mysterious beauty along the way: Hello, I'm Lauren! I'm a lot of things, but above all, I'm an adventurer, a risk taker, an inspiration seeker, a…
In 1992, the United Nations founded World Water Day as an opportunity for people around the world to learn about water-related issues. 663 million people are without access to clean and safe water. That’s one in ten people in the world, and twice the population of the United States! In addition, one in three people…
The role of Photographer Guide allows one to take a step beyond observing your subject, but experience and connect in the moment. Creating an image, freezing the moment in time, and allowing this moment to be shared is what photography is all about. The images below are from Louis Bryant, Spanish Immersion and Service Photographer…
On February 20th, the islands of Fiji were hit by the worst storm to ever strike the southern hemisphere. The devastating Cyclone Winston killed at least 42 people and left tens of thousands without homes. Rustic Pathways has worked in Fiji for over 20 years; our community partners in both the highlands and islands are members of…
Avocado: Thought you’d miss creamy avocados and guacamole while traveling in East Africa? Think again. Tanzanian avocados are delicious and abundant. Occasionally, trees drop avocados to the unsuspecting passerby below, so be ready with the rest of your picnic! Bantu People: Long ago, the Bantu people were a homogenous group; however, now the label encompasses millions…
This month’s Alumni Spotlight is shining on Cailey Newton. She is a three-program Rustic veteran after traveling to Peru, Thailand and Laos, and fundraising for the programs on her own. Upon high school graduation and being accepted into numerous colleges, Cailey found herself researching taking a Gap Year and, ultimately, taking the leap. Cailey spent…