Blog

On January 1st, you said 2016 was the year you learn something new, venture out of your comfort zone, and go on more epic adventures. January is almost over—are you still committed to your goals? If you need some inspiration to keep those New Years resolutions alive, check out this video. It will have you packing your bag…
2016 is here! Were you one of the millions of people who made a New Year’s resolution? Well, according to Statistic Brain, only 8% of people who make a resolution are successful in reaching their goals. People go strong for the first few weeks but then slowly lose focus, with only half of them still…
Every month, we highlight awesome alumni that have made an impact in their community since their program, shared their favorite #sorustic memories with us, or have great advice to pass along. This month, our Alumni Spotlights is shining on Eric Mathewson, a Service Scholarship recipient who filmed his adventures in the Dominican Republic this past summer…
The other night, my wife and I were talking about raising our three sons and how important we feel it is to take a family Gap Year. In 2022, when our sons hit ages eleven, nine, and seven, we will journey around the world by planes, trains, boats, bikes, rickshaws, tuk-tuks, and our collective 10…
The holidays are quickly approaching, and if you're not done with your holiday shopping, you certainly aren't alone. But don’t panic—we have all the travelers on your list covered. Be a gift-giving hero this year with a curated list from Rustic staff with gift ideas from their own holiday wish lists. Day Packs These smaller…
This month’s spotlights are shining on three awesome girls whose programs in Morocco, India, and Thailand far exceeded their expectations. Hear about their eye-opening experiences and the connections Nabilla, Sarah, and Maggie discovered within their new environments. Nabilla traveled to Morocco with Souqs and Service as an Ambassador scholarship recipient. She had the unique experience…
As 2015 quickly comes to a close, we wanted to look back on the past year and see how we impacted our global community. In collaboration with Sustainable Travel International, we've compiled the data and numbers into our 2015 Impact Report, which gives an overview of our service initiatives around the world. 2015 was a…
One of the greatest aspects of travel is the feeling of a welcoming community in an unknown place and meeting people who will help you adjust to their culture, food, and language. But what if you were forced into this new life? What if you had to leave your home behind to live in a…
Lance Oppenheim is a talented photographer and videographer who was awarded one of our Gap Year Global Ambassador Scholarships. While traveling throughout Southeast Asia and India, Lance was captivated by the beautiful landscapes and unique cultures he encountered. He was also surprised by the prevalence of cameras and phones, and questioned the significance of these…
Photographer guide and Rustic Crew member Michelle Kanaar worked with us in the Dominican Republic last summer, where she spent time in the bateyes, marginalized Haitian-Dominican communities mostly populated by sugarcane workers. Kanaar recently wrote an article for the Miami Herald about the hardships faced in these communities, most notably the ongoing struggle to get…
Europe has been facing a huge refugee crisis for years, but conditions have worsened in the last few months. Millions of people are fleeing their homes from war, violence, and poor living conditions and seeking help in the European Union. New York-based photographer Brandon Stanton has been chronicling personal stories of recent refugees on his…
We had an incredible summer and it was all thanks to our amazing students, staff, and families. Now that Summer 2015 is behind us, we are excited to welcome hundreds of new Rustic alumni to the Alumni Association. We're glad you're here! Stay tuned for upcoming developments with the Alumni Association. Internships, service updates, employment tips, and…
The year was 1995. During a free period at his Chicago high school, 15-year-old Christopher Regan sat in the audience during a Rustic Pathways presentation. He was immediately hooked. CR: They gave a quick schpiel and showed a video. It looked really, really fun. I was immediately interested, so I went home that evening and…
Over the weekend, Rustic Pathways was recognized as the Best Youth Tour Operator by the 2015 World Youth Student and Educational Conference. We are honored to receive this award, and we thank all of you that voted for us! As we enter our 33rd season at Rustic Pathways, we’re more excited than ever. We are…
It's been a month since our 2015 programs wrapped and we are still going through the thousands of images our photographer guides shot over the course of the summer. While we can't officially say these are the absolute best photos of the summer since there are still plenty to go through, these pictures are too good…