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…
Alex Biddle, a Rustic Pathways program manager in the Dominican Republic, uses her Spanish on a daily basis. While she manages service projects and oversees adventure programs, she frequently has to think on her feet and switch between two languages. Alex hasn’t always spoken Spanish, though. She began to learn the language during a ten-month…
We understand that every school, curriculum, educator, and reason for traveling is different. An itinerary that might be perfect for you may not be the right fit for someone else. That’s why we don’t believe in choosing from a set of pre-made itineraries. Instead we promise customized, private group travel experiences. But what does that…
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.
Whenever I meet someone, the conversation inevitably turns to travel. But it’s more than just knocking countries off of a bucket list—we talk about the people we met, what we learned during these rich cultural experiences, and how they changed us. These are the same kinds of conversations Rustic Pathways students have when they return…
Introducing Rustic Pathways’ first-ever By Invitation Program! Designed to give future change makers the chance to tackle one of today’s most pressing global issues hands on, each year Rustic Pathways will select up to 15 students to participate in one of our Critical Issues programs, completely free. One hundred. Percent. Free. We believe our Critical…
I thought my first visit to Cuba would be like visiting a country down on it’s luck. I expected to see abject poverty and crumbling infrastructure, a country struggling to feed and house its people. My ideas couldn’t be further from what I expected. I was transported back in time, but in a way I…
Following current events can feel super overwhelming. Headlines splashed with violence and fear, climate change, political injustice, gender inequality... the world can look like a messy place. At Rustic, we’re constantly inspired by the students who travel with us, and from what we’ve seen, Generation Z is full of potential change makers. We're here to…
Last Spring, Malia Obama announced that she would defer her Harvard acceptance to take a gap year. We’re on pins and needles to learn how she plans to spend her time away from the classroom and excited for her to join the thousands of other young adults annually who elect to take a gap year.…
The following photo series from Rustic Pathways staff member, Mary O'Connor, depicts life in the Prek Toal floating village in Cambodia. The friendly faces of the villagers, the vibrant colors of the produce, and the majesty of Angkor Wat at sunrise will make you feel completely at home. [caption id="attachment_11541" align="alignnone" width="640"] A woman paddles through Prek…
Fundraising is about bringing your community together in support of a goal to positively influence the world. Convince donors that travel is a powerful experience and you are committed to reach your goal no matter what. Before you get started, know the answers to the following questions. The more realistic, detailed, and personalized your action…
We are proud to announce our recently approved status as an accredited member organization of the American Gap Association! As gap years become more widely accepted by students and universities in the United States, Rustic Pathways Gap Year is especially excited to be one of the organizations at the forefront of helping students create purposeful…
What you can expect from partnering with Rustic Pathways Group Travel. We understand that by planning a trip for your students you’re taking on extra responsibilities to provide an incredible learning experience beyond the classroom. Rustic Pathways will take all of the work off your plate so that you can focus on what truly matters,…
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.…
Happy National Coffee Day! Bravotv.com celebrated the holiday by highlighting the 8 Best Places in the World to Travel If You Love Coffee. Among them was Costa Rica. Many Rustic Pathways Costa Rica alumni met Matias Zeledon, owner of Down to Earth Coffee in La Fortuna. Matias, who harvests and roasts his own coffee, has…
Grace Wickerson is passionate about creating awareness of what a healthy relationship looks like. Her non-profit, Kickin’ Violence educates adolescents on respecting boundaries, healthy relationships, and self defense. The organization also provides Survivor Packs--care packages with essential toiletries, journals, and notes of encouragement--to victims of domestic abuse. Grace’s work with Kickin’ Violence earned her a…