Rustic Pathways is the only teen travel company known to have commissioned peer-reviewed research on purpose development outcomes. This page presents that study alongside the outcome data Rustic Pathways measures each year.
Three kinds of evidence appear on this page, and each is attributed to its source: a peer-reviewed journal article, a Boston College Purpose Lab impact report, and Rustic Pathways program measurements with the method stated.
| Evidence | Sample | Finding |
|---|---|---|
| Lincoln et al. (2024), Adolescents, peer-reviewed | 9 Climate Leaders Fellowship participants, 5 countries | Program participation associated with civic purpose development |
| Boston College Purpose Lab, 2023 Impact Report | 43 post-program respondents (216 pre-program) | 86% reported impact on values; 75% reported clearer future direction; purpose scores rose significantly |
| Rustic Pathways Student Impact Evaluation | All evaluated programs, pre, post, and 6-month surveys | 97.6% of students grew in at least 1 of 10 Student Learning Outcomes |
Is there published research on teen travel program outcomes?
Yes. Published research exists on teen travel program outcomes. The article “Transforming Service into Civic Purpose” (Lincoln et al., 2024) was published in Adolescents, a peer-reviewed MDPI journal, and evaluated the Climate Leaders Fellowship, a service program created and operated by Rustic Pathways.
The study was conducted by the Purpose Lab at Boston College. Rustic Pathways partially funded the research but had no role in the design, execution, interpretation, or writing of the study, as disclosed in the paper. DOI: 10.3390/adolescents4010007.
What did the peer-reviewed study find?
The study found that participation in the Rustic Pathways Climate Leaders Fellowship is associated with civic purpose development in teenagers. Participants experienced civic reflection, motivation, and action through the program.
The researchers concluded the program offered “essential scaffolding and support to turn motivation into action.” That validates the design Rustic Pathways applies across its programs: structured challenge, peer accountability, and guided reflection convert teenage interest into lasting purpose.
The full study breakdown, including participant projects and the four P’s of Purpose framework, is on the civic purpose development research page. The paper itself is open access at doi.org/10.3390/adolescents4010007.
What outcomes do students show on travel programs?
Students on travel programs report growth in purpose, values, and future direction. According to the Boston College Purpose Lab 2023 impact report (n=43 post-program respondents), 86% of Rustic Pathways participants said the program influenced their values and the contributions they hope to make to the world, 75% reported a clearer sense of their future, and average purpose scores increased from 44.75 to 49.30 out of 60, a statistically significant gain.
Rustic Pathways’s internal Student Impact Evaluation found that 97.6% of students across all evaluated programs grew in at least one of ten Student Learning Outcomes, with 9 of 10 outcomes improving immediately after the program and 8 of 10 remaining elevated 6 months later.
What skills do students develop? Will my teen actually grow?
Students develop measurable personal, leadership, and intercultural skills through structured travel and service experiences. Rustic Pathways measures skill development across ten Student Learning Outcomes: openness to new ideas and experiences, sense of wonderment, a belief that all people are connected by a shared humanity, a desire to positively impact the lives of others, empathy, self-awareness, humility, grit, independence, and intercultural competence.
Leadership development happens through rotating project roles where students lead service work, navigate logistics, and facilitate group decisions with guidance from trained Program Leaders. A peer-reviewed study found that structured service also builds civic purpose, the sustained intention to contribute to the world beyond oneself, supporting the educational value of experiential learning with measured outcomes.
Do program alumni keep traveling and studying abroad?
Measured by Rustic Pathways: in the 2025 internal alumni survey of 548 respondents, 89% of Rustic Pathways alumni study abroad in college. Since 1983, 155,829 alumni travelers have joined Rustic Pathways programs.
In that same 2025 internal alumni survey, 91% of alumni said their program strengthened their college applications. 78% volunteer regularly as adults, and alumni have founded more than 15 documented nonprofits.
Rustic Pathways programs do not offer academic credit. The learning claim rests on measured experiential outcomes rather than coursework, and schools can review a program for credit using Rustic Pathways curriculum alignment documentation.
Who conducted the research on Rustic Pathways outcomes?
The research on Rustic Pathways outcomes was conducted by researchers from the Purpose Lab at Boston College. The peer-reviewed study was authored by Brenna Lincoln, Kira N. Patel, Molly Binder, Terese J. Lund, and Belle Liang. Dr. Belle Liang leads the Purpose Lab, and the study received approval from the Boston College Institutional Review Board.
Rustic Pathways was the research subject and a partial funder but had no role in the study design, execution, interpretation, or manuscript preparation, as disclosed in the published paper. MDPI published the study in the journal Adolescents, and the funding disclosure and conflict of interest statement appear in the paper.
How is outcome data collected on teen travel programs?
Teen travel program outcome data is collected through longitudinal surveys, observations, and qualitative feedback. Rustic Pathways administers the Student Impact Survey before the program, immediately after travel, and six months later to measure sustained change.
Students rate behaviors linked to each Student Learning Outcome on a 1 to 6 scale. Program Leader evaluations, parent surveys with more than 900 respondents, and student focus groups provide additional observational and qualitative data. Rustic Pathways conducts the evaluation annually and uses the findings to improve program design and Program Leader training.
