2. Travel helps teens gain a global perspective
Exploring a new culture helps students better understand their place in the world and how their decisions impact others. It’s essential that all future leaders develop a global perspective that will enable them to find creative solutions to some of the world’s most pressing issues.
Rustic Pathways has worked with the Purpose Lab at Boston College to examine how its programs may influence adolescent development. In a 2023 report, 86% of the 43 students who completed the post-program survey said the experience affected their personal values and the kind of contribution they wanted to make. Seventy-five percent said they had a stronger sense of direction for the future. Participants’ average purpose score also rose from 44.75 to 49.30 on a 60-point scale.
Boston College researchers also published a peer-reviewed study involving nine students from five countries who took part in the Climate Leaders Fellowship. The findings linked participation in the program with growth in civic purpose, including greater reflection, motivation, and action. Rustic Pathways helped fund the research, but the researchers independently managed the study and prepared the published paper.
See Proven Student Outcomes: The Research Behind Rustic Pathways Teen Travel Programs for the full findings, sources, and research methods.
3. Teens can develop cultural sensitivity
During their Rustic experiences, students will meet and have conversations with locals, try new foods, and learn about cultural practices. Partnering with local community members on service projects also provides students an invaluable opportunity to work with people from different backgrounds, experiences in a harmonious and productive way.
As Rustic’s local experts (like Hugo in Guatemala, 43 years local experience) guide every interaction, students learn empathy rooted in genuine, decades-long community partnerships.
Read: Why Middle School Is the Perfect Time to Start Traveling
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4. Student travel programs can create a real, positive impact
As our world becomes increasingly connected, traveling responsibly is essential to being a global citizen. Understanding how to work with local communities to develop and implement initiatives that improve lives is an important part of Rustic programs that we believe gives students the ability to continue their impact after returning home.
Rustic’s service projects are locally driven and sustainable. In fact, for every dollar Rustic Pathways spends delivering a program, about 95 cents stays in the host community, paid to local guides, host families, drivers, cooks, and project partners.
![Snorkeler swimming alongside a sea turtle in a vibrant coral reef with clear blue water in the Caribbean.]()
5. Teens can hone important non-cognitive skills
Non-cognitive skills like independence, empathy, and self-awareness are essential to future academic, professional, and interpersonal success. Structured travel experiences allow students to exercise these capabilities in supportive and safe environments, resulting in immense personal growth and skills they can apply in the classroom and their personal lives after returning home.
