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Participant, CLF 2022-2023 Director, CLF 2023-2025 Harvard College Class of 2029
June 19, 2025
June 7, 2025
Work with health care professionals on public health projects, earn your Wilderness First Aid certification, and relax on tropical Caribbean beaches.
Work alongside health care professionals on high-impact public health projects across the Dominican Republic. Explore the diverse regions of this beautiful Caribbean island while immersing yourself in local culture and practicing your Spanish in a healthcare setting. Identify health needs of rural, urban, wealthy, and impoverished communities and help develop meaningful public service initiatives. Earn your Wilderness First Aid and CPR certification and apply your new skills to helping communities in need.
Costa Rica: Spring Break Surf and Service
Surf & serve on a jungle getaway
Age 14-18
$3295 plus Airfare
Costa Rica: Pura Vida Service
Perfect start to service adventures
Age 12-18
$2495 plus Airfare
Arrive at Miami International Airport (MIA) where you’ll meet your Rustic Pathways Flight Leader, who will help get you checked in and through security before traveling with your group to the Dominican Republic. Get acquainted with fellow Rustic travelers before boarding your flight.
Arrive at Santo Domingo Airport (SDQ) and meet your Program Leaders who will be with you for the duration of the program. Settle in, relaxing after your long flight. Join the group for an orientation discussion about the week ahead, expectations for your adventure, and an introduction to the local culture.
After breakfast, your group will receive an introduction to your program and go over some of the major public health topics you will learn about in the next two weeks. Here you will also learn about public health initiatives that are taking place in the capital. The Dominican Republic has some of the greatest disparities between rich and poor in the region; these disparities can be seen very clearly in Santo city in the Caribbean.
You will then hear from some resident experts how the health care system works in the Dominican Republic and introduce you to some of the biggest health problems the country is facing, visiting both public and private health facilities in addition to visiting NGOs (non-governmental organizations). In the evenings, watch a documentary and have group discussions about public health in Latin America to contextualize your experience and prepare for your community service projects. At the end of Day 3, you will travel east to the province of San Pedro, where you will begin community service and your first aid training.
For the next 11 nights, students will stay at a base in Juan Dolio in shared rooms separated by gender. The bedrooms have a/c and the bathrooms have western toilets, but there is no hot water in the showers.
Today, you will learn more about the communities where you will be working. Spend the morning working on infrastructure projects focused on improving sanitation in batey communities in the area. In the afternoon, you will learn what a typical day looks like for a bracero, or cane cutter. You’ll even get to try some freshly cut sugar cane, which is one of the foods that sustain many braceros on their long days of work. You will then visit a local government-operated healthcare center in the batey. You will have the chance to learn about some of the health issues faced in a rural context.
Officially begin your Wilderness First Aid and CPR training. Our expert medical staff will provide you with the information you need to develop your skills in first aid, CPR, and emergency response. Spend a full two days training in situation assessment, determining the appropriate response in an emergency, providing basic first aid and CPR, and caring for wounds.
Spend the morning wrapping up your WFA and CPR training before heading out to a well-deserved day of fun. Spend the day swimming in the serene Caribbean waters and soaking in the sun on the beach. After a full day at the beach, head back to your base in the province of San Pedro. This province is home to the bateyes, communities of sugar cane workers, who have some of the lowest standards of living in the country and are often unable to access health care and education due to their documentation status. Spend the evening watching a film and having a discussion that will give you some background on the situation in this part of the island, and then get a good night’s sleep before you continue community service in the morning.
Work on infrastructure projects that will improve sanitation and living conditions for people living in underserved areas. After breakfast each day, you’ll head into our partner communities to work on sanitation-related construction projects. You’ll break for lunch and then continue working hard in the afternoon. See how these basic necessities drastically impact health and some of the major challenges facing a rural agricultural community.
Use what you’ve learned in your certification and during your time visiting health professionals to provide health workshops to local school children. You’ll get to teach various important subjects such as sanitation and healthy living habits. Learn more about the process of producing sugar, including what a typical day looks like for a bracero, or cane cutter. You’ll even get to try some freshly cut sugar cane, which is one of the foods that sustain many braceros on their long days of work. After your final day of workshops, say your last goodbyes as you pack for the beach in the evening. Join your group for a post-service debrief in the evening, discussing what you experienced and learned through hands-on work in the community.
Take a break from service and spend the last two days enjoying the Dominican coast. Travel to the beautiful, peninsular province of Samaná to wrap up your program. Enjoy the stunning views and discuss what you’ve learned over the last two weeks. You’ll have a much greater understanding of global health challenges now that you’ve seen some of the realities on the ground in the Dominican context.
Settle into a hotel near the beach for the next two nights. Shared rooms, separated by gender; private bathrooms with Western-style toilets and intermittent hot water.
Head back to the capital for a tour of the Colonial Zone of Santo Domingo, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and home to the first university, cathedral, and hospital in the Americas. Take a tour of the walled city and learn about the deep history of the first European settlement in the Americas. After touring the Colonial Zone, head over to a special dinner and dance show at a typical Dominican restaurant.
At the end of each program, students reflect on their experiences and the issues they engaged with, and talk about how to apply this new understanding to their own worlds. During or after their closing discussion, groups participate in Rustic Ties, a unique and powerful activity that allows students to capture the memories and learning moments of their program to process and share with their communities back home.
Spend your final night in a hotel with shared rooms separated by gender with private bathrooms.
Your Program Leaders will take you to the airport for your flight home or to your next Rustic program as you say goodbyes and reflect on your adventure.
If you’re staying in the Dominican Republic, your Program Leaders will take you to your next accommodation to meet your new group. If you’re continuing on to another Rustic Pathways destination, you’ll board a connecting flight to that country.
Packing the right gear (and the right amounts) is the first step to an incredible travel experience. Follow these tips to pack like a pro:
Travel light. Pack only the essentials. You’ll need less than you think! Consider no checked bag. We strongly recommend that you consider packing only a carry-on size bag. This prevents your luggage getting lost or separated from you, keeps your bag manageable, and helps you be more mobile on your travel day. Bring the right clothes. Pack clothes that are culturally appropriate for your destination and acceptable for service projects. This means bringing long shorts (think Bermuda and basketball shorts), t-shirts with sleeves to cover shoulders, and appropriate footwear. Leave your valuables behind. While traveling, it’s easier for things to get lost, stolen, or damaged. Keep any prized possessions safe at home. Check with TSA. Make sure your luggage complies with TSA regulations, especially your carry-on. Useful tip: Pack an empty water bottle and fill it up after security. Extra paperwork? If you need additional forms filled out to get credit for your service hours, no problem! Bring these forms with you so they can be completed in-country.
A school backpack is ideal as it will be used for daily activities and outings.
A 40-50 liter duffel bag or backpack is ideal.
Clothes
Toiletries
(Travel size bottles in Ziploc bags)
Santo Domingo In Santo Domingo, students will stay at a hotel near the airport.
San Pedro Students stay at a Rustic Pathways rented base house, taking day trips to Santo Domingo to visit NGOs and hospitals, and community service at small communities in San Pedro and Hato Mayor. The bedrooms have a/c but there is not hot water in the showers.
Las Galeras Ecolodge near the beach. Shared dormitory rooms of 2-6 students with ensuite bathrooms, mosquito nets and fans.
Rustic Pathways works with local community leaders and organizations to identify and prioritize the needs of each community. Please note that while we try our best to ensure we provide our advertised projects, some changes may occur due to the communities and project partners we work with.
Students will work on sanitation-related infrastructure, education, and community health projects on this program.Sanitation infrastructure is virtually non-existent in these areas, and many families do not have access to a latrine or bathroom. Students also work with elementary school-aged students to execute a 2-day educational summer camp, working on health-related activities, such as exercise, basic wound care, sanitation, and hygiene, and work with local health promoters to administer basic anti-parasite medication and vitamins to moms and kids in different communities.
The service projects in this program are appropriate for most physical activity levels. Students should be prepared for moderate physical activity including lifting heavy materials, shoveling, digging, mixing cement, woodwork, and other manual labor during the construction projects. Rubber boots are suggested for community service projects.
This program involves service that requires students to be physically active.
Students will be eating traditional Dominican food prepared by a combination of local cooks and restaurants. Breakfast may include plantains or toast with eggs, fruits, and cereal. Lunch and dinner will be typical dishes, which consists of rice, beans, salad and a meat/seafood dish or veggie dishes.
Dietary Requirements/Food Allergies – We can easily accommodate vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, and other common dietary requirements on this program. Please make sure to include this in your medical form so that our staff can prepare and we recommend bringing along some of your own favorite snacks!
Water from the tap is safe to use for brushing teeth etc, but, students will be provided as much bottled water as they can drink. Don’t forget to bring along your own reusable water bottle, so we can minimize our plastic usage.
Students should be prepared for hot, humid weather in the 80s and 90s (Fahrenheit) during the day with occasional rain showers. The weather does not vary much between June and August. Synthetic fiber clothing is recommended, because it dries quickly.
Flights – Direct flight from Miami (MIA) to Santo Domingo (SDQ). This program does not have any internal flights. The advertised dates for this program include travel time from the USA. Students from the USA will depart on a Tuesday afternoon and return on a Wednesday afternoon. The program within the Dominican Republic runs from Tuesday to Wednesday. Please refer to the itinerary for further details.
Visa –A $10 tourist card fee is included in airfare. Students traveling with Rustic Pathways on passports not issued by the United States are responsible for determining their own visa requirements. Please check with the appropriate consulate or embassy.
Internal Travel – You’ll travel minimally throughout the country. Traveling to your destination internally can require several hours on a bus ride with the group.
Students are allowed to bring phones on their Rustic Pathways program, but must abide by our cell phone policy. Students will not be allowed to use their phones during group activities, nor at any other time where it is disruptive to the group dynamic. If students are unable to abide by this policy, disciplinary action may be taken. We want to encourage students to disconnect in order to fully immerse themselves in the experience and get the most out of their program. Thus, students will not have access to wifi. Reception for international plans is spotty and we do not recommend purchasing one for this trip. Parents will have access to our 24/7 emergency number and will also receive updates from our staff once your student is in country.
Checked luggage fees, personal gifts, internet, phone calls, and snacks are not included. All other costs (accommodation, meals, in-country transportation, and activities) are included in the program price. We generally suggest $200 – $300 for spending money and incidentals.
Laundry during the program is not guaranteed, so students should bring clothes that can be reworn and last through the program. Students may use laundry machines at the Quality Hotel on the night of arrival (or last night of program if connecting to another DR program).
In the beginning of their program, students will be visiting a few hospitals, clinics and NGOs. For these visits, students should wear pants or a long skirt, and a shirt that covers their shoulders.
In the bateyes, most people dress modestly and as polite visitors we will dress accordingly. The requirements during service are fairly straightforward and the same for any gender:
Shorts: Basketball-style only; no running or soccer-style shorts. Rule of thumb is that the bottom of the shorts should be approaching the kneecap. Loose-fitting athletic pants and capris: Acceptable and preferred. Leggings are not sufficient because they are too form-fitting. Tops: Shoulders must be covered – No tank tops or spaghetti straps.
If you arrive and your clothing is deemed unacceptable by your program leaders, you’ll have to purchase appropriate clothing before service work begins in the village.
When students are at the base house, the dress code is a bit more relaxed – they can wear tank tops and athletic shorts or leggings for their discussions and evening activities.
On this program you will learn about the various issues that both urban and rural communities face and how these issues play an important role in health. Learn about how the health system is structured and some of the challenges faced in a developing country.
Prepare to get your hands dirty as you and your group work together on small construction and education projects in one of our partner communities. You will also have time to interact and befriend the locals as you help teach health workshops to community members. Remember to pack clothes that are culturally appropriate and that you don’t mind getting dirty! This means longer shorts or pants for service and good shoes, and clothes you will be comfortable walking around and visiting NGOs and clinics in.
Ensuring the safety of your teen as they travel with Rustic Pathways is a top priority. Please review our Health and Safety measures.
Our Travel Protection Plan helps protect our participants, their belongings, and their travel investment in those unforeseen circumstances that may arise during travel. Learn more about the plan offered through our partner.