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Participant, CLF 2022-2023 Director, CLF 2023-2025 Harvard College Class of 2029
June 19, 2025
June 7, 2025
Contribute to sustainable development and environmental service projects, swim in hidden caverns, and relax on beautiful beaches.
Explore mangroves, reef formations, and marine wildlife at Los Haitises National Park and Samaná peninsula. Get your hands dirty as you work on ecological restoration projects and learn from experts and communities about the efforts to maintain the extensive biodiversity of the region. Swim in hidden caverns to see ancient Taino cave paintings, and soak up the sun on some of the island’s most beautiful beaches.
Students must arrange their own international airfare for this program. This program will begin and in the Dominican Republic on Saturdays. Please do not book any flights until confirmed travel details are provided after enrollment.
Costa Rica: Turtle Conservation Project
Hands-on work to save sea turtles
Age 14-17
$2895 plus Airfare
Costa Rica: Surf and Service
Catch waves and make an impact
Age 14-22
$3495 plus Airfare
Fly from the United States to Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic.
Meet your Program Leaders who will be with you for the duration of the program. Head to the base house and 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.
Spend the first part of the day working alongside local farmers and volunteers on projects geared toward the environment or local village infrastructure. These projects vary based on the needs of our partner communities and could include reforestation efforts, building a Black Water Treatment system, or other small-scale construction projects that contribute to communities and sustainable development projects in neighboring communities. After you’ve wrapped up service for the day, take a hike to a nearby waterfall to cool off.
You’ll spend the next two nights at the Rustic Base House in shared rooms, separated by gender; private bathrooms with Western-style toilets and hot water.
Continue your service work this morning with a different project. Get to know the kids in the community and work alongside neighbors. After lunch, put some finishing touches on your work and head back to the lodge for one last night around the bonfire or playing games with your team in the evening breeze.
Today is an early start as you board a bus bound for Las Galeras, a laid-back beach town on the Samaná Peninsula. Go horseback riding, enjoy lunch by the beach, and then spend this lazy Saturday afternoon as most Dominicans in the area do: enjoying the Caribbean beaches with some cool, fresh coconut water. Join your group for a post-service debrief in the evening, discussing what you experienced and learned through hands-on work in the community.
Settle into rustic bungalows with mosquito nets and fans. Shared dormitory rooms separated by gender with private bathrooms, Western-style toilets, and hot water.
Enjoy the morning on the beach before heading toward the town of Samaná. Check out this port town and walk across a bridge that connects some of the cays, or small islands. Then hop on a boat across the bay to Sabana de La Mar, where you will stay at an eco-hotel nestled on the borders of Los Haitises National Park. As you cross the bay take in the sights of the park, keep your eyes peeled for dolphins, pelicans, and many other aquatic birds that call this vibrant place home.
Spend two nights at a unique ecolodge. Rooms separated by gender, private bathrooms with Western-style toilets, hot water. Various natural pools and common areas for unwinding.
Spend today working on mangrove restoration and various projects at the National Park, getting your hands dirty with community members who are working to rebuild the estuary and breeding grounds for hundreds of native species. Take a boat through the canals of the Rio Caño Hondo to explore caves and beaches in the area and relax in the shade of the tropical trees in the evening at the eco-lodge.
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 as you say goodbye and reflect on your adventure.
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! 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 or a similar sized bag is ideal.
A 50-70 Liter duffel bag or backpack is ideal.
Clothes
Toiletries
(travel sized containers in Ziploc bags)
Santo Domingo In Santo Domingo, students will stay at a hotel near the airport.
Jarabacoa Students will stay at an eco-lodge in shared cabin-style rooms with bunk beds. Facility has river with safe swimming spots and common areas to relax.
Las Galeras Ecolodge near the beach. Shared dormitory rooms with ensuite bathrooms, mosquito nets and fans. Surrounded by nature with a large common room filled with books and couches.
Cano Hondo/Los Haitises Ecolodge built into a rock face on the borders of the national park. Described by Condé Nast as one of the top destinations in the world for eco tourism. Various natural pools, common areas, swings, and a bonfire in the evenings.
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.
Typically students will be involved in environmental and infrastructure development projects on this program. Students will be partnering with the Brigada Verde group to plant mangroves in Los Haitises National Park, and will also contribute in the construction of a wastewater treatment system in Jarabacoa. Prepare to get your hands dirty during these incredibly powerful projects!
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, sports, and adventure activities that require 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 70s and 80s (Fahrenheit) during the day with occasional rain showers. Since the base is located in the mountains, the temperature will go down into the 60s in the evenings. A rain jacket and synthetic fiber clothing is recommended, because it dries quickly.
Flights: Students joining our Spring Break programs are responsible for arranging their own travel to their destination. You will be provided with specific arrival and departure time windows. Arriving or departing outside these windows may incur special transportation arrangements and fees. The advertised dates for this program include travel time from the USA.
Visa: A $10 tourist card fee is typically 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: There are no internal flights on this program. Students will travel via private bus or private vans throughout the program.
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 $100 – $200 for spending money and incidentals.
Students should pack enough clothes and personal items to last through the program. Laundry may be available at some of the hotels at an extra cost.
During community service, students are expected to wear lightweight work pants (not leggings) and have their shoulders covered. There will by some service, i.e. mangrove restoration where athletic shorts and a t-shirt are appropriate as well. On beach days, students should make sure to have a cover up – shorts and tank top, a dress or skirt, etc.