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Vision

It’s December 31, 2027, and we’re reflecting on the year we’ve just had.

Global Leadership and Team

Rustic Pathways now has 100 team members spread across the globe, with hubs in Cleveland, Seoul, NYC, Tokyo, San Francisco, Paris, and Milan.

The leadership team meets quarterly in one of the hub cities for team building, strategic planning, and coaching, fostering our culture of innovation and collaboration.

The sun never sets on Rustic Pathways, as we’ve evolved into a global company with global clients.

How it Feels to Work at Rustic Pathways

  • People also ask, “Does the sun ever set at Rustic Pathways?” Clients working with Rustic Pathways say, “This feels easy,” as if a village of people was working behind the scenes, ensuring flawless execution.
  • When people work at Rustic Pathways, they say it feels like you’re on a team of competent professionals who trust that we can hand off from one person to another and one time zone to the next and we are 100% confident that the work, client and action will be in better hands next than before.
  • With so many competent professionals passing work seamlessly to one another, the VIBES at Rustic Pathways are through the roof. We trust each other. We like each other and it shows. The positive energy is off the charts.
  • People who interview with Rustic Pathways say the environment feels fast, uplifting, creative, upbeat and innovative. We get 100 resumes for each open position. If only we had spots for everyone.

Rustic Pathways Brand Excellence, Recognition and Influence

  • Our growth as a company is matched by the recognition we’ve earned. We’ve expanded our trophy case to hold 15 more awards for Best Places to Work, Fastest Growth, Best Travel, and Best Tour Operator.
  • As the most awarded and well-regarded company in our sector, we’re also becoming the most influential. Our photography has captured the attention of major outlets like National Geographic and Travel & Leisure, and our reputation for excellence continues to grow.
  • Parents regularly ask how we were able to get such captivating images of their children, and we just whisper that it’s a little bit of Rustic magic.

The World’s Best Team

  • Our program leader team is the envy of the travel industry and the paradigm of professionalism.
  • The Four Seasons Hotels organization regularly targets and benchmarks the Rustic Pathways team for seeding their organization. Top hospitality schools aim to place their top graduates with Rustic Pathways.

Student Impact

  • People once called Rustic Pathways the “Save The World Company.” We know we can’t save the world by ourselves, but we also know that what we do matters. We take people for one week, one month, two months, or more and we change minds and hearts.
  • When they return to their lives and later become bankers, bakers or content creators, they carry a part of Rustic Pathways with them. Their food tastes different, their view of the world shifts, and through them, change happens for the better. Through them we change the world.
  • At Rustic Pathways, we create “wow” moments. Our programs put forth 15,000 students changed for the better, helping them see themselves and the world in new ways. When they return home, they have a sense of purpose and direction, often telling us, “This was a turning point for me.”
  • The Rustic Pathways experience shapes who our students become—whether they go on to be architects, bankers, bakers or content creators, they carry a part of our spirit with them: our positive energy, sense of appreciation, and willingness to dream and dance.

Client Loyalty + Trust

  • We’ve earned the highest Net Promoter Score in the industry at 90%, with clients showing their trust by referring more new clients every year.
  • Many clients first hear about us through a child who has traveled with Rustic Pathways, and later, entire families travel with us.
  • Our friends and family summer internship program is already oversubscribed for 2028, a testament to the trust our clients place in us.

Meaningful Objects of Desire

  • Rustic Pathways students hold their t-shirts, hoodies, and other objects as more than just souvenirs—they’re totems that represent transformative moments.
  • These objects are symbolic of personal growth and shared experiences. They carry meaning not only for those who have traveled with us but also for those who aspire to join our programs.

Accessibility + Growth

  • Rustic Pathways offers programs for every budget, from complimentary invite only summits for select students to high level, immersive crafted travel splurges.
  • We are proud that our $500k clients are looking to up their budget allocation to RP next year.
  • We are proud to have made it possible for more students to travel free of charge, ensuring our programs are accessible to a wider range of participants.

Climate Leaders Fellowship

  • We’re up to cohort 13 and we have a record high number of completed projects, over 2,000 this cycle.
  • We have Climate Leaders Fellowship Premium Live Events each quarter in cities around the world.
  • There are chapters of CLF in 1,000 high schools around the world that are independently grown and run, every year with increasing numbers of service projects forged under RP auspices.
  • It’s clear that CLF is shaping the next generation of climate leaders in high schools around the globe.

Our Programs

  • Rustic Pathways is part of the beginning, the middle and the end, of school experiences with DFY (Done For You) Group Travel. Schools engage with Rustic Pathways because of our holistic approach to travel curriculum and they stay with us for our top-notch service and execution.
  • Some schools learn about Rustic Pathways thanks to our burgeoning DIY (Do It Yourself) Group Travel offerings and then our team converts them to DFY.
  • Our student travel programming runs year-round. The travel curriculum is serialized which allows students to build on each experience, returning year after year for deeper and more impactful learning and helping students to build meaningful connections over multiple summers.
  • We offer family travel experiences that complement our core programs, either before or after.
  • Our SaaS product is an operating system used by over 100 schools with a 95% renewal rate. It makes authentic transformative travel possible for schools with various budgets. Clients love it and sing our praises.
  • Our post-high-school program, Rustic Life now operates in five countries, making gap year learning affordable and impactful for students who seek immersive language and cultural experiences.

We can’t wait to check in on December 31, 2030, and see how far we’ve come, as we continue to transform the lives of students, families, and communities around the world.