Description

After years of sleep-away camp or completing Young Explorers in Costa Rica, you are ready to broaden your horizons, travel farther abroad, and see more of your world. Welcome to Young Explores II!

A safe, friendly country, Australia is the perfect destination for students who want to travel overseas without parents. Combining the best aspects of sleep-away camp with the enrichment of an international experience, Young Explores II is specifically created for kids aged 13-15 who have been waiting for the chance to stretch their wings and travel farther from home

Get ready for two weeks packed with fun activities, unique experiences, and immersion into life in Australia! After flying into Brisbane, youll spend your first ten days based on the gorgeous Sunshine Coast of Queensland. Explore the beaches, coastline and mountains of this region before heading down to Moreton Island and the Gold Coast. Then youll cap off the trip in style in Sydney! Traveling with a group of like-minded students and the best camp counselors, you will discover Australia while building lifelong friendships and memories.

On the Sunshine Coast and in the Outback
The program begins with a visit to Steve Irwins Australia Zoo to feed the kangaroos, cuddle a koala (optional), and learn about Australias weird and wonderful wildlife! Tour the Glasshouse Mountains and hike to waterfalls while the kookaburras laugh from the gum trees. Take a cruise to watch majestic humpback whales play, spot dolphins in Moreton Bay, and relax on golden beaches after learning to surf with local experts. Then come Waltzing Matilda with us as we head to our bush camp for a few days. Experience Outback life as you sleep in a swag, cook over an open fire, and drink billy tea in a beautiful natural setting. Wake up to kangaroos jumping through the paddock and then head out to learn about horse farming, practice cracking stock whips, throw boomerangs, play the didgeridoo, and develop Outback survival skills! In the evenings, relax around the campfire with your new mates, feed the resident possums, and watch a movie at our Outback cinema! Before leaving the Sunshine Coast, you will also have time to check out bustling markets, ride a horse along the beach, and help out the community with a day of service.

Magical Moreton and Spectacular Sydney
From the Sunshine Coast, you will head to Brisbane and then over to Moreton Island for some snorkeling and four-wheel driving. Your next stop will be the Gold Coast, where trips to Sea World and world-famous Surfers Paradise will bring your time in Queensland to an end.

Your final stop is Sydney, and you will have plenty of time to explore this magnificent city. The Harbour Bridge is impressive from the ground, but the views from the top are simply unforgettable! An optional bridge climb will give you a unique perspective on the city, the harbor and the Opera House. You will also ride the monorail around the city, catch the ferry to seaside suburbs, and shop for last-minute souvenirs before a grand-finale dinner on the final night. As a confident world traveler, you will now be ready to head back to the United States with loads of special memories and new friends.

Highlights

TRADE IN your domestic summer camp for an unforgettable international camp experience that will challenge you, open your eyes to the world, and show you the beauty of Australia.

WONDER at Sydney's incredible sights from the top of the Harbour Bridge (optional).

LEARN about life in the Outback at our authentic bush camp, where you will watch kangaroos jump through the paddock, crack a stock whip, play the didgeridoo, throw a boomerang, and develop a few survival skills!

SANDBOARD down massive dunes, snorkel, kayak, fish and cable-ski  this is an action-packed week DownUnder!

EXPLORE the breathtaking beaches of the Sunshine Coast, pet a koala at Steve Irwin's famous Australia Zoo, hike in the Glasshouse Mountains, and spot dolphins in Moreton Bay.

BUILD your confidence as an international traveler while touring some of Australia's most magnificent areas.

Travel Types

• Environmental Studies
• Hiking
• Snorkeling
• Student Tours
• Tours
• Volunteering

Qualifications

Students must be between 13-15 years old in order to participate on the program. Additionally, participants must submit an application through the Rustic Pathways website and complete the appropriate documents before traveling on the program.

Type of Programs

• Community Service / Volunteerism
• Student Tours

Languages

• English

Cost in US$:

USD 3,595 + 350 Internal Airfare

Program Fees Include:

The above cost includes all ground transportation in-country, 3 meals a day, housing, staff through the duration of the program, all supplies for the volunteer projects and all excursions on the program itinerary not listed as "optional".

Experience Required

no

Volunteer Types

• Environment

Age Range

13-15 years old

This Program is open to

Worldwide Participants.

Participants Travel

in Groups

Typically Participants Work

in Groups of 8-15 students

Scholarships are Available

Scholarships are available annually for students interested in Rustic Pathways programs on an application basis. The scholarships are for all Rustic Pathways programs across the world and not only for this particular program. Applications for scholarships are available starting in late January or early February for students and interested parties should contact Rustic Pathways directly to learn how to apply.

Application Process Involves

• Online Application plus Application Assessment

Typically The Application Process Time is

1-2 business days

Rustic Pathways's Mission Statement

Rustic Pathways is a pioneer in providing superior quality travel and service programs for students and families in some of the world's most welcoming countries. Rustic Pathways demands professionalism and integrity across all of its operations, insists on quality in all aspects of its programs, and places the safety of its students above all other considerations. We enrich the lives of our students and our staff, benefit the parts of the world we serve, and build cultural bridges that lead to greater global understanding and cooperation.

Year Founded

1983