Adventure Travel in the United States

TFT offers an amazing program for kids to get away for a little while over the summer! The counselors and kids were super welcoming to me! I highly recommend Travel for Teens for anyone looking into a teen tour!

Participating in the program was an absolute joy! It was a fun and enriching experience where we not only made new friends but also gained valuable knowledge and skills. The activities were diverse and engaging, providing hands-on learning opportunities that made complex concepts easy to grasp. We delved into exciting topics, explored new cultures, and worked on team projects that were both challenging and rewarding. Overall, it was an incredible journey of growth, discovery, and unforgettable memories.

This was one of the most amazing things I’ve ever done in my entire life. I would say with confidence that I had learned more during this 10 week program than I have in the two years of college that I have already attended.

I went on the polynesian gap year journey not knowing exactly what to expect. I remember a day before it hit me that i would be spending 10 weeks with complete strangers. However, these were some of the best people I have met and best friends for life. There were many experiences that one would unlikely ever experience without doing a programme as such and i therefore highly recommend it. Many people were put out of their comfort zones and had to take risks which caused them to growth as an individual.

My Polynesian journey with Pacific Discovery has helped me get over a lot of my fears and anxiety around social interaction and relationships as well as my physical fears and it has really helped me to grow as a person

Literally the time of a lifetime, never experienced something like this ever, and even though I’m young this will be something I will 100% tell my kids about. So much happened in only 10 weeks it’s hard to even fathom.

Eye-opening cultural experience! Really changed how I see the world. Made a real difference in the community too. Even if you can only do a short trip, it's worth it! Thank you Rustic for giving me this opportunity.

Rustic Pathways responded to this reviewNovember 06, 2024

Hey Isabella! Thanks so much for traveling with us. We're happy that this changed how you see the world! We hope you travel with us again soon.

Really made me appreciate what I have in my own life. No doubt it was an amazing experience that developed by personality and boosted my confidence and morale. A life time journey that let me make new friends. Thank you so much for this incredible trip.

Rustic Pathways responded to this reviewNovember 07, 2024

Hey Aaron! We're so happy that you traveled with us, and that you returned home with a deep sense of gratitude. What's even more awesome is that you got a confidence boost! Imagine all the things you can do now that you thought you couldn't do before? We hope you travel with us again soon!

It was fun that we could connect with locals and other volunteers and make an impact building houses. Hands-on experience that brought us all together to make such an incredible team. Learned so much in this exercise.

Rustic Pathways responded to this reviewNovember 07, 2024

Hey Lucas! We're so grateful that you traveled with us and made a significant impact in the community you visited. That home you helped built will stand for a long time! It's something to be very proud of! We hope you have more positive experiences like this, and travel with us again soon.

This trip was top-notch. The staff went above and beyond—helpful, friendly, and always there when needed. I'd jump at the chance to do it again. I learned so much, and the team’s expertise was clear from the start. They had my back every step of the way, handling any issue I had with genuine care. Absolutely recommend it to anyone. Thank you Istvan and team.

Rustic Pathways responded to this reviewNovember 01, 2024

Hi Gabriel! Thanks so much for joining us. We're thrilled to hear that you felt comfortable and supported by our team. We hope you travel with us again in the near future!

The place here was always kept clean. I had some concerns with another kid on my tour, but he was send home and then I felt super comfortable everywhere I went with the group, whether that be in the village, the forests, or in the city.

Rustic Pathways responded to this reviewOctober 30, 2024

Thanks so much for traveling with us! We’re committed to making sure all students feel comfortable, and we’re glad you had an enjoyable time. We hope you travel with us again soon!

Loved my week with Rustic! I learned so much about myself when I was there. The staff was great and I'm planning to go back for more. If you want to learn to surf and do service and hang out in a beautiful place, this is it! I really loved the trip and was totally exhausted by the end

Rustic Pathways responded to this reviewOctober 30, 2024

Hey Dylan! Thanks so much for traveling with us. We're glad you had a great time surfing, and doing service. Hopefully you took a big nap when you got home. And we hope to see you on another trip soon!

I’ve had great experiences with guides at Discover. I’ve learned a lot in each country I’ve visited. The accommodations are great and trips are very organized. Our guide Karla was amazing. She is very knowledgeable, honest, intelligent, caring and patient. My daughter and I learned so much from the trip thanks to Karla’s guidance. She anticipated the needs of the group and her communication with as great.

The accommodations were beyond fantastic! We slept so soundly, felt safe and were welcomed with open arms. I cannot say enough about the amazing hospitality! The local Discover Corps staff is amazing! They go the extra mile EVERY SINGLE DAY. They are truly the loveliest people and absolutely made the trip. I cannot sing their praises enough. Please please pass along our gratitude once again. I feel like I have family in Tanzania. I LOVE the service aspect of this trip. This was the only company I found that seemed to be family friendly, service oriented with the addition of the safari. I would absolutely book another trip with DC!

I traveled with ARCC Programs on their Pacific Islands trip after graduating high school. Along with 8 other peers and two wonderful guides, I explored Bali, Fiji, and Sumatra through epic adventures, ranging from scuba diving to jungle trekking, as well as meaningful community service projects, such as teaching English in local schools, volunteering in rural hospitals, and helping with environmental conservation projects. ARCC’s primary focus is on five global themes: literacy and education, public health, urbanization and the movement of peoples, environment and conservation, and microfinance and economic growth. By engaging with these themes in country, I was able to learn and connect with locals and truly appreciate the diverse cultures I was so warmly welcomed into.

I took the Pacific Northwest Explorer trip in the summer of 2022. The itinerary is flawless, a perfect mix of cities and nature, and the counselors, Annalise and Willoughby, worked to ensure the trip was enjoyable for everyone. We traversed up mountains, swam in crystal clear lakes, and explored our way through the beautiful cities of the west coast.

I have been a long time fan of Westcoast Connection (having participated myself in 1988!). My older son had a wonderful experience last summer on a 14 day California trip and Brett had, if possible, an even better time. I would tell anyone who asks that Westcoast Connection is a world class organization and continues to impress me.

I did both the Pacific Northwest and California/Grand Canyon trips and I loved them! The itinerary presented so many activities in so many places, most of which concentrated in city life, but some hiking and nature activities were mixed in. One of my favorite things about how Travel for Teens operates their trips is that there is built in free time, where you can do whatever you want to do for that few hour period. My group went to watch a red carpet premiere in Santa Monica for one of these times. The staff are also incredible! 10/10 would recommend Travel for Teens!

I volunteered at Nakavango in Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe, as part of the IVHQ Wildlife Conservation Project. It truly was one of the highlights of my life. And I’ve had some pretty remarkable experiences so that says a lot. The staff a Nakavango was incredible and extremely knowledgeable. They create the perfect balance of hard work and joyous moments playing with the children at Masuwe School, observing wildlife in the bush, and taking in the sights of one of the seven wonders of the world. We each had our own room, were provided three yummy meals a day with great care to accommodate those who have special diets. Highlights of my stay included morning and evening game drives, sitting around the fire pit under the stars, camping out in the bush, and completing a work task feeling that we had made progress on a project. Yet, the most outstanding aspect of this experience for me, was bonding with my fellow volunteers. Prior to arriving at Nakavango, I thought I’d be the senior member of the crew so I was a bit apprehensive even though I had worked for weeks to get in shape physically so I could contribute equally. Well, I wasn’t the most senior. In fact, we had a wonderful range of ages, nationalities, and personalities. We became a family, caring for and respectful of all. That truly blew me away. And now, we continue to stay in touch. I am so grateful for the IVHQ program at Nakavango. It changed my life!

This was my first TFT trip and I've been hooked ever since. Even though I went on this trip about 3 years ago, I still remember so much about it. I remember how sweet the staff was - from the moment they met me at my gate, they helped me get my complicated flight schedule situated. There were about 15-20 kids on my trip and we were all so close by the end! I still keep in touch with quite a few of them today. I remember the gorgeous sites we saw, the crazy gas stations and landmarks on the road, and the AMAZING food (I still think about that Alberta mac and cheese at least once a week). As someone from the east coast, it was a bit weird to me being in Canada than the mountain-ey west coast along the beach. I took so many pictures I couldn't fit them all in this post. But I can say with certainty that this trip was one of the best things to happen to me. If I had not gone on this trip, even any Travel for Teens trip, I would not have found my passion for hospitality and eventually wanting to work at a national park.