Global Leadership Adventures

I went to Ghana as my second GLA program, we were so warmly welcomed into the community as we taught at the local schools, played in the park with the children and were welcomed into local homes to learn the language. The teaching at the school however was the highlight of the trip, we got to know all our students well and teach them some new things, like songs and harder vocab. I would definitely recommend!!

This GLA program was such a life changing experience for me. During the trip I not only learned about different cultures, but I meet so many awesome new people. The other students I meet on this trip, I still talk to often. This trip allowed me to take into consideration what future careers I may be interested in. The staff were amazing and made the experience so much better. I would recommend this trip to everyone.

My daughter returned absolutely glowing. She went to the DR, she wanted to stay there longer! She loved her mentors, loved everyone there, and made new friends. She said it was the best thing she has ever done!! And as a parent, the support was exceptional. This trip was my daughter’s first. Knowing how supported she was while there and how I was at home - I will not be nervous to send her or another one of my kids.

Everything about the trip was perfect. Getting to work with the kids in a school and build connections despite language barriers was such an amazing experience. The adventure aspects such as surfing and white water rafting are also SO FUN!

Daughter has been to Dominican Republic and Bali and currently gearing up for RSA in July. Just spoken with GLA on easily booked phone call. As always utterly superb. If you're wondering about putting your child in their care don't panic. Pre Adventure organisation brilliant.. Adventure life changing for kids and parents kept fully informed. Could not recommend more highly

This program is a great opportunity to earn volunteer hours. Not only does it look great on a college application or a resume, but its fun and means a lot to the people you help! Volunteering as a group is so much fun! When I was in Costa Rica, I volunteered in a turtle hatchery. My group and I built turtles nests,, picked up trash along the beach, and helped build an erosion control barrier. Global Leadership Adventures gave me the opportunity to push myself to do what was scary at the time by doing super fun adventures! The adventures that I got to participate in were ziplining, snorkeling, and visiting a farm. Previous to this trip, I had ziplined but the ziplines that I went on in Costa Rica were so high and more of an adventure as we ziplined upside down. The farm was a unique experience as we got to milk a goat and taste raw goat milk. Overall, I gained something out of each excursion I went on in Costa Rica from facts to lessons and even learning more about myself.

This summer I went to Costa Rica with GLA teens, and I had an amazing time that I will always cherish. I learned so much getting to work in a turtle hatchery, and I even got to release baby turtles. I also got to learn about the community and culture of the area, partaking in special activities very unique to this program. Overall, I could not recommend this program enough, the experience I had was truly once in a lifetime.

Living for ten days in the Guanacaste region of Costa Rica was truly eye opening. Experiencing the culture and helping out with the sea turtles nests along with talking with local community members and organizations created a whole new appreciation for different cultures and travel.

This summer I went to Costa Rica with GLA teens, and I had an amazing time that will always be cherished. I learned so much getting to work in a turtle hatchery learning all about the dangers to turtles and helping to build turtle nests. I also got to learn about the community and culture of the area, partaking in special activities very unique to the program. Overall, I could not recommend this program enough.

The Children of Africa program has been the best GLA program I have done yet! Staying in a small village in the Krobo region of Ghana, we really connected with the local community and we made such good friends with the local children and our students in school. We saw the struggles it had with educating children with special needs, and when we came back we all were so inspired with how the local community pushed through that we started a fundraiser and raised almost $10,000, which we sent to the schools that we taught at. I came back to my life with so much more appreciation for the luxuries that we have, and a new mindset about taking all the opportunities that i am given.

This summer I went to Costa Rica with GLA teens, and I had an amazing time that I will always cherish. I learned so much getting to watch vets work, and I even got to assist with the animals that were admitted. I also got to learn about the community and culture of the area, partaking in special activities very unique to this program. Overall, I could not recommend this program enough, the experience I had was truly once in a lifetime.

GLA Beachside Service Adventure is the perfect trip. It's an amazing mix of meaningful service in a turtle hatchery and adventures. Through my time on the program I learned so much about myself and different cultures. You come home feeling like an entirely new person after a trip like this. GLA staff also plays a large role in enjoyment. I was lucky to have the best staff who made the entire experience 100 times better! I was taught to take risks, make a difference, and most importantly BE THE CHANGE!

My son was open to the experience when we signed up, but wasn't particularly excited about it. However, he came back transformed. The maturity he gained while in Costa Rica was noticeable and he grew so much as a person while he was gone. We are a family that travels internationally regularly, and he has traveled with peers and his school a few times as well--however, upon arriving home, he said without a doubt that was the best trip he's ever been on! The group of teens really bonded from what I can tell, despite the range of ages and kids coming from many different places. He still keeps in touch with many of the kids from the trip. The counselors were incredible as well. If you are thinking of this trip for your teen, go for it!!

I had a great time in cost rica with GLA. It was truly eye opening for me experiencing the culture and helping out with the sea turtles nests. It was an experience i will never forget and i would recommend it to all.

I had a great time in cost rica with GLA. It was truly eye opening for me experiencing the culture and helping out with the sea turtles nests. It was an experience i will never forget and i would recommend it to all.

We sent our 16 year old to Costa Rica for the 10 day Beachside service project. Prior to signing up, parameters were clearly explained. Pre-travel arrangements were easy to follow and GLA representative answered any and all questions that we had. Each day GLA shared a camp service blog which included pictures of my son and others. We asked him if he would go again and he said definitely. YES! The trip was a a nice balance of service learning in a foreign country and fun at a beachside camp. We also appreciated that parameters were put the place around screen/phone time for participants . All, in all, 5 stars with a balance of service, fun and adventure.

My 16 year old son had an incredible experience and came home planning for where he wants to go with GLA next summer. (Peru!). The kids worked hard digging nests on the beach to help the nesting sea turtles, learned an incredible amount about the environment and ecotourism, and fell in love with the Costa Rican culture. The visited a local school, took a dance class, and were also given a cooking class by some of the Costa Rican natives who were all so incredibly warm, welcoming, end excited to share their culture. Thank you, GLA, for the experience of a lifetime.

The GLA Costa Rica program was an incredible experience for my teenager. In his words, "it was one of the best experiences of my life". He got to meet people from all over the world. Through the program’s well-trained staff and thoughtful team challenges, leadership workshops, and late-night conversations, he was able to bond with other students on the trip. The activities pushed him in the best way, whether it was leading a group project, presenting ideas, or tackling global issues. The mentors, staff counselors, and directors were amazing, giving real advice and guidance that the students could relate to. Our teen left the program with new friendships, a stronger sense of who he is as a leader, and the confidence to make a difference. The camp struck a great balance between fun activities, skill-building workshops, and meaningful discussions about real-world challenges. It was a safe, well-organized, and truly inspiring experience. It far exceeded any expectations we had, and I highly recommend it to any family looking to give their teen a life-changing leadership opportunity.

My son recently returned from the Surf and Sustainability trip to Costa Rica, and it was truly a fantastic experience. The program blended adventure, learning, and fun in a way that kept him engaged from start to finish. He gained confidence in the water through excellent surf instruction, while also discovering Costa Rica’s unique ecosystems and conservation practices. The hands-on sustainability projects made a big impression on him, giving real meaning to what he was learning and connecting him to the local community in thoughtful ways. What stood out most to me as a parent was how supported, inspired, and energized he felt throughout the trip. He came home not only with new skills and great stories, but also with a deeper sense of independence, lasting friendships, and a greater awareness of the impact he can make in the world. This program is a rare combination of adventure, education, and purpose, and I couldn’t recommend it more.

As a parent of a 16 year old who went abroad for the first time, it was an amazing experience for her and she absolutely loved it. As a parent I never felt that she was unsafe, or not being taken care of. When she arrived in CR we got a call from the director letting us know they had her. After that call all my worries went away! The blog that they kept was wonderful, it was nice to see what they did on a daily basis. I thought it was a great idea for the kids NOT to have their phones during the day, so they could be completely present and in the moment. I think that was my favorite thing of the program. It was just perfect!