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!

I seriously had so much fun on this trip and I’ve learned so so much. I think it’s really helped me grow as a person and I’m so thankful. I made some close friends. My favorite activity was working with the kids to paint signs in their community. I was really touched and realized that we really were making an impact.

The Parismina 10 in Costa Rica excursion was so much fun! I had an amazing time meeting new people and learning about sea turtles and their environment! It made me feel so great to learn more about other cultures!

I would like to specifically give praise to to the Mentors for providing myself and the rest of my mentor group with a safe sharing space by forming a comfortable environment. We really got to know other students in our group on a level we would not have otherwise. I gained new perspectives that will shape my future decisions and relationships. As for the learning, through the Guanacaste Water Center I have learned the value of every living thing and how everything connects to create a whole. Really eye-opening!

There was excellent flexibility to those of us with any food allergies or restrictions and they were so helpful to my vegan diet and always made sure i was well fed. Swimming in the ocean was memorable but my favorite activity in the program was the service day with the guanacaste water center when we went to the school garden

I think I grew by becoming a better leader and taking initiative in group settings. I also think that I learned a lot about friendships and being more outgoing in social settings. We had a talent show at the end that was great, so cool to see everyone's performances and secret talents. I also loved the dance class we did.

GLA was so amazing!! Costa Rica was so much fun and the experience was unlike any other experience! In Costa Rica for the Sea Turtle Initiative we had so many activities. We went zip lining, white water rafting and walking along the beach. Everything and everyone there was magical the friendships we made were forever long bonds. The hikes at night were beautiful with the gorgeous thunderstorms and the mornings were gorgeous.

I had the wonderful opportunity of traveling to Costa Rica with my best friend for the sea turtle initiative! During the trip I met some of the sweetest people which lead to long lasting friendships from all over the world! I saw so much wildlife and beautiful nature that I don't get to experience on a daily basis while living in the desert. Most importantly I was a a part of finding and acting to resolve a local issue, poaching of sea turtles and their eggs. We spent hours walking on the beaches at night making sure there were no poachers, to see if we could find tracks or spot a sea turtle laying eggs. We didn't see much for a few a days until the second to last night we saw a sea turtle laying her eggs right in front of the house we were staying at! we let her lay her eggs and one of the local guides put a tracker on the mom, we counter eggs and took them to a hatchery, where they were placed in an incubator overnight and buried into a fenced area where they can continue their hatching process safely without the worry of poachers. I would definitely go to Costa Rica again and will be going on other GLA trips!

I arrived curious. I left clearer, more grounded, and deeply connected to something bigger than myself. From the community projects to the cultural immersion, every day challenged me to lead with more empathy, more humility, and more presence. I learned that leadership isn’t about being loud it’s about listening. Showing up. Staying open. Bali gave me beauty, yes but it also gave me perspective. And I’ll carry that with me long after the flight home.

One of the biggest benefits of going on the Bali Experience 3 week immersion is how many experiences I got to learn and grow from. There is so much different things on offer that I would never get exposed to back home. I found my heart and mind stretched in ways that could not happen any other way. I also had a chance to really bond with people in my group. A few of those special people I'm still in touch with and 2 of them have come to visit me at my home. I loved the people, I loved the country and I loved contributing in whatever small way to some of the environmental issues they face.

It gave me a new perspective and experience in different cultures, people, and environment. This helped me grow so much and gave me a glimpse into what I want to do in the future encouraging more growth than I thought possible in such a short time. I'm so grateful to have had this experience because it truly made me grow into a strong and inspired version of myself. I think the home visits especially were very eye opening for me. It helped me gain a sense of higher humility and empathy for people in those situations. It also helped me to broaden my perspective and realized how privileged I am to be in the situation that I am in.

My experience with GLA was amazing. The service was incredible and I really loved being able to feel like I was making a difference in the communities. I really enjoyed the food, the activities we did and the presentations about Costa Rica. Thank you GLA for an amazing and life changing experience!

I feel like I grew as a leader in taking action and working with my peers. I also feel as thought I grew in my passions to pursue a career in the medical field. I also feel I grew by stepping out of my comfort zone in a new place and learned a lot about culture, my values, and medicine while making lifelong friends. My favorite leadership activity was working with vida for the vaccines and surgeries and home visits. I felt really connected to the community there and like what we did made a difference.

Best trip of my life, so much thanks to everyone for EVERYTHING! Learned how to teamwork effectively and have fun with people I wouldn’t normally talk to, keep working when things seem pointless, work hard play hard :) Loved the talent show, and the catamaran activity.

I met the coolest people I’ve ever met that I’ll forever look up to and have changed my perspective on so many things. I’ve learned to work amazingly as a team and how important it is to take care of our environment, which I already knew but this made it so much more real and in perspective. The mentors were so sweet too, and I felt taken care of.

I grew in my veterinary abilities definitely. I know how to better work in a veterinary settings and I faced challenges that will allow me to better overcome similar challenges at home. GLA was a great way to branch out and really solidify my career path in veterinary medicine. Staff was amazing and supportive, facilities were great, and the activities were fun! I loved volunteering in the animal shelters and working in surgery with VIDA. 10/10 recommend!!

I learned the value of teamwork especially working in verdi where we all had to work together to make sure no one was doing all the work and getting tired and everyone could equally play a part in the work. Some of my favorites were the goal setting in our mentor groups because my group really tried to lift each other up and i felt confident in my ability to achieve my goal because of my peers and mentor.

My name is Shamus Davenport and I am a senior in high school currently. Every single high school summer I have participated in a GLA program. During the Summer of 2023 I chose to go on GLA’s Costa Rica: Sea Turtle Initiative program from July 7th through the 16th. One thing I want to highlight about this program and GLA as a whole is that there are ways to make it cheaper! If you put in some time and effort, there are available scholarships which I have done on all three of my programs! Focusing on the actual trip, this was life changing. I can talk endlessly about the people this organization attracts. Locals, counselors, and fellow campers alike every trip I’ve been on leads to lifelong friendships and connections. Fun fact, I have flown across the country to see friends from every single program I have been on! This time specifically I made close friends that I am still close with and go on more adventures with. Then, our home base manager, raft guide, local tour guide, and many more locals all showed such passion for their jobs, sharing the environment, culture, and traditions with everybody. Something I have learned through this program and really took to heart during this one was, there are endless opportunities to grow, learn, and broaden your perspective, whether you do this 10 day program or another one of GLA’s various programs. The main thing you need to know is to engage in every possible opportunity and to stay present! It will change your experience in the program and maybe, like it did for me, your life. This was a huge theme throughout this one specifically. Every GLA program restricts phone use to different extents, but with this one, being the most remote program even during times where we had our phones there was not a lot of service so we were, in a way, forced to engage more. I have always disliked phones, I feel like they take away from actually living life, but this trip really strengthened that value for me. I feel like since then I have applied that concept and seized moments more so than before which brings a lot more value to every experience. I am a very outdoorsy person which checks out seeing as I love these trips and there were so many fun adventures from rafting to checking out the small village close by. It’s so hard to pick a favorite one. I loved playing soccer with the local kids, but I think rafting was my favorite. Nothing could compare to the beauty we saw along the volcanic river. There were cool buildings and areas for people to stop at and explore and the nature was unreal, not to mention the rapids were large and very fun. Speaking of rapids, I can speak a lot for the wonderful balance between safety and fun this program provides. GLA always does a good job setting reasonable rules depending on where we are while also creating an environment that nurtures the spirit of adventure. While most programs have pretty strenuous service work, a really nice thing about this one is that it is just another adventure. The main chunk of service consists of doing turtle walks from 8-12 at night. Even though we were attentive and watching for turtles the entire time, something about walking on the beach at night with the moon and stars shining overhead just makes the work so much fun and leads to great conversations. Not to mention we saw over ten turtles consisting of different species. I would never do a GLA program twice because they offer so many more around the world, but if I did, it would definitely be this one.

Saying I loved my GLA experience is an understatement. I would say it has been my most life-changing, impactful and unique experience to date, and I find myself reminiscing and reflecting on it often. I was reluctant to go at first, I’d never travelled alone or been to South America, I wasn’t a sleepaway camp kid either, so this was very out of my comfort zone. From the very first dinner we had together, my leaders were welcoming, supportive, and authentic, they made me feel so included and comfortable with a new and unfamiliar environment. My local leader was knowledgeable about the area, and answered all the questions I had which allowed me to have a new perspective on my environment. Throughout the 2 weeks I was on the program, we spent 4 days in clinics, shadowing medical professionals, visited Machu Picchu, went whitewater rafting, and explored Cusco. My favourite part was the clinic days, although I wish we could’ve done more than just 4 days. This was where I could do my most hands-on work, and see the impact I was making in real time. Connecting with patients I was treating - despite our linguistic and cultural differences – was so special, it truly changed my life. While I was initially worried about the language barrier, I was quickly shocked at how easy it became to collaborate with others despite linguistic barriers. The doctors and patients were flexible and patient with me, and tried their best to help me when I was confused. At the end of the 2 weeks, I was shocked at the amount of spanish I had learned, including complex medical related phrases too! When I got home I was able to show off my skills to my whole family who were all pleasantly shocked at how much I’d learned. I also had the wonderful opportunity to spend lots of time with the children of the villages, who were so funny and kind. They welcomed us into their homes so graciously, played games with us, and gave me the most loving goodbye hug I’ve ever received. Talk about amazing, Machu Picchu was breathtaking. We had a knowledgeable guide to share his insight with us, which made the experience so unique and special. On our journey to Machu Picchu, we got to explore the towns of Ollantaytambo and Aguas Calientes. On top of all the amazing planned experiences, we also had plenty of time to explore Cusco and all it has to offer. Some evenings, if we weren’t too tired from the day’s activities, we would go on a walk around the city. We wandered the streets, markets, and town square. These activities gave me time to bond with others in my group, and build friendships. Some of my favourite memories come from these impromptu outings. In 2 short weeks, I made some of the best friends I’ve ever had, and to this day I wear a matching bracelet bought at San Pedro, Cusco’s famous market, with my best friend from the program. I am endlessly grateful for the learning, growth, and experience I had with GLA, it was truly life-changing in the best way possible.

When I first got there I had no doubt that I was going to have an amazing time. All the staff made it so fun and a safe environment. I had a good session with everyone there. The volunteering was incredibly rewarding and amazing because the got to see the smiles on peoples’ faces. The adventure days were so fun and exhilarating. Overall my trip through GLA was life changing and amazing I had a great time in Costa Rica and can’t wait for my next trip

Hello! My name is Quinn O’Malley and last summer I went on the Global Leadership Adventures Costa Rica Marine Conservation and Turtle Exhibition Trip. One of the highlights of my trip with GLA was definitely the amazing traditional cuisine we were lucky enough to enjoy. Every meal incorporated Costa Rican food and was prepared by the very skilled and kind chefs at each homestay. For breakfast, we mostly had gallo pinto with sweet fried plantains. And to drink, we enjoyed delicious Costa Rican coffee, grown on local farms. For lunch, we tried Chifrijo, a traditional dish consisting of rice, red beans, avocado, pico de gallo and chicharrón. My mentors on the trip really encouraged everyone to experiment trying new foods and we all enjoyed it. Having traditional cuisine for every meal allowed me to immerse myself in the culture and learn more about Costa Rica (although towards the end of the trip we all started to get a little sick of rice and beans). Along with the meals that we ate, there was also the meal that we made. During the last week of the trip we took a cooking class from a woman named LuLu in Uvita, Costa Rica. She welcomed us into her home and led us to the backyard where she had a massive oven and stove for cooking. LuLu dressed us all in flowery aprons and bonnets as we began cutting up corn to cook delicious Gorditas con Azucar, a sweet thick tortilla similar to a griddle cake served with agua dulce, a warm sugar drink made with milk. We all sat down at LuLu’s table enjoying our meal and exchanging jokes with her about our incompetent cooking skills. As we left, LuLu encouraged us to buy bracelets made by students at the local elementary and high schools. The proceeds directly supported their education as well as school refurbishments. LuLu talked to us (through translation by our mentor) about her work helping children and how she often welcomes kids to come study at her house after school. LuLu is a strong leader in her local community and a perfect example of how GLA’s creative activities don’t just reflect the tourist side of the places you visit, but actually interact with the culture of the country and the people within, thus inspiring social change. Across our many planned adventures we met community oriented individuals working to evoke environmental and social change in the country. One of my favorite activities from the trip was our surfing lessons. When signing up for my GLA summer program, I was particularly nervous for the surfing classes because I had never done it before and I was anxious that my fellow students would be more experienced, but it turns out no one knew how to surf and we all enjoyed getting to learn together. By the end of our two hour lesson with the instructors, I could successfully paddle myself out and ride a wave all the way back to shore. Surfing is an activity that I probably never would’ve experienced without GLA and I'm so grateful that I got to learn with my friends. My mentors pushed us to participate in every activity and I feel that I was able to step out of my comfort zone and enjoy my summer experience. Our surfing instructor from the trip, James Jacob, was also a biologist who works for the Costa Rica Coral Restoration Lab, a non-profit organization dedicated to restoring the massively declining coral population off of Costa Rica's coast. After our surf lesson with him, we all took a short bus ride back to his lab where he explained to us the immense importance of coral for marine ecosystems and the restoration project’s efforts to rehabilitate coral off the Coast of Uvita. We ended up staying an extra hour longer because my entire group was so intrigued. GLA tied all of our activities back into the program's theme and it allowed for a harmonious balance between adventures and learning. The entire three weeks I felt that I got to have a fun and exciting summer with many meaningful friends (that I still keep in contact with today) while also gaining a better knowledge of my program theme. There is truly a great value to learning outside of the classroom setting, and incorporating what we learned into our activities and community service. One of the most special aspects of GLA is definitely the mentors who were two of the most inspiring adults I have gotten to talk to. Apart from their normal duties of making sure we were in bed and ushering us through activities they also played games with us and taught us about their incredible experiences, teaching and travelling. I have forever felt inspired by their mentoring and attitude towards teaching. Each GLA trip has two mentors; a local director and an international director. I really got to connect with my two mentors on a deeper level and had many riveting conversations with them that went beyond the expectations of the program. My mentors set a Precedent for what type of work I could be doing In my early twenties too. I remember on the last night of our week-long stay in Purita, the mentors took us out to the beach to make a bonfire. We all talked and laughed while exchanging campfire stories as the sun slowly set. My fellow students and I had deeper conversations about philosophy, mental health and social justice issues with our mentors later too. The mentor conversations were inspiring and riveting, and a good example of how to speak constructively about differing opinions. The mentors were also really fun, always joking around with us and participating in all of our activities. They became the people kids would go to if they were feeling homesick, having a difficult time or just wanted someone to talk to. Overall my GLA trip made last summer the best of my life and the lessons I learned on my program have made me a more responsible young adult. I feel that I have grown as a leader since my trip and now I have a more open minded world perspective. I would truly recommend GLA trips to any teenager who is looking to have an unforgettable summer with friends.

My experience with GLA made me more globally aware and makes me want to volunteer within my community more. I believe everyone should have a once in a lifetime experience like this one and I'm eternally grateful for this gift. Thank you GLA!!!!!

My experience with GLA made me more globally aware and makes me want to volunteer within my community more. I believe everyone should have a once in a lifetime experience like this one and I'm eternally grateful for this gift. Thank you GLA!!!!!

This was my daughter's first trip out of the country by herself. I was nervous. GLA staff was patient and helpful. We read all the materials and spoke to alumnae. On faith, we sent her on her way. The experience was eye-opening, character-building, fun, busy, productive, impactful and powerful! At the end of her trip, we picked her up at the airport and one of the first things she said is, "I want to go again." She made lasting connections with peers and mentors and had experiences that could not be replicated here. I am grateful to GLA staff for their dedication to safety, quality of programming, focus on culture and leadership and personal development. I highly recommend this program.

As a parent you do a lot of research into these types of trips/experiences before agreeing And then a whole lot more in the lead up to and then the actual event. I cannot commend GLA administration and support staff for the support they gave me, a UK based parent Nothing to much trouble. Daughter had fantastic time Daily blogs amazing No doubt she'll be asking to next year. I can think of no good reason to say no.

I felt it gave me alot of confidence and I’m much more secure with who I am as a person. I learned how to connect with culture and local strangers more. I learned how to respect higher ups while maintaining a good relationship that I enjoy

I grew because I was able to put myself in uncomfortable situations and embrace them. I was also able to learn so much more about the environment. The surfing was so fun, I wish we could add more of that. Mentors were all so great and made us feel comfortable and were kind.

I loved each staff member, they all made the trip both fun but also very educational, made us all feel safe, comfortable, and allowed us all to have a great time! Thank you to the staff for making this trip amazing! My favorite leadership activity was the One meaningful goal activity because it allowed me to reflect on myself and make a specific goal that can impact both myself and those around me.

I 100% grew during my service projects. At first I was uncomfortable and unsure of my place but after allowing myself to take a leadership position, I felt at home and comfortable and able to help others. I loved all of the activities. Although we did a lot of service activities I personally would’ve loved if there were more. I also really enjoyed learning everything about the culture of Bali and would’ve appreciated more knowledge and activities with that.

Mentors were awesome. Always super helpful and supportive through the entire trip. There were a few days that I was unwell. They were all amazing when helping me out. Cesar was amazing and a great guide through this amazing country. Fernanda was exceptional, she was always there for us for moral support or just to have a great meaningful conversation with.

I learned how to work better in a team, i strengthened my endurance, gained a more open mind and was more grateful for what I have. The Home Base was perfect and beautiful, and the staff were so positive and really made the experience!

I love GLA this was an awesome experience! Experiencing a different culture than I am used to and understanding how others live outside of my bubble was the biggest impact. I also loved the salsa dance class.

The food was very good! They were so good about my diet making so many amazing vegan meals. The staff also stood out. There were amazing mentors and always working to help us and were so easy to come to with anything. They really helped this program be so fun for me.

Mentors were really good vibes the whole trip! Love them so much. For growth, I was able to practice my spanish with the youth and make a positive impact on their community. Some activities weren't my favorite but overall it was so so good.

All the staff were great. My mentor was always very comforting, and I always felt safe going to her with any problems. Staff were some of the kindest most pure and caring people I have ever met, and I will really miss them all. I felt such a good authentic connection with all the staff. I realized how lucky I am and how much of an impact can be made my the smallest acts.

Hi, do you like experience was absolutely eye-opening. I gained such a new perspective of the world and will go about my life differently from now on. My mentor in mentor groups lead it so well. He is the perfect mix of being an authority figure and still someone who represents the campers and doesn’t put themselves on a pedestal. I learned a lot from him learning about his life. Through the service work, I felt more connected to the world and felt like I was really making a difference

Amazing staff throughout each extremely supportive and great people! I grew to be more social and to understand what it meant to be a leader to peers. My favorite was the plastics documentary as it taught me about how recycling actually relates to real life and how disorganized anti plastic companies really are. The resume workshop felt brief and we were not able to make a resume, but still good info to get.

I felt as though what I was doing was making an impact right in front of my eyes. I believe I grew to become more confident in my skills, and become more comfortable taking risks. I enjoyed growing my understanding or a variety of different topics but my favourite is just learning about holistic medicine. I believe that the staff worked perfectly to provide the best experience possible. I truly enjoyed the role of each of the staff and how it added to my experience.

I learned and improved upon communication skills learned how to be effective outside of my comfort zone and discovered how to and how much of an impact i can have or already create. I really enjoyed the homestay and was one of my favorite aspects of the trip too.

I loved all the mentors and felt they all treated me with respect and kindness. I really enjoyed the debate activity, it made me think on my feet and I thought about things differently after. I got to experience how other people live and a new perspective

GLA is a great way for students to make lifelong friends, grow in their leadership journey, serve something that is greater than them, and explore the world. I saw a new perspective on life, and saw the difference that I can make by just interacting with the locals.

I think that GLA would be an amazing experience for people that are willing to open up and achieve leadership goals. My favorite part of my stay was enjoying pool time with everyone and full group mentor groups.

I learned a lot about a different culture and how they live and because of that I can compare it to things in my life and see the changes/differences. I also think it opened my eyes to a lot of things.

My favorite leadership activity was working with the local school on the students bikes. I really enjoyed being with the students and after knowing that I made and left an impact for them with their bikes. My least favorite activity was on the goat farm, I felt that i did not play such a crucial role in their development, but still, not terrible.

I learned how to work with other people and how small changes can lead to big differences. I am now more willing to do more types of service which is the way in which I have grown. I thought that all of the activities were all super fun and I loved every single one of the activities. I found yoga to be really helpful. My favorite leadership activity was the one where we talked about ecotourism because because I learned a lot and it was really interesting.

I grew by facing my fears which includes ziplining and I grew by making many friends with people that maybe I wouldn’t have thought I would be friends with. I really liked the dance class and I would have liked to do it for longer! And of course all of the staff were great and I really enjoyed getting to know everyone.

Global Leadership Adventures (GLA) provided me with a structured and educational experience that allowed me to engage in a variety of activities and service projects. The staff members, particularly Marco and Sarah, were supportive and helped facilitate the program effectively. Activities such as zip-lining, beach days, and a catamaran ride with snorkeling and kayaking added an element of fun and excitement to the program. The service projects were engaging and provided me with the opportunity to learn how to collaborate and work with others effectively. The interactions with fellow students were positive, and everyone displayed kindness and friendliness throughout the program. Overall, GLA offered a well-rounded experience that combined adventure, learning, and community service.

This trip was something my that I will always remember. I made sure to journal all the fun things we did like have a secret water fight, play chicken in the pool, or make Costa Rican desserts. The people on this trip were amazing and all contributed to ensure the trip was great. The adults always made us feel welcome and safe, plus the activities were so fun. Whether it was Spanish class to Group discussion I could always count on the people around to make this experience the best.

My experience on my GLA program was completely life-changing. I traveled to Costa Rica alone, so I went into it very nervous about being away from home and whether the people would be inviting or not, but all of my nervousness went away when I started my program. I made lasting connections with many of my companions on this trip, and I made so many memories that will last a lifetime! The nighttime turtle walks were such an amazing experience, because on our third night walk, our group found a leatherback sea turtle. I was completely in awe when we discovered it, and it is something I may never would have experienced if not for this program. Also, as someone who is going into the environmental field, the experience that I had on this trip has inspired me more than any other experience in my life to pursue what I am passionate about. The only downside to my experience is that my group and I were not prepared for there being no air conditioning in the house we stayed at, no WiFi, and only around two hours of electricity each day. I feel like it is not highlighted enough in the program description, for my group and I would have packed our attire differently if we had known. But overall, I would highly recommend this program to everyone!

I feel that this experience as a whole opened my eyes to not only the differing lifestyles of those around the world but also the issues that plague the entire world population. This experience made me more aware to the plastic pollution and the effects they have on our beaches and motivated me to take charge in sustaining our environment. I also fell in love with the ocean through this program and want to continue to visit the ocean more around the world. I also feel that the program helped me develop the leadership skills and social skills necessary to make a change in the world through non profit organizations with the goals of sustaining our planet for the next generation.Some challenges I overcame through this experience was being thrown into a new situation of hard labor and working for a community I was not apart of. I developed new empathy for others around the world through working in hard labor on the beach.

Going into this trip I was very apprehensive about going and thought it would be horrible. After completing the trip I now do not want to leave and loved it so much. All of the camper mentors and everyone I met were all so great and I hope to see them again in the future. Many people I met don’t know but they had huge impacts on my life and have changed a lot of my perspectives and ways of living. This trip has actually had me make a huge change in my life. It is going to solve a lot of problems in my everyday life and make everything that much better. I don’t mean that lightly this experience has changed so much about me. I hope to come back next summer and experience new things and places. I also hope to see all my mentors again. I loved the boat ride and snorkeling. It was one of the most fun things I’ve done.

I have never experienced such a sense of community before as I have in GLA, not just on home-base but with others outside of GLA who are willing to work to make a positive impact on their community. My service program with Esther was nothing short of amazing. Every day was a new adventure and being able to contribute towards something that had a great impact on those around was very fulfilling. GLA has changed me in ways I cannot put into words, and I will be back for another summer! Overall, this program has been the experience of a lifetime, and I am so thankful to have experienced it with some incredible people, much love!??

Originally I chose this program because dealt with medicine and health and that is what I was interested in doing when I am older. After this program, although I still enjoy learning about health, I now have a different dream of what I want to do when older. The mentors here and the incredible opportunities GLA offered me encouraged me to venture out of my comfort zone which made me realize I have seen so little of the world. I know want to take a gap year before college and also travel as much as possible

Traveling to Bali with GLA was the most incredible decision I've ever made. Each day, I fondly revisit the incredible memories I forged during the trip and nurture the enduring relationships I formed there. The unique emotions and experiences shared with my fantastic group will forever remain etched in my mind. Our collaborative efforts to enhance leadership and teamwork have become invaluable lessons that I will carry with me always. The newfound independence I gained through this program is a gift I'll forever appreciate. Not only did I adopt a fresh perspective on life, but I also unearthed cherished aspects of my own identity. As a result of this transformative experience, I've chosen to expand my career horizons internationally, guided by the core values instilled in me during my time traveling with GLA. My gratitude knows no bounds, especially towards the dedicated staff team--they have all played pivotal roles in making my journey as enriching as possible. I'm profoundly thankful for this opportunity of a lifetime!

My experience at the "Perú: Foundations of Global Health" trip has been surreal. I've made friends that have given me life-changing advice and learned about how people in Perú live, and their cultures/tradition. This trip has definitely put me outside my comfort zone by surrounding myself with strangers on my first international trip. The clinics have taught me that Healthcare is a right which everyone deserves and it has cemented my interest in medicine. I learned problem solving and leadership skills that will help me in the long term, as well as in these crucial upcoming highschool years. Thank you for this opportunity.

The medical brigades were the most rewarding because I felt like my participation was having a direct impact on people who needed medical help. I loved being able to interact and communicate in Spanish with them. After seeing the conditions of those who don’t have a lot, I realized I have the resources to be my best possible self and I shouldn’t take them for granted.

GLA has given me countless opportunities to learn what it means to be a leader through the mentors group we have done that helped us reflect about ourselves and what values are we important to us and what qualities we show, to having the opportunity to be the Leader of the Day, taking on an active leadership role to encourage the group, bring the group together, and push others to be the best version of themselves that they can be. This GLA trip has also given me a lot of freedom in terms of showing initiative to bring the group together- which I took advantage of and came up with the idea to have fun team-building exercises and games at the beach to build a closer group and a sense of community. Back home at school and in my community, I will take back what I have learned about being a leader, where I will use the leadership skills I have built up on in my GLA trip to become a better leader and foster a closer and greater community.

I feel like I understand other cultures so much more but also I feel like I can relate to others so much more now, because the kids we were helping, whenever I talked to them we were always able to talk and laugh and connect and that was really powerful that we could do that despite cultural and geographical differences. My favorite activities were the hot springs or the waterfall hike. I feel like that was the day I bonded most with the other people here because we were all out, together and exploring and being in nature and having so much fun.

This experience had a huge impact on my future and myself in general. I made strong relationships with people, I worked with kids of all ages, and I learned how to be an amazing leader and problem solver!

This experience impacted me positively. I have built strong relationships with both the students and with my peers on this trip. I have gained perspective and will consider investing in another GLA program in the future. GLA has opened my eyes to a new perspective and by working in a group setting, I can invest in a leadership program or volunteer environment in my local setting.

I learned the importance of small victories; even when it may not seem like your work has an impact on a place, but putting in hard work always pays off. For instance, we were only able to construct 1/3 of the driveway at one of the schools, and although we as the students felt unaccomplished, everyone at the school was very grateful for our help and it will be an important asset for many years to come! I really loved Dia de Los Angeles because we got to interact and meet the local people and partake in a piece of their culture.

I have always wanted to travel to Latin America and Peru has always been a bucket list item for me as I want to become fluent in Spanish and so getting to practice it and speak it with the local people and even our mentors and GLA staff was a good experience for me. I learned so much about the lack of education in Peru and it makes me feel very grateful about the education that I have. I grew as a listener and a team player as most of what we did took team work and working together to accomplish tasks. I also believe that my mindset shifted I now feel more appreciative of the life that I live and the experiences that I have been able to have including this one and I will cherish each life experience since I have now realized that the life I live is not possible for a lot of people around the world.

Think that the friends I made and the people I met made the biggest impact on me. I met so many people from different walks of life that opened my eyes up to what I am not usually used to. It was fun and interesting to hear different perspectives and live in someone else shoes. I’ll never forget the friends I made on this trip and hope to stay in contact with them.

During this trip not only did I make lifelong friends, but I also broadened my mind about things that I already was interested in like marine conservation, endangered species, and coral bleaching. We planted trees, picked up trash, and helped out a mangrove forest and all of these activities left me feeling like I was a part of something beneficial and it made me want to pursue something marine career wise!

I loved it and I will carry everything I have learned about the people around me and myself with me for the rest of my life. absolutely loved the service here. It made me feel as thought I had a purpose that I never knew I had; I took more of a leadership role than I thought I would and I surprised myself every step of the way.

This experience really helped to solidify my idea to help people in the future and pursue some sort of career in the medical field. It was an amazing experience that showed so many different perspectives for me to learn and take home with me to share with my family and friends. I’d really like to start volunteering at my hospital and I can use the leadership skills and actions I’ve acquired to help me conduct this.

I will 100% talk about these experiences in college essays and application forms. I feel as though I grew and was able to connect with so many friends and locals. I really didn't dislike anything! I came here to be more of a leader and I feel confident about it.

The mentors were outstanding at making everyone feel heard and special. They welcomed us with open arms and helped us integrate into Costa Rican culture. The bus drivers always brought the energy and had fun with us in the busses. The mentor groups and appreciation circles were the most impactful because they both fostered a sense of community and belonging in the group. Because all of us were close and each person felt appreciated by the group, we were able to work better and make more meaningful memories. The yoga was amazing and helped me reconnect with myself. It was a reminder to carve out more time to heal yourself, so that you can then work outward to help heal the world. The zip lining was also a crazy experience like nothing else.

I think this program has made me become more independent and willing to try new situations with new people. I grew in participating in community service because I got better at my collaboration skills, and learned how to be a leader in social settings as well as listening to my peers opinions. I overcame challenges such as being uncomfortable in certain situations but allowing myself to embrace the uncomfortable and deal with it in ways that were manageable. The beach day because it was break in between all the hard work that we had been doing with the Vida staff.

I learned about other cultures in a new perspective. I am so incredibly fortunate to live in a place where I have everything I could want and it puts things into perspective when you go to places that do not have that luxary. I learned how to effectively share my opinions when there is a language barrier and also to not be as opinionated when the world around me does not reflect something I am used to. I enjoyed the guest speakers because it allowed me to hear about the place I was in from someone who lives here. I also enjoyed the single story and found it very inspiring to learn about others cultures and what makes us unique. Favorite activities were ziplining and hot springs. After days of really learning and the start of service it felt rewarding to enjoy something fun and get to spend time with the group as a whole.

I loved going to the beach and yoga. Most days of our trip were busy so I felt they were a way to relax and connect with the group. The last night in Liberia we were also able to watch a sunset. This was a great way to end our time there and enjoy a night with the whole group. All the activities were great, and the staff too! I thought they were so welcoming and friendly.

Made amazing friends and good relationships :) I learned a lot and this did help me with deciding what I want to do in the future, I am very interested in environmental science :) I learned somewhat how to be a leader and just learned so much from the mentors. I loved everything and got to practice my spanish. Everyone at Home Base was so nice, I loved the family and our rooms, everything! My biggest challenge was how hot it was there.

I grew by seeing that hard work really does pay off and working in a team and keeping a positive attitude makes everything more productive and fun. I also learned that some things are worth waiting for cause we spent the whole week doing things meant to save the turtles with no indication that we would w even see a turtle and when we actually did it was amazing. The most rewarding was the zipling and tubing because I had to be brave and adventurous and take risks in order to do those but it ended up being one of the most fun things I have here done in my entire life. I had so much fun and made life long friendships and memories and will never ever forgot this place, people, or trip.

Very fun!! Though, it was tough at times when it came to working with some of the younger kids, but overall a good experience. I liked interacting with the locals and working in the hatchery. The staff and the food was great ❤️ I loved the tubing and ziplining and the chances i got to practice spanish with the people there. Also the scenery was gorgeous.

All the activities were so much fun! I learned so much about turtles and conservation doing the service. I enjoyed the cooking and dance class. The discussions and activities widened my worldview about people and the culture of Costa Rica. This was really a life changing experience and I enjoyed every minute of it! The relationships and friendships I made on the trip were amazing and I’m so glad I decided to go on this adventure! I will definitely take the information I learned and implement in my daily life.

Being able to participate in activities in areas not bogged by tourists and commercialized towards tourists was the most interesting part of the experience, it gave a better perspective on the true culture. The trip to machu picchu was extremely interesting, our tour guides were amazing.

I really enjoyed the debate that we did. I felt like it was something that was meaningful to the world. It’s something that’s actually happening in the world and it was nice to hear everyone’s opinions on the topic. I also enjoyed the community service as we were helping the girls. The sites, like Machu Picchu, were great also as we learned so much more about their culture. It’s something you could never get out of a history classroom.

I went to Costa Rica with three of my closest friends in 2018 and we all had a blast! We made some great new friends! We worked with a local to help plant trees to help their community and I loved it! In the last few days, we went to a local town and helped a local school which was a wonderful experience. We got to play in a soccer game with local children too!! We went on several fun adventures as well. A catamaran, ziplining, and snorkeling!!! I also felt very safe and the counselors were very helpful and educated. I have a medical disability and the counselors were constantly checking in on me and making sure I was okay which felt great. I went to Alaska with a different company this past summer and did not feel the same amount of care. So with that being said, I would 110% recommend GLA!! They are a great company!!

I went on this program the summer before my junior year and it was life changing. Global Leadership Adventures gave me the experience of not only going to Costa Rica, but really seeing and experiencing it to the fullest extent. The program I went was "Empowering Rainforest Communities" that focused on eco-tourism, sustainability, and cultural immersion. On the first and last days we got to experience the developed capital of San José, but for the majority of the program we lived in a rural town located in the Osa Peninsula. Being around so much beautiful vegetation and abundant biodiversity changed the way that I viewed the world around me. The other students on the trip were amazing, and the experiences that we had are unforgettable. Also, our mentors for the program were helpful, intelligent, and easy to talk to. On the program, I became passionate about trees and sustainability, so much that I became vegan, started a garden, and became involved in environmental programs at my high school. I am going on another GLA program this summer (after junior year), because I want to have another amazing experience! I recommend this program to all teenagers!

This past year, I decided that I really wanted to find a way to help others and experience different parts of the world. I began doing LOTS of research to see which programs interested me the most and talking them over with my parents. When I first looked at the price of the programs, I didn’t think me going on one was going to become a reality. I started talking GLA representative and they told me about the scholarships available. I applied and it ended up taking off over $1000. The trip was still overall expensive (depending on your scholarship amount you receive) but it’s 100% worth it. I love working with children and this trip gave me many opportunities to do so. We got the chance to teach them in their schools and play multiple soccer games together. Aside from volunteering, you get to do fun activities like ziplibing or water rafting and shopping. I do wish we got to do spend a bit more time with the kids but you still have more than enough time to make connections and learn a lot from them. That’s why Im happy that I chose to do the 3 week program. It’s also a nice break from technology and explore all of the natural wonders in that country. Global Leadership Adventures is a great, safe program for teenagers to get outside of their comfort zone and make friends from different parts of the world. I hope that this helps with your decision!

I had the best 10 days of my life on this trip! It was not nearly long enough and I'm going back with GLA for 21 days this year. Costa Rica is a beautiful country that GLA does an amazing job of showing to its students. We learned so much about the culture and how to respect the way of life while there. One of my favorite lessons learned was responsible voluntourism. My service project was to help a local elementary school with a garden and murals. We cleaned out a patch in their back yard area then built garden beds. We also talked to the students about what they wanted on their walls then painted sustainability themed murals. My personal favorite activity was playing soccer with the most beautiful backdrop with local kids. Back at home base after long service days we learned lessons about leadership and service. Meals were eaten outside under the stars or on the balcony overlooking the beach. The nightly "taste of Costa Rica" dish allowed us to sample the local cuisine. Though I was there for just 10 days I made amazing friends and memories to last a lifetime.

At the age of 15, I traveled by myself to the Dominican Republic for a 10-day service adventure. This was my first trip out of the country and I was unsure of what to expect, I was excited and a little bit nervous. However, the trip ended up being everything I hoped it to be and much more!! We worked in a rural community to build an eco-friendly, sustainable house for a local family. While working on the build site, we got to meet many of the locals - we met the man we were building the house for, we played basketball with the local kids, we hiked up the community to meet the local beekeeper, etc. While meeting all of these new people, it was cool to see that even though we come from vastly different walks of life, we shared a lot in common. Although it was challenging to talk to the locals because of the language barrier, we found other ways to communicate. Other than the volunteer work, our group went on fun excursions such as night time beach walks, hiking Mt. Brison, visiting DuDu lagoon, snorkeling, boat rides, and cave swimming. It was so much fun!!! Although my favorite part of the trip was probably the strong friendships I made with everyone in the group. Even though we were only together for 10 days, we became extremely close and we were sad to say goodbye when the trip was over. I can honestly say that my trip with GLA was the best experience of my life. I learned so much and it was eye-opening to experience a different culture than my own. I am definitely signing up for more GLA trips in the upcoming summers!!!

The past summer I went to Haiti on a Global Health Initiative through GLA. This was one of the most amazing and life changing experiences I have ever had. Prior to leaving for Haiti, I had little knowledge of the country which I why I picked it. I wanted to go and volunteer somewhere that is new and exciting, for me this was Haiti. GLA made sure I was prepared and ready to travel alone, traveling and flying alone was easy and I ran into no trouble but I was defiantly nervous to meet new people. Once I arrived I new this was going to be amazing, the people and staff were some of the most incredible people I have ever meet. They were welcoming, intelligent and brought the best out in everyone. The program type was medicine and public health, so we did pop-up clinics which was so amazing and so rewarding. We got to earn how to take vitals, speak creole and sit in on doctor consultations! I also got to help build a vocational school and meet amazing kids and adults who lived in the community we were working in! I felt safe the entire time, the house I was staying in was so nice the family who owned the house were incredible, the food was delicious and fresh! I would 100% recommend GLA not only for the life changing experience but because they really care about the communities they work in. I saw that they care and want communities to sustain on their own by GLA working and partnering with local grassroots organization based in the country you're in. GLA is by far the best way to go if you are wanting to travel and volunteer abroad!

Hi! I am a Global Leadership Adventures Alumni and I had an amazing trip with GLA. I choose Ghana: children of Africa and this was the best experience of my life. In Ghana, we lived in a house that was in the village I volunteered in. There wasn't ever any moment that I felt unsafe. At the age of 15, this was not only my first time traveling into Africa but my first time traveling alone. I feel that I have grown a lot, everything from no longer having a single story of Africa to knowing how to check in my bags. I didn't know much about the culture. shortly after arriving we got a little history and visited a host family to learn how to speak some Krobo. The program staff were very supportive and were always there to talk if you needed anything. a million words can't begin to explain the love, joy, and so many more emotions from this trip.

Wow! GLA Peru was the best experience of my life. It was filled with growth, learning, service, friends, and fun. Every day of the program was well thought out and planned. I would definitely recommend! It was an amazing experience that allowed me to meet other students who love to travel and help other people! I would a 100% recommend GLA Peru! It was such a life changing experience.

 When I came upon Global Leadership Adventures for the first time and read the description for the Ghana program, "the heart and soul of West Africa, Ghana is known for its welcoming, passionate and peaceful people", I knew it was meant to be. The trip was everything I had hoped it would be and more. We worked at a school in the nearby community almost every day, for two hours building bricks from sand, cement, and water to help create classrooms for their kindergarten and first grade students, and teaching the students english, math, science, and more for another two hours. I can honestly say that those 21 days were life-changing. I found beauty and a sense of home in a country on a completely different continent, halfway around the world from where I've spent my entire life. I developed such strong relationships with both the locals and the members of my trip so quickly, and I know the bonds I created will stay with me forever. I originally went to Ghana with the intention to teach the children about the world, but soon after arriving, I realized they were teaching me. I thought 3 weeks would be too long away from home, but by the end I wished I never had to leave. The service really broadened my eyes to an entirely different, but amazing, culture and community so contrasting from my own. I hope to stay connected to Ghana for the rest of my life, and I can't imagine who I'd be without having the service experience this past summer.

Hi! My daughter has gone on 3 absolutely amazing GLA trips! She has had so many beneficial experiences! Each trip she has gone on I have felt so safe with her leaving! The communication and help I received from the GLA staff made such a difference. I had many questions the first trip she went on and they were always there to answer them! One of the best parts was seeing the blog of what they were up to each day! Coming back she had so many amazing stories to tell! I completely recommend GLA!!!

Hi all! I am a Global Leadership Adventures Alumni and I had an amazing time in Peru, Ghana and Thailand with GLA! I really recommend GLA! The housing experience was great! GLA Peru rented out a hotel in Cusco, for both the 2 week and the 3 week groups. In Ghana we all stayed in a house together and in Thailand we also had a hotel! I felt very safe there! I had never been to Peru, Ghana or Thailand, so I felt that by being there I grew, a lot! I understood much of their culture and what their lifestyles are like. The program staff were very supportive! I felt that I was able to talk to them about whatever I needed, or if I was frustrated with other students! Overall I recommend GLA to all High School age students!

This program is perfect for any high schoolers who have a passion for travel and medicine. I highly recommend taking this trip if you are interested in medicine because Global Leadership Adventures allows you to work with nurses and doctors, as well as take vitals and provide pharmaceutical assistance to the patients. The program gives you an immersive experience that teaches students what medicine is like outside of the United States. The program will also allow you to realize whether or not medicine and public health are the right career paths for you. Outside of service, the lectures taught by GLA staff are phenomenal. You will learn about the economic, political and social cultures of the country, including the state of the country's public health system. As for home base life, the hotel that I stayed in was gorgeous and the food was delicious. GLA staff did a marvelous job of insuring that students feel safe and included in the group at all times. 11/10!

My name is Anita Moreno and this past summer I was fortunate enough to embark on a life changing journey to Costa Rica where I spent 2 weeks living in the rainforest doing service work. This trip taught me so much about myself and about what I want to do with my life. Global Leadership Adventures plays a big role in the impact my service trip had on me. From the moment I stepped off the plane in Costa Rica, GLA’s staff was there to greet me and they continued being incredible throughout the two weeks! After returning home from my Costa Rica trip, I have become more outgoing and stepped outside of my comfort zone so much! One tip I have for future GLA change-makers is to just let go and live in the moment. I could not have asked for a better experience with Global Leadership Adventures and that is why I will be going on another GLA trip this summer! I would definitely recommend GLA to anyone who is passionate about giving back and being the change!

My 16 year old daughter traveled to Guatemala with Global Leadership Adventures in the summer of 2017. The experience was life-changing. Being immersed in a Spanish speaking culture teaching children English offered the perfect balance of challenge and fun. Grace learned so much about herself, leadership and the challenges & blessings of education. She was able to compare & contrast Education system in the US with that of a small, impoverished town in Guatemala, seeing the beauty and brokenness in both systems. Grace came home more compassionate, inspired to create change in her own community and to be more courageous in her own life to help her grow. This personal growth will allow her to have more to offer those she serves & works side by side with on her next Global Leadership trip in summer 2019.

The Belize children’s initiative trip is truly an amazing experience! Not only do you make connections with your fellow volunteers, but you are also able to bond with students you teach and your GLA mentors. Excursions are wonderful and allow you to fully immerse yourself in the culture of Belize. Days are filled with fun challenges that let you grow as a volunteer, delicious food (plantains!!) and of course laughter. Housing was quiet nice and makes you feel really one with nature. All the staff were super helpful and encouraging and treated you as a young adult- not a child. Overall a life changing experience.

I had an amazing time on the Empowering Rainforest Communities trip to Costa Rica with Global Leadership Adventures. Everything from the wildlife to the food to the culture made a memory for a lifetime. My group did struggle with internal relationships, but we worked through hard times together, as our task was mentally and physically challenging. The climate was a rainforest, so it rained a lot... and then some. I wasn’t quite prepared for the humidity and rain, as I am from a dryer climate. But I learned to live with wet clothes. Make sure to keep money or important documents from molding.

The 14-Day Children of the Maya program through the organization Global Leadership Adventures is truly extraordinary! While in Guatemala, my group of 29 other high schoolers and I taught & delivered English lessons to 200 Pre-K through 6th graders in a hectic, high energy primary school environment. Not going to lie teaching English to these kids was not an easy task. I faced great frustration that all my teaching efforts were all for nothing. Yet, my outstanding mentors helped me turn this frustration into inspiration. I began altering the lessons to be more one-on-one based, rather than trying to teach to a group of 30 kids who only speak Spanish. During my time at the primary school I utilized my Spanish speaking skills to explain the lessons to my students as well as answer their thoughtful questions. My new approach to teaching drastically changed the outcome of my lessons! I began seeing educational breakthroughs surface! One day during recess, some of my students ran up to my peers and were asking them questions like "how are you" and "what is your name"...IN ENGLISH!!! It was in this moment all my initial frustration and seemingly pointless attempts of teaching vanished. I saw the change we were making. My experience in Guatemala truly challenged and embraced my inner leader. This program taught me so much about myself and what my role in the world is. I 100% recommend this program for any high school student who wants to find their inner leader, while teaching children!

I am so proud of my daughter and her experience with GLA. This has been an amazing experience for her. She has grown so much as a global citizen and a person. I, as a parent, have grown by seeing my child grow and letting her have experiences that I have never imagined.

My daughter traveled to Guatemala with Global Leadership Adventures in June of 2017 as a 14 year old. She had an amazing experience with her service work and gaining new friendships. This trip had an incredible impact on her life to experience another country and give back her time and talent to children who needed it most. I would strongly recommend any parent considering sending their child on a volunteer program to experience what Global Leadership Adventures has to offer. Their programs and staff are extremely friendly, helpful and caring. Your child will absolutely love it.

This past summer, I traveled to Costa Rica with Global Leadership Adventures. I had an amazing time! I met so many new people, experienced a new culture, and went on many amazing adventures. I would recommend this program to all high school students! I truly immersed myself in the community and grew in my Spanish skills too! I met so many amazing friends who I still keep in touch with and visit! I got to go hiking, swimming, zip lining, snorkeling, horseback riding, rafting, and more.

I was very impressed with my daughter’s service-learning experience with GLA in Tanzania last summer. She received thoughtful guidance and immersion into the local culture and day to day living in the village of Arusha near Kilimanjaro. Here the students give of their time and knowledge to teach and help in executing community projects that improve the lives of local citizens. In turn they learn what it is to engage another culture through their traditions and beliefs. And they are introduced to the diversity of the natural environment that my daughter could only describe as wonderfully strange. This intense three week international experience was inspiring and enriching and reminded my daughter and our family of the promise for what it is to be a global citizen.

Last summer, I took part in the Protecting the Pacific program and it made my summer the most memorable one I've ever had. The volunteer work was inspiring and anything but boring and GLA did a wonderful job getting us to connect with the culture and become a temporary part of the community. There was no one in my group that wasn't friends with everyone, and I've made friendships all over the country that will last for a while. Home Base was truly a home away from home, and I will always fondly look back at my time abroad.

Traveling to Ghana with Global Leadership Adventures (GLA) was the most eye opening and inspiring experiences I could ever have. As many times as I have tried, I have never been able to find words to describe how incredible this trip was. The service on this trip included teaching in a classroom, and knowing and seeing that I could make in impact on something as important and valuable as a child's education was the most rewarding experience of my life. Teaching forced me to be resourceful, patient, and adaptable, all vital skills I have been able to apply to my life since. The people I met in Ghana, both locals and other high school students, forever changed my outlook on life, particularly my mentor. I will never forget the night he told us that he believes, "life begins where your comfort zone ends" and I could not think of a quote to better summarize the three extraordinary weeks I spent in Ghana. I was consistently pushed outside of my comfort zone, which caused me to grow as a person more than I ever expected. I will forever be grateful for this trip and everything the GLA staff and Ghana taught me.

I went on a Global Leadership Adventures 3-week program to Tanzania this past summer. I have traveled out of the country with my family multiple times in the past, but I had never flown internationally alone. Naturally, I was extremely nervous. However, when I met most of the other GLA participants before our flight to Tanzania, we hit it right off. When we arrived, all of us 30 students got to know each other so well and became extremely close in a matter of days. The fact that we could all relate to each other, yet we were all so different, made volunteering in the Tanzanian community (primarily teaching English at a local school and refurbishing the school) and exploring the country a blast. Throughout the program, I felt safe wherever we went--even if we were in the middle of safari among giraffes, lions, and elephants! (There's a bodyguard on watch at the home base at all times.) In addition, the mentors are extremely caring about making your experience reflective and memorable. This trip opened me up to a world of travel that I had never before been exposed to. I highly recommend any teen who is seeking an opportunity to make an impact on a foreign community and to be immersed in another culture to look into a GLA program. Personally, I would recommend the 3-week programs (if possible for you) in order to get the full experience.

My 16 year old daughter went on the 14 day animal rescue program last summer. I was hesitant at first since she had never traveled alone. We then found out one of her teammates had done a trip the summer before and she and her mother spoke highly of the experience. I gave in. Jules had the most amazing experience. Everything from the service work, the cultural learning, and of course the friendships. The staff were attentive to the students and Jules expressed that she always felt safe. Jules is a vegetarian and had no problem eating on the trip. The blog posts that were supposed to be 2-3 times a week, were almost daily which was very helpful for a nervous parent. To be able to read and see pictures of what they were doing, how much fun they were having, and how happy everyone seemed eased my concerns. She would have stayed longer if she could have and is already signed up for the upcoming summer for trips to the Galapagos and Thailand.

My daughter did the 2 week Tanzania trip with GLA in June, 2017. She loved the entire trip, and was so inspired by it, that her feet have not touched the ground since! Thanks to the meaningful service work that GLA did on this trip (refurbish the classrooms), she even took her service a step further when she returned home, by creating a fundraiser for the kids school, to further refurbish. Her fundraiser has gone very well so far, and she even has future plans to return back ASAP. Also, she made several amazing friends on her trip, three of which happen to be from the same state as us, so they have gotten together multiple times, as well as two who live in the town where she will be attending college, and ones who stay in touch over the phone. GLA sparked a passion in my daughter that I know will be lifelong. If your child is thinking about going on a GLA trip, stop thinking and just go. They will come home with so much more appreciation of the life they live in the USA.

I, like many of the boys on the trip, was forced by my parents to go to Spain for two weeks of my July. By the end of the trip, I felt more connected with the other students than I currently feel with my closest friends at high school. I felt like every day I learned something new about the people I met. One of my favorite parts of the trip was spending time with the local children. The hours at the school flew by like minutes. My favorite memory from the school was playing soccer in the rain. Although some of us could barely speak Spanish, soccer was a universal language that connected us to the kids. In addition to visiting the school, we spent lots of time experiencing the culture of Valencia. My experience in Valencia completely changed my life and how I view the world. Even if you are just thinking about it, I would highly recommend going!

Everyone from the people on the plane, the GLA hired staff, and the members of the Krobo community were so welcoming and positive which was a great start to the trip. our weekly schedule typically involved brick making, elementary school teaching, playing in the park, and doing a cultural activity. This was by far the best experience I've ever had from playing with the kids, participating in local traditions, learning at the krobo girls high school, building bricks, and teaching the kids English. The goodbyes were the only bad thing about this trip because the kids wouldn't let go and it was hard to make them do so. Ghana will forever hold a special place in my heart.

Hello, my daughter went on the Costa Rica beach side service adventure trip. Initially, my wife and I were really worried sending her to a foreign country alone. I can honestly say I was very pleased with the way GLA handled everything. I needed to get in contact with her on the trip and they quickly got her to a phone. I felt very confident in the GLA staff and program. I am so excited for her to be going on her next trip this Spring to the Dominican Republic. Thank you GLA!!

Hi! My daughter Hollie went on the 2 week Tanzania trip in 2017. I cannot say enough about how fantastic GLA is! She had the trip of a lifetime. Not only did she fall absolutely in love with Tanzania (the second she got home she has been bugging us about going back!), she loved the experience as a whole, meeting new friends from all across the globe and spending this journey with them. She has truly met friends of a lifetime and has already reconnected with some friends back here in the United States multiple times! How cool is that? I would highly recommend GLA to anyone, anywhere, anytime. Their professionalism is amazing, and they truly do everything they say they are going to do. They made planning this trip very easy and will answer any question with delight! From the second we began to plan our daughters trip with GLA, to the second she returned home, everything went as smooth as possible! GLA changed my daughters life, and for that, I am forever grateful!

This past summer, I traveled 7,515 miles from New Jersey, USA to Tanzania, Africa, all thanks to Global Leadership Adventures (GLA). Truthfully, words could never even adequately describe the experience I had. Before leaving, of course I was nervous, and also skeptical of all of the GLA Alumni I had seen raving, saying things such as "experience of a lifetime" or "life changing". Boy, was I off! It definitely is the type of thing that you have to experience for yourself to truly understand. However, I hope that in seeing my love and passion for the program, along with thousands of other teens from all around the world, that you too will be inspired to give it a go! On the Tanzania 14 day program, you get to teach at a primary school for one week, complete 30 hours of service (doing some type of refurbishment on the school), spend a day with a host family, explore local markets, villages and communities, spend time at an orphanage, hike the base of Mt. Kilimanjaro and even swim in it, tour a coffee farm, dance with locals, create traditional African art, embark on a two day safari trip (ABSOLUTELY AMAZING), try new and exotic yummy food, and SO MUCH MORE! Additionally, you make real, deep, meaningful connections with like-minded teenagers who will absolutely, positively be some life long friends of yours! Most importantly though, you learn about yourself! Whoever you are and wherever you came from, you are guaranteed to be enlightened, awakened and have an entirely new perspective on the world at large once your time is up! (My advice would be to even go for the 21 day program- 14 days are enough, but they fly!) Take a chance, take a risk and go for it! You will NOT regret it! There is no price tag that can be put on this experience.

My daughter traveled to Costa Rica with GLA on the 2 week initiative for children trip and to say I was worried would be an understatement as any parent would be worried to have their child travel without them. All of my worries went away the more I heard about her time there. She called me right when she had been met by mentors at the airport as all kids are required to do and I kept updated by the daily blog posts written by the kids themselves. Keeping up on the blog posts made me feel reassured that she was not only safe but that she was also having an amazing learning experience. The other important element of her trip was the valuable friendships she forged. These teens continue to communicate and connect on a weekly, if not daily basis! What a gift.

This past summer, I sent my twins to Costa Rica on Global Leadership Adventure’s “Beachside Service Adventure”. Obviously, I was hesitant to send my babies to a foreign country alone but the GLA staff reassured all of my concerns and answered all my question and they ended up having the times of their lives. They came back and told me the trip was incredible, telling me all their stories and talking about their new friends. I am so happy I was able to send them abroad with Global Leadership Adventures!

I went on the 2017 Children of the Maya trip to Guatemala where I learned not only about the culture, but what I wanted to do in the future. The service work we did their actually left on impact on the children with being provided a much needed new classroom. I would go back in a heartbeat with the amazing friends and memories I have made! I would totally recommend going on one of GLA's trips, I had the best time!

This past summer, I travelled to Costa Rica with Global Leadership Adventure’s “Beachside Service Adventure”. The experience was truly like no other! We got to work with locals on interesting, relevant service projects and explored Costa Rica’s many adventures and the “pura vida” lifestyle. The Global Leadership Adventure staff was incredibly competent and helpful and provided for an unforgettable ten days!

Over the past summer, I went on this program and I was pretty nervous to travel alone and not know anybody. Little did I know that I was going to have the time of my life! This program helped me meet people that I can call my long lost bestfriends! I developed relationships with people who amazed me everyday with their kindness and generosity! I developed myself as a person through many different aspects. First, this trip helped grow my love for community work and missionaries. It makes me feel better about myself when I am helping others and this program was all about that. Second, I went out of my comfort zone and was able to have a fun time without having to worry! There is so much more I could include but I reccomend that everyone goes on a trip with Global Leadership Adventures and sees for themselves. The staff who accompanied me on this trip was awesome. I couldn't of asked for better people to lead my way to bettering myself as a human and bettering the people of Belize. The housing of this trip was awesome and the beds were comfy. The food was out of this world! I’m currently missing the abnormously large amount of plantains that would be accessible to us at all moments. This program has influenced me to want to be more involved with my community at home and the world around me! I will be going on another missions trip just because of how awesome this one was. My favorite memory about this trip was working with the kids. I worked with the younger age group and they were all so adorable and excited to learn. What I really took out of this experience is the fact that kids in Belize wanted to learn so bad while people at my home complain about going to school everyday. The kids in Belize would show up to the school we taught at running up to the friends I made and I hugging us! They would say thank you as much as possible just because we taught them the alphabet or some numbers. This really amazed me and made me realize that I need to be more grateful about how lucky I am to be able to go to school everyday. I recommend that everyone who can goes on this trip and makes a memory close to this one. A memory that can change their outlook on life and make an extraordinary impact just like Belize; The Iniative for Children did for me :)

My daughter traveled to Ecuador and Galapagos the summer of 2017. She had an amazing trip and now is taking her second GLA trip this spring break 2018. GLA staff was great. I recommend GLA for teens who are independent, spirited and looking for a way to give back to the world. Pam Prast mother of 15 year old traveler.

Thailand is a place many think of as only a vacation destination, but it so much more than that! Go beyond the surface of beaches and awesome food and discover a culture so beautiful you won't want to leave. Thailand is truly the "Land of Smiles" being that you won't meet an unhappy person in Thailand. People are so kind and giving it makes the service work you get the opportunity to do even more rewarding. On this trip you will experience life in another part of the world and I promise you will absolutely love it! Teaching kids in the primary schools was my favorite part of the entire program. To be challenged with a language barrier and to still be able to teach the children to a point where they attempt a conversation in English is so rewarding! Throughout my experience in Thailand I never felt unsafe or unsatisfied. The wonderful people at GLA know what they are doing and will good care of you on your journey. From the markets to the temples to riding an elephant it doesn't get better than Thailand!

This past summer, I traveled to Anloga, Ghana for three weeks on the Children of Africa program with Global Leadership Adventures (GLA). In simple terms, this trip was a life-changing experience. Between the perfect balance of service, culture, and the incredible people I met, I will forever remember my time in the amazing country of Ghana. Our days began at 7 am with a delicious breakfast, then we broke into our three mentor groups to go to our schools. At Zico Primary, my mentor group’s school, we started by making bricks; these bricks would go toward building school facilities because there is an issue of overcrowding. After brick making, we taught for an hour. My two partners and I taught first graders english, science, and math. I had never taught before in a classroom setting so it was quite challenging but very fun and rewarding by the end of the three weeks. I made an incredible relationship with my students and learned a bit of Ewe, the local language, along the way. After returning from school and eating lunch, we did a variation of activities each day. For example, one day we shopped in the Anloga and Keta markets. There, we bought traditional fabric which we then brought to seamstresses who sewed clothing for us. When we returned from our afternoon activities, we ate dinner and began our evening activity. Days were packed full with lots to do and each activity had the purpose of meeting new people and learning about Ghanaian culture. Aside from the schedule, I want to acknowledge the amazing staff on site. Each mentor group has a mentor and a local staff member; there is also an international director and a local staff director. Everyone is extremely nice and approachable. They accompany you on every adventure and they are great people to get to know and talk to; they each come from such interesting and different backgrounds so make sure you get to know them! GLA does an amazing job at finding incredible staff, providing a fun, activity-packed trip, and ensuring our safety. I cannot recommend this company enough! I will never forget my experience in Ghana and will remember all of the wonderful memories I made there.

This past summer I traveled to Fiji for three weeks with Global Leadership Adventures and I can honestly say it was the best experience I have ever had. Every new place we went we were greeted with the warmest welcomes and friendliest smiles I had ever seen in my life. The program director, mentors, and local staff were so incredibly helpful, supportive, intelligent, and fun. The food and housing were always great. The balance between service and adventure was awesome, we worked for long hours in the villages on a variety of projects but it was always fun. When we got back we had free time to jump in the ocean or hang out in a hammock. The excursions to see stingrays and the long mountain hikes were incredible. And the nightly meeting where we talked about leadership and our views on the world were so engaging and informative. While I was there I also became best friends with the other students on the trip, and since then have flown across the country to visit them. Everyone was so welcoming and nobody was left out, we all had so much fun together. My time in Fiji was without a doubt be the best experience I have had to date, and I know when I came home I was a changed person. I expanded my horizons and immersed myself into a new culture. I gained new knowledge of people around the world, and new insight into the vast world that is out there. My trip challenged me, it pushed me and tired me out but at the end of the day it proved to be so incredibly rewarding. I recommend this program so much to anyone who wants to do service in another country and expand their horizons. The spirit of the country was indescribable, one of the best things I have experienced in my life. The GLA staff did an amazing job organizing this and I'm so happy I was lucky enough to be a part of it!

My daughter went on a trip last year with GLA to Costa Rica. At first we were nervous about our her going so far as a 15 year old, but GLA was great and it ended up being a trip of a lifetime. The GLA advisors, Jackie, was very patient and informative with all my questions. They were completely on the ball at every step of the way and made us feel very comfortable as parents. The volunteer work with local school system was great for our daughter, but even more, the immersive cultural experience with like-minded teens from various places and backgrounds was irreplaceable. She has become an ambassador going with GLA to Peru this year and we're excited for her and the impact these trips are having on her world view, life experiences, learning and self esteem. We felt very comfortable working with Global Leadership Adventures and can not wait to see what future adventures our daughter has with GLA!

Learning about the conflicts that surround the elephants in Thailand was very hard and an eye opening experience, but during my time with global leadership adventures we discussed the issue and developed an awareness about their condition. at Thai elephant home we had our home base, the accommodations there were great, and the food was amazing! the community service was centered around the elephants and the work a mahout does in Thai elephant home. we cut grass for the elephants, and built dams to help with the heavy rain season and flooding, as well as cleaned their sleeping are, feeding them and bathe them every day. the mentors made the experience fun and kept everything running like clockwork. as well as doing community service we had a lot of cool activities, we went on a tour of the jungle with the elephants, visited an interactive 3d museum, went rafting, and visited temples. we went to the nursery one day where e got to meet a 6 month old elephant named Sunday and a 1 year old name dumbo, i have a lot of fun during the whole trip but the nursery was definitely one of my favorite days. GLA is a great way to learn while traveling and doing some really cool service work. i would recommend this program to anyone who is interested in animal conservation, or who like animals and want to learn more about elephants in Thailand.

This past summer, I went to Costa Rica with Global Leadership Adventures. My program was called Beachside Service Adventure and consisted of 10 days in Parrita. There were about 60 people in my group (mostly girls only like 10 boys) and we were split up into mentor groups of like 8-10 ish. M y group worked with a startup plant nursery which was amazing. We worked with two locals, Nicholas and Mau who's nursery it was, and spent our service time basically hardcore gardening in the rainforest. One day we were clearing the land for the nursery and we got to be super cool with machetes and hack through the jungle brush which was awesome. Other groups did stuff like paint a mural at a school, build a tire playground, plant trees at a farm, build a garden at a school, etc. One of my favorite parts was our nightly mentor group talks. Since gla does focus a lot on leadership we did discussion groups about leadership in our lives and how we can be a leader in our community and we talked about globalization and the relationship between developed/developing countries and some economics so it was really cool to get kinda a crash course foreign policy and how it applies to us kinda thing. And we totally had to open our minds to new ideas which was cool Honestly the best part was just being immersed in the culture like eating rice and beans and drinking pineapple juice we ate SO MUCH fruit it was amazing I thought the GLA people were really cool like every program has to have a native who works as an advisor so we actually had two: one woman who has just finished up in the peace corps and one woman who was from Parrita. They were really organized like being at the airport was stressful at first but once you find the GLA people they take care of you the whole time which was great and my parents weren't stressed at all I would recommend on program length so I did a 10 day but I would recommend the 14 day ones just cause I really started to form close bonds right as we left and didn't really get the chance to develop those friendships. If you have any interest in the peace corps or mission work it's so great cause a lot of the staff did the peace corps or at least extensive volunteering so you get tons of cool people to ask lots of questions. If you're nervous about doing GLA I'd definitely recommend the programs in Latin America/Caribbean. I know my parents were a lot happier knowing I was in the same time zone and it was easy to call me and my flight wasn't too bad. Plus it's less of a culture shock than, say, Thailand. I would definitely say whatever program you do, find someone who did that one before because there were a lot of confusing things just cause they can only fit so much in a brochure. One of the lasting effects of GLA on my life is I feel a lot more down to earth and focused on nature and being in the present and I worry way less about social media or texting or television now which is nice. -Miranda Wilson, GLA Ambassador

I was so lucky to be able to go to Thailand through GLA this past summer! Chiang Mai was such an amazing home for two weeks and every international and in-country mentor was helpful, understanding and kind. When we were coming up with our own lesson plans to teach the primary school children English, we were provided with great resources in our mentors. Mixing the service with fun and cultural immersion just made it so much more rich. Everything from delicious food, to learning first hand about Buddhism in Thailand, to interacting with elephants shaped every volunteer in so many ways. Any teen that has the ability to do one of these programs should! You can learn about responsibility and hard work from fundraising, independence from traveling alone, and learn so much about yourself that can only come from putting yourself out of your normal comfort zone. Love and miss everything about this trip!

My time in Tanzania with GLA was amazing! Right after signing up for the trip I had access to webinars (informational, interactive online sessions) which really helped me to prepare for this trip. The staff was very helpful in answering my and my parents' questions about this trip, and they also have an online chat on their website which can help too! In Tanzania, the local and international staff was SO friendly and nice and it was so fun getting to know them! They made the trip even more special. The service was very rewarding, hands-on, and interactive with the locals. We did many cultural excursions like Batik painting (I am not good at art but the people there were so helpful), dancing, hiking to the base of Mt. Kilimanjaro, and going on a safari. Each and every activity we did was so fun and I learned so much! I always felt safe in and out of the home base, and the staff took extra precautions to keep us safe, happy, and healthy. The food was so good, but if somebody did not like it the kitchen staff was always willing to prepare something special. I loved every aspect of this trip and really recommend it!!

- [ ] This summer I went to China with a group of 24 students. Originally when searching for programs I found that none of them were even close to my price range as they were all too expensive. At first, I selected Global Leadership Adventures because of its affordable price and its service component. But it turned out to be so much more than that! GLA was an experience through which I learned to be more independent and confident. When out in the streets with other students we had to use our language skills to communicate which took a lot of brain power but also a lot of confidence. Making friends while on the China program was not hard at all. All the kids on my program were ambitious and they cared about making a difference. Since I found kids similar to me on the program it was really easy to make friends. Even though it's been a while since this summer we still have our group chat going strong and I even regularly meet up with two of the kids who live close to me. I definitely recommend GLA for other students because it really was a life changing experience for me and I think everyone should experience this great adventure! The language aspect of this program could be greatly improved. The language classes were extremely informal and I don't feel like I really learned any new Mandarin.

Leading up to my daughter's departure, GLA was extremely supportive and helpful. I loved that you could book your own flights (as opposed to being forced to go to JFK or Ontario first) because I'm in a mileage program. Even then, they helped me book the flight that worked the best. During the trip, I waited each and every day to look at the program blog. It was so wonderful seeing my daughter step out of her comfort zone with a smile on her face. Right when she came back home she immediately told me about the millions of plans she had to return to South Africa or go on another GLA trip. I'm happy to say I'm planning to let her go on one again :) !

This was the most amazing thing ever! GLA made it so easy to sign up and get registered and they did all the heavy lifting! Everything we did was in the community, interacting with locals and some NGO’s. If you have the chance to go, you have to! It’s definitely a once in a lifetime experience. You’ll also make some of the greatest friends you could ever meet! It truly is a life changing experience.

This summer I was lucky enough to spend two weeks in the most amazing country with the most amazing program, Global Leadership Adventures. This program offered so much and gave me the experience of a lifetime to give back and also gain cultural insight on the beautiful Chiang Mai Thailand in Asia. What was unique about my experience was the culture shock. When I had arrived in Thailand I didn't know how to piece my emotions of happiness towards this beautiful country I was lucky enough to be in. For anyone debating on participating in this program I say do it, it gave me the culture bug where all I want to do now is go back, it made the leave so hard because the experience was so amazing. I have absolutely no regrets with this program or this trip. This had a MAJOR impact on my life post-trip, it changed my path. I know now I need to help people, I need to give back. The peace corps was something I had never looked into until now, or even global teaching for english. This trip made me look at life in a new light with a new perspective. My favorite memory on this trip was while I was teaching, I was in the back of the classroom with a student because she was ahead of the class and wanted to learn a little more advanced english. Teaching to a country that does not speak your language was extremely difficult but this student made it easy, her name was Nuan. On the last day tears filled my eyes and this student who I had made a connection with and who had touched my heart came up to me and repeated a long sentence in english, ending in "I will miss you and I love you". Hearing English words you taught come out of the student will be a memory I hold onto forever. Alongside that, every part was honestly my favorite and I genuinely recommend this program to anyone who is interested in making a change that will make yourself be the change.

My daughter went on the Thailand Cultural Kaleidoscope trip this summer through Global Leadership Adventures. I have never seen her so happy upon her return. When she proposed this trip to me, I was very nervous because she would be in a new country without me or anyone she knew. However, I was reading the description of the trip and saw how much service she would be doing and eventually let her go. We spoke to each other every night and she kept telling me how amazing the trip was and that I shouldn’t worry because of how safe it was. They were very strict and secure at all times so there was nothing to worry about. To any parent skeptical of letting their child go away, you should know that my daughter did not feel unsafe at all on the trip and it is a once in a lifetime opportunity. She could not stop talking about her experience when she came back, and people are still telling her how amazing it is that she was able to volunteer abroad!

Costa Rica is an amazing country with a Pura Vida lifestyle in which simplicity is key. The Global Leadership Adventures staff facilitated an environment in which everyone felt accepted and excited to be immersed in the local culture. I truly bonded with everyone on the trip and could not have asked for a better experience!

This summer I spent 10 days in Parrita Costa Rica with Global Leadership Adventures on the Beachside Service Adventure and the experience was beyond words. I definitely left a piece of my heart in the community of Parrita in Costa Rica and they have taught me so much more than I could have ever imagined. Being able to challenge myself and gain skills through service, activities like ziplining and horseriding, the leadership curriculum and putting myself out of my comfort zone has been unforgettable and truly life changing as it has helped me grow as a person. For my service project I worked on painting a mural at a school called Sardinal Sur and sometimes it was challenging because we had to paint in the rain and a lot of our hard work got ruined however we all banded together to fix it and make it the best it could be. Originally it was mentioned that we may not be able to finish in 10 days however we outdid ourselves and got so much done, seeing the children's faces looking at our mural on the last day of service was so rewarding and made everything worth it. I would highly recommend this trip if you are considering going on it or any other GLA trip because the company is great and I never felt unsafe so don't be worried.

When my 15 year old approached me about volunteering abroad, I must say I was apprehensive. The world is changing everyday in so many unpredictable ways. However, I wasn’t raised to fear the world. I was taught to be bold and to work towards my dreams with passion. There’s so much more than the boxes we live in and we only get one chance to make the most of our time here. I can’t just send them out into the world with reckless abandon either....so I researched...ALOT....trying to find a program which I thought would help my teen develop an appreciation for other cultures. One that would help guide, without stifling creativity and would encourage growth and independence. I went through countless reviews by parents and participants of many programs. Global Leadership Adventures seemed to be a perfect. A great balance of service, culture, and adventure. From day 1, a GLA rep was available to answer any questions to help guide us through the process. We were well informed as to what would be required, timelines, deadlines....any and all of the behind the scenes stuff to make this trip a reality. It has provided a solid foundation to encourage growth for a different future. One where boundaries become blurred and opportunities are more than just dreams. There is so much to learn in this world, but many are too afraid to learn. Too afraid to promote change. Changes don’t have to be global. The children, the families, the communities our GLA teens are supporting....it doesn’t take much to inspire 1, who could then inspire 1 more. Before long, that 1, turns into countless numbers of people who have been inspired in different ways to accomplish different things. I am grateful my teen has the desire to want to do more. To help others. To take a chance on the world and believe that it can be better. GLA as been an amazing group for my teen. I hope others will see the importance of stepping outside of the box...outside of their comfort zone, and be the change. My teen loved this program so much! There was a new found appreciation for the people and the future of Thailand! It also fueled a desire to want to do more, see more, help more, BE more! We are excitedly preparing for next summers 5 week experience!

This summer I spent two weeks with amazing staff, students, and guides on the beautiful islands that are the Galapagos. This experience was my first time traveling alone, and i have to say it couldn't have been better. Everyday we would do community service work, with purpose and pride, just like the staff had taught us. We also got to experience the culture and beautify of these islands though many fun activities like hiking, snorkeling, beach walks, spending time in the town, and more. The staff had extensive knowledge and were more than willing to answer questions, goof around, and participate with students. Future participants be aware, you will come back changed. Seeing one of the last places on earth that is virtually untouched will change you, it changed me. To see how elegant nature is without human interaction has made me want to fight even more to protect it. I cam home wondering what more I could do, and swear of the impact my everyday actions have. This trip will change you, and 100% of that is for the better.

My daughter traveled with Global Leadership Adventures to Bali this past summer. She had the most amazing time, and continually brings up her experience in conversation. I was a bit reluctant to let her fly to Indonesia alone, and stay for 3 weeks with people she did not know (nor did I). After visiting an alumni open house, we decided to do it, and we haven't looked back since. She loved teaching the young kids in the school, and exploring the tranquil cultural and religious aspects of the beautiful island. She doesn't have enough great things to say, and amazing pictures to show. After coming home, she displayed a higher level of gratitude for the life she leads, the things she has, and the education she is privileged enough to receive. She's begging me to allow her another program next summer already.

My daughter travelled to Tanzania last summer with Global Leadership Adventures, and it was the most amazing experience of her life. At first, I was very hesitant about letting her go. She had never even left the U.S. before, and now she's asking to go to Tanzania with people she has never met! She made power points explaining all the pros of her going, she texted me details about the program and the organization daily, and eventually we were driving her to the airport, saying goodbye as she left for Tanzania with GLA. Although through all of the convincing, I also wanted to get to know the program better. Whenever I had a question about anything, GLA staff was so helpful and so quick to answer. They welcome and care their students, and one thing my daughter said that made me feel so happy is that they made her feel like family. GLA was the perfect organization for my daughter.

I went on the 14 day Initiative for Children trip in Costa Rica with Global Leadership Adventures last summer. I was scared because I was traveling alone at 16 years old and also I'm a vegetarian and was concerned about accommodations food wise. When I got there I soon realized that most people go on trips with GLA alone and we all got very close because of it. Also, everyone was beyond accommodating with vegetarian food! I miss the kids so much, they were so incredible to work with and I cannot recommend this trip or this company enough. I felt so safe with Global Leadership Adventures and loved the experience so much that I will be traveling with them again this summer.

This program has taught me so much! I have been on two trips with GLA and they have had such a huge impact on me and my veiw of the world. It is such a transformative experience and it is so much fun!! I cannot think of a better way to spend my summer than with fellow teenagers having an adventure in a new country and volunteering. Thank you so much for the great times GLA! -AJ

This past summer my daughter Ava travelled to Belize for two weeks with Global Leadership Adventures. At first I was a bit hesitant to let her go on the trip, but I had never seen her so impassioned by a cause. Also, after extensive research on several websites, I found out GLA has few to no bad reviews and about a million amazing ones. The assurance from other parents about the trip’s safety and impact on their child’s life are what finally convinced me to let her go. And it was so worth it!! Ava had THE time of her life and found a new sense of purpose as well as many new friends. The in-country staff was always there if I ever needed to place a call in case of emergency but if I had questions I’d just email GLA and they got back to me quickly. My personal favorite part of this organization are the blogs that the students post online every few days. They gave me a great idea of what Ava was doing each day and I loved the pictures attached! Couldn’t recommend this organization more!!

This summer, I went on the 21 day flagship program to Thailand with Global Leadership Adventures, and it was the best experience of my life. I grew so much as a person from group discussions and seeing all different walks of life in another culture. I never once felt unsafe, which was very nice. It was definitely clear that safety was the number one priority. The support we received from our mentors was amazing; they were always there for us to talk about missing family, to being scared of an activity, to personal struggles affecting you on the trip. The mentors really help to make you feel welcomed. We got to see every aspect of Thailand, from the nightlife of the markets to the daily lives of rice paddy farmers. The activities were all so much fun and had something to learn from them. The mentors are always making sure we're aware of what's going on. My favorite part about the trip, besides teaching Thai children, would be the last night of the program when we all laid out on the floor to write our bag notes and stayed up late to finish them after our final dinner. We had all grown so close throughout our 21 days and we just talked about our favorite parts of the trip and it felt like everything came full circle.

Over the summer, I traveled with GLA to Tanzania. The trip changed my life, and left so many positive impacts. In Tanzania, we were given the amazing opportunity to teach English at a local primary school in Kilimanjaro, plant trees at the school, and cement classroom floors. However, we also got to learn about the incredible culture when we went to a local coffee farm, a dance ceremony, when we walked around the market and the village, and so much more. We also were SO lucky to have gotten the opportunity to hear Jane Goodall speak, to hike part of Mt. Kilimajaro, and to go on TWO safaris!! The people of Tanzania taught me so many things, but one of the things I will never forget is to always be grateful for what you have and to always make a positive out of a negative, no matter what it is. GLA was the most amazing group to travel with as well. There was not a single moment when I ever felt uncomfortable or scared, and the directors welcomed us with open arms. Our entire group at the end of our trip we considered family. My parents were very nervous to let me travel to a far away country with strangers, but GLA made it so easy for them and reassured them that I was in good hands, and I sure was! I can not thank GLA enough for changning my life.

My daughter went to Tanzania this past summer. In preparation for the trip, I was impressed with the organization; nothing was overlooked! The trip was well run and left her with a feeling of accomplishment and a desire for helping more. I highly recommend this trip for any teenager since it will increased their awareness of the world while this organization keeps them safe in their pursuit.

My GLA experience was absolutely incredible. I was moved beyond and 2 months later I am still impacted to being more productive and active on topics that matter to me. GLA provides an affordable program thats better than what you’re expecting. During the mornings on week days we would teach English to primary school students and then play at recess with them and then do 2 hours of service which included redoing concrete in classrooms and repainting. When we weren’t at the primary school, we were learning all about the culture every day in a different way. whether that was learning about the history/political situation or the native tribes and culture. I am looking forward to doing another volunteer program with Global Leadership adventures. The program has completely changed me as a person for the better

My volunteer trip to Costa Rica with Global Leadership Adventures was nothing short of eye opening. The positive attitude of the people involved in my program was so inspiring. The community where I was volunteering was so happy that we could offer them help in rebuilding a better place for their children to learn and the children enjoyed having new people to kick around a soccer ball with. I found myself falling more and more in a euphoric state as Global Leadership Adventure helped me immerse myself in a new culture. Whether it be at the volunteer sight, at the beach or at a locals house, the opportunities that were given to me on this trip were surreal. The program helped me learn to appreciate what I do have instead of thriving for such materialistic things. I was able to learn about the true meaning of a pure life.

This was one of the best experiences of my entire life. It helped with both my growth as a person, a leader, and as a friend. Growing up I always wanted to travel and see the world and even help in out in my own way. Global Leadership Adventures made all of these things possible. From the second I touched down in San José to the second I left I felt welcomed, included, and important for the first time in a long time. We did so much community service that could change a lot of the townspeople's lives for a long time. While I was there, my group helped out at a local tree nursery, we built a scale model of a baby humpback whale completely out of plastic water bottle and we even did a couple of beach cleanups in the local marine park. That's not all we did while in Costa Rica. We also went on a bunch of adventures. We went zip lining, surfing, hiking, and we even took a day trip to Corcovado national park on the Osa Peninsula. I would definitely recommend either this or any trip that GLA has to offer. The mentors were so helpful at every activity, they were definitely a big part of why my trip was so enjoyable. The food was amazing and our home base was so beautiful. Every aspect of my trip was incredible and I fully recommend trying a service trip abroad. I know for a fact I will be going on another one very soon.

My daughter went on this trip this past summer. I don't think I stopped hearing about her experiences yet and it's almost November. She made amazing friends that she still contacts today. They are amazing resources as she is planning on visiting some soon. More traveling for her! The interaction with the elephants was incredible. The students fed, washed, rode, and cared for elephants in their facility and various others. When my daughter came home she never failed to remember an elephants name while reciting her entire trip on our way home from the airport. The stories and experiences were a joy to hear. Overall, an amazing experience for her and I recommend for any student looking to pursue a passion.

My trip to Costa Rica was truly an amazing experience. The staff were exceptional and I always felt safe. I did the 14 day animal rescue program so I was able to work with a lot of the strays from Costa Rica at a local no kill shelter. As much as we helped the dogs and their living conditions, we also had lots of fun! The staff and students made all of the service hours fly by. We were also able to experience a variety of other fun activities like zip lining, hot springs, seeing the waterfalls, coffee tours, and touring San Jose. Those are just some of the awesome things we were able to do. We also learned a lot of interesting facts about the Costa Rican community. The bonds you create with the students and staff are incredible and I can't wait to go back next summer! This trip has made me look at everything in a different way and it truly made me a better person. I recommend Global Leadership Adventures for any teenager who wants to be the change in the world, and wants to have lots of fun!

My program was a bit different from the Elephant Village Initiative considering it was new this past year (2017), however, it is a program that I highly recommend. What an amazing experience I had in Thailand! Every day we woke up to the trumpeting of elephants outside our door. Within 5 seconds of arriving at the airport, I had already seen 3 others with the same GLA shirt. Not once on this trip did I ever find myself alone, nervous, and scared. It was an amazing environment and I was so excited to meet new friends. My entire experience was absolutely amazing as I was able to interact with elephants first hand. We washed them in the river, rode them through the forest and rewarded them with yummy snacks like bananas, sugarcane, etc. They are such amazing creatures with unique personalities. I feel like each one of us found ourselves looking in the mirror interacting with the different elephants. Girly, funny, moody, enthusiastic, excited, whatever it may be, the elephants displayed so much emotion. You truly get to understand how unique each elephant is. It was an amazing experience!

My daughter went to Thailand with Global Leadership Adventures and loved it! We were hesitant to let her travel alone, but she proved to be capable, and the support GLA provided was fantastic. We felt comfortable with her safety and wellbeing, and she came home with new stories and a new excitement about the world!

My daughter begged me to go with Global Leadership Adventures to Tanzania this past summer. I was terrified for her safety to let her go across the world with a bunch of people that I did not know. I spent a lot of time researching both GLA and Tanzania and I was very happy with the results. This by no means meant that I wanted her to go. She is 17 and I know that she is responsible, but I didn't trust the rest of the people in the world. I ended up speaking to a representative from GLA and this was the first time I considered the trip realistically. My daughter is stubborn and gets it from me, so we clash on topics like this sometimes. She would pressure me everyday for months about going on the trip. She has always been into volunteering and has been interested in traveling in the past couple of years. I realized that this was a great opportunity for her, so I researched and then researched some more. I finally agreed to let her go, and I must admit that I'm glad that I did. I got to see her thrive and grow as a person. She came home thankful and she had the most genuine smile on her face in every picture she took there. I hadn't seen that much happiness since she was little. GLA is a great organzation. If your child is pressuring you as much as mine did, this is certainly the organization to trust.

My incoming freshman son went on the 10 day trip to Costa Rica not knowing a single soul. From second one, he felt comfortable and had an amazing, unforgettable experience. He made new friends, learned about a completely different culture, came back appreciating things so much more, and couldn't wait to find a new adventure for next summer! A+ for GLA from beginning to end. Thank you so much!

I loved traveling with Global Leadership Adventures! My service was so rewarding, and I loved working with the kids in Thailand. The country itself is so amazing, and kept me in awe the whole time. I felt safe and secure throughout my trip, and never had a worrying time, even during my travel to and from the country. The trip was life-changing, and I miss waking up in Thailand!

My trip to South Africa has been the most pivotal moment of my life thus far. Especially within this specific program, you tackle issues that most other travel organizations do not. I was able to work directly with a small business owner, and the whole GLA group was able to help foster entrepreneurship in a country with about a 25% unemployment rate. South Africa is a beautiful country, with stunning views (and penguins! and ostriches!) and vibrant cities. If many are hesitant to travel afar, South Africa is a great choice. Everyone is welcoming and helpful (and speaks English). When I left, I cried my eyes out. I plan on returning as soon as possible, and hopefully studying there during University.

Global Leadership Adventures, or GLA, is incomparable to any other program. Every staff member is always there for you, especially your mentors. All of the mentors are very supportive and kind hearted people. When I got back home, the first thing I said to my mom and dad was, "Can I do another next year?" Everyday we woke so excited to scarf down our delicious breakfast and head out into the jungle to join the smiling faces of the locals. I will never forget these 10 days, the best 10 days of my life.

I had such an amazing experience through the Global Leadership Adventures' program Thailand Cultural Kaleidoscope! I traveled to Thailand not knowing anyone, yet I felt at home. Each student was so welcoming and eager to make new friends. My favorite part of the two weeks was definitely teaching English to the children. They were so engaged in the lessons and tried to understand, although the language barrier was a challenge. The kids were so thankful that we taught at their school and crying as they said goodbye. I also loved immersing myself in Thai culture visiting many different temples, and also volunteering at an elephant conservation. We also had a Thai cooking lesson. It was so much fun learning about new foods that are different than ones I usually eat. Besides the many different activities, the Global Leadership Adventure mentors were always so nice and helpful. They were always there for us and were willing to talk about anything. This was an unforgettable experience that I would love to repeat hopefully next summer!

Tanzania changed me. Global Leadership Adventures changed me. From the first day of school to the first day of safari, I never stopped smiling. The GLA coordinators make the trip as easy as possible for everyone. They tell you everything you need and are always available when you need them. The local Tanzanians embraced us into their culture seamlessly. They brought us into their homes, danced with us, taught us to paint, and showed us a coffee farm. They welcomed us everyday. They gave me a reason to feel grateful. GLA provided us with amazing food, homebase, and fun! They made all of the kids on the program interact and because of it I gained a new best friend. I recommend GLA more than anything in the world!!!!! join and you will never ever ever regret it!!!!!

This past summer I participated in Global Leadership Adventures Belize: The Initiative for Children. I had THE most amazing and life-changing experience of my life. The staff is amazing and very well-qualified/equipped to deal with any situation or emergency (should one even arise at all). The best part about this experience is that it is a totally authentic and service-oriented approach to exploring new cultures. On my particular trip we went to a poetry night a few villages over from home base, snorkeled around Tobacco Caye, and explored ancient Maya ruins.These direct and genuine interactions with Belizean culture are what sets GLA apart. Further, the service we participated in is beneficial to all involved. We got to teach the local youth English, paint their playground, and encourage them to reach their full potential. Even more, though, the service we completed changed our lives equally, if not more so, by opening our eyes to poverty, the privilege of public education, and social justice.

I traveled to Tanzania with Global Leadership Adventures for two weeks in August 2017. I am someone who is very attached to the their friends and family, and couldn't imagine traveling with a group of strangers for two weeks abroad. As my trip neared, I thought I was crazy for signing myself up! But I wouldn't have wanted to go with any other program. Global Leadership Adventures made my trip the most amazing thing I have ever done. I made friends I still talk to and hope to see soon, and I made relationships with Tanzanians that I hope to never lose touch with. This program made me realize how incredible the world around us is, and forced me to put myself out there and engage in this wonderful world. I could not recommend this program enough. The staff and experience made me appreciate life more, and gave me a bad case of the travel bug. I'll be back, Tanzania!!

This trip left me totally inspired and motivated. I have a new love for Dominican and the people there, it is just gorgeous. We spent a lot of time in the communities setting up pop-up clinics, and helping with the construction of labs and clinics. It sparked my interest in nursing and I was able to learn a lot from shadowing the doctors there and taking notes. What I liked was that it was away from all the tourism, you got to see more of the raw, real Dominican. I have a friend that went on vacation to Dominican, and our trips turned out to be very different. I was happy I got to see the real thing, and learn about the struggles the communities face. It is also interesting to actually be there and not fully relying on different forms of media to tell you what its like. You get to actually be there! I do wish that I had practised more spanish before the trip. Although I was able to still communicate through motions and pointing, it would be totally different if I could actually speak that language. It was an overall amazing experience.

My daughter went on a trip with GLA to Spain last summer and loved it. As a parent I was extremely confident that she was both safe and having fun the entire time. Definitely recommend it for anyone that wants their kid to have a once-in-a-lifetime experience but also be safe!

Last summer, I went with GLA to the Dominican Republic. I can't even explain how amazing the experience was. It was so cool to see the various projects that we were working on progress over the 10 days. They provided us with an assortment of projects that teens in the following program would continue after we left. The mentors were easy to talk to about any problem, but I also enjoyed simply conversing with them! All of them had such awesome stories to tell. My trip to the DR made me realize how much I loved traveling and volunteering, especially at the same time- so much so that I am fundraising to go to Ghana with GLA this summer. GLA also provides the tools you need to fundraise and encourage students to raise money for their trip, considering the fact that it can be kind of pricy.

My name is Grace Lee and I was fortunate enough to have gone on the 10-Day Beachside Service Adventure in the Dominican Republic with Global Leadership Adventures, this past summer. Little did I know I was about to embark on a trip that would change my life forever. One of the many things Global Leadership Adventures so special is it's focus on adventure. In the Dominican Republic my group and I did many excursions that tested both our physical and mental capacities. These excursions including cliff jumping, zip lining and dropping into a fresh water lagoon, hiking up and down a very steep, three mile mountain (Mount Brisón), snorkeling over vibrant reefs in the Caribbean, and ride in a big boat through crystal blue waters. These experiences boosted my self confidence as well as brought my entire group closer because we were able to share once in a life-time opportunities with one another. My group was so tightly-knit and I feel that it definitely made my trip more memorable and insanely epic. I give Global Leadership Adventures a gold star and I plan on continuing my travels through GLA this summer in Guatemala. I highly recommend Global Leadership Adventures and the Dominican Republic Beachside Service Adventure to any teen interested in an action packed adventure.

My daughter Grace had a life changing experience at age 15 with Global Leadership Adventures in the Dominican Republic, July 2016. There were so many aspects that were valuable. One that rises to the surface is the connection with students her age from around the world. Not only was Grace able to be with young people who were passionate about leadership & service, she was able to communicate in different languages, learn about their cultures, and broaden her understanding of how people her age live. Grace has stayed very close to many of those on the trip and has planned a week to visit one of her friends in Minneapolis this summer. In the past I would have had to fly with her, yet after going overseas by herself last summer she said flying domestically is "no problem mom." Priceless. Thanks Global Leadership Adventures.

My favorite thing about the GLA experience was the staffs ability to keep me engaged with and aware of my daughters activities. It is very hard to let your child go on such a far trip, but I always felt she was safe. She did get sick while in Guatemala, and I had many lengthy calls with her mentor. They handled the situation perfect. Her overall experience was amazing- I have decided to send her on another GLA trip this summer!

I went with Global Leadership Adventures last summer to Ghana, Africa. I went on the building healthy villages for 14 days. I had an amazing time in Ghana. This was my first international trip and with Global Leadership Adventures. I met the most amazing people from around the world. Those friendships will last a lifetime and we always say we want to go back to Ghana one day. Our community service project is to build a Eco compost Toilet but our group built 3 in 2 weeks. It was a lot of work but it was all worth it to see it to the end. The food, people, housing, and everything else was amazing about Ghana. Ghana was always be my second home. If you want to go on a trip in the summer or spring break. Go with Global Leadership Adventures, you wont regret it at all.

Global Leadership Adventures taught my daughter to effectively fundraise for her trip this year. Last summer, she went the the Dominican Republic on a service trip. GLA coaches children on effective strategies to fundraise so they they are able to get their message out there to family a friends. Before I knew it, Rachel had a GO FUND ME site up on Facebook and she wrote about the real reasons she wants to go on the Ghana trip this spring. I think the idea of confidently asking for what you need is a lifetime skill necessary for many successes in life. I am thankful to GLA for the encouragement they continue to give Rachel.

So last summer I went on the Initiative for Children in Costa Rica. It was an absolutely incredible experience that I'm so glad I had. I met so many incredible friends (one that I flew down to visit only three weeks after the program ended and then she came to see me for Thanksgiving, and I'm going back to see her over my spring break!) and it was really incredible how everyone bonded in such a short time. The staff also did so many things to make the trip special for each student, like throw surprise parties and birthday parties for us. I also think a unique part of it was the fact that our project was so deeply intertwined with the community - it was really up to the community to gather the materials and maintain the playground that we helped create. It was less of a "foreigner's helping the less fortunate" program and more of a "community helping community" program, which was awesome and something very unique about the experience. Overall 10/10 I loved it!

I traveled with GLA to the Galapagos last summer, and it was such an awesome experience. To prove it, I'm returning with the company to Bali this year!! I met a group of like-minded high schoolers, and we all quickly became friends. The mentors and coordinators did a fabulous job of keeping everything safe, organized and FUN - they were always accommodating to whatever we needed. The program is constructed in such a thoughtful, flexible way and we always had something to do, yet we did not feel rushed during our time on the islands. Many prospective families worry about their student traveling alone, and the safety measures taken on the trip. Personally, my trip was from NY to Quito, and I flew with another girl into Miami where we then met with over 10 kids from the US who had the same connecting flight into Ecuador. This was really valuable for bonding and getting to know each other before the program officially started. As for safety, there was not one moment where I felt I was jeopardizing my security. We always had an adult with us when traveling, yet we were given freedom to do our own thing within the boundaries of our mentors. All in all, GLA has everything figured out for you in every aspect from when you set foot off the plane on the first day, up until you board your departure flight. This experience really made my summer exceptional and I'm still in contact with many of my new friends. GLA is impeccable.

I traveled to Ecuador and the Galapagos Islands with Global Leadership Adventures last summer on their "Preserving Nature's Wonders" trip. I went along with my sister and we could not have had a better experience. I got the chance to immerse myself fully in another culture so profoundly different from my own. This once in a lifetime experience has changed my perspective on life. I hiked an active volcano, swam alongside sea lions, and built a greenhouse! If you are someone who is interested in sustainability, preservation, or animals, this is definitely the trip for you. I highly recommend this trip!

I had a blast in Odumase, Ghana. Prior to going on this trip I thought I wouldn't get as much cultural exposure; however, on the contrary, this trip made me see a world in a new way. I put aside the myopic view on 3rd world countries and indulged in the rich culture of Ghana and their ever so happy people. This trip is by far the best decision I've made in 2016. It has taught me to be thankful for all I have and was a severely safe and friendly trip. I cannot thank my mentors enough for guiding me and my fellow peers whom might I add are still in touch with me from the journey I'll never forget.

Last summer I went on a trip to the Galapagos with Global Leadership Adventures. Never once did I feel unsafe while in the hands of my leaders. The trip was well organized and impacted me very positively. GLA helped me realize so much about the world around. I definitely recommend this trip to anyone willing to step outside of their comfort zone and embrace a different culture.

Last summer I went on GLA's Galapagos 2-week summer program. It was an amazing life-changing experience! During the program, we worked in various conservation camps on the Galapagos islands. Our main objective was to clear land for the endemic giant tortoises that inhabit the island, and help stop the spread of invasive species and pollution. Through this, I have learned the importance of environmental conservation and the little things I can do to help protect the Earth in the long run. I highly recommend this program to any student willing to go out of their comfort zone and help make a difference in Earth's endangered ecosystems, it was truly a trip of a lifetime.

My Global Leadership Adventures trip was such a phenomenal experience, I'll never forgot the magic of traveling to what felt like a new world. GLA staff is so helpful answering questions before the trip, and the mentors on the trip were all so friendly and some of the coolest adults I know. I loved the way we were given opportunities to interact with the locals, and the volunteer work to fun/free time ratio was perfect! I recommend this trip to all of my friends whenever they mention volunteer opportunities, and genuinely believe you cannot find a better program to travel with.

GlA has been a great experience for my daughter. She learned a lot about the Dominican Republic culture and the challenges the community faces there while having an opportunity to make a lot of new friends and enjoy the beautiful island. It was amazing to see how much she matured in a short time and how much her view of the world has broadened since that trip. We are already planning her next trip to Belize.

We hesitated at first to send our 15 year old daughter abroad however she wanted to go to the Dominican Republic so badly, we relented and did not regret it. Our daughter is interested in going to Medical School and additionally loves Social Sciences. She was particularly inspired by her Human Geography class her Freshman year. She spent 2 weeks working long volunteer hours in the Dominican Republic for a Global Health Initiative. GLA partnered with 2 other NGO's to carry our their volunteer work in the community. The kids built houses and helped set up and run mobile health clinics. They taught kids how to brush their teeth and took blood pressures. The trip was so impactful our daughter would like to pursue some type of career in Public Health. She is deeply inspired to go back to the Dominican Republic and mentioned in a post service reflection essay that it was one of the most "rawest experiences" of her life. This year she is raising money through corporate sponsorships to go back for a longer period of time. We hope she makes her fundraising goal!

Going to the Dominican Republic with GLA was such an amazing experience. The staff was really friendly and pushed me out side of my comfort zone. Going to the different communities was a lot of fun and I really learned a lot of Dominican culture and the issues people face in the Dominican Republic.

This past summer I went to Ghana with Global Leadership Adventures (GLA). Needless to say, it was all phenomenal. The service we did there was so much fun, teaching children and making bricks to help build a library at the school. I will never forget this trip-- I made so many friends and it was amazing being immersed in the Ghanaian culture. GLA ROCKED when we had to go through the process of planning flights and answering all of my questions. Totally would recommend going with GLA to anyone!!

Guatemala was a beautiful country and with the help of Global Leadership Adventures I learned more about their culture than I ever imagined. We begun the trip with a fantastic recreation of a traditional Mayan wedding, with our own students in it! It is safe to say we all got to know one and other really quick after 2 people got married! Not to mention, the service was life changing. You can fall in love with the kids on day one, I would not change my location choice or organization for the world.

The trip is very different, especially because you are living almost as a local and they take you to special places where there are barely any tourists. The food there is absolutely wonderful especially the Nasi Kuning. This trip is a once in a lifetime escape and its something that you should should enjoy every moment of.

I travelled to Valencia, Spain with Global Leadership Adventures this past summer, and I'm so glad I made that decision. GLA's Spain program was everything I expected and more. I grew to know and love thirty amazing kids from a local school in Valencia, and I got to see my change-making potential while teaching them English. We gave the kids a window into our home culture and at the same time got to see Spanish culture through working with them. Overall it was an amazing trip, and I definitely suggest it for first-time travellers and experienced travellers alike. It's a bit on the costly side, but considering all that the trip encompassed (also especially that it's one of GLA's longer programs), it's definitely worth it!!

Choosing to go to Thailand with Global Leadership Adventures was the best decision I have ever made. Everyday was a new adventure; we would do anything from teach at a high school, to bathe elephants in the river. I expanded my knowledge and views on elephant conservation, and made life long friends. I have a new outlook on my life, and I couldn't have done it without GLA!

I never thought such a short trip could change my life so drastically and positively. The two weeks I spent in Costa Rica where the best of my life. We hiked through biologically diverse parks, we surfed, we went zip lining, and kayaking as well as doing community service. Seeing the impact all our hard work had on the community and the ocean was truly gratifying. This trip allowed me to grow as a person, it made me aware of worldwide issues,it gave me a chance to meet new interesting people and forced me to get out of my comfort zone and I loved every second of it. The mentors were eager to teach us, they were friendly and always knew what to do. Overall it was an amazing experience, safe, interesting and life changing.

Words cannot describe how amazing my experience was on the GLA Galapagos trip. This trip was my first time traveling abroad without my family and being away from them and my home for 2 weeks. The GLA mentors and other kids on the trip made it feel like I had made another family abroad (we even called ourselves one big family during the trip)! Everyone was so loving, kind, and supportive of one another. The trip well beyond exceeded my expectations. The food, accommodations, and activities were amazing. Some highlights of the trip for me were getting to snorkel with sea lions and sea turtles, getting very close to the tortoises and working alongside them, spending time at a local school on Isabella Island, exploring Old Quito, and going to the Equator. As for the service work, it was extremely fun but also a lot of work. The service I did consisted of removing invasive species from a tortoise captivity, cutting a fence in half, and replanting indigenous plants. This trip provided me with great learning opportunities, a chance to give back to communities, and forever friends! I hope to go on another GLA trip next summer!

My trip to the Dominican Republic with Global Leadership Adventures was simply spectacular. I signed up thinking I would go there and learn one thing, but when I got there I learned about things I never even knew were problems around the world. I want to begin by talking about the Dominican culture. Everything is more relaxed than in the United States and the people are more easy going with a strong sense of community. Even though in the beginning no one knew how building houses and playgrounds affected global health, we all left there feeling as if we truly had impacted the way of life of a Dominican. While there, everyone that came on the trip instantly bonded and become friends. On this trip I made friends that I hope to someday meet up with again and discuss the impact that this trip left on our lives. You also become very close with your mentors who teach you so much about global health, leadership, Spanish, and so much more. The mentors are awesome and I'm so glad they were nice enough to share their wisdom with us. This whole trip was extremely exciting and I learned the most amount of information relevant to what I want to do in the future in those 14 days. The experience was so life changing that by day 13 you still have not accepted the fact that you need to go back to a culture so much different than the one you've grown accustomed to in these 2 weeks.

The GLA program I chose was Costa Rica Spanish Service Adventure, one of the flagship program featuring both language learning, local volunteering and exploration of the Costa Rican culture. The good-nature of the local people and welcoming atmosphere, along with the breathtaking nature views, struck me and remain unforgettable despite the distance of time and geography. The inspirations surrounding environmental concerns, nature and human, individuals and the community, tourists vs travelers... all in all, were just fascinating and eye-opening that refreshes my mind and opens up a new perspective for me to behold the beauty of life. Besides, working at a eco farm surely was a brand new start in my life, to pull away from the urban area, build and sow under the sunlight, breathe the nature and live by the heart of the earth on a pristine country. It tells me much more than what I could have learnt from plain words and figures. It was just beyond imagination that such stories narrated by the people from their acts, personalities and voices truly touched me and bestowed me the sense of appreciation towards life itself. Although we had to commit ourselves in some physical activities and reside in a country far from home, the experience eclipses the transient nervousness and get myself fully involved in the 21-day program, which I guess, should be attributed to GLA as the magic of volunteering abroad.

What struck me about GLA was its ability to bridge the wide cultural and economic gap between American teenagers and locals that care profoundly for their country and culture. GLA did an exceptional job at not only telling me why it's important to help, but showing me. It showed me who these people were at their core, what got them up in the morning, and the things they had to endure and sacrifice. I was privileged enough to play and work with them, and listen to their stories, some of which were nearly too horrible to stomach. But the more I learned, and the closer I grew to the country, the more I humbly desired to help them however I could. That is what made my GLA trip more than exceptional, and my only complaint is that I can't go back once I'm out of high school.

My GLA experience was absolutely incredible and exceeded any expectation I had going into the program. I really wanted to make a difference, I really wanted to go to a brand new place, and I really wanted to experience something new. The only worries I had were about traveling abroad alone for the first time! Once I got on my flight, all the worries flew out the window and before I knew it I was in Ecuador meeting with my mentors. My group had 15 teens (including me), 2 adult mentors, and 3 nature guides. I really wanted to work, volunteer, and make a difference. It was exhausting yet so rewarding to be in such a beautiful place with such amazing people. I am so fortunate and lucky to have had such an amazing GLA group. All of us bonded extremely quickly and truly cared about one another as if we were family. When applying to GLA, you have to keep in mind this is more than an adventure program. You are going knowing that you will participate in hours of community service, which is the most rewarding part. The hardest part was leaving. I made incredible memories and met some truly remarkable people that I will remember for the rest of my life! This program also helped me realize my true passions in life and what I want to do in the future. I will definitely be applying for ANOTHER GLA trip next summer.

Never in my life did I think i would be able to experience an opportunity like this. Not only did I get to experience another culture and interact with the locals, but I also got to make an impact. Through the program, I got to help build a bridge for the community. Being able to impact a community like that was amazing; I was able to provide them with something that could change their whole lives. Service was not the only thing that made this trip memorable. We were constantly doing cultural activities that got us interacting with the locals. We traveled to an animal sanctuary, went snorkeling, hiked around a volcano, went zip lining, and lot of other fun and interactive activities. I most certainly made some friendships with people from all over the United States and the world that I will always remember and hold in my heart. The mentors I had for my trip were so friendly, and I really got to know everyone on the trip. This is definitely a summer I will never forget!

To generically say that my service trip to India this past summer was amazing is a pathetic attempt to truly capture my feelings about my experience. Never had I had such an experience over the past three weeks: from the emotional lows of being in a hospital after having a stomach illness (it's not as bad as it seems - the staff takes care of you really well) and the sluggishness of the 23 hours on the plane (no joke) to the fulfilling feelings I had every day because of the treks exploring the local cultures and just having fun with the kids. Each day presented a new opportunity for adventure: from creating and organizing what games to play with the children, seeing local temples, or shopping in the Tibetan market of McLeod Ganj, every day was filled with meaning and excitement. The staff are always knowledgeable, funny, and some of the nicest people you will ever meet. When people ask me how my trip was, I have trouble. How am I supposed to summarize possibly the best three weeks of my life? Not only have I become more aware of global affairs and interests, but this program has deepened my love to learn new things, deepened my love to meet new peoples and cultures, and deepened my understanding about how my actions ultimately affect the world. From this program I have been able to look at my surrounding circumstances in a new mindset. The most important lesson that I think this program has taught me is this: even in heartbreaking conditions, in the poorest of areas, in the most disadvantaged parts of the world where cell reception is more common than clean, running water and where trash cans are the streets, people still to find genuine happiness through each other. The memories I have of my GLA trip, of the people I met, of the cultures that I encountered: I will have these for the rest of my life. I can say pretty surely that I will come back to India one day, whether it be in two years or in thirty. I know I was hesitant in the beginning to go to a country clear across the world with perfect strangers; call me crazy. But hey, aren't we all a little crazy sometimes? It's taking that leap that will change your life; it certainly changed mine.

Thailand is coined the "The Land of Smiles," and with smiles also came many laughs and tears too. The respect for their culture is one like no other, and the traditions they have in Thailand are upheld by all citizens. They have a devote appreciation for Buddhism and their King and Queen. They dress conseratively, talk kindly, and live a happy and peaceful life. Growing up on Long Island, NY, I have never been to a country like this. They appreciate everything life has to offer - including animals, especially elephants. Elephants were one of the key points that drew me to the program. I had the opportunity to bathe an elephant, and also ride one. I will never forget the tears that came with this special moment, because I had never seen an elephant in my life; yet they were my favorite animal. Aside from working with elephants, we also taught English and worked at an orphange. I had never imagined teaching first grade English in a foreign country in my life, yet, I had the opporunity to do so for a week. We were able to create special bonds with the children there, and leave making an impact on their English speaking and writing abilities. At the orphange, we painted the housing buildings a new color to make the center look nicer. I did not think though, that I would leave creating a bond with a child that would lead me to still pen-pal him to this day. While I was at the orphange, a little boy came up to me and immediately attached to me when we got there. Wherever I went, he went; wherever I painted, he painted also. It was like he was my little brother, but I knew he viewed me as a father-like figure since he had no parents. We played all the games together, ate the same food together - literally everything I did, he did as well; and I will never forget the moments we shared. Luckily, my friend had a polaroid camera with her, and on the second to last day we were there, we took two pictures and I wrote my name on his picture, and he wrote his name on my picture. When we were leaving on the last day, as the van pulled out of the driveway, he held up his picture of me at the gate. I bawled my eyes out for the next few hours. I still remember that moment so clearly, and I'll never forget it. To know I made an impact on his life, has forever impacted me. Besides doing community service, we also had the opporunity to go ziplining through the rain forest, kayaking, and take trips to local night bazaars. These were just some of the fun activities we did. Global Leadership Adventures, and the Cultural Kalediscope program in Thailand has forever changed my life, and my outlook on life. I'll never forget the three weeks I had spent creating bonds with children there, and creating new friends across the world.

when i first started looking for opportunities to volunteer abroad i never thought i would find anything like Global Leadership Adventures, and when i did i couldn't wait to sing up. i decided to go to Costa Rica and volunteer a long side the beaching the Protecting the Pacific program and it was amazing. i met people from all around the world as well as the U.S. and in the corse of 2 week we became a team, we worked together to achieve what was expected of us while doing our community service and we made up games and lost at soccer as a team. we were exposed to world wide as well as local issues and were given the opportunity to think of solutions and to realize that theres time to make a change and that if we put our minds to it we can make a change. I got to meet and talk with the locals and bonded over rice reships and soccer games. we worked closely with the children as well as the adults in the community and were able to see who what we were doing was affecting them and how thankful they were. but it wasn't all heavy volunteer work we got to go kayaking though mangroves, zip lining, hiking and surfing as well as swimming by and climbing a waterfall. the 2 weeks went by so fast i wish i could have staid longer but I still keep in touch with the other volunteers and the people that supervised us while there. this past summer was one of the best summers of my life and i can't wait to volunteer abroad with Global Leadership adventures agin.

I went on my first GLA program (Peru Spanish Service Adventure) when I was going into my Freshman year of High School, this previous summer I went on their Guatemala Service Adventure, and this upcoming summer I am going to their India service program. I have traveled abroad alone with other programs, but none can compare to my GLA experiences. GLA works with you to prepare the family and traveler pre-departure, and does not cease to disappoint throughout your program. The consolers I have had were amazing and all served as great mentors in my life, and the service work done has always been eye opening. GLA enables you to experience a new country in a way unlike no other, I highly recommend.

Going to Costa Rica through Global Leadership Adventures was both fun and educational and provided me with new world knowledge, travel confidence, reaffirmed passion for service, new friends, and insight into what I'd like to do in the future.

I went on a trip with Global Leadership Adventures this past summer called the Initiative for Children, in Nosara, Costa Rica. It was an experience of a life time. The people I met were so nice and welcoming and I really created a bond with the other students on my trip. We help better a community in Nosara and we could really see the impact on the people. They were so happy with what we did for them. It really deepened my love for service. The adventures with GLA include surfing, zip lining, and hiking through breath taking forests. These adventures pushed me out of my shell and I have gone back. Since I've returned home from GLA I'm more confident, adventurous , and wanting to give back. GLA was a life changing expreince that I would encourage people to go on

Hi all! I am a Global Leadership Adventures Alumni and I had an amazing time in Peru, this past summer! I really recommend GLA! The housing experience was great! GLA Peru rented out a hotel in Cusco, for both the 2 week and the 3 week groups. I felt very safe there! I had never been to Peru, so I felt that by being there I grew, a lot! I understood much of their culture and what their lifestyles are like. The program staff were very supportive! I felt that I was able to talk to them about whatever I needed, or if I was frustrated with other students! Overall I recommend GLA to all High School age students.

Global Leadership Adventures has brought me nothing but good experiences throughout my travels with them. I've gone to three different countries and each has been sensational. I've felt endangered and the staff were fantastic. Highly recommend for anybody look for a valuable learning and service experience abroad.

I can truly say that my life changed for the better upon going on 2 programs with Global Leadership Adventures. My first program was the Cultural Kaleidoscope Thailand trip. My second was the Ghana Children of Africa program. They were amazing experiences. In Thailand I learned so much about the culture and went on so many adventures while I volunteered. It was the perfect trip for me and I would love to go back. I loved Global Leadership Adventures so much that I decided to go back the following year, yet this time to Ghana. In Ghana, I worked primarily with the children and it was absolutely fantastic. Seeing their smiling faces everyday was worth the hard work. I made so many friends, who I still keep in touch with, on both programs. I would go back to either program in a heartbeat and I highly recommend to anyone who is interested to go on one of their trips. It's worth every penny and you won't regret it.

I decided that instead of having a Sweet Sixteen, I wanted to volunteer in Thailand. It was probably one of the best decisions of my life. In Thailand I learned so much about their culture. I learned about the different foods that they ate, their religion and how they prayed, and their history. I learned so much about the country and the Buddhist religion. We had 2 service sites while I was there, which was an orphanage and a home for women. We played with the children at the orphanage and helped prepare the home for the rainy season. Both were rewarding experiences that I will never forget. The element of adventure was definitely prevalent as well. We went zip lining, biking, kayaking, hiking, and we rode elephants. I loved the program and I would recommend this to anyone who is considering it. It's worth every penny and I am more than thankful to have gone on this trip with Global Leadership Adventures.

This summer I went to Ghana through Global Leadership Adventures. It was such an amazing experience. It opened my eyes to a new perspective of the world I had not previously seen. In the mornings we would go down to the school where we would build bricks for a new library, prior to teaching a class. The children were always so eager to learn and were appreciative of us coming. They would often come to meet us at our HomeBase to hold our hands as we went with them down to the Park to play or go to the school to teach. While we were there, we also learned about some social and global issues like girl empowerment and privilege. Other times we learned about traditional Ghanaian dances, stories, crafts, and how to cook. I made so many friends and would recommend this program to everyone. I had an amazing experience and wouldn't trade it for anything.

I could not be more grateful for my time with Global Leadership Adventures over this past summer. They gave me such a wonderful opportunity to immerse myself in true African culture- every weekday we were brought to the local school and taught English to the students, played with them during their recess, and helped plant over a hundred trees surrounding their school. We also spent a nice amount of time with host families from the area that our home base was in; we walked around the town, went to their market, visited a hanging bridge, saw their homes, and interacted with the people all throughout the town. That was probably my favorite part about the whole trip. I was overwhelmed by how welcoming and kind everyone was. Everywhere you went, people would always greet you with a wide smile. Between all of the many amazing and interactive activities that GLA had planned for us, we were also given a good amount of down time at the home base. My group as a whole was rather close from the beginning- we would spend our nights out at the Gazebo playing games and finding out new things about each other. I remember one night in specific- the power went out at the home base (had been going out off and on for the past week) and a few of my friends and I just layed out on the grass and looked up at the stars. It was so peaceful. Reflecting on this journey now, there's nothing that I would've wanted to do differently (except stay longer of course:)) I went on the three week program and am so glad that i decided to do so. Two weeks would've just been much too short. I highly recommend this trip to anyone who has a desire to travel and immerse their self into a whole new world. Asante Sana (thank you very much) Global Leadership Adventures for this amazing opportunity and Nakupenda (I love you) Tanzania <3 .

Over the previous summer, I went on the GLA China flagship program, and spent a month in China. The program was expertly run. When unexpected events happened, our leaders got on top of it fixed the problems, they really went out of their way to get to know us and helped any one with problems. Food was always good, and the community service was rewarding. No complaints, program was phenomenal.

Although my review comes many months after my program, I can honestly look back on it as one of the best experiences of my life. The friends that I have made, the places that I remember, the people that I now know, and who know me. I went on a surfboard, I saw dolphins and a reef shark. But what's more important than anything, is the amount of people that I met with passions and dreams and ideas that are going to make a difference. I had so much fun at Global Leadership Adventures, but passion and the memories that I had are definitely what I am going to take away.

This past summer I was privileged enough to participate in GLA’s Bali Community service program through immersion in the Balinese culture while teaching local grammar school students English. GLA Bali was truly an unforgettable experience as it opened up my perspective to a culture so different than my own and allowed me to take an introspective journey on my own character. Along the way our group became a family, valuing the Balinese saying that “time is relationships” rather than the popular American phrase “time is money.” This saying “time is relationships” is so beautiful in its Balinese context that each individual is important and the relationships you create should be treated with respect, care, and love. My GLA mentors and peers indisputably embodied this phrase in that our relationships with each other and the community we impacted were lasting and meaningful in Bali and in the context of our hometowns. At home I carry the same enthusiasm the Balinese children always brought to the classroom where they were eager to learn English vocab about sports to animals. At home, I stay open-minded and curious like Bali’s rich and unique culture taught me to when I attempted the traditional dance or playing the gamelan. However I long for the same sense of adventure Bali’s unknown wonders gave me while riding elephants, scuba diving, or whitewater rafting. My GLA Bali trip was truly transformative because I brought a piece of their culture home as a part of me and the family that I made with my new friends. I will surely visit Bali again as I can truly call the culture, the community, and GLA my second home.

I am a typical Chinese girl. I said " typical" because i think a typical Chinese high school student is a student who has a lot of homework and pressure everyday and rarely go outside to see the world. I feel bored about this life, especially when i decide to study abroad and know how American students live in my age. Then i decide to see the world and practice my spoken English through GLA. I was at first very nervous because this was my first time to travel to another country alone, speaking a different language(China is not an English speaking country). I was even afraid that I can't understand people talking. However, the students and teachers are so nice and patient. Actually I am very shy. Sometimes i just sat aside listening and saying nothing. But they always wanted me to join their conversation. They may ask me "what is this like in China?" or "What's your opinion?" I felt warm. And Ghanaian people are very friendly. They greet everyone, whoever you are. We built a compost toilet, which can help about 30 people there. I was surprised by our efficiency: we used less than two weeks to build the toilet. when i knew that this toilet is the 40th toilet Dougle, our teacher who has been in Ghana for 7 years, made. I really admire him for his kindness. We also met an old grandmother who set up a school there. I was moved that so many people are helping people and doing charity in the world. They are so near me, inspiring me. That was the first time I felt i want to help someone so badly. I thank GLA so much to let me make my first white and black friends and let me go out of China alone. I hope I can go to more places and help more people.

For this past summer, i went to Costa Rica for 2 weeks to do the GLA program "Protecting the Pacific". At first, I was extremely nervous since it was the first time I was travelling to a different country alone and that i would be with people i never met before. However now, i can say that i should have been scared of nothing since the experience was the best thing i ever had in my life. I knew that I would have a good time but i never expected falling in love with the country and being passionate of certain things. The people I have met and the accommodations have all been quite lovely and in the end, the whole group seemed like another family to me. Not to mention, the country is extremely beautiful with it's exotic wildlife and pristine beaches. Everyday was a new experience and activity that was not only fun but usually helped the community which makes it even more amazing in my opinion. We did things like paint the school walls, cleaned up beaches and whatnot. Also not to mention, activities like surfing, zip-lining and playing soccer with the local community. Cheesy as it seems, the whole trip changed my perspective on life and what I want to do in the future and I would go back if I could. I highly recommend this program for others to take it because not only do you travel to a different country but you also get to meet some of the best people ever and be immersed by a whole new culture. It's incredible.

This past summer I traveled to Bali, Indonesia, and I can easily say this was the best experience I have ever had. I was honestly a bit nervous to travel halfway around the world and spend the next 3 weeks with a bunch of random high school students. I did not know who they were, what they would be like, or if they would even like me. But I am so glad I took the chance. Part of the reason I chose Bali was for a different cultural experience and to volunteer with young children. I became so emerged in the Balinese lifestyle and culture that by the time I went home to the U.S. saying "da da" instead of goodbye. The people that I met on my trip were incredible, and I am still in contact with the majority of the group. I have met some of my life-long best friends and I know we will meet up in the future. Everyday we did something adventurous; ranging from scuba diving, sunset boat ride, swimming at black sand beaches, surfing, going to an elephant safari park, white water rafting, karaoke, to visiting temples that have such significant cultural ties to the Balinese. We even participated in making offerings, praying, learning a traditional dance, wood-carving, and to play the gamelan. Everyday I think about my experience and how it has influenced my values and morals. Yeah it probably sounds cheesy saying that I came back "a whole new person", but my perspective and outlook on life has really changed ever since I returned home to the States. My favorite part was seeing the smile on the Balinese children's faces. Volunteering at a local English camp was extremely fun and the kids enjoyed our presence. We were put into groups of 4 or 5 and rotated between art, classroom, and games. I have never met children so eager and enthusiastic to learn. I don't think I could thank my GLA staff in Bali enough for the wonderful experience that they gave me. They taught me more than I ever expected to learn about myself and what is really important in life. The most important lesson was time is relationship. I hope one day I can return to Bali and be reunited with my Balinese family #YOBO (You only Bali once)!!!

Saying that this trip changed my life is practically an understatement. Being in Ghana for two full weeks was like being in a whole new universe with completely different routines, priorities, values, and perspectives than those I had back in the U.S.. Our two leaders, Shene and Kendall, did an awesome job introducing us to the culture and way of life in the village of Krobo, and immersing us in the daily activities that the people engage in there. After our first walk around the village for orientation, we instantly became recognizable to the locals, who waved at us 99% of the time. The neighborhood gave us the feeling that we were truly at home, and for the net week and a half, from walking to the nursery school and intermediate school, to returning to the local park at 4:00 pm everyday, we became a part of the Krobo family. What I love and admire most about the people of Krobo is how genuinely happy they are with their circumstances and possessions, and how they find ways to use what they have to make themselves even happier. The kids made toy race cars out of bottle caps and aluminum, played soccer with an empty bottle, Frisbee with a large cap, and so many other outdoor activities that kids who are well provided for would never think to play. In the classroom they value anything they learn from us and copy down as much from the board as they can, but they also value something simple as a marker that they can keep for themselves to use everyday instead of sharing. Over the course of the two weeks, I learned as much from interacting with the kids as they learned from us. Coming back home brought upon a lot of withdrawal and culture shock--I loved my time in Krobo, Ghana, and I will never forget a single moment I had there.

In the beginning, when I signed up for a GLA trip, I only wanted to volunteer abroad to travel and get in some community service hours. However, the trip changed my life forever. In one of the communities we were working in, many of the children tried to help us shovel and sift sand to cement their floors. We all played with the little kids, but there was one little girl in particular who I became friends with. She was named Maddie and was around 6 years old. At some point, she pulled me aside and began to do my hair, asking her mother if she could use their hair-ties and hair brush in my hair, which her mom hesitantly complied to. Once she was finished, and we were about to leave the community for that day, I asked her if she wanted her hair tie back, but she said no and kept giving it back to me. Although this seems like just a kind gesture to some, to me it meant the world. Maddie was a little girl who had so little, and yet was so kind and generous. In this moment, I felt the need to forever give back to her and others people in similar situations. Meeting Maddie and other Dominicans was a humbling experience. I learned so much from them, along with my amazing GLA counselors who often shared stories and knowledge from their past service trips with organizations like the Peace Corps.. In 3 weeks I made life-long friends who made me laugh everyday while at the beach, hiking, cliff jumping, or just playing cards. My experience in the Dominican Republic changed what I want to study in college to International Development with a concentration in Latin America, and it changed what I want to do in the future. It was truly an unforgettable experience that I am forever grateful for.

Ever since I was 8 years old I have had this dream of moving to Ghana in order to start an organization of my own to help improve overall living conditions. Staying in Ghana made my dreams feel possible to achieve. I would never grow tired of life there. The people are so loving, the food is delicious, the views are breathtaking and the children have the biggest smiles. My volunteer group included three boys and two girls, which is a very small group for GLA considering most groups consist of 15-30 kids. Having only 4 other people in my group made me enter the experience a little nervous because I am typically a shy person. However to my surprise I broke out of my shell in the first day! My group members were hilarious and always had me laughing, Kendall and Dougall were great leaders who always were making sure we were having a good time, and the staff on site were the best people I have ever met. The GLA staff as a whole were so happy and energetic. They were so amazing words can not describe them. Not only were the local staff welcoming, the community as a whole was so loving. Children run up to you, give you hugs, high fives and always want to play with you. The elders in the town share their knowledge with you about the customs which educates you about how they live and their traditions. The town is gorgeous and Meet Me There, the lodge you stay at, is right on the beach so the view is amazing and the lagoon where we can swim after work is so refreshing.I honestly can't put my experience into words as much as I try. I can go on and on about how wonderful it was but it is something that has to be done first hand. My advice to you is to try it, you will love it, there is no doubt in my mind you will not love Ghana.

Earlier this summer I went on the 10 day beachside service adventure in the Dominican Republic! Since I was little I've always wanted to travel abroad and help those in need, and the Dominican was an amazing place to do that. As we were there we did many things some such as in a Haitian community named Caraballo we made soccer goals and helped paint baseball dugouts, and a fence around the bottle school previous groups finished. Also we mixed lots of cement for the back wall of the bottle school in Las Canas, and helped finish a bottle school in La Grua. While we were at the work sites we didn't only work we also danced and played soccer and games with the kids! You grow a tight bond with the kids there, and in the little time you're with them they make a big impact on your life. Yes we worked a lot but working isn't the only thing we did we got a couple days off and on those days we went cliff jumping and zip lining into a lagoon at a place called DuDú! Also we went snorkeling at Sosou Beach, and went to Cabarete Beach! The Dominican was amazing and my experience was so life changing! The adults and kids there have so little but they are so happy and outgoing, and in my opinion I think that is truly amazing! So anyone who is looking to travel abroad I would defiantly suggest going with GLA you won't regret it!

I traveled to Peru last summer with Global Leadership Adventures for 3 weeks on the Service in the Sacred Valley program and was completely blown away by the experience. I hadn't done a trip without knowing anyone going into it, so I came into the experience more than a little nervous and wary. But GLA exceeded all of my expectations. I felt completely safe and secure at every moment, and that was a big deal to me. The accommodations on the trip were great and the mentors on the trip were absolutely fantastic. Right from the start, I felt welcomed and supported, and as the trip went on I only grew more in awe of how cool they were. I looked up to them so much, and this fall one of my mentors even wrote a college recommendation for me. The other great aspect was they really take leadership, adventure, and cultural immersion seriously, almost as much as they do meaningful service work. Yet the other students were what made my trip truly exceptional. Before the trip, my friend who had done GLA Costa Rica told me that GLA attracts really cool people and I was going to make some really great friends, and that proved so true. Somehow I was lucky enough to get to explore Peru with 30 of the coolest, nicest, funniest people I had ever met. Lasting friendships just formed instantly and I'm so grateful for the friends I made on my trip. As I look at my opportunities in the future, I really don't know how anything could top my trip with GLA last summer, and as I look back on my time in Peru, I wish every day I could go back and relive it over and over again. I highly recommend this program to everyone and I promise you won't regret going.

So, what is Global Leadership Adventures? When looking around for programs, I was completely skeptical of all facets of all programs, especially considering that I wanted to absolute best experience possible for my summer. Well, as I am sure you've heard from countless others (because that is truly how great Global Leadership Adventures is...everyone simply loves it) Global Leadership Adventures is literally the amalgamation of all one could possibly hope for. I'll start off by talking about the home life. You come into the program with 20 other strangers and a few mentors and you walk out of Global Leadership Adventures a cohesive family that has bonded over a variety of activities, conversations, and excursions. To this day, I still talk and interact with my fellow Global Leadership Adventure brothers and sisters and that relationship, I believe, is priceless. That, in itself, was one of my favorite parts of the adventure. The mentors truly facilitate conversation to ease the transition and are so supportive of everyone. There was never a moment I did not feel safe and at home with my mentors -- they were truly amazing and I admire and look up to them in so many ways. Next, I'll talk a little about a typical day in the Spanish Service Adventure. You spend about 4 hours each day doing volunteer work (painting, making cement, planting/farming) and then you spend the second half of the day in Spanish class to hone your vocabulary, speaking skills, and writing. You are able to fit so many things into your day and it ends up being a really active, exciting experience every day; each day brings a pleasant surprise and new lesson that you will cherish. Excursions. These were just a great way to bond with your peers and mentors and were SO much fun. In my adventure, we went to the beach and learned how to surf (I had my first surf lesson!), went whitewater rafting, went to a Costa Rican adventure park (repelling from trees, zip line, swinging across the jungle on a rope), went to have some of the BEST coffee ever (I usually am not a fan, but I made an exception for this!), and even learned some history about the culture that surrounded us. Overall, there are so many more things to this program than I can even express in words, but please do not hesitate to contact someone from Global Leadership Adventures because they are so welcoming and willing to help. I hope that you truly consider this wonderful opportunity because this was an irreplaceable adventure that I encourage anyone to embark on.

Hello everyone! I was in the GLA Peru: Service in the Sacred Valley 3-week program. I feel that Global Leadership Adventures created a perfect balance of worthwhile service work and adventures that immersed us in the Peruvian culture. My group's service project focused on building the foundation to a greenhouse (the rest of the greenhouse was completed by the 3-week group that followed us) and I feel that while this project was a definite impact on the village we worked in, it also had an immense impact on developing leadership and problem-solving skills among all of the students. A major challenge was figuring out a system of transporting huge rocks up a hill and into place to form the walls of the greenhouse. With the help of our mentors and other locals, we broke up into teams and quickly built up the wall with amazing speed. The activities we did every day were unique and forced us out of our comfort zone to figure out new ways to achieve our goals. The mentors and students were supportive, dedicated, and hard-working people that all wanted to contribute to my group's success, and by meeting so many different people, I learned to look at the world in different ways also understood what I want to do in the future. At the end of my trip, I felt that I had made a definite impact on the village I worked in, and also that my worldview and understanding of problems faced by developing communities was deepened. I definitely recommend Global Leadership Adventures to anyone interesting in making a change while immersed in another culture. For more information, you can visit their website at www.experiencegla.com or you can search "GLA Peru" in Facebook to read more about the trip and have questions answered from GLA Alumni.

GLA is an excellent program to travel and volunteer with! I participated in the ten day beach side service adventure in the Dominican Republic, and it was everything I had hoped for and more. I had the opportunity to collaborate with other motivated teens, while completely changing my perspective on the world. I was able to exercise and improve my leadership skills through providing service to the communities there, as well as partake in a number of fun excursions. I never felt unsafe or in danger, and the food provided was delicious and filling. The trip offers eye-opening days of service in addition to an exploration of the country's terrain and culture. Every day presented new learning opportunities that arose as we began to have a better understanding of the work we were doing and how it would affect the communities we were in. We worked on constructing two buildings, a clinic and a school, that were built using recycled bottles. We also picked up trash in one community and planted cacao and coffee trees in another. Each task that we completed had a well thought out plan behind it, and the end result would prove to be sustainable and beneficial to the Dominican and Haitian people in years to come. On the other side of the equation, the trip also involved a number of fun activities outside of the service oriented aspect of the trip. We went to the beach almost everyday, and we went cliff jumping and zip lining into a lagoon. One of the greatest things I took away from the trip were the friendships that were sparked that I still have today. I met some truly inspiring young people that shared my passion and excitement for global travel and exploration. Overall it was an amazing experience, and I recommend it to all teens looking for a great way to spend their summer!

I absolutely loved traveling with Global Leadership Adventures! The service we did in Guatemala was really meaningful, not just because of the job we did, but because I was able to bond with the elementary school children who we were around. It was so heartwarming to see the smiles on their faces when we came to their schools! One of my favorite memories of the trip was on our last day of service when a few of the girls I had gotten to know gave me little homemade bracelets. It assured me that I was able to make some sort of impact in their lives and reminded me that there is more to community service than just manual labor, although that is an important component of it as well. Global Leadership Adventures allowed me to have this amazing experience because of the connections it had with different communities and schools, and I could not have been happier with my trip.

Global Leadership Adventures was such an amazing experience! I was a little nervous going in because I had never traveled alone before, but I felt so safe at the home base that I would recommend it to anyone who fears being homesick. I traveled on the Beachside Service Adventure 10 day program to the Dominican Republic and I can honestly say it was the best 10 days of my life. The service was eye opening and inspiring, the activities adventurous and food delicious! I was very comfortable with the staff of Global Leadership Adventures, for they are very well trained and lots of fun! I recommend this service program to anyone who anyone who wants to make a difference in the world while having a great time and making some life long best friends!

One of my most memorable moments this summer while in Guatemala was talking to my mentor about machismo during community service hours. At the primary school we were working at, we were shoveling rocks into buckets to take them to the dump when I asked Meredith, who was in Guatemala as a part of the Peace Corps before working with GLA, why the men in Guatemala treated women with such little respect. While she was working with the Peace Corps, she ran a program that promoted girls leadership. When I asked her the question, she went into explaining what machismo was. Machismo is basically aggressive masculine pride, which is the primary reason why men treat women so poorly in Guatemala. This then led me to wonder about how Guatemalans viewed abortions and what the deal was with birth control. We got into a long discussion about womenís rights and their struggle to stand up for themselves. This definitely was an eye opening conversation. I thought the American culture was sexist, but I never really thought about how much worse other countries not too far from home were. I absolutely loved talking to Meredith because she was so passionate about the subject. I thought it was so great that our mentors were so informative about the native land, which made my experience that much more meaningful.

I had the most amazing time on my 10-day trip to the Dominican Republic last summer! The staff and other students were so nice, helpful, and inspiring. The locals I met were absolutely lovely people with a vibrant culture, and it was an amazing feeling to know that I left having made a positive impact on their community. I highly recommend this trip to any high school student with a passion for learning and human rights. I loved this trip and program so much that I'm returning to the Dominican Republic with Global Leadership Adventures this April! I can hardly wait!

I had the incredibly amazing experience of attending the Costa Rica: Empowering Rainforest Communities program in July. It was completely eye-opening and life-changing. I made friends and experiences that I will never forget, and still reflect on each day (no, I'm not exaggerating, and yes, we still have a group chat on Facebook so we can talk to each other almost daily). In Costa Rica, not only did I do amazing volunteer work in the dryforest, rainforest, and local elementary school, I also participated in exhilirating excursions such as hiking through a rainforest and up a volcano or camping on a remote beach. I've seen amazing, beautiful sights and for that I feel extremely fortunate. The excursions provide an excellent view into the country's environment and culture, as you learn a lot about the place from the hike leader who sometimes accompanies you through the forests. The food was something I'll never forget, either - prepared fresh every day and including freshly squeezed juices from native fruits, each meal was constantly looked forward to by everyone. I miss it every day because I know I will never be able to eat the same things ever again! The kitchen staff and program leaders have you health and happiness at the forefront of your mind and it is truly reflected in the food we were served. The program leaders were also inspiring, kind, funny, and energetic. They seemed to be so passionate about what they were doing and reached out to everybody. I developed such great relationships with all of them and miss them so much. All the teens I met were fantastic people and we bonded so quickly. We became so close and it is almost guaranteed that no matter who you are or how different you think you may be, when you are thrown in another country knowing absolutely nobody, you will make some of the greatest friendships of you life. All in all, GLA is a fantastic program and the 2 weeks I spent in Costa Rica are 2 weeks that I'll never forget and always miss.

I went on the 3-week session of this trip summer of 2014 and can honestly say it was one of the most fun, rewarding and all-around spectacular experiences of my life. The accommodations are great; everyone on all sessions of the program stays in the same hotel that only GLA students and mentors are in and I felt completely safe and secure the entire time. What I loved about this trip is that not only did I feel like we were actually doing meaningful service work (we built a greenhouse) but Global Leadership Adventures really values cultural immersion, adventure and leadership in each of their trips as much as the volunteer work. The work we did meant so much more to me after we spent each afternoon playing soccer with the kids in the village, learned about the problems of malnutrition in Peru, and learned more about Peruvian culture in dance classes and music lessons. Between white-water rafting, biking, hiking, and camping, this program is full of adventure and fun, and these experiences are irreplaceable. Even more than all of this, the people on these trips are great, especially the mentors. My mentors were some of the coolest, most interesting people I've ever met and I loved getting to learn about them over the course of the trip. I would recommend any GLA program, especially the Service in the Sacred Valley trip, to anyone in a heartbeat.

This past July, I volunteered in Guatemala for two weeks with Global Leadership Adventures. Let me start by saying that this program is amazing! The process of registering for a program is made very easy and there are always people available to answer questions. GLA provides information about fundraising, travel arrangements, packing lists, possible vaccinations, items participants can bring as donations, and further reading material about each country. Teens can choose from a variety a locations all the way from South America to Africa to Asia. I volunteered in Quetzaltenango, Guatemala for two weeks. Quetzaltenango is a rural town located near the mountains in Guatemala. Out hotel was on the side of a mountain and provided modest yet comfortable accommodations. Each room held three-five people and we all shared a few communal bathrooms. Our project consisted of volunteering at a school painting and repairing walls. We were allowed to play with the kids each day for about an hour during their recess. Each afternoon, we participated in different cultural activities. We visited Mayan ruins, learned salsa dancing, visited a weaving shop and a pottery shop, learned how to play the traditional marimba, met a local woman and her family who made chocolate from real cacao beans, and took a quick trip to the hot springs. Almost every minute was planned and we were always busy, however, there was down time each day to take a quick nap or play games. Over the weekend, we visited more towns, took a boat ride over the lake, and shopped at a huge indigenous craft market. I love that GLA focuses not only on volunteering but also on experiencing local cultures. Each participant will walk away with different memories but everyone will walk away a more well-rounded, cultured individual.

Initially signing up for a trip with Global Leadership Adventures I was kinda hesitant, as traveling to a foreign country on your own can be somewhat nerve-wracking. The whole time, however, from signing up to when I landed back home, the Global Leadership Adventures staff was supportive, organized, and encouraging. I immediately became very close with the other 25 teenagers on my trip and in just the two short weeks I made lifelong friendships. Everyday at service we got to paint and cement a local school then play with the children during their recess and every second of it was extremely valuable. By interacting with the locals, volunteering, and participating in cultural activities, I not only learned so much about them, but also myself. This trip truly planted core values within me, taught me what I wish to do with my life, and ultimately changed me as a person. Seeing, living in, and volunteering in a place very different from what I was used to really opened my mind, and although I went there to help them, they ended up teaching me way more than I could have ever imagined. Everyday I wish I could be back in Guatemala because it was such a great experience. So please, if you are interested in going at all, do it. You'll never regret it.

I would recommend Global Leadership Adventures to anyone. I had so much fun and learned a lot of valuable lessons. I would love to volunteer abroad for the rest of my life because of this trip. This program was the perfect mixture of adventure and service. We spent 2 days building a bottle school in Carabella, 2 days building a bottle school in Las Canas, one day picking up trash in La Grua, and one day hiking Bryson and planting trees near the top. In Carabella, The locals were more distracting us while we were working there and had a big system of dependency because of the other organizations that went there and just handed them items. Here I had learned the true meaning behind the quote, "Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime." We built the bottle school so that the people of that community would be able to use it for a while. I learned another important lesson in La Grua who hadn't been given products by these other organizations. The kids here were obviously sick and had pot bellies because they didn't have clean water. Even after all of this, these kids were so happy. The had almost nothing, but were the most joyful kids I have ever met. Don't worry, we did have some fun activities too! We ziplined into the lagoons and jumped off cliffs. We also went on a boat and snorkeled there. We did have some free time back at the home and there we learned plenty of new card games, swam in the pool, visited the beach (which was a minute away) and played odds are. I made meaningful relationships with the Dominicans and my GLA family. I really had the best time and would highly suggest that if you were thinking on volunteering abroad with Global Leadership Adventures, then you should absolutely do it. It was the best 10 days of my life.

Review I would recommend Global Leadership Adventures to anyone. I had so much fun and learned a lot of valuable lessons. I would love to volunteer abroad for the rest of my life because of this trip. This program was the perfect mixture of adventure and service. We spent 2 days building a bottle school in Carabella, 2 days building a bottle school in Las Canas, one day picking up trash in La Grua, and one day hiking Bryson and planting trees near the top. In Carabella, The locals were more distracting us while we were working there and had a big system of dependency because of the other organizations that went there and just handed them items. Here I had learned the true meaning behind the quote, "Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime." We built the bottle school so that the people of that community would be able to use it for a while. I learned another important lesson in La Grua who hadn't been given products by these other organizations. The kids here were obviously sick and had pot bellies because they didn't have clean water. Even after all of this, these kids were so happy. The had almost nothing, but were the most joyful kids I have ever met. Don't worry, we did have some fun activities too! We ziplined into the lagoons and jumped off cliffs. We also went on a boat and snorkeled there. We did have some free time back at the home and there we learned plenty of new card games, swam in the pool, visited the beach (which was a minute away) and played odds are. I made meaningful relationships with the Dominicans and my GLA family. I really had the best time and would highly suggest that if you were thinking on volunteering abroad with Global Leadership Adventures, then you should absolutely do it. It was the best 10 days of my life.

Fui para o Peru imaginando que iria para um programa social semelhante aos que participo no Brasil, só que em outra língua. Não poderia estar mais errado. Como único representante latino, não esperava ter sido tão bem acolhido. A língua que imaginei ser um problema, tanto inglês quanto espanhol, em pouco tempo já estava dominando. Bem na verdade, falei portunhol mas a população local é muito solícita e acolhedora e o que eu falava eles entendiam. A construção da estufa foi um desafio que embora cansativo, construiu fortes laços na nossa turma, que hoje posso dizer são amigos para vida. Fui prazeroso e ao mesmo tempo divertido. Os passeios que fizemos, foram excursões pela historia peruana e incaica em um cenário espetacular. Machu Picchu realmente é uma das maravilhas que merecem ser visitadas. A equipe de tutores é muito bem treinada e nos fizeram sentir seguros sempre. A comida é boa e muito bem servida. As trilhas não demandam experiência e permitem que o grupo estreite as relações. Só não estava tão preparado para o frio das montanhas (até nevou!). A vivência com a população local me mostrou uma proposta social diferente das que já vivi. As pessoas vivem em uma coletividade que data das relações incaicas, ou seja, compõem uma sociedade que trabalha no coletivo, e compartilharam felizes seus lares e seus afazeres conosco. Foi uma experiência que mudou a minha vida e ainda ganhei amigos em vários lugares do mundo.

On Day 1 of my Dominican Republic Trip I had no idea what to expect. Throughout the ten days that I spend in the Dominican Republic I my eyes were opened to how people live below the poverty line and what some things are we can do in order to help them. I learned about sustainability, eating right and global impact throughout the ten days I spent there and I am thankful because I am now implementing them in my own life. These things include trying to eat organic, being thankful for what you have, and caring for the environment. My eyes were especially opened once seeing the happy children. The children had nothing to their name however, they were laughing, dancing and singing constantly. I learned that material objects mean nothing for happiness! That is one lesson I will never forget!

Global Leadership Adventures is a wonderful program that allows high school students to travel abroad and experience a new culture. Through GLA, I was able to travel to Cuzco, Peru for two weeks. Our service project while in Cuzco was to help create a greenhouse for a local school. During our service days, the children would sometimes even dance and put on a show for us to express their gratitude toward us. It was very heartwarming to know that just by helping create this greenhouse, you were helping all of these children's lives. Also at the hotel we were staying was introduced with new culture. It was not a brand new and fancy hotel, but it was traditional and normal to be located in Cuzco. GLA had personally had the entire hotel just for GLA programs. It was a nice touch to the trip. Besides service, we were taken on many adventures. We were given the opportunity to see a llama farm, take a tour of downtown Cuzco, and even hike to Machu Picchu. Machu Picchu is wonderful. It should definitely be on everyone's bucket list. The best part of traveling to Machu Picchu was the hike. The hike allowed you to see some breathtaking views. We even got to sleep under the stars. Don't worry we didn't have to carry tents and food. When we arrived at our destined stop there were men there ready to serve us. The entire trip was amazing. I honestly would recommend it to anyone interested in volunteering abroad. GLA makes it all very possible for you to have a great experience.

My trip through Global Leadership Adventures was overall an amazing experience. Peru itself is beautiful. We were lucky enough to experience a breath taking hike to Machu Picchu. Also while we were building greenhouses for a local school, during we would get to play soccer with the children during our break times. The hotel we were living in was amazing. We had the entire hotel just for everyone part of the program. The staff was also great. They were very welcoming and made a great effort to get to know everyone better. I felt completely safe and had tons of fun. It was a great experience to see different parts of the world and to be able to help others.

I participated in the Costa Rica Protecting the Pacific program in August of 2014. This experience not only allowed me to participate in meaningful humanitarian work, but also allowed me to immerse myself in the unique atmosphere of Costa Rica. The program was the correct combination of enriching volunteer work and exciting immersions into the Costa Rican community. We stayed at an eco-hotel (Canto de Ballenas) that was more than sufficient in meeting our needs. Although initial difficulties arose in adjusting to the absence of technology, we quickly embraced the idea of opening ourselves up to our surroundings. The days consisted of 3-4 hours of volunteer work and 2-3 hours of activities. Our volunteer work consisted of building 2 filtration systems for for the Bahia Ballena National Park. We were assisted by dedicated community members who work tirelessly in order to improve the sustainability of their town. The work was physically demanding, but we were extremely satisfied when we saw the final product. While we weren't volunteering, we engaged in numerous activities that highlighted the beauty of the region. We went on a zip-lining tour through the canopies of the Osa peninsula, played soccer with the local school children, participated in a boat tour in which we saw animals such as turtles and dolphins, creatures that make up the backbone of Costa Rica's marine ecosystem. The program coordinators were exceptional in dealing with any difficulties that arose during the program. They were understanding of difficulties and were effective in dissolving any issues that arose. My experience with Global Leadership Adventures was nothing short of amazing, and I would not hesitate to recommend the program to anybody willing to participate in an enriching, worldly experience.

This past summer, I went on a service trip to the Dominican Republic through Global Leadership Adventures. It was, to say the least, life-changing. I've always had a passion for helping those in need, and this trip solidified that desire even further. It was definitely a change in the kind of service work I'd been doing. This goes way beyond food drives or any other community work. It's a hands-on, interactive experience that clearly made a lasting impact on the villages. Over the course of my ten days in the Dominican, I helped to build a bottle school, participated in trash cleanups and reforestation projects, and learned how to live with less. The bottle school was such a unique project. The structure has 6 rooms, and the walls are filled with plastic bottles to promote sustainability. Once it's finished, it'll be the largest one in the world. Part of it will be used as a medical clinic, while the other part will be used as a school. We got to work side by side with the villagers, which shows Global Leadership Adventures' true passion in helping out the right way. Instead of directly giving food and clothes, which causes dependency, I learned that teaching a man how to fish is helping him to help himself. Upon arriving back home from the Dominican, I was inspired to immediately start service again and continue making a difference. When I say that I learned to live with less, I mean the living conditions helped me to realize how privileged I am. One of the program's directors believes that living like the locals is the only way to understand them. Despite the basic dorms we lived in, with their mosquito nets and open windows, we were still one step above the locals, as we had running water and toilets. Even though it took a day or two to get used to base camp, it made the experience so much more genuine. I highly recommend travelling with Global Leadership Adventures. Stepping outside of your comfort zone could not be more worth it.

When I first started looking into what program I wanted to volunteer abroad through, I came across Global Leadership Adventures and thought it looked amazing! I questioned how this program had so many positive reviews all over the internet and no negative reviews or complaints anywhere! Turns out this program is absolutely amazing and that's why there's no bad reviews... because there is nothing bad to say about it. My parents of course questioned the safety and were a little concerned that it could possibly be a scam. Global Leadership Adventures is not a scam at all! I felt 100% safe the whole two weeks I was in Costa Rica. I recommend this program to anyone because: Global Leadership Adventures is a great way for you to gain communication skills. I was not necessarily shy before this program but I did not like talking in front of groups of people. This program gave me the chance to practice that. Everyone gets the chance to practice their communication skills in many unique ways. On my trip, Protecting the Pacific, we had group studies where you got selected to be in a group based off your interests (from a survey you took). In those groups, you studied the topic given to you and with your group you all presented what you had researched. You also get the chance to share your opinions during group mentor sessions every night. Every time you go into the community, the community members are open to speaking Spanish with you even if your Spanish is not very good. Lastly, you get to practice communication skills every day for however long you are on your trip with a group of strangers!! It is so fun to get to learn about everyone! 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 many ways. My group and I made two bio-gardens, painted in the community as well as painted a building in a national park, picked up trash along the beach and tracked trash throughout the via a GPS system, created rugs with fabric scraps with children and more! Volunteering abroad is such an amazing opportunity. 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, surfing, visiting a waterfall and swimming in it, kayaking through a mangrove and hiking through a rainforest. 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! Snorkeling was amazing because it was my first time and I never saw fish so up close. Surfing was an unexplainable feeling. Surfing is hard, and it took awhile for some people to get up and "ride that wave!" Everyone supported eachother in this activity and when you got up on the wave, everyone was cheering you on! The waterfall was beautiful! I loved that our mentors gave us time to experience it rather than just look at it! We got to swim in it, and jump off the rocks into the waterfall (of course at a safe height). Everyone in my group jumped off the rocks into the waterfall even though some were scared of heights! It was amazing all of the encouraging words that were spoken that day. Kayaking through the mangrove was a cool experience because we had the chance to see many animals if we were quiet (which it's hard to keep 21 kids quiet let me tell you). Lastly, the rainforest was amazing because our tour guides gave us the opportunity to gain so much knowledge about the life within the rainforest and why they are important. I gained something out of each excursion I went on in Costa Rica from facts to lessons and even learning more about myself! Global Leadership Adventures gave me the opportunity to become a better leader. Every day there was a new pair of leaders. Their jobs were to keep an eye on everyone by doing count offs before leaving every place and writing the schedule on the board, blogging at the end of the day, getting everyone's attention when someone needed to talk, getting everyone awake and to breakfast, lunch and dinner on-time as well as making sure they are ready when the taxis arrive to get us where we needed to be on time. It was a great opportunity to gain my leadership skills. Safety during this program is very good. On walks, there is a mentor in front of the group, middle and end. During activities the mentors are always watching and even participating. At the eco lodge that we stayed in, there was nightly security guards that who walked around. The mentors did room checks before bed as well. The bathrooms are nice-- cold water but when you're in Costa Rica it's not a big deal. The food was well prepared as well. I didn't worry about anything while I was on this trip and my parents were relieved too because I got to call them when I arrived and once or twice during the trip. When someone got a cut or injury, the mentors were 100% helpful and made sure it was clean and okay. There is nothing to worry about when traveling with Global Leadership Adventures. This program is amazing and life changing. I want to share my experience with everyone and encourage them to go on this amazing journey. I went abroad for two weeks and I wish I could have stayed longer. A lot of the people I met wanted to stay longer too! I didn't want to leave because I didn't want to say goodbye to the amazing, life long friends I made and be in different states (and countries). I didn't want to say goodbye to my mentors. I didn't want to say goodbye to the beautiful, breathtaking place I fell in love with!!! I would go on this experience again in a heartbeat! I hope you take on this experience too :)

Global Leadership Adventures provided me with some of the best 2 weeks of my life and experiences that I will always remember. It also provided me with a chance to make relationships and friendships that will last a lifetime. What is unique about the service programs of GLA is that they do not go in with the mindset that we are these great people helping out the unfortunate people of Costa Rica, or whatever destination you choose. Global Leadership Adventures is unique in the fact that they encourage cultural exchange. They want their students to benefit as much from the local people as the local people benefit from the students. The service program truly opens your eyes to the world outside of your little bubble. Students will leave the program with a greater understanding of people and their role in the world. I would definitely recommend Global Leadership Adventures to any teenager looking to volunteer abroad.

When I first signed up for Global Leadership Adventures I was curious to see wether all the reviews I had read, like the one you are reading right now, were really true. After my two weeks in Costa Rica it is safe to say that Global Leadership Adventures met and surpassed all of my expectations. The staff is incredible! They are all very personal and outgoing which is important because at the beginning of the trip many of the students, including myself, are timid being in a foreign countries with 20+ strangers. The staff makes sure everyone feels comfortable at all times and was very supportive in kick starting the student to student interaction. As far as the service goes, it might have been my favorite part of the trip. Of course I loved all of the amazing adventures I got to experience like, hiking to the crater of a volcano, relaxing in the Costa Rican Hot Springs, or camping on the beach. But the service really allows you to immerse yourself in a completely different culture and provides you with time to develop relationships with your fellow service members as well as the local community members. It truly opened my eyes to how other parts of the world live and even though they might not be as financially fortunate as we were, it did not mean they had to compromise happiness. If you have read more than one review you probably have heard people say something along the lines of, "they changed my life as much as I changed theirs." But it honestly can not be expressed enough how much of an impact the local people make on your own life and mindset. What I think is unique about Global Leadership Adventures is that they don't build the service up to be as this grand gesture we are doing for the poor locals. They emphasize a cultural exchange, we are going into these communities to help them out with their daily struggles, but in return they provide us with a greater knowledge of people and of the world. I would highly recommend Global Leadership Adventures to any teenager looking for an opportunity to volunteer abroad, it is truly a life changing experience.

I came into the program at Peru believing I would spend time volunteering abroad, meeting locals, and hiking a trail to Machu Picchu. Well, I was correct. But to state that those actions were the bulk of my adventure would be an insult to how much Global Leadership Adventures has impacted my life. We did build a greenhouse for a local school, we did visit an orphanage and help locals sort quinoa, we did hike a 15-mile trail full of wonder, only to see more wonder at the place of the ancient Incan civilization. However, I came back home with so much more than an experience to culture and beauty. Global Leadership Adventures has completely turned my life around- no longer obsessed with success or achievement, but obsessed with passion and wonder for the world. Being able to see the faces of the young schoolchildren when we played soccer with them, or gazing at the Milky Way at our campsite to Machu Picchu, I could not have been more overwhelmed with joy. I still tell my friends every day about Peru, and it has been 4 months since the program ended. I still read the 50 pages of my GLA journal full of scribbles and crude sketches, I still talk to the wonderful people I have met in the journey, I still can't stop thinking of my experience everyday. GLA made sure we were safe; they take a lot of precaution and stick to their 5-Point Safety System. I am a vegetarian, but the food at home base could accommodate my needs perfectly. This really is the program that changed my life, and I will never forget it. I am forever thankful to Global Leadership Adventures, my mentors, and all the people I have met along the way.

Over this summer I traveled to Guatemala with the program Children of the Maya. My experience was one of the best I have ever had! Between the Guatemalan children, adventuring experiences, and meeting the other volunteers, my trip was filled with fun. We hiked a mountain, learned to make chocolate, and created unbreakable e bonds with each other. I suggest traveling with GLA to any teens who want to make a change in the world. This experience is worth every penny and will stay with you forever.

After spending much time thinking about which program I wanted to travel with over the summer, I decided that Global Leadership Adventures offered the trip for me. Global Leadership Adventures (or GLA) offered support throughout the entire process, pre and post departure, and the trip itself was spectacular. India is an amazing country and I feel so fortunate to have gotten the chance to travel there. I would recommend GLA to any student hoping to do service abroad while still wanting the opportunity to see the sights and explore the culture.

Over the summer I spent five weeks abroad through Global Leadership Adventures two of those weeks being in Thailand, and it was absolutely spectacular. After spending weeks decided which program to travel with, I ended up choosing Global Leadership Adventures because I felt as though it provided the opportunity to do the community service that I wanted to do, but also allowed the time to see the sights and landmarks. The Elephants were one of the best parts of the trip, and getting the opportunity to interact with them, and form a bond with one specific elephant was amazing. This was a summer I'll never forget, and I'm so grateful to have had this experience. I would recommend this program to any high school student hoping to do service abroad, and hope to do another trip through GLA again in the future.

This was the most amazing experience, with the most amazing people, in the most amazing place. There was a perfect combination of volunteering, adventure, and relaxation. We snorkeled, kayaked, hiked, and explored. For community service, we helped a tortoise conservation by clearing invasive species, and then doing the same at a local farm. We also had plenty of free time to read, relax on the beach, and spend time together. Meanwhile, I always felt safe and secure. The food was great, especially the fresh fruit. The mentors and guides were all around awesome! The islands themselves are out of this world! You get face to face with the wildlife, and the landscape is amazing. The lodges we stayed at are run by local families, and they were perfect in helping us submerge ourselves with the culture. This trip was certainly out of my comfort zone, but it was worth it! I'm a different person now, and I would completely recommend the Galapagos trip, as well as any other GLA trip.

Galapagos: At the age of 15, sitting in my basement, hot chocolate in hand happy to be isolated from the frigid Canadian winters, I came across Global Leadership Adventures. I secretly had the desire to travel to the Galapagos islands, and presenting the trip to my parents was a decision that changed my life. I remember leaving the Airport in Quito, is was dark and raining, and I was walking with 17 strangers towards a bus. It was the start of an amazing adventure. My Galapagos most certainly pushed my far outside my comfort zone, but that was why I was there. Volunteering abroad with people you've never met was intimidating, as a Canadian who had never traveled internationally. But in no time the Galapagos Islands felt like home. On the islands we volunteered pulling invasive species that were choking out the land tortoises natural food. It was hard work and my hands grew tired, but being able to look back over the wilderness we helped clear was a rewarding feeling. We also volunteered painting a local primary school. There were very few students, but once in a while we got a peak of the smiling faces. The adventures we had on the islands I will never forget. Hiking up a volcano, snorkelling with huge sea turtles, travelling to isolated beaches with sea lions resting feet away, the whole place felt magical. My favourite part was swimming with sharks. Two large peaks rose high from the water creating a large passage between, which we floated down. Shadowy figures slithered below, and a brave few people dove down to get a closer look. If you are looking for a program with just the right mixture of volunteering and adventure, this is the program for you! Tanzania: Because I had such an amazing time in the Galapagos, I knew I needed to sign up for another trip. This time I wanted a volunteer trip that was more community, culture, and people based. The Tanzania: Heart and Soul of Africa fit perfectly. We volunteered at the Himo-Korona Primary School in the mornings, teaching english and planting fruit trees. It is hard to explain all the emotions that swirled inside me when I saw the school for the first time. Despite their lack of resources, the kids i taught were the happiest bunch I have ever met. It was empowering seeing how grateful these students are for an education, something we take for granted in the Western World. We also did some amazing activities like batik art, danced with a local dancing crew, wandered the village with our host families, bargained for fabric, and visited a local orphanage. As a nature lover, I will never forget the safari weekend, especially the Ngorongoro Crater. The crater teemed with wildlife who weren't afraid of coming close, like elephants, zebra, wildebeest, hyena, ostriches, and of course lions. I would recommend this trip to anyone who wants to experience a new culture, and take part in meaningful service work. Overall my two trips with Global Leadership Adventures were life-altering. I think every high-school student should take part in volunteering abroad, because you can learn so much about both the world and your self. I know I will never look at the world the same. Anyone considering either of these trips, do it, I can guarantee you won't regret it.

Galapagos: If someone had of told me next summer I would be sitting on a beach under the stars in the Galapagos islands I would not have believed them. I remember watching a documentary about the Galapagos one day in my basement, hot chocolate in hand and grateful to be hidden away from the Canadian winters when I came across Global Leadership Adventures. Showing the trip to my parents was a decision that changed my life. My Galapagos volunteer trip was amazing. As a kid from Toronto who had never traveled internationally, Global Leadership Adventures was extremely helpful for me (and I suppose even more so for my parents) in walking me through every step of the process until I found myself standing in the Galapagos with 17 strangers (who soon because close friends). On the islands we helped pull invasive plant species that were choking out the land tortoises natural food. We also helped sand and paint a local primary school. The service was very rewarding, being able to look back at the area of wilderness in which the invasive plants no longer grew, or seeing the school with a fresh new paint job and smiling children brings a certain satisfaction, that you know you played a small part in making the world a better place. Even though this trip was two years ago, I can still vividly remember the adventures we had. We hiked a volcano, snorkelled multiple times with huge sea turtles, sea lions, fish or every colour, and even saw a massive sting ray, or simply got to explore the tiny town on Isabella island. But I must say the best part was when we snorkelled with sharks. Two large rocks jutted out of the water forming a massive passage between, and as we floated on the surface shadowy figures slithered below us. The ability to come in such close proximity with the wildlife on the Galapagos islands is like no other. It you love nature and wildlife, volunteering, and adventure, this is the program for you! Tanzania: I had such an amazing experience with Global Leadership Adventures that I had to go on another trip. But this time I wanted a program which was more community, culture, and people based. Tanzania: Hear and Soul of Africa was the perfect fit. Once again the local and international staff were amazing, and I felt right at home from the minute I was greeted by smiling faces at the airport. All the students and mentors lived in a gated in compound, 6 to a room and with a common eating area, were all our delicious meals were home cooked. We volunteered at the Himo-Korona Primary School, teaching english and planting fruit trees. I can't explain how I felt the first time when our bus pulled up to the school. Kids rushed out of their classrooms with smiling faces peering over each other to get a look at us. The school itself lacked the resources us in the western world take for granted. Desk and benches were old and worn down, paper and pencils were scarce, not to mention they had no electricity. Nonetheless the kids I had the pleasure of teaching were the happiest bunch of students I have ever met. Everyone developed such strong relationships with their students in such a short time that tears filled everyones eyes when it came time to leave. We also did some activities such as batik art, danced with a dancing crew, walked through the village with our host families, hiked to a waterfall, and my personal favourite, the safari weekend. Visiting the Ngorongoro is something I will cherish forever. We got up-close encounters amazing wildlife like elephants, zebras, wildebeest, buffalo, and of course lions! Overall my experience with Global Leadership Adventures has been a life-altering adventure. Volunteering abroad is something I think every high-shoold student should do. "The best way to find yourself is to loose yourself in the service of others" -Gandhi. I think this quote says it all, volunteering abroad with like-minded students opens up your outlook on life in so many ways, and you can learn amazing things about not only the world, but yourself. To anyone reading this, just do it, I can guarantee you won't regret it.

In spring of 2012, one of my close friends suggested that I travel to Costa Rica with her through a GLA program. Although I hadn't heard much about it, I took her advice and we embarked on our 10-day adventure together. Needless to say, it was incredible. We met up with other students in their GLA t-shirts as we ventured from airport to airport and were able to bond over our fear/excitement. By the end of a week and a half trip, we had become a family. Through our community service, eating every meal together, adventurous trips, and leadership activities, we grew as a team and helped each other out whenever we could. I ended up learning more about myself than I thought possible. The following summer my friends and I were dying to plan our next GLA trip. We decided to be a little more adventurous and signed up for the three week Service in the Sacred Valley trip to Peru. It was nice to have a previous GLA trip under my belt, but each trip is extremely unique. The weather was different, the housing was different, the service was different. This was the trip that pushed me out of my comfort zone and allowed me to grow even more. Our community service project was to build a greenhouse and each day we worked our bodies as hard as we could to get that project done. In the end, it was so rewarding to see our hard work come together. We went on so many incredible adventures from whitewater rafting to camping to hiking to visiting Machu Picchu. Some of the sights we saw were so amazing I couldn't believe my eyes. I would highly recommend GLA to prospective volunteers that want to get to know another country. My sister has been looking at what trip she wants to go on and I always tell her friends to get involved. On my second trip I traveled with a friend who had never done GLA before and now she says her biggest regret is that she didn't start earlier so she could go on multiple programs. These trips teach you important life skills and allow you to see the countries through the eyes of the locals, not just as a tourist. My trip to Peru made me realize the importance of language and I am now working on becoming fluent in Spanish. Additionally, my experiences allowed me to write fantastic essays for college applications.

I can honestly say going to Ghana was the best experience of my life so far, and Global Leadership Adventures was an excellent company to make arrangements. GLA is unique in that it's a "three-in-one" program. You get to learn crucial leadership skills, volunteer abroad, and live in a village while experiencing culture in an irreplaceable way - it truly changes your outlook so that when you return home, you become more aware of your presence as well as your surroundings. As far as logistics go, GLA provides families with a travel agency and a recommended flight to take. From the second we arrived in the Accra airport, we were warmly welcomed by our mentors and our in-country host, who also owned the lodge we stayed at. I have never participated in a program that put me in contact with so many amazing and inspiring people. Accommodations were perfect, had all the necessary safety measures, and even had plenty of ways to relax with your group mates or perhaps the new people you met after a fulfilling day at the work site. No matter where you go, the project GLA sets up makes a very real difference in the community you live in and beyond. Almost everyone in my group agreed that one day, he/she would like to do similar work or even make the same trip back to Ghana. After working for a few hours in the morning, the groups usually take a day trip, do leadership activities, or listen to a guest speaker to learn more about the village or the country of the program. At night, after some free time, our mentors encouraged us to reflect or to ask questions about the day's events. Everyone in my group made good use of the journal GLA provides, trying to capture as many details as possible to bring back home. Words do not do justice to how much I'd like to live through this experience again. I encourage you to think about applying for a GLA program - it will be well worth it!

Hello everyone, my name is Dylan Sanders, and I hail from New York City. Last summer, I attended a Global Leadership Adventures program entitled Costa Rica: Nature's Kaleidoscope, now renamed Empowering Rainforest Communities. At the time, I was coming out of freshman year in high school, and all traveling I had ever done was with family or friends, never alone. Over the course of that year, now disillusioned with sumer camp, I had been searching for something new and exciting to do, and GLA fit the bill perfectly. Upon discovering the organization, doing loads of research, and talking to many a contact over the phone, I decided to enter into a program, and I was not disappointed. The staff at GLA are great people, they're extremely helpful, almost always reachable, and really kind. They made preparation really easy, and had loads of useful materials to help me learn about my destination, as well as prepare for journeying alone, living without family, etc. When in Costa Rica, I can most certainly say that I had just about the best two weeks of my entire life. After recovering from the initial shock of living in the middle of the rainforest, in extremely rustic living conditions very different from my New York City, I came to love the place, and quickly grew to think of it as my home. This was the first time I had traveled alone, and more importantly lived with complete and total strangers for any period of time, and so I had no clue what to expect. By the second day, however, we had already developed strong bonds, and a great game of soccer in the pouring rain only helped to strengthen them. Over the course of the trip, these bonds between all of the students as well as the mentors only got stronger, and by the end of the program we had come to resemble a massive family, all of whom loved one another. The service we did was incredible as well. We first worked planting trees in deforested areas to support the green tunnel project, a project that worked to build and expand on the lush rainforest so as to grant many animals their homes once again. Along with this, we also did service at a local school, installing signs and playing with the local children. In the second location we stayed, we worked to clear and build trails in the dense cloud forest, to serve explorers and scientists to come after us. Although hard, our service was extremely rewarding, and also extremely fun. Along with service, the program was full of amazing activities and excursions. We hiked through the forests, swam in waterfalls, climbed an active volcano, and ziplined through the canopy, along with many other amazing experiences. On the topic of safety, I have never been in more capable and safe hands as GLA. The organization as a whole has developed a 5-point safety plan, and works to uphold it's values constantly, making sure that every part of the journey is as safe as it is fun. On my program specifically, there were two extremely capable and amazing mentors who helped to make the program as safe as it could possibly be, while keeping it exciting and amazing. All in all, if you want to experience something unlike any other, something amazing and exciting and fun, I advise that you make sure to do a GLA program. No matter where you choose to go, you will not be disappointed, and I assure you that you will have the time of your life!

Hello Everyone ! I am Max Bone. I'm a high school sophomore from Detroit, Michigan. Last summer I had the amazing, life changing experience to travel to and live in Cuzco, Peru for three weeks with Global Leadership Adventures. Those three weeks changed my life and my views forever. For parents who are reading this, trying to decide whether to send your child on a program to a foreign country, all I can say is you won’t regret it! I understand it is a scary thought, sending them off to a foreign country for an extended amount of time. I can assure you, you will be glad you did when your child returns a few weeks later tired, but smiling, excited to talk about the amazing experience they just had. GLA provides these experiences through three main ways: Community Service, Leadership Activities, and Cultural Exchange Activities. The community service changes from country to country, but I have talked to who kids who have been on 10 different Global Leadership Adventures programs in 8 different countries. They have all loved the work that they were doing, felt a strong connection to the work they were doing, and felt like they were making a HUGE difference in their host community. I am going to use my program to illustrate this. My group was building a green house out of adobe bricks in a small mountain community to help combat the increasing malnutrition rate among the youth of the Cusco region of Peru. It was amazing knowing that the work that I was doing would make a huge impact on this community for years to come. Seeing all of the hard work that we were putting in pay off and finishing 70% more than we were expected to felt so good! It helped me realize how important hard work is and how much it pays off. The gratitude that the community expressed for our hard work cannot be explained in words. The second way that Global Leadership Adventures does this is through leadership sessions and mentor groups. This is something unique to Global Leadership Adventures that no other organization I have seen does. These sessions focus on taking all that you are learning and experiencing and applying it to your life, and asking what you will do with it when you return home. These sessions also include talking about important qualities of leaders and aspects of life such as empathy, humility, service, communication and decision making. These sessions take place in both large group settings and small group settings. I truly miss these sessions, and they are one of the things I look forward to most when I return to Global Leadership Adventures next summer. The staff that Global Leadership Adventures has put together is also fantastic. They are all amazing, talented, smart, and inspiring individuals. I was able to get to know all of the staff really well; from the cooks at home base, to my personal mentor. There is also a large aspect placed on local cultural activities and fun. These included everything from getting my fortune told by a traditional practicing, Inca shawman, to hiking and camping the Inca trail, to visiting Machu Picchu to learning about traditional Inca medicine, to getting to dress up in Andean attire and performing a traditional dance ! These activities really gave me a better understanding and made me feel connected to the Inca culture, instead of just having knowledge of it. Global Leadership Adventures also does an amazing job with safety. There was not a single time during my program when I did not feel safe. GLA has a five point safety system that is followed. This system includes safe and secure lodging ( the home base is ONLY used by GLA students and staff ) , caring supervision, healthy meals and pure water, expert local knowledge, and safe and comfortable transportation. My trip to Peru last summer was a fantastic, life changing experience. All I can say to you is GO,GO,GO,GO! You will come home changed. If you have any questions about Global Leadership Adventures or the Peru program, please let me know via email at [email protected] . If you would like to see photos from my trip, please email me and I can share with you my Facebook page where you can view them. Parents, if you would like to hear from a parent whose child has gone on a GLA trip, and who is trusting them again with the safety of their kid (this time in Africa) please email and I will be more than happy to put you in contact with my parents. Thank You for your interest in Global Leadership Adventures. I am so excited for you to embark on a life changing journey !

For the past two summers I have went on trips with GLA. Both my family and I are extremely happy with this program and all it provides. My first summer I took a trip to the Galapagos. Our whole family was nervous that I would be going away for two weeks in a foreign country. I went on the trip and had the best experience I could have imagined. The mentors were extremely nice and welcoming. Some of our staff even lived in the Galapagos and had great knowledge of the area and answered all of my questions. I was able to call my parents at any time I wanted, something that my parents found amazing and extremely beneficial. The volunteer work was difficult yet rewarding, as we spend a lot of time cutting down tall elephant grass (an invasive species in the area). In addition to volunteering, the GLA program provided a way for us students to experience the galapagos in a way a normal visitor would not. Of course we did a lot of the tourist excursions and visited tourist locations, but we were also able to do things such as play soccer with a champion team of kids from that area. From amazing food to kayaking to swimming with sharks and sea lions, those two weeks I spent in Ecuador made me grow as a person. My parents remarked that I had not only changed my views as a global citizen, but matured as an independent teenager after the trip. The following year, after a lot of begging, I convinced my parents to help pay for another trip. This summer I went to Thailand for three weeks. It was an experience very different from my mule ridding and snorkeling in the Galapagos yet it was amazing no matter how different. In Thailand most of our time was spent in Chiang Mai, a province of Thailand. We stayed in a gorgeous hostel-like hotel that was exclusively used for GLA. We spent our time volunteering at orphanages for children with HIV or those who had been trafficked and group homes for pregnant mothers and women who have young children. The volunteer work affected me a lot as I love children and has encouraged me to do more in my community today. In addition to volunteer work we had opportunities to try exotic (spicy!) food, ride elephants, visit street markets, and even zip line through beautiful forests. My experiences on both trips were very different, yet I would strongly recommend either one of them for a high school student who wants to step out of their comfort zone and see the world. GLA gives an opportunity to see the world in a way that is often unaccessible to the typical tourist. It is an experience that allows you to immerse yourself in the culture around you and take in all that it has to offer.