
Global Leadership Adventures
Why choose Global Leadership Adventures?
Global Leadership Adventures (GLA) offers life-changing international volunteer and internship programs for high school students in countries worldwide. Programs focus on service learning, cultural exploration, and honing leadership skills. Program themes include protecting wildlife and the environment, healthcare, supporting education initiatives, and political-economic issues. On the weekends, p...
Global Leadership Adventures (GLA) offers life-changing international volunteer and internship programs for high school students in countries worldwide. Programs focus on service learning, cultural exploration, and honing leadership skills. Program themes include protecting wildlife and the environment, healthcare, supporting education initiatives, and political-economic issues. On the weekends, participating students engage in exciting excursions to places of cultural or historical significance to expand their experience and understanding of their host country. GLA is a leader in international high school travel programs. We have sent tens of thousands of students abroad in our 20 years of operation, and have been featured in the New York Times, Boston Globe, and other major media outl...
Global Leadership Adventures Reviews
Hear what past participants have to say about the programs
Overall Rating
Total Reviews
Most meaningful program ever
November 11, 2025by: Emily Yoshida - United KingdomProgram: GLA Ghana: Children of AfricaThe 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.
I learned so much and met so many amazing people!!
November 08, 2025by: Anna Kate Hamilton - United StatesProgram: GLA Costa Rica - Animal Rescue & Veterinary ProjectThis 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.
Life Changing!
November 05, 2025by: Daniella Knapp - United StatesProgram: GLA Costa Rica - Volunteer Programs for TeensGLA 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!
Global Leadership Adventures Programs
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Travel to Costa Rica and make a difference in a subject area you are passionate about! Choose from program themes ranging from Public Health and ...

Home to the incredible Andes Mountains, Peru features a diverse landscape, plus traditions and culture that have survived for centuries. GLA offe...

It's amazing what one can accomplish in 10 days! GLA's Beachside Service Adventure offers service, learning, and outdoor adventures packed in...

Embark on a meaningful journey to Bali and contribute to youth engagement or public health initiatives within local communities. While there, imm...

Global Leadership Adventures offers the opportunity to rescue and rehabilitate domestic animals in Costa Rica. Formerly Animal Rescue Project, th...

Costa Rica's Pacific coast is a treasure trove of water-based activities: the surfing, tubing, kayaking, hot spring-soaking and snorkeling here i...
Media Gallery
Interviews
Read interviews from alumni or staff

Olivia Avery
Participated in 2014
Olivia currently attends high school in Philadelphia. She has travelled to India and Thailand through teen programs, and France and Italy with her fam...

Brittany Randles
Participated in 2014
Brittany is a Global Leadership Ambassador. She went on the Protecting the Pacific trip in Costa Rica during the summer of 2014.

Brittany Randles
Participated in 2014
I love to travel but have never been out of the U.S. until I decided to go abroad with Global Leadership Adventures. I wanted to volunteer more than just locally. I wanted to learn what this world has to offer!

Natalie Craun
Participated in 2014
Natalie is from Rolla, Missouri and will graduate from Rolla High School in 2015; she will then head to the University of Southern California. Natalie...

Natalie Craun
Participated in 2014
I wanted to discover what life was like in a developing country, step outside of my comfort zone, and sharpen my social and leadership skills.
Ready to Learn More?
Global Leadership Adventures (GLA) offers life-changing international volunteer and internship programs for high school students in countries worldwide. Programs focus on service learning, cultural exploration, and honing leadership skills. Program themes include protecting wildlife and the environment, healthcare, supporting education initiatives, and political-economic issues. On the weekends, participating students engage in exciting excursions to places of cultural or historical significance to expand their experience and understanding of their host country. GLA is a leader in international high school travel programs. We have sent tens of thousands of students abroad in our 20 years of operation, and have been featured in the New York Times, Boston Globe, and other major media outl...

Global Leadership Adventures

Global Leadership Adventures
Ready to Learn More?
Global Leadership Adventures (GLA) offers life-changing international volunteer and internship programs for high school students in countries worldwide. Programs focus on service learning, cultural exploration, and honing leadership skills. Program themes include protecting wildlife and the environment, healthcare, supporting education initiatives, and political-economic issues. On the weekends, participating students engage in exciting excursions to places of cultural or historical significance to expand their experience and understanding of their host country. GLA is a leader in international high school travel programs. We have sent tens of thousands of students abroad in our 20 years of operation, and have been featured in the New York Times, Boston Globe, and other major media outl...
Awards
Check out awards and recognitions Global Leadership Adventures has received








