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Global Leadership Adventures

9.79 (256)Verified14 Programs

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...

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Global Leadership Adventures Reviews

Hear what past participants have to say about the programs

Overall Rating

9.79

Total Reviews

256
Leave a Review

life changing.

February 02, 2026by: Daniella Knapp - United States

Program: GLA Costa Rica - Volunteer Programs for Teens

10

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.

Highly Recomend!

February 02, 2026by: Daniella Knapp - United States

Program: GLA Costa Rica: Beachside Service Adventure

10

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.

Learned so much and met lots of amazing people

December 13, 2025by: Daniella Knapp - United States

Program: GLA Costa Rica - Volunteer Programs for Teens

10

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.

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Interviews

Read interviews from alumni or staff

Kate Galvin

Participated in 2016

Alumni

I was inspired to go abroad after I realized how much I enjoyed traveling the world with my family. We had been to Asia and Europe together, so I had the travel experience and confidence in my abilities to be independent. Geography and travel itself have always been areas of study that I particularly enjoy, and I wanted to expand my knowledge of the world. 

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Lindsay Goddard

Participated in 2016

Alumni

Travel has been a big part of my life since I was young, and volunteering is a passion of mine, so when my best friend showed me her GLA catalog, I knew I had to try it out.

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Cameron Wehr

Participated in 2016

Alumni

I have always had a bit of wanderlust. I love to travel, and I have always wanted to go to somewhere in Asia, so when the opportunity to go to India presented itself, I jumped on it.

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Global Leadership Adventures

Global Leadership Adventures

9.79Verified

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

Top Rated Program High School Abroad in Costa Rica 2025
GoAbroad Top Rated Provider 2025 - High School Abroad2025 Finalist - Innovation in Alumni Engagement2025 Finalist - Innovative Intern Abroad Program2025 Winner - Innovative Intern Abroad ProgramGoAbroad Top Rated Provider 2024 - High School AbroadGoAbroad Innovation Awards 2024 Finalist -	Volunteer Abroad ProgramInnovative Volunteer Abroad Program 2023 FinalistInnovative New Program – Intern Abroad Finalist 2022