Who Should Join A Rustic Pathways Trip?
Rustic Pathways summer programs are designed for positive, level-headed students with a keen interest in experiential learning and international travel. We offer programs for students from twelve years old through graduate school. We also offer customized programs for individuals, families, and both student and adult groups throughout the year in the USA, Australia, Thailand, The Fiji Islands, New Zealand, Vietnam, India, Africa, China, Costa Rica, Cambodia, Laos, Burma, Mexico and Peru. Our programs are not suitable for students with significant behavioral problems, chemical dependencies, or the inability to work constructively in a team environment. Further, students who are culturally insensitive, or who are unable or unwilling to follow instructions and obey The Rustic Pathways Rules, are not welcome on our programs.

Where Will Students On My Trip Come From?
Students join us from every corner of America and the world. The majority of our students are from the United States.

Should I Bring A Friend With Me?
Not necessarily! More than 85% of our students come on trips by themselves. Rustic Pathways’ trips focus on teamwork and the strength of both the group and the individual. If you bring a friend along on a trip, you will share a great summer adventure with them. However, most of our students leave home without knowing anyone in their group, and quickly form lasting friendships during their summer program. (Parents worry a great deal about this issue, picturing their young daughter or son flying off to the other side of the world alone. This is simply not the case.)

Can I Combine Two Or More Programs?
Yes! Rustic Pathways trips are designed to interconnect and most of our students combine two or more programs to create the perfect summer adventure. Almost all trips in the USA, Australia, New Zealand, The Fiji Islands, Thailand, Vietnam, India, Africa, China, and Costa Rica connect together. Having a great depth of programs in the countries we serve means that students can tailor their summer to meet their specific goals and match their interests.

What Is Included In The Cost Of My Trip?
Rustic Pathways high school programs include all touring, activities, and admission fees as specified in the trip itinerary. We also include all transportation in country, all accommodation, and all meals. Some programs offer optional activities which will incur an additional cost, such as skydiving, bungee jumping, and helicopter skiing. Personal items such as souvenirs, laundry, internet, snacks, and phone calls are not included in the price of the trip.

How Are Community Service Hours Awarded?
Students are awarded community service hours based on their actual participation and community service accomplishments. The summary of each program lists the maximum number of community service hours available for participants on that program. Students who fully participate in their program receive the maximum hours listed. Many students combine more than one service program during their summer. In this case, students normally earn the combined total of the service hours shown for each program. Certificates of Service are mailed to each student in the fall. Students who have additional community service forms from their school should send us a copy when they return their forms and bring another copy along on their program and give it to their program manager at the beginning of the program.

When Can I Expect to Hear From My Child?
Students have limited access to phones during most trips and calling cards purchased in country generally work better than calling cards purchased in the United States. Internet access is usually available once or twice a week, and most students stay in touch with their parents and friends through e-mail. STUDENTS ARE NOT PERMITTED TO USE THEIR CELL PHONES WHILE OVERSEAS ON ANY RUSTIC PATHWAYS’ PROGRAMS, although they are permitted to carry cell phones for use within the United States.

Do I Need Special Skills To Join A Trip?
Students join us from a variety of backgrounds and bring with them a mix of skills and experiences. Previous exposure to most activities is not necessary. We ask only that you bring with you a cheerful disposition and a willingness to try new activities. We ask that you read the program descriptions carefully and contact us if you have any questions so we can ensure you select the program best suited to you individually.

How Is The Food On The Trip?
Just ask our past students! Cooks take advantage of the great fresh fruit, vegetables, meat, and fish available throughout the countries we visit. On all of our trips, eating the local cuisine is a major component of the program, enhancing the depth of your overseas travel experience.

Which Trips Should I Join?
Students and parents are often amazed at the variety of wonderful summer options available. To begin designing your summer, browse through this catalog and mark programs that catch your eye. Then move on to our website, www.rusticpathways.com, where you will find detailed itineraries for each program, and a lot of helpful information and photos. Most importantly, when you would like to speak with us, we are readily available to discuss our trips and the countries we visit, answer your questions, and to assist you in finding the program most suited to your needs.

Is Your Staff Qualified In First Aid?
Safety is our top priority and we are a leader in this area.Rustic Pathways staff commonly includes Wilderness First Responders, EMTs, Wilderness EMTs, Surf Life Guards, staff with St. John’s certificates, and staff with Red Cross First Aid and CPR training. We periodically run staff CPR courses, First Aid training, First Aid refresher courses, and Wilderness First Responder courses.

What Should I Bring Along On My Trip?
A detailed packing list for each trip will be posted in April on our website at www.rusticpathways.com/packinglists. Bring your passport, airline tickets, clothing, and other personal items detailed on the suggested packing list for your particular trip.

How Do I Arrange My Flights?
For those students travelling to Costa Rica, Peru or India, Rustic Pathways will arrange all flights (domestic and international) from or close to the airport of your choice to your overseas programs and then back home.

For those students travelling to any of our other amazing destinations, Rustic Pathways will arrange only the international portion of your travel. You must arrange your own domestic travel to your gateway city. It is also the responsibility of the parents and students to ensure students arrive with sufficient time to recover and recheck their baggage and connect with the Rustic Pathways escorted group flights.

Because of frequent domestic airline delays due to weather or mechanical problems. WE RECOMMEND YOU ARRIVE IN YOUR GATEWAY CITY A MINIMUM OF 4 HOURS PRIOR TO THE SCHEDULED DEPARTURE TIME OF THE GROUP FLIGHT.

Can I Join A Rustic Pathways Trip From Outside The USA?
Absolutely! Many international students join us each year. If you are beginning your trip from outside the USA, we will provide you with guidelines for making your own international flight arrangements, and our staff will meet you at the airport when you arrive. International students can contact us at rustic@rusticpathways.com, or by phone on +1 (440) 975-9691, or fax on +1 (440) 975-9694.

Do I Need Spending Money On My Trip?
Yes. While Rustic Pathways trips are quite comprehensive and include almost all items, students require some allowance money for optional expenses such as souvenirs, personal phone calls, internet, laundry, and optional activities. Rustic Pathways does not like “hidden extras” any more than you do, so we include all of the essentials that make our trips great.

Can I Customize My Summer Trip?
Absolutely! About 20% of our students, families, & groups customize their trips in some manner. This can include longer stays, special stopovers, late or early departures, or a special combination of programs. Please do not be limited by what you see in our brochure. We are able to mix, match, combine, or customize almost any set of experiences for you in our corner of the world. Many of our programs link together in a way that allows very easy movement from one program to another. In addition, many parents choose to join their son or daughter before or after their overseas trip.

Can Parents Tag Along On These Trips?
Our student trips are reserved for students only. Our family trips allow parents and their children to travel together. Each year, many parents organize trips through Rustic Pathways that allow them to enjoy an independent trip, and then join their son or daughter while overseas. Rustic Pathways makes numerous arrangements for families joining their children before or after their summer excursions. This year, parents or grandparents may travel with their child/grandchild to Thailand and join us on our Chiang Mai Woks and Wonders for Parents and Family’s program.

No Anxiety Summer Policy
The Rustic Pathways NO ANXIETY SUMMER POLICY allows a parent, provided that we are notified in writing at least 21 days before your student’s scheduled departure date, to postpone their son or daughter’s trip and take it in a future year. If this option is selected, there is no penalty charge against the program portion of the cost, but the cost of the tickets will be subject to whatever change or cancellation penalties charged by the airlines. We then hold your program payments in escrow and you can apply these funds to the Rustic Pathways summer trip of your choice in anytime in the next two years. If funds are not used within two years, they are forfeited.

Tuition and Payments
A $ 100 non-refundable application fee must accompany your completed application. Applications received after April 15, 2008 are considered late applications, and the late application fee is $ 200. This fee covers a portion of our administrative costs. This is a one-time fee regardless of the number of programs you join. Returning students do not pay this application fee after their first year. Trip payments are automatically spread into equal monthly installments, with the first payment due 15 days after your acceptance letter is issued. There is no additional cost for this extended payment program. However, any payment received in our office after the due date will incur a $ 50 late fee. All trips must be paid in full at least 65 days prior to your scheduled departure date. The total cost of your trip is simply the combined total of your application fee, the cost of your selected programs, and the cost of your airfare, airline taxes, and any airline surcharges.

Are There Any Other Fees?
Additional fees may be incurred as follows:
Transportation/Special Arrangements Fee – $ 100 or more. New Orleans and Baja students must arrange their own airfare. If students do not arrive or within the designated timeframe, a fee of $ 100 EACH WAY will be assessed. Please contact our office for designated departure and arrival times.
Administration Fee – $ 50 for trip revisions when requested after issuance of Acceptance Letter
Late Payment Fee – $ 50
Returned Check Fee – $ 85
Allowance Wiring Fee – $ 25 to wire allowance money which is received after the allowance due date.
Incoming Wiring Fee – $ 15 for money that is being wired into a Rustic Pathways account.

Refunds And Cancellation Penalties
Your application fee is non-refundable unless Rustic Pathways is unable to accommodate you on the programs you select. Once you have been accepted into a Rustic Pathways program, cancellation before March 15, 2008 results in a loss of 35% of your total trip cost excluding application fee. Cancellation on or after March 15, 2008 and before May 1, 2008 results in a loss of 50% of your total trip cost excluding application fee. Cancellation on or after May 1, 2008 results in the loss of 100% of your total trip cost. Rustic Pathways will supply you with information on optional trip cancellation insurance with your acceptance letter. Most parents elect to sign up for this insurance. The cancellation date is determined by the date that Rustic Pathways receives a letter or e-mail in its Ohio office indicating that a participant is cancelling their program.

Important Information
This catalog provides a brief summary of some of the 2008 travel programs (“the programs”) offered by Rustic Pathways Australia (USA), Inc (“Rustic Pathways”), a tour promoter based in The State of Ohio. All program participants and their parents and/or legal guardians (collectively "the participants”) are required to read, sign, comply with, and abide by a comprehensive Statement of Terms and Conditions and various waivers and liability limitations which govern and regulate participation in the programs. Rustic Pathways will furnish these various materials to all qualified participants.

All travel can be dangerous, and student adventure travel to the more remote areas of the world poses unique dangers and risks. Rustic Pathways insists that all participants and potential participants seriously consider the risks and dangers of any program undertaken. Participants should not apply for or participate in any Rustic Pathways program if they are unwilling to accept any and all of the potential risks and dangers such a program could pose. Prior to departure, participants are required to read, sign, comply with, and agree to abide by extensive and very comprehensive liability waivers, rules, and terms and conditions.

International travel to and domestic travel within overseas destinations will be on several airlines including but not limited to Qantas Airways, Singapore Airlines, Air Pacific, Continental Airlines, Thai Airways, Cathay Pacific Airlines, South African Airlines, Air New Zealand, Virgin Blue Airlines, and other airlines and air carriers (“the airlines”). No airline by virtue of its endorsement of this brochure represents itself as contracting with any purchaser of the programs. The airlines are not responsible for any act, omission, or events during the time passengers are not on board their planes or conveyance. The passage contract in use by the airlines, when issued, shall constitute the sole contract between the airlines and the participant.