Day 1 Saturday
Arrive at Louis Armstrong International Airport (MSY) in New Orleans where your Rustic Pathways staff members eagerly await you at the airport. Meet the rest of the group at Home Base, take a tour of the city, and see some of the rebuilding efforts that have come from within the city’s neighborhoods and from volunteers around the country. Learn where the levees breached, how it happened, and gain a sense of the level of destruction that currently remains in New Orleans, and end up back at the base for a hot, local dinner. Welcome to the Big Easy!

Day 2 Sunday
Open your eyes to the unique culture of the Crescent City, starting in the famous French Quarter! Shop in the French Market, eat some beignets, and wander down the Mississippi towards the steamboat ferry that will take you across the river to an important New Orleans institution: Mardi Gras World where the parade floats are made. Spend the afternoon hearing local Cajun music and picking up a few local dance moves, followed by dinner and a good night’s sleep.

Day 3 Monday
Begin your volunteer work with a grassroots rebuilding organization this morning. After a safety orientation, pick up some hammers and paint brushes and commence your volunteer efforts. After work, explore your new neighborhood and see another side of the Mississippi; try some crawfish for dinner, and watch the sun set over the beautiful West Bank.

Day 4 Tuesday
After breakfast and packing lunch, go “down the bayou” and learn about how the wetlands are important both environmentally and for hurricane protection. Get your waders on, jump into the swamp, and help save the delicate ecosystem provided by the old Cyprus trees. After lunch, explore the estuary and see some of Louisiana’s wildlife – maybe an alligator if you’re lucky! Relax this evening, work starts early tomorrow morning!

Day 5 Wednesday
Another day of rebuilding - continue the work in your new neighborhood, finishing projects that will move families back home. Meet more volunteers from around the world who are pitching in and learn how this neighborhood is important to the city (and to the country)! After dinner, check out live music at historic Preservation Hall in the French Quarter – an important venue preserving traditional jazz music in its town of creation.

Day 6 Thursday
Now that you have gotten used to the feel of a hammer and paintbrush, perfect your techniques and spend more time getting to know the locals and fellow volunteers. In the afternoon, learn about the Mardi Gras Indians from an expert, and explore the Faubourg Tremé neighborhood and the famous Congo Square, where it all began. Check out the Garden District for a little shopping, and return to the home base for dinner and free time with the group.

Day 7 Friday
The last day of service work in New Orleans – take in the experience for one last day and talk to the locals about what life is like in the Crescent City, before and after Hurricane Katrina hit. Listen to their stories from the storm, the levee breaches, and the aftermath, and become amazed at the resiliency of New Orleanians and their love for their culture. At night, experience the nightlife of New Orleans’ young people and hear some live bands from around the city!

Day 8 Saturday
Spend the morning with the friends that you’ve made and enjoy one last hearty New Orleans breakfast before you return home and share your experiences and photos with your friends and family.

An Important Note about Schedule Changes:
Rustic Pathways reserves the right to change, alter, or amend the daily itinerary for this trip at any time. Changes can be made for various reasons including changes in flight or program schedules, changes in the schedules of various external tours incorporated in our trips, the addition of new activities into a trip, or the substitution of an old activity for a new activity. The itinerary shown here provides a good outline of the anticipated daily schedule for this program. As with any travel program, some changes may occur.

Pack the following items in your carry-on luggage:

Pack the following items in your checked luggage:

1 – Will the students travel outside the city?
The students will be within the city limits of New Orleans for most projects and cultural activities, although some activities (local festivals, occasional projects) may be in neighboring towns or parishes (counties).  The group will stay at the base in the city every night, and no day trip will be outside Southern Louisiana.

2 - What costs are not included on this trip?
Snacks, souvenirs, and other shopping excursions are not included, but all meals will be offered.

3 - What kind of food will we be eating? Where?
They will be eating most meals at home base.  Breakfast is usually cereal or bagels, and students will pack their own sandwiches for lunch in the mornings.  Dinner will consist of local specialties (jambalaya, gumbo, red beans & rice, etc.) and American favorites.  Groups occasionally go out to restaurants to experience local cuisine, which is covered in the trip cost.  Meals overall are high-energy and nutritious, many times made with locally grown vegetables and regional ingredients.

4 - Will the kids be drinking bottled water?
The Rustic Pathways students will be able to drink water from the tap during this program, but they will have the option to buy bottle water if they prefer. As New Orleans is in a hot climate, we require that every student has a refillable water bottle on hand at all times to stay hydrated.

5 - What will the accommodation on this trip be like?
Students will be staying at the Rustic Pathways home base each night, in bunk beds with separate quarters for boys and girls.  They will have access to hot showers and

6 - How often (if at all) will students be able to do laundry on this program and what will it cost?
Spring Break students will not be able to do laundry while on the trip, and should bring enough clothing for the week.  Summer Program students will be able to send their laundry out to wash-and-fold service once, halfway through the trip.  Laundry usually costs about $10/load (about 13 pounds of laundry).

7 – Should I bring my musical instrument?
Although we keep pretty busy during the trip, we do have down time.  Feel free to bring your instrument if it is small and easy to carry – New Orleans has been known to inspire musicians to play.  We usually have a guitar on hand.  Rustic Pathways is not responsible for lost or stolen instruments.

8 – Is New Orleans safe? 
Yes. Rustic Pathways takes many precautions to ensure our students’ safety. Students are never in the city unescorted by Rustic Pathways staff.  Rustic Pathways provides our own transportation and therefore, with the exception of the occasional trolley ride, never utilizes public transportation. We avoid potentially dangerous areas, and students are closely supervised during evening concert events; we do not allow students to leave Rustic Pathways property unescorted.