The Educational Value of Travel
Have you considered the academic benefits that international travel and foreign study can provide for your students? With over 26 years of experience and extensive year-round operations around the world, Rustic Pathways is a global leader in teacher-led travel. Whether you are planning to lead a spring break service trip, a January-term adventure, an international service project, or a summer academic program, Rustic Pathways is able to accommodate all budgets to make your educational travel dream a reality. We have school teachers within our family, and we know how to create itineraries that cater to specific academic fields.

For the Science Teacher
Want to make science even more exciting? Study marine biology and become certified scuba divers while exploring Australia’s Great Barrier Reef, the underwater world of southern Thailand or The Fiji Islands. Study flora and fauna with bilingual professors and rangers in Caño Negro, Arenal, or Corcovado National Parks in Costa Rica. Learn how to train, ride, bathe, and feed elephants at the famous Royal Elephant Reserve in Thailand. Charter a yacht to sail and explore Australia’s Whitsunday Islands, learning about biology, ecology, and environmental conservation on your journey.

For the Language Teacher
Bring your students to the ultimate language lab! There is no better way to teach a language than to immerse your students in a country and culture, surrounding them with native speakers who encourage them to speak the language daily. Live with local families and study with teachers trained to teach the language to foreigners. Take your foreign language class on an exciting tour through Costa Rica, China, or Peru with a program tailor-made to suit your budget and include your specific interests.

For the History Teacher
Unique opportunities to study history and culture abound in the countries we visit. Experience Vietnamese and American history first-hand by touring Vietnam and seeing with your own eyes the people and places affected by the war. Learn about the long and tumultuous history of South Africa on a jaw-dropping journey through its amazing parks and cities. Study Thailand’s long struggle to maintain independence on a remarkable tour of the country’s ancient capitals, dazzling temples, and well-preserved ruins. These tours make history come alive.

For the Religious Studies Teacher
Study the history of Buddhism with Buddhist monks. Explore the majestic ruins of Angkor Wat and the famous temples of Thailand. Journey through the Fijian highlands on horseback and learn about traditional Fijian culture and ceremonies in rural villages along the trail. Explore the history and culture of the Tibetan people by immersing your class in the mountain village of McLeod Ganj in India, the modern-day home of the Dalai Lama.

For the Soccer Coach
Gear up your team for the next season, or celebrate the last one with a fun and rewarding Soccer and Service trip to Costa Rica, Thailand, (soccer program in Thailand for 2010?) or The Fiji Islands. Play soccer against local club teams, tour international stadiums, get in shape, learn new moves with the locals, and perform rewarding community service in wonderful villages. Have a blast in these three spectacular countries. It’s fun, easy and economical!

For the Outdoor Education Teacher
Challenge a group of students like they have never been challenged before by taking them to the summit of the highest peak in Africa – Kilimanjaro. Teach students basic alpine climbing and wilderness skills, develop new teambuilding strategies, and show them Africa from a whole new vantage point on this unforgettable journey. Trek the Himalayas or deep into the Hill Tribe country of Northern Thailand. Kayak and mountain bike through Vietnam, learn remote survival skills on a four-wheel-drive safari through the Aussie Outback, or hike and camp across the spine of Costa Rica. Let’s go!

We Would Love to Have You Join Us
Rustic Pathways believes travel is one of the world’s greatest teachers. Through travel, students are able to learn new languages, experience foreign cultures, and make a difference in their world, all while gaining a deeper appreciation for themselves, their classmates, and the planet. If you want to take a group to the South Pacific, Southeast Asia, Mexico, Central America, India, Peru or Africa, there is no better company to guide you through the journey than Rustic Pathways. Give us a call to learn more about all of the educational possibilities that await you and your students in some of the world’s most wonderful and welcoming destinations. To discuss your school group travel plans, please contact our Education Advisor, Marc Bartholomew, at marc@rusticpathways.com.