faq
Have a Q? Our team is here for you! Check out some of our frequently asked questions below. If you don’t see your question here, feel free to contact our staff.
About
Global Routes
Preparing emerging leaders to thrive in society, within themselves, and on the planet, by learning skills, perspective, and confidence through meaningful cross-cultural experiences that are fun and challenging.
At Global Routes, we provide summer programming for students ages 15-18 to international destinations across the globe! Our summer programs are culturally immersive, community-driven, and based on the principles of reciprocal exchange.
- Meet People Where They Are – Growth happens best when individuals are seen and their skills and challenges are acknowledged with love.
- Cultivate Faith in Humanity – Collaboration is essential for progress. Invest in humanity’s future through meaningful connections that show real pathways toward progress.
- Embrace Growth & Transformation – Everything changes. Each day affords the opportunity to inspire ourselves and others with our approach to change.
- Enrich Education Through Accessible Experiences – Strive for experiences that cultivate empathy, understanding, and place-building.
- Connect Authentically – SHOW UP with integrity and include everyone who genuinely wants to share most of our vision.
- Play Wherever Possible – Embrace the absurdity and humor of life, creating new possibilities and encouraging positive impact.
- Start From The Center – Prioritize personal growth to better serve others. We avoid undermining good intentions by poor planning and unspoken issues.
- Combat Climate Change – Promote good acts, amplify their impact, and push for broader systems change on both planetary and societal levels.
At Global Routes, we’ve been offering experiential education programming since 1967! We began our international travel programs in 1987 and have never looked back. Our Hawai’i, Nepal, and Costa Rica programs have been community favorites for a solid decade.
- Our programs are heralded – since 1967 – as some of the best pedagogically and by outcomes, in the field;
- Our field leaders are superb (we don’t hire recent college grads, and work with experienced educators who return season after season);
- Our HQ staff are amongst the most experienced in this field ever (low turnover, extreme experience, bought into our pedagogy, and willing to go above and beyond for families, students, and our field staff);
- Our risk management is backed up by the best in the field: Cornerstone Safety Group;
- We give personalized attention and care to all students and families that travel with us;
- Our values and focus on climate change mean we put action to our words – no green-washing and only honesty in all organizational decisions.
Choosing a program
No problem! Use our program program comparison chart to identify the programs that are a right fit for you or schedule some time with our team via this link “book a call.” We can help you determine the best program based on your availability, goals, and interests.
- Increased global awareness
- Increased empathy and social skills
- Enhanced confidence
- Leadership experience
- A new community of like minded peers!
- Community service experience
- Language proficiency
- High school students, including entering freshmen and exiting seniors (15-18 y/o)
- International students are accepted (although usually 85%+ are from the USA)
- Students seeking challenging, rugged, and immersive group experiences
- With our long and immersive Itineraries, are programs are good for students seeking “more” out of their summer travel
- Students should be prepared for a structured program and be ready to push their comfort zones
- Students who are unsure should book an informational call with the Enrollment Advisor!
Global Routes Leaders undergo rigorous vetting and attend intense pre-semester staff training that covers program logistics, health, safety, group dynamics, mentorship, and conflict resolution. You’ll be “introduced” to your leaders via the Student Portal about a month before your program begins. You’ll also have an opportunity to meet them during a pre-departure webinar where they will be available to answer any last minute packing or itinerary questions!”
Additionally, trip leaders (AKA, Overseas Educators), are:
- Typically 25-32 years old
- Possess extensive travel experience
- Well-experienced in group dynamics (specifically with youth)
- Certified in wilderness medicine (WFA/WFR)
- Frequently experienced from organizations like Americorps or Peace Corps
- Boasting a high leader retention rate, with many leading 4 or 5 summers in a row (which means experienced, well-reviewed, and passionate leaders!)
Applying a program
Simply get started by submitting our application and paying the $20 application fee. Afterward, you’ll be directed to schedule a call with our team, and eventually deposit for your chosen program.
Our programs are meant to be inclusive, empowering, and promote confidence. During our interview, we’re looking for reasons that the program will be a mutual good fit! The ideal Global Routes student is open-minded, interested in self-growth, wants to contribute, and is curious about the world around them. As long as we are assured that students are applying for the right reasons, we’re excited to welcome you to the Global Routes community!
GLOBAL ROUTES STUDENT POLICIES:
Level One policies will result in immediate dismissal. Level Two policies have potential for immediate dismissal or will result in a verbal or written B-Plan which identifies behavior or concerns, outlines steps to correct or make amends, and states clear consequences if steps are not met. Of course, continued violation of policies will result in dismissal from the program in every case.
Level One
- No alcohol, tobacco, or illegal drugs: This includes the consumption, purchase, possession, or proximity to alcohol or drugs that are illegal in the U.S.A. and/or in countries where Global Routes travels. This also includes abuse or misuse of prescription and/or over-the-counter drugs.
- No sexual misconduct: All students are expected to contribute to a safe and positive learning environment.
Level Two
- No “dangerous” or harmful behaviors: This includes riding motorcycles, participating in unsanctioned adventure activities, breaking laws, not informing your Overseas Educator about your location, and not adhering to curfews set by the Overseas Educators. This also includes physical abuse, bullying, and harassment of others.
- Try culturally, personally, and emotionally: This means being present: no exclusive relationships, full participation in all aspects of the program, and adherence to the technology policy.
- I will abide by all group agreements: Group agreements are created by students and Overseas Educators during in-country orientation.
- Treat spaces, myself, and others with respect: This includes treating all members of my group, local contacts, property, and others with respect while traveling, regardless of race, culture, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, or religion. This also includes culturally appropriate clothing/language, and individual space/belongings.
* Global Routes reserves the right to dismiss at the expense of the participant, without refund or issuance of community service hours.
We do occasionally pay commissions to individuals for a student who is a good fit and chooses to travel with Carpe Diem, however, commissions are never a factor in whether we accept a student, nor will we accept a student if they’re not a good fit. Commission amounts and beneficiaries are shared with students during the interview process whenever a referral comes from an objective 3rd party. For instance, we may pay a commission to a former staff member who referred a student to us, however in those cases it’s a fair assumption that the former staff member isn’t representing an objective referral but a connection to an organization they’ve loved and support.
Tuition, costs & payments
All programs require a deposit of $600 upon finalizing your enrollment. From there, tuition payments are due on February 1 (50%) and April 1 (50%) prior to your departure date. These payments are made through your student portal, via ACH or Credit Card. Once you’ve enrolled, you’ll be guided through the process of setting up your student portal and have access to payment due dates, amount paid, and remaining tuition details.
Over two decades of experience has demonstrated to us that providing scholarships increases the diversity of our student body and thus the depth and quality of our programs. Global Routes strives to make our programs accessible to students in every way possible. Those with financial hardship are just as eager to contribute their energy and special gifts to our projects and community.
We offer scholarship and aid packages on a case-by-case basis. Once you’ve applied, we recommend talking to your Enrollment Advisor to review your options.
Preparing to travel
Yes, for most programs, you will need a passport. We accept students from all over the world, so be sure to review your passport and/or visa needs when deciding which program is for you. Our team can help!
Once you’re enrolled, you’ll be invited to our password-protected student page. There, you’ll find packing lists, reminders, best practices, and everything you need to know to prepare for your trip.
During a program
Living conditions will vary throughout your program, but they will always be designed for safety and comfort (if only by local standards sometimes). During orientation and final travel you stay with your group in family-run guesthouses or small hotels. During the bulk of your program, you’ll either be staying in community housing or for Nepal & Costa Rica you’ll have homestays. Your entire group will stay in one village where you, your group, and your Overseas Educators live in typically simple conditions. You may not have electricity or running water for some portions of your program.
Your leaders (we call them Overseas Educators, OEs) are possibly the best part of your program! We pride ourselves on having fantastic leadership, selected for their professionalism, cross-cultural experience, educational background, leadership skills, and empathy. You’ll be “introduced” to your leaders via your program page after complete enrollment and will meet them in person for the first time on departure day!
… We can’t hold back because they’re that good – check them out here!
In each destination we have in-country staff who identify potential communities and interview and select each host family. Prior to the start of your program, one of your leaders makes an additional pre-trip visit to your community to meet with village leaders, members of the project committee, and all host families.
You spend a decent amount of time on the service projects – ranging between 10-50 hours total depending on the program. After each workday is over, you have a chance to develop your secondary projects, play soccer with local children, play games with your group, help prepare dinner, or simply enjoy some down-time to read, relax, and take it all in. Some evenings are spent meeting with your group to discuss the service projects or plan a community party. On the weekends, you and your group may have the chance to go to a nearby beach, hike to a waterfall, accompany your family to the local market, or attend a dance in a neighboring community.
Throughout the program, we’ll partake in family meals, restaurant meals, grab-and-go, and home-cooked dinners at different times in the program. Many of our students are vegetarian or have other dietary restrictions. We make every effort to accommodate dietary restrictions to ensure that each student is well-fed. There may be occasions when it is not possible to obtain a different meal or when hosts do not understand the dietary restriction and are therefore unable to prepare the meal accordingly. In these cases we ask you to be culturally sensitive, flexible, and patient as we work together to find a solution.
Health & safety
Global Routes prioritizes the health and safety of our students and staff. With an excellent track record for safety and risk management, you can be confident that we will provide a meaningful experience using best industry practices to navigate the complexities of international travel. As an organization, we work hard to mitigate risk on our travel programs. We have developed risk management policies and procedures that allow us to respond as quickly—and skillfully—as possible to on-the-ground emergencies. Our HQ staff is on call 24/7 for the duration of the program.
Ahead of travel, we provide all families with a comprehensive list of immunization recommendations specific to your program region. We strongly encourage all students to visit a travel doctor before the program.
Additionally, each of your leaders is certified in First Aid and CPR and travels with a well-stocked medical kit. If you have allergies or chronic conditions that require emergency medications, we will discuss this during your interview and ensure we have adequate information to support you during the program.
Lastly, Global Routes is a member of Cornerstone Safety Group, a risk management consulting organization. Through our relationship with Cornerstone, we have 24/7 access to Medical Directors, licensed mental health professionals, and a risk management team.
