Custom Programs

Arizona Borderlands

The Intersection of Immigration, Social Justice, Climate Change and Law

Climate Change, Immigration, Legal System, Social justice, Wilderness

5 Days to 2 weeks

Between desert exploration and epic treks, learn why migration occurs along the US-Southern border and across the globe. Explore causal factors including climate change, political turmoil, violence, and employment displacement.

Dates

Available All-Year Round

Ages

14+

Availability

Spaces available

Group size

Up to 18 students, 1-2 chaperones, 2 Global Routes leaders

tuition

As from $1,995

Varies based on length, group size, and scope of program

Program overview

Take the experiential approach to understanding the migration issues across our Southern Border.

Speak to ICE and CBP border agents to understand their perspective. Visit a detention center, speak with leading community activists and social justice organizations, and witness the deportation hearings happening through Operation Streamline.

Navigate the impact of immigration by exploring the myriad of ways in which immigrants contribute to the economic, political, and social fabric of Southern Arizona. Meet entrepreneurs and community leaders and hear about their experiences.

Dive into the majesty of the outdoors in the Southwest. Trek through Southern Arizona’s magnificent desert and explore this fragile ecosystem. Learn and explore this desert wildlife through optional outdoor activities such as hiking, mountain biking, and rock climbing adventures in the magnificent Sonoran Desert and Sky Island mountain parks.

highlights

Gain a greater understanding of the political climate of borderlands in the USA.

Amplify the voices of community and social justice organizations.

Explore outdoors in Arizona’s incredible desert ecosystem.

Want the day by day itinerary?

How to enroll

Take the first step here

We’re excited to collaborate with you! From ideation to delivery, our team of experiential education experts will make your lessons come alive, keep your students engaged, and provide unforgettable custom experiences!

Collaborate with our team to develop a custom program

Submit your Custom Programs Interest form

If you’re curious about Global Routes, we encourage you to start your exploration with our Custom Program Interest Form. It’s obligation-free and takes only a few minutes.

<span data-metadata=""><span data-buffer="">you may also like

Ecuador

Explore modern social justice and community development issues.

Ecological Sustainability, Indigenous Rights, Social justice

Appalachian Mountains

Experiential approach to building dynamic leadership skills.

Communication, Leadership Skills, Outdoor Skills, Wilderness Training

Nepal

Step into the rhythm of daily life in the Himalayas.

Cross-Cultural Immersion, Himalayan Trek, Intro to Eastern Philosophy

FAQ

What’s the program model or pedagogy?

Focus on Social and Environmental Justice

- Immersive experiences
- Deep reflection and debrief
- Rooted in the experiential education learning cycle
- Authentic travel opportunities
- Collaboration with local experts and innovators

Each custom program we design is unique and built from scratch. We can tailor any program to meet the unique interests, goals, dates, and budgets of our partners.

What is a custom program?

Global Routes is an industry leader in the field of experiential education. We have led over 10,000 students on immersive and transformative experiences abroad since 1967. Our primary mission is to support educators in their curriculum goals by facilitating exceptional global learning experiences.

In addition to offering 4-5 week open-enrollment summer programs for high school students, we also love working with schools, camps, and groups to design and develop custom programs and courses.

“Each year, students return from their Global Routes service immersion program with a thirst to travel, a broadened view of the world, and a new perspective on what really matters to them.”– Marta, Teacher and Director of Global Learning

Who can build a custom program with Global Routes?

We design and deliver experiences for educators, administrators, and group leaders – basically anyone who has a group interested in experiential education as a modality for learning!

How do I begin?

Start by completing our Custom Program Interest Form. From there, a staff member will reach out to you to learn more about your goals and offer more insights into the custom program process!