As an infant, Adam spent his first summer visiting his relatives in Athens, Greece and unknowingly caught a relatively common disease called ‘Itchy Feet’ which has forced Adam to constantly seek adventure, cultural immersion, and awe-inspiring vistas. When Adam was 21, he set foot on the SS Universe Explorer and circumnavigated the globe by sea, cementing his passion for cross-cultural exploration and education. He loves nothing more than speaking with students and families to support them on their personal global adventures. Adam has led for 7 seasons with Global Routes to destinations such as Puerto Rico, Mexico, the Grenadines, Southern Africa, and Ecuador. He has more than 20 years under his belt as an educator, ranging from running summer camps, leading for Global Routes, teaching in the Boston Public Schools, and leading health and nutriton education programs across Asia, Africa, and the Caribbean. During those rare moments when he is not leading, directing, or developing programs with Global Routes, Adam is on a mission to solve the worlds greatest health and environmental problems through his work as the Co-Founder of The Cookbook Project. Adam earned his Bachelor’s Degree in International Political Economy at Tulane University in New Orleans and his Master’s Degree in International Relations at London’s University of Westminster. Adam is a Food Education Scholar and Certified Health Counselor from the Institute for Integrative Nutrition. He is a certified teacher in history, English, math, and ESL. Adam is a Propeller Accelerator Fellow and serves on the Board of Directors for Odanadi USA, and the Community Advisory Boards of the Tulane Prevention Research Center, the Healthy School Food Collaborative, Farm to School planning commission, and Tulane Young Alumni. Adam has traveled, volunteered, worked, and adventured in more than 75 different countries, and enjoys spending time with his wife Alissa (a 2012 Global Routes leader), his two dogs Hoogli and Dorje, rock climbing, yoga, wilderness backpacking, sailing, and adventures in the Himalayas.

Julia is an experienced program director with a history of launching and growing mission-based organizations. She previously worked on a team that helped start and grow over 100 companies, both for-profit and non-profit in the sectors of food, health, education, and water management. Julia has a strong international background: she earned her Bachelor's of Arts in International Relations from Lewis & Clark College in Portland, Oregon; she has traveled to 27 different countries, and lived abroad in Switzerland, Hong Kong, and India. In 2015, Julia was one of 12 Fellows selected from around the world to participate in the Global Good Fund, a competitive leadership development program. Julia is passionate about volunteering and is actively supporting Mother Miracle, a K-12 school in India that serves exceptionally intelligent children from the slums. Julia also volunteers as a mentor for budding women entrepreneurs in India through the program WeConnect. Formerly, Julia was a founding member of the Awesome Foundation in New Orleans, and was selected to Grist’s list of 50 innovators to watch. Julia is an avid music lover and exercise enthusiast, who is known to be the first on the dance floor and the last to leave. Bringing people together and initiating positive experiences is what she does best.

Brighid Carey is an international exchange and program management professional. She runs Global Routes’ Marketing and Operations, maintaining internal systems, communications, and outreach. She has worked for a variety of international exchange organizations in the U.S. and abroad, including five years in Colombia with WorldTeach as a volunteer and program director. Brighid has also lived in Ecuador, Spain and Guatemala. Brighid has a BA in Spanish and Latin American Studies from the University of Connecticut, and will receive her Master’s degree in Intercultural Service, Leadership and Management at SIT Graduate Institute in Vermont. In her free time, she loves riding her bike, hiking, playing rugby, reading and exploring new places.

Katie is a long-time devotee of experiential education through her has many seasons as an educator at Windsor Mountain International, student activities director at an academic summer program for high schoolers, educational director at an after-school math tutoring center, and a 3-year-old birthday party entertainer. She has a BA in English from the University of Chicago, an MFA in Screenwriting from the American Film Institute Conservatory, and is currently completing her Masters in Social Work at Hunter College in New York. She is also a two-time Global Routes student alumna! In her free time, Katie draws cartoons, makes puppets, and plays 4 chords on the banjo.

MA, International Education, School for International Training. BA, Anthropology, Connecticut College. Dianna is the Associate Director at the Gap Year Association. Dianna is an international educator with decades of experience. Bridging her work with her studies, Dianna dove into a masters program in International Education where she focused her research on cross-cultural communication in the classroom. She has traveled to Samoa to research the culture of tattooing, facilitated leadership and service learning programs in Bequia, paraded in the streets of Port Au Prince, Haiti with a band of clowns and musicians and most recently worked with underserved children in Northern India. Dianna then came back to the Global Routes’ family and worked with Global Routes as the director for 3 years. After four fantastic years, she now supports the development of Global Routes programs. In her down time, Dianna serves on the board of directors for Clowns Without Borders. She also spends time working with her mother as a floral designer and aspiring gardener and is the proud mother of a beautiful young daughter.

M.B.A. Yale University; B.A. Magna Cum Laude, Sociology, Magna Cum Laude. Kenneth has been working in experiential education for 27 years. Prior to founding Global Routes with Andrew Rivin, he was an educational consultant and college administrator. He has traveled throughout Europe, Asia, Africa and the Americas and has led Global Routes programs in the United States, China and Thailand. Kenneth enjoys running, cycling and playing with his children, Jonah and Sarina. In his spare time, he serves in the leadership of his community’s synagogue. Kenneth continues to provide stellar advice and supports our staff with trainings, program developmen, and the 30,000 foot perspective of Global Routes lofty mission.

In addition to being one of Global Route’s most seasoned and valued trip leaders, Liz is a rockstar in program development. She has uncanny relationships with our in-country staff and between 2014 to 2018 has developed Costa Rica, the Grenadines, Ecuador, and GR Custom Programs. BA Humanities, Sierra Nevada College, Valedictorian; Teaching English as a Foreign Language Certification, TEFL International. Wilderness First Responder w/ CPR. PADI Rescue Diver. ACA Sea Kayak Instructor & Guide, who has left her wake in every ocean but the Arctic. Studied, worked, volunteered, and traveled throughout Central and South America, Europe, Asia, and Africa. Fluent in Spanish. Spends free time exploring and paddling in new places, visiting family/friends, singing monster rock ballads at open mics, and breaking taco-eating records in obscure port towns.

Pam brings over 30 years of office management experience to the Global Routes team. She manages the accounts, human resources, and many of the nitty gritty activities that allow our leaders and Directors to focus their time on working closely with staff and families to deliver extraordinary life-changing programs for our students.

Laura is an international development & communications professional. At Global Routes, she helps keep internal systems (both tech and procedural) running smoothly. Before joining Global Routes, Laura worked in varied roles from editor, writer and researcher, to web cartographer and program coordinator. Laura has worked in Uganda, India, Brazil, Ecuador and the US, and has traveled to more than twenty other countries. She received her MA in International Development at The New School in New York City, where she examined participatory governance models in urban East Africa, and her BA from Washington University in St. Louis, where she studied design and popular resistance movements in Latin America. You can usually find Laura playing ultimate frisbee, dreaming up ways to create a kinder world, exploring New Orleans, or planning her next trip.

Caroline is a graduate of Tulane University in New Orleans with a degree in Public Health and Environmental Science. She is passionate about nonprofit development and expanding opportunities for young people to experience international cultures and people. She found a love for travel from a semester abroad in India, where she spent much of her time in Delhi and travelling throughout the rural Northeast. The capstone of her experience was an independent study on the Ganges River. Her work with Global Routes focuses on enrollment and operations in order to ensure students find a program that is right for them! In her free time she enjoys listening to podcasts and crocheting.

NEPAL LEADER B.A. Adventure Education, Magna Cum Laude, Fort Lewis College. Skyeler grew up in Colorado where he survived dozens of misadventures in the wilderness with his father and younger siblings. Infused with a deep love for nature, adventure and service, he went on to work in the field of Adventure Education for over 16 years, leading international trips with adolescents to thirteen different countries including leading Global Routes programs in Tanzania. Skyeler has been a student of Yoga and Tibetan Buddhism for over 15 years. In 2016, Skyeler led a mountain & river expedition to the Garhwal Himalaya, and then spent another 7 months living in India and Nepal, studying Yoga, etc. He is a 500 Hour certified Yoga Instructor, and also certified in Wilderness Medicine as a Wilderness First Responder and Permaculture Design. Skyeler lives in Vermont where he continues the legacy of misadventure; practices and studies sustainable living skills, Sattva Yoga, Herbalism and the Charango.

ST. VINCENT & THE GRENADINES LEADER B.A. Education and Cultural Studies, Elizabethtown College. M.S. Ed. in progress, Loyola University Maryland. Odessa is devoted to transformational learning and has worked in diverse classrooms throughout the US and across the globe. Her educator journey has involved working at a tribal run school in South Dakota serving students from over 15 different tribal nations, as well as living and teaching in Chaiyaphum and Phuket, Thailand. Most recently, she has developed the Middle School Language Arts program at a public-charter school in Baltimore City and designed annual fieldwork for students to volunteer and learn in New Orleans. Outside of education and advocacy, Odessa enjoys beekeeping, reading, gardening, and photography. With a passion for traveling and learning about new places and meeting new people, Odessa is thrilled to join the Global Routes Caribbean team, and looks forward to fostering new cross-cultural experiences in authentic and meaningful ways.

CO-DIRECTOR, DOMESTIC WILDERNESS PROGRAMS B.A. Global Studies, Hofstra University. Teacher, yoga and dance instructor, Thai massage practitioner, homesteader and permaculturalist. Studied, worked, and offered hands throughout Europe, the Middle East, Asia, and Latin America. Fluent in Spanish and Italian. Spends free time building a housing homestead, building community, traveling, and dancing.

COSTA RICA LEADER Pablo is a Tico from head to toe, from the town of Piedras Blancas, a town nestled in the mountains of Costa Rica surrounded by rivers. He was one of eighteen children and loves being part of a group community. In addition to leading for Global Routes, Pablo is a rafting guide and an outdoor education instructor who has lead many trips with Outward Bound, Pacific Journeys, Auténtico Adventures and Pure Life by Aspiro. He is thrilled to be a part of the Global Routes team and our students' Costa Rica experience!

ST. VINCENT & THE GRENADINES LEADER A 9th year leader with Global Routes, Max has rocked programs in St. Vincent, Peru, Nepal and Costa Rica. This is his 4th summer leading the St. Vincent LIA program and he was also a student on this very same program while he was in high school. Studied Technology Management, Brown University. Lifeguard certified and a Wilderness First Responder, Max is a rock climbing instructor and experienced outdoor educator. He is deeply passionate about the opportunities for experiential learning in the context of international leadership programs. Fluent in Spanish, hip-hop aficionado, guitarist, music prodiucer and vinyl hoarder, training in Thai Boxing.

ST. VINCENT & THE GRENADINES LEADER B.S. Biomedical Engineering & Management Minor, University of California Irvine. A California native and current resident of Colorado, Jasmin grew up snowboarding, backpacking, kicking soccer balls and jamming on the piano. She loves spending time with her parents, sister and two pups. With a Belgian father and Korean mother, her house is always filled with a mix of cultures and foods. This has allowed her to travel the world, visiting her family that live across many countries. When she’s not leading with Global Routes she leads road trips across America as a certified tour guide, coaches soccer for the Special Olympics, and competitively snowboards in the winter. She most recently spent her last season working as an ESL teacher in Thailand. She is super excited to be a part of the Global Routes Caribbean team and to share her love of giving back to the community while immersing herself in local culture!

NEPAL LEADER BS Nutrition, Arizona State University; MPH Global Health, Colorado State University; Certified Yoga Teacher; Wilderness First Responder. An avid adventurer and artist, Jaime has traveled and worked to empower diverse teens through dance & performance arts for over a decade. As a teen herself, she participated in two cultural dance exchange tours in Greece & China—which sparked her passion for cultural connectivity and global wellbeing. Since, she has led service projects in Haiti & the Dominican Republic and served as a Food Security Volunteer in Peace Corps Nepal! She is ecstatic to return to Nepal as co-leader of an amazing adventure with Global Routes! Jaime can also be found teaching yoga, spinning vinyl, frolicking in nature, sketching stories, biking or birding.

COSTA RICA LEADER Haley is an Outdoor Educator who finds purpose in holding spaces of compassion, intention and community within an experiential learning environment. She is an avid Spanish speaker and feels most at home when traveling abroad, exploring the world and its people through the lens of native cultures and traditions. Haley graduated from Lewis & Clark College with degrees in Psychology and Hispanic Studies. She then spent three years teaching English in Barcelona before returning to the US to work as a horticultural therapy and wilderness guide with teenagers in Hawaii and California. Haley is inspired by her students and their insights, the land and its myriad of teachings, and the mirrors that nature provides for her own personal reflections. Haley led her first international trip last summer to Costa Rica and fell in love with the incredibly diverse ecosystem, kind-hearted culture and endless opportunities for exploration and adventure! She can’t wait to go back!

CO-DIRECTOR, DOMESTIC WILDERNESS PROGRAMS David Ficke is a veteran leader with Global Routes who has led our Ecuador and Tanzania trips, and has also spent several seasons leading with Longacre Expeditions all over the US and Canada. His passion for travel and cultural was piqued during a solo trip to Thailand, where he taught English. Since then, David has led many trips internationally and in the US. David has also studied abroad in the UK, volunteered with Americorps, spent three months traveling overland from South Africa to Uganda, and traveled all over Latin America on his own.

NEPAL STAFF Shankar is the Managing Director of Exotic Mountain Treks in Nepal, where he has worked for 25 years, organizing treks and guiding hikers throughout the Himalayas. He has an MBA from Tribhuban University in Kathmandu and has worked with Global Routes groups since the mid 1990s. He elevates the Global Routes Nepal program by providing opportunities for students to immerse themselves in the culture while providing meaningful service work.

ECUADOR STAFF Raul connects us with host communities and service projects in the San Luis de Pambil area of Ecuador. He is very committed to the organization that he and his brother, Carlos, founded, that works towards “green progress” in over 200 communities. As an Ashoka social entrepreneur, he is excited about projects that improve quality of life without damaging the surrounding environment. Raul has been with Global Routes for more than 20 years.

NEPAL STAFF Ratna is an expert on everything Nepali. He has been leading Global Routes programs for ten years - guiding, entertaining and cooking for our travelers with great care and enthusiasm. He speaks Nepali, Hindi, English and his local language, Tamang. Ratna loves working with Global Routes and appreciates the students’ dedication to learning about Nepali culture and their commitment to the community service projects.

TANZANIA STAFF

ST. VINCENT & THE GRENADINES STAFF Martin and Veolant Cupid are the pillars of the community on the Windward side of St. Vincent Island. Since 2006 the Cupids have graciously hosted Global Routes students, equipping students with the tools to lead successful friendship camps and of course, sharing their favorite Caribbean recipes with our students. You haven’t lived until you’ve tried Martin’s open-fire breadfruit. The warmth of the Cupids hospitality has been the key ingredient to the success of Global Routes’ St Vincent programs.

COSTA RICA IN-COUNTRY COORDINATOR Orlando lives in the mountains of the Savegre Valley and has 5 children and 9 grandchildren. He knows the rainforest like the back of his hand and worked as an Instructor with Costa Rica Outward Bound School for over 20 years. He's excited to be a part of the Global Routes team, as he is passionate about teaching students about his Costa Rican culture and working with them on community service projects.

COSTA RICA STAFF Don Luis is a ranchero, or cattle rancher by trade, from the San Isidro region of Costa Rica. Now in his 70s, he has been helping coordinate Global Routes programs for over thirty years! Don Luis has a large family of children and grandchildren and loves welcoming young people from other countries to learn about his culture and country, and especially working with Global Routes groups on local community service projects.