Program Reviews

Our 17 year old son went to GLA's Sea Turtle Initiative for spring break 2018 to help finish off his volunteer hours required for graduation and he was blown away. He'd already traveled to many countries (10+, many on his own) so we were surprised by the impact. This experience was unlike any he'd previously had in that it was very remote and he was directly involved with the local community while free from the influence of western culture.

The staff was kind, and their genuine concern for the locals and the environment was an eye-opener for our son. He has a new understanding of our impact of humans on Earth and I believe many of the lessons he learned will stay with him for life. He now reminds us to correct our daily habits with regard to conservation and recycling, talks about nature / indigenous populations / wildlife with an educated, informed opinion and sees news headlines under a new light. He is PAYING ATTENTION.

We genuinely believe this program has changed our teen's life. Don't hesitate to send yours.

This past summer I traveled to Belize through GLA and it was one of the best experiences of my life. I found the program through a friend who had done a program two years before. She said it was be a life changing experience and she was not wrong. Not only did I make friends within the group I was volunteering, but I also made strong connections with some of children we worked with. One girl from my class emails me weekly to stay in touch! The program allows you to immerse yourself in another culture- nothing touristy. From cooking classes with our cook to shopping in the city markets, I truly felt like a native while in Belize. The housing was wonderful and had various hiking paths and a water hole for swimming. Overall it was a wonderful experience that I would recommend to anyone who wants to broader their understanding of our world and the people in it.

I had one of the most amazing experiences of my life when I went on the Costa Rica Initiative for Children program through Global Leadership Adventures. Since my sister, who is only a year younger than me, came on the trip with me, my experience was different from most of the students, who came completely alone. Still, traveling to another country with a bunch of strangers seemed scary at first, but our group got in touch before even arriving in Costa Rica (I highly recommend getting in touch before the trip- this helps with packing too) and my nerves eased after meeting our guides and other students. As soon as I sat down with my group at the airport, I was given some local cookies and added into the game of Uno. Our host, Alfredo, provided us with nice housing and fed us very well with traditional Costa Rican food and a variety of local foods, including coffee from Alfredo's own plantations to cheese from a family we met who lived down the street. We also had a lake and dock on the property, which we had plenty of time to swim at. The staff was very flexible and accommodating, such as letting my sister and I get up early and work out (we are intense athletes) before breakfast, and they even offered to take us kayaking on the lake before everyone was up. Our staff I never felt bored on the program and was happily surprised by all the activities we did, since the majority were not in the program booklet. We went zip lining, went horseback riding, rafted down a river, visited a "zoo" with tons of interesting animals I had never seen before anywhere in the States, went to a dog rescue center, went hiking, and much more. However, the friendships I made with both the other kids on the program and the local kids we hosted a summer camp for almost every day are the most valuable part of my trip. We helped clean out and repaint a local abandoned school building and we also held a summer camp for the kids where we taught them English through games and activities. I highly recommend the Initiative for Children program for anyone serious about learning Spanish or anyone who wants to become a teacher or any profession where interaction with kids is involved. I have taken Spanish in school for 13 years and this 14 day trip was the most valuable Spanish lesson ever, since I had to speak Spanish all the time to the local kids. We played soccer, did karate, did arts and crafts, danced, and did leadership activities with the local kids, and spending time with those kids and really immersing myself into another culture in a way I had never done before with my family really opened my eyes to all I can learn from different cultures and helped me realize all the different lifestyles the world has to offer. I also still keep in touch with a majority of the 20+ kids through a group chat, and I know a few members of the group flew from the east coast to California to visit other members. I cried all day in the airport when we left, where we all held hands in a circle and gave each other compliments, our nightly routine back at Alfredo's. I had not anticipated how close our group would become in just 14 days. I highly recommend Global Leadership Adventures for any teen enthusiastic about service (there are so may different programs and there will be at least one for you) and willing to step out of their comfort zone, because the experience is totally worth it.

The summer of 2017, I sent my twins to Costa Rica on the Beachside Service Adventure with Global Leadership Adventures and I could not be more happy that I did. Not only did they have the opportunity to grow as individuals, they grew as part of a group and established lasting connections with their peers. They had a great time and I am so glad I was able to enable their growth! Moreover, the staff was very helpful and understanding. They are very knowledgeable and settled any of my concerns over the phone and made it easy to be a parent sending their child on a life-changing excursion.

I am so happy that my daughter and I found GLA. It has helped her grow as a person and a global citizen. I am proud of the person she has developed into. The safety and security that I feel her being there helps me as a parent know she is growing and developing. I have had other parents tell me stories about their children's trips through other programs and I am so happy that my child has gone on GLA.

I've traveled twice with global leadership adventures and had amazing life experiences and unforgettable adventures met new people and learned so much about the world. Last summer, I traveled with Global Leadership Adventures to the islands of Fiji for three weeks and had a fantastic experience. I made strong relationships with the people on my trip, learned so much about the culture and the language, experienced new foods, went on several unforgettable adventures, and learned a lot about myself and who I want to be. GLA has led me to some of the best experiences in my life and I never want the adventuring to end. They have taught me how to be a part of a community I don't belong to and to help everyone who needs it in a respectful manner. GLA has developed me into the person I am and has helped me idealize who I want to be in my future. I don't know what my life would be like without Global Leadership Adventures and the amazing trip I went on in Fiji.

I had an amazing time on the Empowering Rainforest Communities trip to Costa Rica with Global Leadership Adventures. Everything from the wildlife to the food to the culture made a memory for a lifetime. My group did struggle with internal relationships, but we worked through hard times together, as our task was mentally and physically challenging. The climate was a rainforest, so it rained a lot... and then some. I wasn’t quite prepared for the humidity and rain, as I am from a dryer climate. But I learned to live with wet clothes. Make sure to keep money or important documents from molding.

For anyone who is considering doing a TEEN Volunteer Program I would HIGHLY recommend Global Leadership Adventures Guatemala trip, My daughter expressed interest in going on this trip at the age of 14 and as a parent I was nervous. I did my due diligence and there was no reason to stop her from going. The safety, support and communication from the Global Leadership Adventures staff to the hosting and staff in the US and Guatemala were very comforting to parents and our teens. Had anxiety of sending my child to another country as an unaccompanied minor and it turns out, she loved it, was safe and had no problems with travel. Not to mention she enjoy this trip so much because of the wonderful staff at GLA, the outstanding service programs, and relationships she built with children in Guatemala. My daughter loved the program so much she's off to Thailand in June 2018. So if you are considering going on a Global Leadership Adventure Program join the facebook groups and ask questions to teens and parents that have sent their kids on the programs. It's like joining a big family. Everyone is so helpful and supportive. Get onto GLA webinars they help answer so many questions.

Traveling to another country all by yourself the scariest thing at first, but trust me it's not. Going to Fiji this summer was the single best thing that could have happen to me. I learned so much things about myself that I never could have imagined. When being put in so many situations that put me out of my comfort zone challenged me and also helped me grow for the better. You wouldn't believe the friends you make and how quickly you all come to be family. Being with these people for three weeks straight while sharing so many memories is so touching, I never wanted to leave them. We spent most of our trip on the island of Naviti, there we stayed at a small resort and traveled by boat to the village. When going into the village we were welcomed with open arms by the locals, constantly playing with the young kids and enjoying the delicious food the women graciously made for us. Volunteer work ranged from teaching english, to helping build rain water tanks, and preserving marine wildlife. Although the work was the most rewarding, adventures of the island were just as breath taking. We would climb the volcanic terrain as well as swam along the reef and jumped off the dive tower into the crystal blue water. There was never a dull moment there, especially with such friendly staff who loved to play volleyball with us. If you are considering going on a service trip I would forever recommend it, even if you don't know anyone cuz we are all in the same boat there. I couldn't imagine anyone not having the time of their life on this trip, it truly was extraordinary.

This past summer, I traveled to Costa Rica with Global Leadership Adventures. I had an amazing time! I met so many new people, experienced a new culture, and went on many amazing adventures. I would recommend this program to all high school students! I truly immersed myself in the community and grew in my Spanish skills too! I met so many amazing friends who I still keep in touch with and visit! I got to go hiking, swimming, zip lining, snorkeling, horseback riding, rafting, and more.