Program Reviews

I went on the Ultimate Costa Rica trip with Bold Earth last summer, and it was such an unforgettable experience! I made so many new friends around the world through this trip and they quickly became family as we spent 3 weeks together. This trip pushes you out of your comfort zone by allowing you to interact with people you've never met and pushing you to do activities that you may not be able to do back at home. We did so many fun activities that I can't do in my state like surfing, snorkeling, and ziplining! We also got the chance to participate in service work which gives back to the community and gives you the opportunity to connect with the locals. This trip not only improved my Spanish, but it also taught me a lot about the culture as we stayed with host families, ate local food, and explored different areas of the country! I would definitely recommend traveling with Bold Earth!

I loved the Costa Rica trip and feel like it helped me grow not only in my Spanish but as a person as well. It pushed me out of my comfort zone constantly with all of our adventures and doing stuff that I had never done before. Traveling by myself to a new country was probably the scariest thing I have ever done but I met some of the coolest people who I still talk to today. Staying in homestays with strangers who speak a different language is something I will never forget. This trip taught me how to live courageously and be willing to take risks. It exponentially improved my Spanish as well as my ability to look at things through a new perspective. Costa Rica was life changing and I would highly recommend to everyone!

I was a part of the Hawai’i trip in the summer of 2019. The leaders of the trip became my friends and I created life long bonds with the other campers. Everyone was so nice and I couldn’t have asked for a more perfect community! Coming in I was an introvert and was scared of not making any friends. After only one week it felt like you hade known these people for years and years. There wasn’t one day that I went to bed hungry do to the amazing cook crews. I would recommend this trip for anyone looking for a big adventure and some new friends.

My daughter Allison went on a summer trip with Bold Earth to Hawaii, and I can't say enough about the experience. When we signed her up, we thought it would be a fun teen tour (which it was). We were grateful to hear that she learned some useful skills (cooking), and that the counselors were kind and focused on teaching her leadership skills. She continues to stay in touch with all the kids from the trip, and she's planning to do an international trip with Bold Earth. Thanks to Bold Earth for taking such great care of her!

I have a stellar time spending time the three beautiful countries we visited. The cuisine was excellent and housing was comfortable. Every one participating was friendly, unique, outgoing and caring! This is my third year with bold earth and I’m so excited for next year with them! I would recommend this to anyone looking for adventure and new friendships. Every person I met hade a fantastic story to tell, I’ve e learned so much culture that books could never capture. I’ve learned that the little acts of kindness the show every create a better day for someone else, even if you aren’t able to speak the same language. I’ve been home for two weeks and I’m missing the friends I’ve made and of course the food. I hope anyone reading this we be inspired to check out this amazing trip!

This was definitely my most diverse, fun, educational, and memorable summer. I went to camp knowing 2 people from school, but it didn't impact my bonding with the other 10 people and our two leaders. Since we traveled all over the West Coast during the Bold West trip, we got to do everything from rock-climbing to white-water rafting to surfing to exploring Vegas. When I first heard that we would cook all of our own meals, I was terrified that we'd all starve to death, because I didn't know how to cook. During the course of the trip, I learned how to improvise meals and how to cook with limited supplies. (I also really enjoyed food shopping, as I usually got driven around in a cart.) I made so many friends who I still keep in touch with. I'm even meeting up with a friend during the Costa Rica trip I'm doing this summer!! All in all, this was a great experience and I definitely recommend it to every teen out there.

While I was in south Africa, I was volunteering with the UNESCO waterberg survey. We stayed in these amazing huts that were designed using cow manure. The women who ran the places we were staying did not speak English but spoke sepedi.I felt a sense of connection to these women already and had many conversations with them without having to use words but gestures. I helped them make skirts and fabrics and dry off dishes. It was powerful. They embraced me with hugs and waves every time I saw them. We communicated without words but there was much being said. These women made me feel like I was surrounded by family and considered them as family. Regardless of us not being able to verbally speak the other persons language, I still felt like we were connected and we understood one another. At one point, they gave me a name. They called me what sounded like montewoo which means mother elephant. I think it is spelled mmetlou but I am not sure. Every time I would see them they would shout the name out loud and embrace me with a hug. When I had to say goodbye to them, that was the hardest part of the trip. They knew I was leaving and the hug they provided was even longer.

My son Tyler died while on the Bold Earth Hawaii tour in the summer of 2012. He was swept out to sea after tour guides failed to follow high surf warnings and lead the group into an unsafe tide pool. These guides, who were responsible for leading the teens on a kayaking and hiking trip that day, were not trained in oceanic conditions - they had no cell phones, and no safety equipment on hand. After my son went missing, company leaders waited 5 hours to contact us and let us know what happened. When we arrived in Hawaii the following day, we discovered that the tour had continued, and no one from Bold Earth was there to meet us. Parents should use extreme caution when selecting a tour company for their children. Research backgrounds and experience of tour leaders and the company as a whole.

My son Mark went on Bold Earth's Bold West the summer of 2013, and it is safe to say this is one of the best experiences we as a parent, and he as a camper has ever had.
Mark got home and could not stop talking about all the places they went, and the amazing adventures they had. One week they were on a two day rafting trip in California, and they were surfing in Santa Cruz the next.
The trip leaders were so great, and Mark went on and on about how cool they were.
The entire time the leaders kept a blog so we could stay informed about what was happening on the trip, and it had pictures of all the activities. The staff in the office was so helpful and knowledgable I didn't have to stress about a thing.
Mark is planning on a trip in Australia for summer 2014.

I had the most amazing summer in China with Bold Earth! The leaders were friendly, experienced, and fun, and the itinerary was perfectly planned. The trip was a really good combination of adventure, culture, and fun!