Summer High School Programs in Dominican Republic with Rustic Pathways

This summer I went on a service trip to the Dominican Republic. My trip was titled “public health in the Caribbean.” I have always been interested in medicine and public health, but I didn’t know what to expect. As soon as I showed up to the airport i was greeted by so many amazing girls and I immediately knew that it would be a great trip. We stayed in an amazing base house, and went to very informative and interesting NGO’S (non-government organizations) regarding women and children’s health and rights in the DR. After we learned the issues we had a man named Gary teach and certify us in first aid, cpr, and other wilderness first aid skills to use in the community health workshops. After this we went into the Batey communities and saw first hand the many issues that people in these communities face. Although they faced so many hardships, the people in these communities were so outgoing and caring. One of my favorite memories was when we were pouring a concrete for a family of 5, and the abuela gave us fresh mangos and coconuts. Her compassionate personality really stood out to me, and my whole group formed a really amazing and tight bond with her over the 5 days we worked to help the sanitation in the community. After doing the construction projects like pouring cement floors and building latrines, we used our knowledge of wilderness first aid to do public health workshops that went to 4 communities in the bateys. This was definitely the highlight of my trip, because we really got to know and understand what the families in the communities go through. We gave them anti parasite medicines, weighed and measured babies, gave vitamins and much more. When I got home, I realized how fortunate we all really are, and how important it is to help others who may not be in the best situations. Forming bonds with different people around the world is one of the things I love to do most in life, and this rustic trip really helped me do what I love.

My trip in the Dominican provided me with the experience of a lifetime. I got to meet some lifetime friends while working with a local NGO called Fundemar, but also got my eyes opened up to the impact of climate change on our oceans. The programs allowed me to create valuable and close social connections with fellow program members; and the program leaders passion for this cause drove my heart towards this cause as well. Thank you Rustic for giving forever friends and an unforgettable experience.

I don’t know where to start!! My program was amazing and was such a relief opening experience. It’s been almost a month since I went on my trip and I would do anything to be with my group again. In the summer leadership program, I was able to get so close with the people in my group and the kids we supervised. I highly recommend traveling with rustic because they accommodate to your needs and make you feel safe throughout your whole trip. The people I meet I will never forget and I will forever cherish the memories I made with the most amazing people in the world.

This summer I traveled to the Dominican Republic with Rustic Pathways. This was my second Rustic trip, and definitely not my last. The program was life in the Batyes, on this program we worked on building a house, latrines and floors in communities called Bateys. This was a critical Issues program, meaning we also learned about the issues and the history of the Bateys, the sugar cane industry, and workers. We also got a chance to run a summer camp for the kids from the Bateys, and we had some time to relax and great beaches. Throughout this program the work was satisfying and meaningful, we developed wonderful relationships with the people from these communities and among our student group. It was so hard to leave the Batey on our last service day, and say goodbye to everyone at the airport. The program leaders are inspiring, kind and very knowledgable they took great care of us 24/7. I have never felt so at home with strangers. I felt happy, safe and secure the moment I met my PL's and my group. On this program you learn so much not only about the Bateys and their history, but you live it by being a part of the community where you gain an understanding of what is truly important in life. Since the moment you sign up for a Rustic program to years after, Rustic makes you feel like part of an amazing community. I am so thankful for the opportunities Rustic has provided me. I am looking forward to next summer to create more wonderful memories with them.

This summer I traveled to the Dominican Republic with Rustic Pathways. This was my second Rustic trip, and definitely not my last. The program was life in the Batyes, on this program we worked on building a house, latrines and floors in communities called Bateys. This was a critical Issues program, meaning we also learned about the issues and the history of the Bateys, the sugar cane industry, and workers. We also got a chance to run a summer camp for the kids from the Bateys, and we had some time to relax and great beaches. Throughout this program the work was satisfying and meaningful, we developed wonderful relationships with the people from these communities and among our student group. It was so hard to leave the Batey on our last service day, and say goodbye to everyone at the airport. The program leaders are inspiring, kind and very knowledgable they took great care of us 24/7. I have never felt so at home with strangers. I felt happy, safe and secure the moment I met my PL's and my group. On this program you learn so much not only about the Bateys and their history, but you live it by being a part of the community where you gain an understanding of what is truly important in life. Since the moment you sign up for a Rustic program to years after, Rustic makes you feel like part of an amazing community. I am so thankful for the opportunities Rustic has provided me. I am looking forward to next summer to create more wonderful memories with them.

The Life in the Bateyes trip in the Dominican Republic was my first experience with Rustic. I went alone in the hopes of meeting some new people, as recommended by Rustic itself. We had 13 people, a group of 4, 2 groups of 2 (one of the groups of 2 knew the girls in the group of 4) and 5 people who came by themselves. With so many sub groups, it made it difficult to bond as a group as well as talk and connect with individuals. One of our trip leaders actually complained about it numerous times (not to us of course). Our base house was amazing! It was a NGO that worked to provide documentation to undocumented immigrants as well as legal representation for laborers. Meeting the nuns and learning what they do was extremely enlightening. The building itself was very nice and was beyond what I could have hoped for (minus warm water though it was so hot it didn't really matter). The service work was my favorite part. At some points though I didn't always feel that we were making an impact. All the work that we did though was sustainable which assisted in making us all feel like we were making a lasting difference on the bateye of Monte Coca. The packing list was pretty accurate for this trip. I did tend to wear more pants (blue jeans, capris, cargo pants) but I wasn't quite as effected by the heat as some of my fellow group members. Our trip leader were very conscientious of our health and always made sure that we drank lots of water and checked in with students to make sure that we didn't get any of the common illnesses that foreigners tend of get in the Dominican. When I got a splitter from a shell in the water on beach day, Angelica (one of the trip leaders) immediately put antibiotics on it and took out the piece that was lodged in my foot. Rustic is also very conscious of the many ways it can leave a minimal impact of the environment. Our base house was powered by solar energy and all the food that we ate was grown on the property. On our last few days in country we stayed at what is called an ecolodge, which is a whole mini resort if you will that has zero impact. Energy from solar panels, food from property, recycled rain water for sinks, toilets, etc. All in all I would recommend this trip to any high schooler as a way to practice some Spanish, learn about a different culture, and make a positive impact on someone life.

I was so excited to go to the Dominican Republic, I had been counting down the days for almost a whole year! I went on Mountain Air and Village service and the experience was life changing. My group was the third group to work on the aquaducts in the community and we finished the project and got to see the running water! It was such a great moment to see the running water and see how happy the locals were. The ranch we stayed at was so nice although I wish we had time to spend more time there. In the middle of the trip we went to the beach for a night and I had a great time! The ride there was certainly really long but worth it! I only had wished we had more time to spend at the beach and had left the base house earlier. For anyone looking into the trip I HIGHLY recommend going. I already cant wait for my trip next year with some of the same friends from this year!

I definitely recommend this trip. It was impactful, fun, and interesting. There was a good balance between service, learning, and fun. The other students were approachable and caring, as were our group leaders. The community service was rewarding yet enjoyable. I always felt safe and we always stick together as a group. The food was really good and our leaders ensured that there was always water available. The base house was also great.

Overall, this is a great program. The communication with parents throughout the trip was ideal. My largest complaint is in terms of the packing list. Jeans were much more useful than long shorts, so I would recommend bringing another pair. The accommodations were great, but a lot of time was spent traveling to and from service. The food was amazing, and the staff was always willing to adjust in order to accommodate all students.

I was enrolled in the Mountain Air Village Service program. Overall the program was very enjoyable. I found the leaders to be very engaging and I enjoyed some very nice conversations with them. The volunteer work we did was hard work but the accomplishments felt tangible, since we finished the aqueduct the groups before us had also been working on. Seeing the water going through the entire thing and the reactions of the people who now had clean water was priceless and heartwarming. This trip was also great for meeting new people and it was really cool to meet people from all around the US and even a few from outside the US and just to connect with them. Overall this trip was very enjoyable and i’d reccomend it to anyone who is looking for an experience like this.

My 15 year old son went with Rustic Pathways on his first trip alone. We were looking for something easy to get to for a few weeks for his first adventure.
He had an amazing time! It seemed well organized and they had a nice balance between Service and other experiences in the community. I like the fact that the kids had to put away their electronics for the majority trip. I still had to get over having minimal contact, however.
At first my son didn’t feel comfortable speaking Spanish but by the end of the trip he felt more confident and was speaking Spanish to the locals. I really think that the work that they did, building an aqueduct felt meaningful to the kids and the locals.
There were many more girls than boys on this particular trip to the Dominican republic. By all reports, the trip was great! I only wish it was a little longer since he enjoyed it so much.

This program really opened my eyes to the life in the Bateyes, and public health in the DR. I have always been interested in nursing, and the medical field and so this trip immediately caught my eye. We stayed in this beautiful base house in San Pedro for 10 days, which was super helpful and nice to really unpack and make it like home. The house had a pool, 2 dogs, and 2 cats and beautiful architecture. One of the most impactful memories from this trip was the health workshops. For two days, we created fun games to teach kids basics on living a healthy lifestyle. We also gave them anti-parasite medication along with vitamins. I was in charge of weighing and measuring the babies which was precious. The kids were so excited to see us and play with us and they were so happy, even with the little that they had. The community service portion of the trip was also really incredible to experience. Making a big difference hands on, and seeing our effort making others happy is just a priceless experience. I learned a lot about myself and about the nurse I want to become. We also got our Wilderness First Aid training which was super fun and awesome to learn. We got to use makeup and fake skin and acted out scenarios to make it as realistic as possible. Overall this program was fascinating, and I learned A LOT. For anyone interested in medicine I strongly encourage you to go on this trip!

I was hesitant to sign up for my first Rustic trip, I had travelled alone before, gone somewhere where I didn't know anyone else, but this was different. I didn't know what to expect from a trip, even though they provided an itinerary, I was still in doubt. After thinking about what kind of service I wanted to provide, and where I wanted to go, how long I wanted to stay, I had finally decided to choose Island Living. This trip was only 9 days and left me wanting more. This was 12 hours of service with plenty of beach days, so you can soak up the tropical sun on your off days. You will learn a lot about the island as well as providing eco-service, you'll probably end up leaving the Dominican Republic in hopes that you actually start your sustainable garden in your backyard just like my whole group did. You may be hesitant at first, especially if you go alone (without a friend), but it just makes your group that much more special. You aren't exposed to any other support system other than the people around you, and they become your family in such a short amount of time. I still talk to most of my group, about 16 people were on my trip and thats the maximum. It may seem small, but in reality, it just makes getting to know each other easier. We all worked really well together and our group leaders were fantastic. They all have stories of their own, and my group leaders were some of the most outgoing and adventurous people I've met, definitely take the time to get to know them too, they'll teach you a lot.

Island Living was such an amazing experience and even if you don't choose to go to the Dominican Republic, I would highly recommend you choose a Rustic trip of some sort because the experiences are life-changing.

The people you meet, places you visit, foods you taste and things you do are all amazing. The DR is like no other place, the atmosphere was so lively, fun and energetic. It's a trip that can completely change you as a person and open your mind to so many new things. Also living with random people from all over of all different backgrounds, gives you the chance to learn about other places and their point of view. Just being unplugged and living in the moment, in such a beautiful place, is so relaxing.

SO GLAD I TOOK THE PLUNGE! I had been checking out service and adventure trip websites for two years before I finally went to the Dominican Republic with Rustic Pathways. Luckily, I had a friend that had been on two RP trips before me and had amazing experiences both times. Always great to hear good reports from other people!

My program "Life in the Bateyes" was a 16-day critical issues, service intensive program. Our service was split between building (homes and latrines) and working in a camp with kids from the Dominican. In both of these experiences - we worked with the MOST AMAZING, generous, warm, curious and truly grateful people you will ever meet.

Not only did we feel safe - we felt welcomed and loved! They were so truly grateful for the work we were doing and wanted us there. Only a couple of the locals are actually employed to help with the building project - but many would just show up because they wanted to be part of it all.

I was nervous going in, got sick from some of the local pizza and had a point in the trip that I really thought I wanted to go home. But I was so glad I stuck it out. Not only did I stay to the end, I wished it were longer, am already signing up for another trip next summer and am researching colleges with service semester abroad programs.

If you're on the fence about going - JUST DO IT! And pick a trip with a good amount of service hours. Our group got really close on this trip and I think a lot of it had to do with bonding through the work. We were so happy to reunite with our families at the airport but we lingered for an extra half hour just to get through the good bye tears with this new family of friends we made on this TRIP OF A LIFETIME!