Thailand Summer High School Programs with Rustic Pathways

I have been lucky enough to travel to Thailand twice with Rustic Pathways. I have done both the Rustic Pathways Children's Home and Critical Issues Summit Programs. These were amazing experiences for me because I was able to make great friends with not only the students that I was traveling with, but the local ones as well. One of my good friends that I met during at the Children's Home lives in Thailand and was able to attend the Critical Issues Summit as well. Rustic Pathways does a really good job of ensuring that you are getting a true cultural experience. For example, the first week of the Summit was an immersion week where we did a homestay with the Radical Grandma Collective. We took bucket showers and used squatty potties and had the time of our lives experiencing a new culture. I can also ensure you that you will always feel safe on a Rustic trip. Every location and program is thoroughly vetted and tested and you will never be completely alone. There will always be a program leader nearby that you will be able to find at any point in time. The two Rustic trips that I did were truly life changing for me and they allowed me to fall in love with a new country and culture. I would wholeheartedly recommend a Rustic trip to anyone who asks.

This trip was honestly so eye-opening. Not only did I have so much fun, but I was also able to experience a whole different culture. After this trip, I felt like the best way someone could learn about the world was travel. The trip leaders were amazing and really cared about the group and even though at the end of the day we were all so tired they kept giving us their 200%. I would really recommend going to Thailand with Rustic, I believe they offer experiences you cannot get anywhere else. This was my third year with them and I want to be a trip leader when I turn 21 because I find everything this organization does amazing. Travel with Rustic I promise you will have the most life-changing and fun summer ever. You are going to travel to another side of the world with an amazing group of people and create life-lasting memories.

I traveled to Thailand over the summer for 3 weeks. First, I did the Community Health Trip. I got my wilderness CPR certification and gained real world medical experience. I was able to volunteer in a small village in Thailand where I screened for diabetes and hypertension. Along with great leaders and friends made, this trip further my desire to work in the medical field. Directly after, I did the Southeast Asian adventurer. I learned about culture in Thailand and got to visit some tourist attractions in Thailand and Laos. Some of the highlights of my trip were, going to an elephant sanctuary, white water rafting, hiking and zip lining, and going to the beach. Although the journey to Thailand is very long, I really enjoyed my trip and would highly recommend it.

Ever since my older sister first traveled with Rustic Pathways in 2013 and told me of her fun and rewarding experience, I had been eagerly awaiting my turn to make lasting memories in new countries and with new friends. Flash forward to today, and I am a three-time Rustic alum, having traveled to Costa Rica (2016), the Dominican Republic (2017), and Thailand (2018). While I initially chose to travel with Rustic because of my sister's experience, I continue to dedicate my summers to this program because I learn new things each year and always return home a more thoughtful, empathetic, and curious human being. My specific program in Thailand was called "Introduction to Community Service." I spent 11 amazing days in Udon Thani, where I helped build a house for a woman with epilepsy living in the community, construct a preschool playground, and teach swimming lessons to children. We worked alongside locals to collaborate and create meaningful change, which I think makes Rustic Pathways the unique and exceptional travel and community service organization that it is. My leaders were dedicated to creating a safe, fun, and educational space for all students. To this day, some of my closest mentors and friends were program leaders and fellow peers from my Thailand trip. I love Rustic because I get the opportunity to meet other students from around the world and immerse myself in different cultures and ways of life.

This past summer I went to Thailand for 18 days. This experience expanded my horizons by making me globally aware. I taught English in Locals schools to elementary school children, helped build a school in an under privileged community, and learned the ways of the mahouts my by taking care of an elephant on the elephant conservation center. The service I did on this trip made me feel accomplished knowing that I made an impact on the local communities. I feel so lucky that I got the opportunity to experience the unique culture of Thailand. One of my favorite things on this besides the unless activities was just talking to the local people. This not only improved my communication skills but helped me create new relationships with people who were different than me. Thailand is truly the land of smiles.

One of the most lifechanging experiences a person can have is traveling. Traveling has the ability to open your eyes to the diversity of the world. Traveling gives you the opportunity to enjoy the outdoors and revel in the beauty of nature. Traveling allows you to meet new people and discover new ways of life. Traveling lets you explore and have adventures, and escape your ordinary day-to-day life.
My trip to Thailand with Rustic Pathways allowed me to do all of those things, and more. I feel as though I am a more well-rounded person having traveled with Rustic. I feel I am a more globally educated and connected citizen, and a more environmentally conscious human being. Not only that, but I had the time of my life and made new friends whom I still talk to every week, even several months later. There's more to tell, but it's best to discover it yourself by traveling, too!
Rustic Pathways has many different fantastic programs to fit all types of travelers. They do a fantastic job with risk management and safety, hire caring, intelligent staff, and give their students the best of the best experiences. I am so, SO glad I traveled with Rustic to Thailand, and hope to take more Rustic trips soon!

My name is Madelyn Jenkins and I am 17 years old. I went on the Rustic Pathways “Ultimate Asia” trip when I was 15 years old. I had been on two other trips to Costa Rica and Hawaii with another company, but I had been dying to see different parts of the world and their cultures. My trip took me to China, Thailand, Laos, and Cambodia. It was the best 3 weeks of my life and the best decision I have ever made. I walked the Great Wall of China, taught students English in Thailand, worked with Elephants in Laos, and biked through the Angkor Wat temples in Cambodia. Those are just a few examples of the amazing experiences I had on my Rustic trip. There were only 2 other girls on my trip, and 6 guys. We were a smaller group, but that allowed us to bond so much better. I was the youngest on my trip, which was intimidating at first. But instead of my age being a hinderance, the students on my trip made it seem like it was an advantage. I got to learn from my peers who were older than me, and it allowed me to mature in a way I’m not sure would have been possible in a group of peers my own age. The girls became like my older sister and the guys like my brothers, we all became a big family by the end of the 3 weeks. I also got some of the best trip leaders I’ve ever had. Mary and Josh were my main leaders, and they helped us through every tough time, and encouraged us to get out of our comfort zones and try new things. I tried foods I never thought I would, and participated in activities that would have otherwise terrified me. I learned leadership, confidence, and independence. It was such a comfortable and safe space that I could be 100% myself without judgement, which is a huge deal when you are in high school. I urge anyone who is looking for the adventure of a lifetime to seriously consider Rustic Pathways. I will say these trips aren’t for everyone though. I would recommend an open mind, flexibility, and easy going spirit. At the end of the day you are a part of a team and community, so being able to thrive in a group is crucial. If those characteristics fit you, then Rustic Pathways is the place for you.

This trip was incredibly impactful, not only on the communities we were serving, but on me as well. Going to Thailand has always been on my bucket list, so when I saw that Rustic Pathways, a company I had previously traveled with to Australia, I was so excited. The base house we stayed at was in a rural village outside of the city Udon Thani, so we got to experience village life in our own compound. This trip was extremely rewarding. We completed different service projects every day (except for the weekend when we went to Laos for some fun) alongside of native Thai children and adults. If you go on this trip, be prepared to work, but it will be the most rewarding, impactful, and life changing experience. You play in Thailand as well with a huge pool at the base house, playing soccer with the local kids, mall excursions, and a muy thai lesson. Some of the service projects we did were building concrete walkways for monasteries and schools, cooking meals for families in the village and at a hospital, painting the walls outside a monastery, and teaching kids and teens English. To me, the most eye-opening service we did was bringing food to a hospital for the families of sick people to eat while they take care of their loved ones due to the deficit of doctors. The grateful looks I received from those people is something I will never forget. In the moment on this trip, you may be challenged and tired, but this trip will change your view point and leave you with a newfound gratefulness for the life you live.