Ecuador

The Galapagos Islands program was OUTSTANDING. My mother and I took a 10-day family volunteer travel trip together. As an Ivy League graduate who is very well traveled, I have very high expectations in looking for trips that give me exclusive access to being immersed in the local environment. Discover Corps delivered very strongly on this. We both had such a good time, and this company puts some of the extra touches on this trip that make it memorable. Thank you very much, and now I need to think about where we want to go next.

It was with great anxiety that we sent our daughter last summer (2016) on her Global Leadership Adventures trip to Ecuador and the Galapagos Islands for the Preserving Nature's Wonders program. But it was soon apparent that it was the very best decision we could have made for her! Communication was immediate and sufficient throughout the trip. We were able to speak with our daughter on several occasions, most importantly when they first arrived safely in Ecuador. The excitement and pure joy we could hear in her voice was music to our ears and the enjoyment the group was having was evident in the daily updated blogs the program provided. But we still were not prepared for the incredible transformation we witnesses when we picked her up from the airport. The shy, quiet 16 year old we had dropped off just two weeks prior, was now confident and full of self-esteem! And oh how happy she was! The only sadness felt was that she had to say good-bye to the friends she had made and have come to mean so much to her. It has now been nearly a year since she had this incredible experience and she is still in daily contact with many of these new friends. I am so proud of the service work she completed on this trip and how it has changed her into a thoughtful, thinking young person who truly has compassion for the world around her. Well worth the investment!

I was fortunate enough to travel to Ecuador and the Galapagos Islands though Global Leadership Adventures on the "Preserving Natures Wonders" trip during the summer of 2016. This program was honestly one of the greatest experiences of my life. It was unique in that I was able to surround myself in one of the worlds most special ecosystems as I snorkeled with sea lions, sea turtles and many tropical fish, saw countless crabs and iguanas, and was able to meet the Galapagos tortoises up close. What made these experiences with the animals and nature of the Galapagos even more impactful, was the fact that I was able to volunteer and help the land I was visiting. On this program everyone was very kind and I am still friends with many of the other kids that I met to this day. Our mentors were very helpful and made sure that everyone felt and was kept safe throughout the trip. Post program, I was impacted mostly by the friendships I had made and the knowledge that I now had regarding conservation and the importance of it. Some useful tips that I have are to bring snacks along if you have any dietary restrictions. I am vegan and the program was very accommodating so I didn't miss out on many of the delicious foods that they served, but bringing along snacks was very helpful. Another tip is to bring a camera along and to keep a journal because there are so many memories that will be made on a trip like this, and since many activities are packed into one day, it is easy to lose some of them. I took many pictures and journaled every day so now I have something to look back on.

I sent my two daughters on Global Leadership Adventure's "Preserving Nature's Wonders" trip last summer, and I could not have had a better experience with them. I was a little nervous about the idea of sending my two young girls out of the country without either parent, but GLA eased all my worries. From the very start, we had helpful staff keeping us updated on the necessary preparations for our trip. GLA made the entire process really easy and helped me feel better about the trip. My girls were safe the whole time, and they had incredible mentors with them on the trip. They both came home with a new outlook on the world, and I know GLA has truly changed their lives. I highly recommend this program to any parent and teenager looking to volunteer abroad.

Two of my daughters went on the Global Leadership Adventure's Galapagos trip last summer. I'm beyond grateful for this program, my kids were completely safe and they enjoyed every minute of it. The stories they cam back with still manage to amaze me! The staff made the process easy and stress free. I definitely recommend GLA to any parent who wants to send their child on an eventful volunteer trip abroad.

This past summer I traveled to Ecuador and the Galapagos Islands on Global Leadership Adventure's "Preserving Nature's Wonders" trip, and it was an amazing experience. I got the chance to volunteer in one of the most unique ecosystems on earth, and the things I was able to accomplish there has continued to define my life. The GLA staff and mentors were extremely helpful throughout what could have been a very stressful process, and they helped ensure my safety throughout the entire trip. I always felt safe and comfortable. I would highly recommend Global Leadership Adventures to any teen looking to travel abroad; it will truly change your life!

Last summer I went on a trip to the Galapagos with Global Leadership Adventures. Never once did I feel unsafe while in the hands of my program leaders. This trip was well organized and impacted me positively. GLA helped me realize so much about the world around us. I definitely recommend this trip to anyone willing to step outside their comfort zone and embrace a different culture.

My experience with Global Leadership Adventures has been one I'll remember forever. The program that I was a part of (Galapagos) was very well structured. We got to kayak, snorkel, climb volcanoes, and more. We were always busy and had a great itinerary full of service and adventures. There was never a moment when we were bored. We cleared out invasive species, talked to the locals and the children, and played a ton of soccer which I made a fool of myself doing so, but it was all part of the fun!
The food was amazing and the housing conditions were rustic but an adventure. The staff was great - they were all so fun and relatable but were able to be great role models as well.
My parents were very reluctant to let me go on this trip when I proposed the idea. They had never sent one of their kids to a foreign country alone before. However, they became much more comfortable with the idea after talking to the welcoming and assuring staff who were more than happy to explain everything about the trip, from safety to fun.
I still miss this trip- one of the best experiences ever of my life. Would definitely recommend!! GLA offers such a friendly environment.

Parent Review:
Global Leadership Adventures was very professional and thorough in covering all the necessary things to ensure a safe program. They were very good with communicating with us (the parents) with what was going on. They made me feel very comfortable that they had a lot of experience and they knew all the ins and outs of what needed to be done to make it a very safe and enjoyable program for all the students involved. My daughter got a lot out of it and had a great experience. She wrote about her trip which she was encouraged to do by the staff. I feel that she gained very valuable experience, particularly in things that she could not get anywhere else. She made great contacts there and continues to meet up with friends she made on the trip. The GLA trips reflect great value and purpose. She and her peers from the trip were really engaged in the service. We were not able to sign up for the trip until just a few months before, but they were very accommodating in helping us obtain a passport and all of the necessities for the trip which reflects their experience and professionalism in organizing their programs.

Our daughter went on the GLA trip to Ecuador, Galapagos in July 2016. It was truly a remarkable fun-filled adventure that enriched her leadership and social skills and provided an acute awareness of our fragile environment. Snorkeling amongst the sea lions, turtles, climbing volcanoes and learning about exotic species such as the giant tortoise were just some of the highlights. The program attracts outstanding, intellectual students from around the globe whom our daughter still stays in touch with.

As a parent, I was particularly impressed with GLA's organization and caliper of their trip leaders. We felt safe and secure on trip arrangements and it was comforting to receive daily briefings and photos from the students.

The GLA program is second to none on their organization, adventure and mentorship.

Last summer I went on GLA's Galapagos 2-week summer program. It was an amazing life-changing experience! During our time on the islands, we worked together to clear invasive species off areas of the islands so the endemic plant and animal species can reclaim their lost land. Through this trip I have learned the importance of environmental conservation and many different ways I can make an impact on the world. I highly recommend this program to any student looking to better the environment and themselves through challenging yet rewarding and fun community service work. This was truly a trip of a lifetime!