Program Themes
All programs combine meaningful community service, hands-on learning and fun, exciting excursions. This is part of our unique service-learning methodology that allows students to engage in powerful experiential learning out in the world.
Some programs have a unique focus on a specific topic or type of learning.
Program Types
In addition to our standard programs, each with their different themes, we offer different types of programs.
Our 21-day Flagship programs provide the ideal amount of time to satisfy every dimension of the GLA Experience. Although many of the same objectives can be achieved on shorter programs, students and parents report that three weeks is the optimal time to develop lifelong friendships with local people and fellow students, to make a greater impact on the community, to fully immerse themselves in a culture, and to explore difference facets of the host country.
Interact on a deeper level, and take your language skills to the next level. Designed for high school students, our GLA Experiential Language Curriculum TM seamlessly integrates language into many aspects of the program, including community service and cultural activities. Our teachers use classroom time to prepare students to speak the language as they interact with local people. We currently offer Language programs in Spanish and Mandarin.
These programs range from four to six weeks and represent the pinnacle of the GLA experience. These in-depth programs give students the opportunity to experience two different countries. Staff in each country engage students in discussion to link common themes woven throughout the program. Through these comparisons, students can contextualize the issues and attributes of a particular region versus simply visiting one country.
