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Adventure That Goes Beyond Travel
Discover Incredible Destinations and Experiences Around the World
Schedule a Call with Admissions
Korissa Zanrosso
Director of Admissions
Schedule a Call With Admissions
Book a free program consultation with a GLA Admissions Coordinator!
Our Admissions Team is here to help you every step of the way. Need help finding the perfect destination for the teen in your family? We can help with that, as we know the ins and outs of every program. Not sure if an internship is the right fit for you? We can walk you through everything the internship entails.
Book a time to speak with an Admissions Coordinator during a day and time most convenient for you. You can also call or text us at 858-771-0645 during office hours.
Why Do Students Choose GLA?
Our students learn by getting involved. Through guided exploration, interactive workshops and conversations with community members, students have the opportunity to explore new ideas and gain a deeper understanding of the places and cultures they encounter.
Leadership takes many forms, and GLA gives students the chance to discover what it looks like for them. Through collaborative challenges, group discussions and opportunities to take initiative, students explore their strengths, learn from others and develop confidence in their own leadership abilities.
Adventure should be as rewarding as it is challenging. That’s the spirit behind the adventures we build into every GLA program and internship. There’s the excitement of trying something new, the resilience it takes to keep going when things get tough and the confidence that comes with surprising yourself. And of course, it’s all the more fun when you’re sharing the experience with new friends.
Why Do Parents Choose GLA?
Click any point to learn more.
While we encourage students to embrace new experiences, we take the responsibility of managing the risks of travel seriously.
Our 5-Point Safety System™ supports their health and well-being at every stage of the journey. These rigorous standards guide every GLA program, providing peace of mind for students and families alike.
We put as much thought into what students learn as where they go. Through experiential learning and leadership development, GLA gives students room to explore their interests and think more deeply about the world around them. It’s a chance to ask new questions about their future, without needing to have all the answers.
Pre-Departure: Our team assists with flight bookings, passport and visa guidance, and full access to the GLA Travel Portal.
In-Country: Parents have access to a 24-hour emergency hotline, direct communication in case of emergencies or major changes and regular blog updates with photos and stories from the field.
Post-Program: We follow up with every family for feedback and share opportunities for continued alumni engagement.
Lodging on a GLA program is held at a Home Base, which serves as a gathering place for reflection and team building after active days. Utmost care is taken to provide safe and secure lodging.
Accommodations vary based on location, but all include exclusive spaces reserved for GLA students and staff.
Many programs include an overnight stay away from the main Home Base, or split time between two or more Home Base locations.
We hire knowledgeable, responsible and fun individuals. We know that having the right leaders makes all the difference. Students are guided by Program Directors and Mentors with years of professional experience working with youth.
More than 60% of our Directors and Mentors return year after year, with some coming back for as many as seven years. Their experience and familiarity with GLA make them an invaluable part of our programs.
In addition, over 85% of our Local Directors return to help lead programs, ensuring every experience benefits from authentic cultural insight and a strong connection to the host community.
Our local partners bring invaluable knowledge and perspective to GLA programs, helping students better understand the places and communities they visit. GLA’s local partners are a core part of our global family, and many have been working with us for years.
Students interact with and learn from partners, including local educators, host families, area experts and founders of NGOs.
Program and internship tuition includes lodging, airport pick-up/drop-off, meals, staff, excursions, educational materials, and secondary medical and evacuation insurance for international programs. Scholarships and payment plans are available.
Students on GLA programs and internships are typically solo travelers who join the rest of their group upon arrival. We also welcome friends or siblings who wish to travel together. GLA offers programs for middle school, high school and college-age students, with experiences tailored to different age groups and interests.
Why Do Parents Choose GLA?
Click any point to learn more.
While we believe in the transformative power of travel, and encourage students to step outside their comfort zones, we remain invested in managing the risks of doing so.
Our 5-Point Safety System™ supports their health and well-being at every stage of the journey. These rigorous standards are woven into all GLA programs, providing peace of mind for students and families alike.
Pre-Departure: Our team assists with flight bookings, passport and visa guidance, and full access to the GLA Travel Portal.
In-Country: Parents receive peace of mind with a 24-hour emergency hotline, direct communication in case of emergencies or major changes and regular blog updates with photos and stories from the field.
Post-Program: We follow up with every family for feedback and share opportunities for continued alumni engagement
Lodging on a GLA program is held at a Home Base, which serves as a gathering place for reflection and team building after active days. Utmost care is taken to provide safe and secure lodging.
Accommodations vary based on location, but all include exclusive spaces reserved for GLA students and staff.
Many programs include an overnight stay away from the main Home Base, or split time between two or more Home Base locations.
We hire knowledgeable, responsible and FUN individuals; we know that having the right leaders makes all the difference. Students are guided by Program Directors and Mentors with years of professional experience working with youth.
More than 60% of our Directors and Mentors return year after year with some for as many as seven years helping to bring consistency, expertise and heart to each program.
In addition, over 85% of our Local Directors return to help lead programs, ensuring every experience benefits from authentic cultural insight and a strong connection to the host community.
Our partners provide critical context that only a resident can give, and grant our students insider access to authentic experiences. GLA’s local partners are a core part of our global family, and many have been working with us for years.
Students interact with and learn from partners, ranging from founders of NGOs to local educators, host families and area experts.
GLA programs are intentionally designed to help students develop skills and perspectives that extend beyond their travels. Through experiential learning, leadership development, cultural engagement, and guided reflection, students build confidence, independence, communication skills, and a deeper understanding of their interests and potential future pathways.
Program tuition includes lodging, airport pick-up/drop-off, meals, staff, excursions, educational materials, and secondary medical and evacuation insurance for international programs. Scholarships and payment plans are available (see more on this below).
Global Leadership Adventures offers immersive travel and experiential learning programs for middle school, high school, and college-age students, with experiences designed around different ages, interests, and learning goals. Students on GLA programs are typically solo travelers who join the rest of the student group upon arrival. We also welcome friends or siblings who wish to travel together.
Check Out This Featured Story
Awards & Recognition
For over 20 years, GLA has earned recognition for its summer programs for young people, including the Extraordinary Experience award at the Global Youth Travel Awards. GLA has also been featured in The New York Times, and our co-founder, Fred Swaniker, was named to TIME’s list of the 100 Most Influential People of 2019.
GLA is also a Certified B Corporation, accredited for our social, environmental and governance impact.
This was our son's first year with GLA. 15 is a tricky age where we live. The kids are too old for sleepaway camp but too young to work legally, and we really wanted our son to have a summer experience where he could expand his horizons and build friendships beyond his local high school.
GLA came recommended to us by mom's on a local Facebook group and I am so happy we decided to go for it!
Our son chose Costa Rica, specifically the 21 day Marine Conservation and Sea Turtle Expedition.
It was an exceptional balance of hard work, contribution, exploration, team building, fun and adventure.
I could see the difference in his maturity and understanding of himself in just those three short weeks. As this mom of a 15 year old boy, this is the highest compliment I could give! IYKYK 🙂
The trip attracted a global group of kids who seemed to grow extremely close during the trip and still keep in touch.
I am thrilled with our son's GLA experience and am encouraging him to go again next summer.
Thank you to the staff and organizers who make this experience possible!
Every day was different. Throughout the two weeks, I was involved in different sectors of healthcare such as triage, hygiene talks, education sessions, general medicine, dentistry, and pharmacy, shadowing doctors, and jumping in where I could. The first time I took someone’s blood pressure in triage, I was a nervous wreck, but the nurse I was with just gave me this look like, “You got this,” and it clicked. Everyone on the trip wants to see every student succeed. By the end, I was handing out meds in the pharmacy like it was no big deal after a few days of experience. We also taught children how to brush their teeth which might be a small thing, but you could tell it meant a lot to them since many didn't know how. The smiles, especially from the little ones, were core in deciding what I wanted to do in my future.
The people I met were one of the most unforgettable parts. I walked in not knowing anyone, and somehow I came out with friends I still talk and hang out with today. We’d laugh, mess up Spanish together, share similar passions, and just vibe after long days. It was this group that made me feel like I could handle anything. GLA set it up so I could push myself without freaking out, and I came back way more confident like... I know what I’m capable of now.
If you’re thinking about GLA’s Peru program, just go for it. It’s not only about helping out (which is awesome) but about figuring yourself out and connecting with people and places you’d never expect. I’d do it again in a second, no question.
Awards & Recognition
For over 20 years, GLA has earned recognition for its summer programs for young people, including the Extraordinary Experience award at the Global Youth Travel Awards. GLA has also been featured in The New York Times, and our co-founder, Fred Swaniker, was named to TIME’s list of the 100 Most Influential People of 2019.
GLA is also a Certified B Corporation, accredited for our social, environmental and governance impact.
This was our son's first year with GLA. 15 is a tricky age where we live. The kids are too old for sleepaway camp but too young to work legally, and we really wanted our son to have a summer experience where he could expand his horizons and build friendships beyond his local high school.
GLA came recommended to us by mom's on a local Facebook group and I am so happy we decided to go for it!
Our son chose Costa Rica, specifically the 21 day Marine Conservation and Sea Turtle Expedition.
It was an exceptional balance of hard work, contribution, exploration, team building, fun and adventure.
I could see the difference in his maturity and understanding of himself in just those three short weeks. As this mom of a 15 year old boy, this is the highest compliment I could give! IYKYK 🙂
The trip attracted a global group of kids who seemed to grow extremely close during the trip and still keep in touch.
I am thrilled with our son's GLA experience and am encouraging him to go again next summer.
Thank you to the staff and organizers who make this experience possible!
Every day was different. Throughout the two weeks, I was involved in different sectors of healthcare such as triage, hygiene talks, education sessions, general medicine, dentistry, and pharmacy, shadowing doctors, and jumping in where I could. The first time I took someone’s blood pressure in triage, I was a nervous wreck, but the nurse I was with just gave me this look like, “You got this,” and it clicked. Everyone on the trip wants to see every student succeed. By the end, I was handing out meds in the pharmacy like it was no big deal after a few days of experience. We also taught children how to brush their teeth which might be a small thing, but you could tell it meant a lot to them since many didn't know how. The smiles, especially from the little ones, were core in deciding what I wanted to do in my future.
The people I met were one of the most unforgettable parts. I walked in not knowing anyone, and somehow I came out with friends I still talk and hang out with today. We’d laugh, mess up Spanish together, share similar passions, and just vibe after long days. It was this group that made me feel like I could handle anything. GLA set it up so I could push myself without freaking out, and I came back way more confident like... I know what I’m capable of now.
If you’re thinking about GLA’s Peru program, just go for it. It’s not only about helping out (which is awesome) but about figuring yourself out and connecting with people and places you’d never expect. I’d do it again in a second, no question.
