SPANISH, SERVICE, AND CULTURAL IMMERSION PROGRAM
JULY 22 - AUGUST 4, 2024
(LIMITED SPACE AVAILABLE)
LENGTH 14 Days
COMPLETING GRADES 9-12
SERVICE HOURS 15 - 20
ARRIVE/DEPART Barcelona (BCN)
TUITION $6495
Spend two weeks in Spain with us this summer! Explore the highlights of Barcelona and Catalonia while helping with food based community service projects to help those in need. Explore the iconic Barcelona architecture and sites including Park Guell and Familia Sagrada and spend time exploring Costa Brava and rural Catalonia. Practice your Spanish as we engage with the locals, learn about their culture and immerse ourselves in the Spanish way of life.
TRIP HIGHLIGHTS
CLICK ON THE IMAGES TO LEARN MORE!
TRIP OVERVIEW
Activities
Snorkel in the Mediterranean: Enjoy the marine life in clear, warm waters
Kayak: The coastline to explore the beaches and coves of Costa Brava
Walking Tour: The highlights of Barcelona
Paella: It wouldn’t be a trip to Spain without trying an authentic Paella meal
Hike: Montserrat and the trails of rural Catalonia
Via Feratta: A rockface challenge, designed to push your limits
Service
A Certificate of Community Service indicating the total number of hours worked, and a group Presidential Volunteer Service Award will be issued upon successful completion of the program. Service work carried out at could include some of the following:
Our community service project in Barcelona enables our participants to learn about food insecurity within communities and various supports and processes that are in place to provide aid to those who experience food insecurity. Participants will gain experience in food rescue and outreach community initiatives, while helping eliminate food waste and end hunger for vulnerable communities, such as homeless people, the elderly, and families in need. The Food Rescue project aims to tackle food waste, support vulnerable populations, and create nutritious meals. Tasks are likely to involve:
➔ Order preparation: assist with creating the orders for different non-profits/beneficiaries
➔ Help with the organization of the warehouse
➔ Help with the triage of products
➔ Assist with the classification of products
➔ Partake in teams of distribution of food
WHAT IS INCLUDED AND EXCLUDED IN TRIP TUITION
The trip tuition listed above includes accommodations, activities, meals, and group gear. The tuition does not include personal gear and clothing, travel insurance, spending money, and travel expenses such as airfare to and from the start and end of the program, unaccompanied minor fees, and baggage fees.
ACCOMMODATIONS AND SHOWERING
Participants will stay in shared-bedroom hostel accommodation while in the Barcelona area for half of the trip. Rooms will be divided by gender. The other half of the trip is tent camping at a front country campsite in rural Catalonia. Tents are provided, and we aim for it to be 2 participants in a 3-person tent or 3 participants in a 4-person tent with luggage.
Bathrooms and showers can be rustic, so please be prepared. In an effort to save time and conserve water resources in the areas we are traveling, participants will have access to showers every 3-4 days, even when showers are readily available. Bathrooms are flush toilets.
food
About half of the meals on this trip are prepared on camp stoves. Meals are nutritious and filling, but the camping component of the program often necessitates a simpler menu than a restaurant or home cook might allow. Students on this trip will plan, prepare, and eat meals as a group. Split up into smaller cook crews, each crew will have the chance to prepare a meal approximately once per day. This process is supervised by staff who offer advice on nutrition, and menu planning, and ensure safe food storage, preparation, and handling. This format will be followed for the first half of the trip.
During the second half of the trip, meals in Barcelona are a mix of included meals at our hostel and restaurants out in the city (including a traditional paella dinner & flamenco dinner & performance).
We are able to accommodate all dietary requirements and preferences.
TRAVEL
Families are individually responsible for booking their own airfare or making their own travel arrangements to get their students from home to the Barcelona Airport (BCN) on the first day of the trip, and from Barcelona (BCN) to home on the last day of the trip. RLT will provide exact windows of time that we require all students to arrive and depart within. It is imperative that no one make any travel arrangements until RLT directs them to do so.
A leader-escorted round-trip flight will be available from the New York City area (but is not required) for those travelers who wish to fly with a leader. Booking information for the escorted flight will be available after enrollment.
PASSPORT REQUIREMENTS
For all international travel, we require participants to have a passport that is valid for a minimum of 6 MONTHS past the end date of your participant's RLT trip. If your participant's passport is due to expire within those 6 months, please work on updating your participant's passport as soon as possible upon enrollment. According to the State Department, routine passport renewal will take 10-13 weeks and expedited processing, which costs an additional $60, will take 7-9 weeks. It is your responsibility to ensure your participant's passport is up to date and meets these requirements. We encourage families to familiarize themselves with the U.S. Department of State website for all up-to-date and accurate passport recommendations.
TRAVEL INSURANCE REQUIREMENTS
The Road Less Traveled does not provide its own insurance. However, we require participants to purchase travel insurance through a third party for all international programs. For additional details, please visit our FAQ page or you may contact a member of our team at info@theroadlesstraveled.com or 773-342-5200.
VACCINE & MEDICATION INFORMATION
We always encourage families to review the CDC website regarding recommended vaccinations and medications for international travel. More information will be provided to enrolled families from our Admissions Team in the Spring.
TECHNOLOGY
As part of the RLT experience, our trips are electronic-free. While it is encouraged to travel with cell phones, leaders will collect phones and any other personal devices after all participants arrive on the first day. It can feel tough initially to not have access to your phone, but it really helps everyone in the group to connect and have a really great trip experience. This includes phones, iPods, tablets, gaming devices, music devices, smartwatches, etc. All electronics will be held by RLT leaders, kept safe and dry for the duration of the trip, and returned at the end of the program. All cameras, go pros, etc. are acceptable and can be kept with you! If you do not have a camera, please note that leaders will also be taking photos throughout the program, and these photos will be shared through an online gallery.
“We are so grateful for RLT programs because our child is more independent, thoughtful and well-rounded from his experiences. He grows in different ways every summer.”
- SUMMER 2023 ALUM PARENT -
SAMPLE ITINERARY
*Please note the itinerary listed below is the intended itinerary for this trip. No two trips are exactly the same. All itineraries are subject to change to ensure the best possible program experience. Weather, group dynamics, new opportunities, and the unpredictability of travel all shape the final trip itinerary - and it's all part of the adventure!
leave US and transfer to costa brava (Days 1-2)
We leave the US on Day 1 and arrive in Barcelona on Day 2. Once we have met up with the whole group, we transfer to Costa Brava for the first section of our trip. We set up camp and get to know each other.
explore Cadaques and hike (Day 3)
For our first full day, we stretch our legs on some of the local hiking trails. From coastline views to archaeological remains and inland peaks, the trails allow us to explore our new surroundings. In the afternoon, we amble around the historic streets of Cadaques to absorb the Mediterranean vibes and culture. At the head of Cadaqués Bay is its historic quarter, which has provided much inspiration for many famous painters and artists.
kayaking (Day 4)
After a busy day on land, today we explore by water. On kayaks, we hug the rocky coastline, exploring the beaches, coves, caves, and marine life of Costa Brava. We finish the day playing games and relaxing on the beach, watching the sun go down.
via ferRata (Day 5)
Challenge yourself as we tackle the adrenalin-filled obstacles of Via Ferrata, on the coastal cliffs and the vertical rocks of Sant Feliu de Guíxols. We traverse the rockface, sometimes hanging only a few meters above the waves of the sea. This adventure day is sure to push your boundaries, as we work as a group to navigate the course.
palamos (Day 6)
We end the first section of our trip exploring Palamos. This coastal town is one of the best-preserved fishing villages in the Costa Brava and is a perfect place to learn about the local Catalan culture. We learn about its traditions and heritage at its Museu de la Pesca, relax on some of its sandy beaches, and wander through the old town and port area.
transfer to barcelona (Day 7)
Today we head back to Barcelona and settle into our new hostel accommodation. We do laundry and get prepared for the second week of our trip as our service projects begin.
service projects and exploring barcelona (DayS 8-12)
We meet our service partners and get an introduction to our week’s projects. Focusing on food waste, re- distribution, and supporting those in need, we help with tasks across multiple stages of this incredible project. We learn about the importance of minimizing waste, the value of redistribution, and how and why projects like this are so vital for many families across Barcelona and the world. We reflect on our role and think about what we can do back home to continue these efforts. After our service during the mornings, we spend time discovering the vibrant city and culture of Barcelona, from the artistic Park Guell, tasting authentic seafood paella, the iconic Sagrada Família, a flamenco dinner experience, to exploring the network of streets and passages with stories behind every corner. It’s easy to see why this is one of the most popular cities in Europe!
hike montserrat (Day 13)
We spend our last day up high in the impressive Montserrat mountains, just outside Barcelona. Hiking the various trails allows us to absorb the views and reflect on our trip. We finish our evening with our famous last night RLT Banquet.
Homeward Bound (Day 14)
We'll depart Barcelona and say our final goodbyes before boarding our flights home.
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