Summer Community Service Programs

Together we inspire one another to act and make a difference.

On an RLT summer community service program, you may find yourself working in a community in Ecuador building an irrigation system, or in Vietnam working with victims of agent orange, or in Costa Rica or New Orleans living in a community and helping to rebuild homes, or working with teaching English to novice Monks in Thailand.

The service learning element and the camaraderie aspect of the trip have strengthened my empathy for humanity and made me even more appreciative of the little luxuries of living in America." 

- Oluseyi O., Tanzania: Hujambo

We define global service as a community-driven experience that applies structured, critically reflective practices to better understand the world; self; culture; human dignity; positionality; socio-economic, political, and environmental issues; power relations; and social responsibility, in a global context. The Road Less Traveled believes in exchange above all else. Our priority is to bring about positive benefit to communities across the world and most importantly – to connect with others and exchange ideas. 

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Browsing Summer Community Service Programs

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Elephant Care and Conservation (1) Wyoming (1)

Location

Thailand (1) Vietnam (1) Colorado (1) Costa Rica (2) Ecuador and the Galapagos (1) Florida and Florida Keys (1) Hawaii (1) Michigan (1) Tanzania (1) Wyoming (1)

Grade Level

High School (8) Middle School (4)

Activity

Animal Care and Rehabilitation Service (3) Bike (2) Boat Exploration (1) Buddhist Scholar Teachings (1) Community Service (8) Cooking Lessons (3) Cultural Immersion (7) Environmental Service (4) Hike (7) Kayak (1) Language Curriculum (2) Language Exposure (2) Language Lessons (1) Marine Biology Service Work (1) Meditation Classes (1) Ngorongoro Crater with Maasai Guides (1) Organic Farming (1) PADI Scuba (1) Rainforest Hike (2) Rock Climb (1) Safari (1) Sea Kayak (3) Snorkel (3) Spanish Language (3) Surf (3) Swim (3) Teach English (3) Turtle Conservation (1) Whitewater Raft (3) Wolf Conservation (1) Zip line (2)

Vietnam: Ban Than

Summer community service program in Vietnam. Explore Hanoi and Sapa; partner with the Center for Sustainable Development; work with children; facilitate local day camp; paddle Tam Coc

Thailand: Tham Dee Dai Dee

Summer animal conservation community service and cultural immersion program in Thailand. Explore Chiang Mai. Visit Buddhist temples, ancient cities, colorful markets, and night bazaars. Teach English to stduents studying to be Monks in Monasteries. Take meditation and Thai cooking classes, feed, bathe and exercise elephants. Kayak and Bike Sri Lanna National Park.

Tanzania: Hujambo

Summer community service program in Tanzania. Take Swahili lessons; learn about solutions to providing safe and clean water to low income areas; hands on experience creating innovative solutions to community challenges while engaging with local secondary school students; meet with the women of Mount Meru and learn how they support their families through banana and coffee farming, cheese making, and beekeeping; short course on wildlife management and key sustainability practices and challenges to conservation efforts in Tanzania; Safari of a lifetime, viewing Ngorongoro Crater; Visit the Hadza and Dagota tribes in Yaeda Valley; explore Lake Manyara National Forest.

Costa Rica: El Sendero

Summer community service program and Spanish language exposure in Costa Rica. Learn about permaculture, rainwater harvesting, and composting and assist with construction projects. Teach English. Surf, snorkel and kayak the Caribbean Coast, whitewater raft the Pacuare River, zip-line in the Rain Forest canopy and explore Cahuita National Park.

Ecuador: Sigue No Mas

Summer community service and Spanish language exposure program in Ecuador. Explore Quito, work in an indigenous community in the Andes, improve your Spanish language skills, snorkel and explore the Galápagos Islands. Visit the Darwin Research Station. Shop the colorful Otavalo market.

Wyoming: Tails of Kindness

Middle school summer community service and adventure program in Wyoming. Volunteer work at a no-kill animal sanctuary for homeless animals.

Florida: Conservation is Key

Environmental community service program in the Florida Keys with coral reef restoration and turtle conservation. Earn your PADI Scuba Open Water (or higher) certification; sea kayak the Everglades; visit turtle hospital; snorkel; swim with dolphins; earn additional PADI specialty certification of underwater naturalist.

Hawaii: Aloha 'Aina

Summer community service and environmental conservation program in Hawaii. Work with various NGO's on conservation and restoration efforts: help remove non-native plant species; engage in fishpond restoration and native plant preservation; sea kayak, sail, surf, snorkel.

Michigan: Seeds of Change

Middle school summer community service and adventure program. Explore orchards, farms, wildlife, bees, and markets, and engage with local artists, entrepreneurs, and educators in this inviting community learning how our "chow" makes its way from field to market. Experience sunset sailing on Lake Michigan, Kayak the Kalamazoo River, bike the Kal-Haven trail, and take a ride on the Saugatuck dunes.

Costa Rica: Pura Vida

Middle school community service and adventure program in Costa Rica. Cultural exchange with an indigenous community; service work at a Permaculture Environmental Sanctuary; zip-line the rainforest canopy; help at a local Costa Rican school on improvement projects; butterfly Farm and wildlife spotting; snorkel exploration of warm Southern Pacific waters.

Colorado Wolf Refuge

Summer environmental community service program in Colorado. Volunteer at Mission: Wolf Sanctuary. Repair and clean enclosures; learn about fire ecology; feed and interact with wolves; learn about horse behavior; explore Great Sand Dunes National Park.