2020 Global Leadership Adventures Custom Group Travel Brochure

CUSTOM GROUP TRAVEL

Life-changing, international journeys for groups

Welcome to GLA! We are so proud to have been offering life-changing journeys for students and groups for over 15 years and have an exciting portfolio of options to present to you and your group.

TABLE OF CONTENTS 3

OUR MISSION & ROOTS

Since the beginning, GLA Custom Group Travel has

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PROGRAM COMPONENTS

operated on the belief that travel and cross cultural

5

LEADERSHIP & INTENTIONAL PROGRAM DESIGN

experiences are not only educationally enriching, they

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5-POINT SAFETY SYSTEM™

are crucial to the formation of global citizens and the

7

FULL-SERVICE TRAVEL SUPPORT

success of lessons learned in the classroom. At GLA, we

8

LOCAL PARTNERS

8

EXPERT STAFF

GLA Custom Group Travel works with group leaders

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COMMUNITY IMPACT

to create the perfectly tailored experience for their

10

PROGRAM TYPES

specific group, with either a pre-designed or customized

12

DESTINATIONS

itinerary that provides a safe environment for the

14

WHAT'S INCLUDED

participant to learn, grow and challenge themselves

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CUSTOMIZABLE ITINERARIES

with their fellow travel mates. Leadership and personal

15

SAMPLE ITINERARY

growth is the core component of all of our programs,

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OUR LEADERSHIP PHILOSOPHY

17

GLA LEADERSHIP CURRICULUM™

18

EXPECTATIONS

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GETTING STARTED

believe that leaders are made and not born.

regardless of duration, destination or theme type. It is woven throughout every aspect of the experience through our intentional design that we do together with each group leader. Our programs aim to ignite participants to become inspired to be the change.

Whatever shape your custom program may take, we strive to provide your group superior support to deliver on our collective mission and provide a seamless, safe and transformative journey.

Sincerely,

Jessica Rose Miller Executive Director

OUR MISSION

is to inspire the next generation to realize their potential to transform the world and their role in it.

We believe in the power of mindful travel as a transformative experience in the lives of our young people. GLA programs offer more than just an incredible experience in a new place, but provide the depth and breadth of content, opportunity and thoughtful curricula to ignite a spark in students to move forward into the world as mindful citizens.

WHO WE ARE Our story begins in 2003, in the African country of Ghana where GLA founder Fred Swaniker had a dream. Fred, a Ghana native, TED fellow and entrepreneur from Stanford University, envisioned a high school designed to develop Africa's future leaders regardless of the student's income or background. Fred believed that the key to success was not leading young people along a set path, but allowing them to define their own path.

After joining forces with Chris Bradford and Peter Mombaur, Fred's vision was brought to life with the establishment of the African Leadership Academy (ALA), a revolutionary pan-African, non-profit high school in Johannesburg. ALA's success was immediate and profound. When surrounded by a diverse group of peers and immersed in leadership development, students began to truly believe they held the power to change the world around them. As a way to expand the reach of ALA's successful curriculum, Fred, Chris and Peter created a summer program, this time welcoming students from around the world and planting the seeds for GLA. Global Leadership Adventures grew into a global team in 2006 with the expertise of Andrew Motiwalla, who joined the team with

Image Š PopTech 2015 Licensed under Creative Commons

FRED SWANIKER

Time 100 Most Influential People of 2019 FOUNDER OF: GLOBAL LEADERSHIP ADVENTURES AFRICAN LEADERSHIP ACADEMY AFRICAN LEADERSHIP UNIVERSITY AFRICAN LEADERSHIP NETWORK

Peace Corps experience and a background in operating international service learning projects and developing experiential education. Peace Corps values - immersive experience, sustainability and working side by side with local communities - were infused into GLA's program design early on and continue to be cornerstones of the 50+ programs GLA now operates in over 25 countries around the world. Fred continues to be a leader in his field: he was recently honored as a pioneer in Time 100 Most Influential People of 2019 for his continued work with ALA and through the foundation of the African Leadership University and the African Leadership Network.

PEOPLE USING BUSINESS AS A FORCE FOR GOOD

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WHY GLA?

What makes the GLA experience unique for student groups?

cog Program Components GLA will work with you to develop your preferred key components for a meaningful, intentionally designed, educational experience. Group leaders are invited to mix and match these completely customizable components in a way that works best for their student group and educational objectives, and itineraries can be designed to emphasize whichever elements are most important.

SERVICE-LEARNING

cog

Program Components Leadership & Intentional Program Design 5-Point Safety System

Service-Learning is a vehicle through which students are exposed to a culture unlike their own, challenging them to see unique local issues through the eyes of the community. Our host communities welcome students' energy and helping hands. Many of our alumni leave our programs valuing the time they spent on service sites most.

IMMERSIVE LEARNING GLA celebrates experiential learning through immersion, cross-cultural exchange and guided reflection. Our students participate in interactive experiences that expose them to diverse cultures, arts, value systems and histories in ways that no textbook could convey. These experiences welcome both high engagement and critical thinking, and are intentionally developed to align with your selected Program Type (see pages 10-11).

EXPLORATORY TRAVEL GLA experiences can be travel-centric, focusing on the exploration of a region and a theme. As opposed to regular tour-

Full-Service Travel Support

ists out only to see the sights, our Exploratory Travel methodology gives students the opportunity to come away as more experienced travelers, ready to engage with the world and better understanding their capacities to transform it.

ADVENTURE

Local Partners

Adventure is often at the heart of a journey abroad. Each host community is set in a unique landscape and contains its

Expert Staff

GLA LEADERSHIP CURRICULUM™

own historical and natural treasures, and exceptional opportunities for students to challenge themselves in memorable ways. Our adventure activities are intentionally selected to tie into program themes and double as learning opportunities.

Our proprietary leadership curriculum offers group leaders a meaningful way to engage young people in thoughtful, prescriptive leadership development. Leadership is not a one-size-fits-all category, so our curriculum keeps that in mind, guiding students and group leaders to find and develop a leadership style that suits every personality and background.

Leadership & Intentional Program Design GLA programs create ambitious, ethical leaders.

At GLA, we believe leaders are made, not born: leadership is a life skill that can, and should, be developed. Leadership is woven throughout all elements of the program.

Every site visit, cultural workshop and service activity is an opportunity to put these leadership skills into action. Our holistic approach to leadership and learning creates a lifelong impact for students. To go even deeper into leadership development, groups can choose to include the GLA Leadership Curriculum™. This ranges from role play to style exploration to getting students out of their comfort zone and into leadership roles within the group. GLA intentionally weaves this approach into the daily experience with a fine-tuned, engaging curriculum as part of the program.

CHOOSE YOUR APPROACH EXPLORATORY TRAVEL

IMMERSIVE LEARNING

SERVICE-LEARNING

TRANSFORMATION GLOBAL CITIZENSHIP LIFELONG IMPACT

ONCE-IN-ALIFETIME ADVENTURE

GLA LEADERSHIP CURRICULUM™

We encourage students to recognize that we all have the power to be incredible forces for good, and we give students permission to exercise their leadership potential intelligently and compassionately. We intentionally weave this leadership approach into the daily experience on our programs. We believe that framing the program experience around leadership helps create development and growth opportunities for students to dig deep into their vision, purpose, and knowledge of themselves and the world.

Read more about our leadership philosophy, and how we weave leadership into every program on pages 16-17.

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WHY GLA? continued...

5-Point Safety System™ Safety is our first priority. While we believe in the transformative power of stepping outside comfort zones, we remain invested in managing the risks of doing so. We've carefully crafted and continue to enforce our 5-Point Safety System™, a set of rigorous standards that support the safety, health and well-being of students and the group on every program.

GLA Home Base: Safe and secure lodging: 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. It's our home away from home, a place to relax, the gathering place for meals and sanctuary for reflection, team building and leadership after active days. If your group has special lodging requirements we can work with you to find suitable accommodations and specifications.

Caring supervision & expert local knowledge: GLA policy is for no student to ever be by themselves at any point in time outside the established Home Base, unless otherwise determined by the group leader to allow for a bit more independence, in which case we can craft parameters together to put safety first. Students may be with staff members, in groups or assigned to a buddy. Our local partners and in-country staff have intimate knowledge of the host community and country, are familiar with the area's medical facilities and are uniquely equipped to handle itinerary adjustments and emergencies. We work with each group leader to determine who their selected chaperones may be for the program and how GLA staff and chaperones will work together and complement one another.

Safe transportation: From the moment your group arrives, they are greeted by GLA staff and transported to Home Base in approved transportation by experienced and licensed drivers. In the case of a flight delay, staff will wait for their arrival. Transportation between Home Base(s) and activities is always in GLA-approved vehicles or via the mode of transport most appropriate for each specific location. For example, in Europe students will take public transport such as trains in small groups supervised by a staff member; in other countries where public transport is not as reliable, we will use GLA-approved vehicles such as buses or vans. In some cases, a taxi may be used but only with staff in accompaniment.

Healthy meals and pure water: Meals are prepared fresh daily by Home Base staff or vetted restaurants, and include a healthy mix of grains, protein, vegetables and fruits. Groups will enjoy local cuisine, but familiar staples such as rice are typically available. We are happy to work with your group so that we can best accommodate a student with particular food allergies or dietary restrictions. Students will always have access to unlimited safe drinking water and will be provided three meals per day, plus snacks.

24/7 support and emergency response: GLA provides 24/7 support and a hotline while programs are in session. While incredibly rare in occurrence, GLA has a plan in place for all types of emergencies and situations that could arise through diligent risk management and identifying proper health and support facilities within vicinity of our programs. We provide medical and evacuation insurance to all students, and professional medical support is also available to our teams 24/7 should specialized guidance be needed.

Full-Service Travel Support We provide end-to-end support for every group leader and support members to help manage the proposal process of a group itinerary to your students and/or school or group administration:

Enrollment Resources We are standing by to speak with you about your goals, preferences and ideas, to create a custom tailored experience that is an ideal program for your specific group. We take into consideration the destination, duration, budget and any other factors that are important to you. Once an itinerary has been crafted, we will: > Support you through the proposal process (such as with school administration, guardians, etc.) > Supply materials such as posters, digital sites or webinars, or in-person presentations > Be available to answer any questions

Pre-Departure Coordination GLA is available to assist and manage the pre-departure process based on your preferences. We are happy to connect directly with participants and guardians, or to coordinate with a selected group lead. This also includes guidance in: > Flight booking > Passport/visa processes (when applicable) > Packing, travel and other details via your group's customized travel portal

Support during your program During the program, we are your direct link, 24 hours a day, including: > 24-hour emergency helpline, for both the group abroad, as well as guardians and others back home > Evacuation & secondary medical insurance for all participants > Updates on major schedule changes or emergencies > Program blog with photos and accounts of the group experience to share with family / school

Post-Program Follow-Up

DON'T JUST TAKE OUR WORD FOR IT! Made a difference

"It really made a difference for the students. It lit a fire for them."

SUSAN, HAWTHORNE VALLEY WALDORF SCHOOL -GHENT, NY

An A+!

“Not sure if any future trip is going to top this, and it was my first time planning student travel. What a resounding success! I feel like this trip couldn't have been more seamless and perfect for our students. I hope to work with GLA in the future, whether in the DR or elsewhere.

Everyone was professional, flexible and positive. I couldn't be more grateful to learn how to put together my first student trip without you guys! As a teacher, I grade students. You guys earned an A+.”

AMY, WOLCOTT SCHOOL - CHICAGO, IL

Rewarding

This was definitely the best experience of my life and I’m so grateful I had to opportunity to do it! Thank you for making this trip possible and amazing! I found it rewarding that what we were doing was going to leave an impact that will probably last forever.

STUDENT, PROSPECT HILL ACADEMY - CAMBRIDGE, MA

After the program, our staff team follows up with every group leader to: > Hear your feedback on the program and level of support > Ensure we’ve provided the best possible service to you and your group > Discuss continued engagement and opportunities for your group or individuals +1 858 771-0645 ext 5 groups.experiencegla.com

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WHY GLA? continued...

Local Partners Our local partners are the key to making our programs as immersive and authentic as possible.

Like Mama Simba, our Tanzania partner, our local partners know the communities in which we operate inside and out.

Partnerships pave the path to sustainable development.

At GLA, we recognize that working with local partners is a fundamental part of sustainable development, effective community service and responsible travel. Our partners help bring foreign cultures to life, providing the critical context only a local resident could provide, and granting our students locals-only access to off-the-beaten-path experiences.

Partnerships help deliver authentic experiences.

GLA’s local partners also play a much larger role than simply being a piece of our program design. They are a core part of our global family, and many have been working with us for years. Students interact with and learn from partners, who range from founders of NGOs to small business owners, local educators, host families and area experts. Staff work directly with group leaders and chaperones to facilitate a life-changing experience for the entire group.

Expert Staff Our program staff act like camp counselors, but they are more than just supervision! Our staff have years of working with teens in an experiential, international setting and help connect the dots of the student’s experience and leadership strength.

GLA’s international program staff are more than chaperones - they’re passionate educators and teen experts. GLA works hard to hire knowledgeable, responsible, accomplished, and FUN individuals; we know that having the right program staff can make all the difference in creating a comfortable, safe and inclusive learning environment for all.

Students are led by program staff who have in-depth professional experience working experientially with youth, hold college or graduate degrees, and are confident travelers with certifications for the locations and activities they will oversee. Over half return each season to work with GLA year after year. Some staff have even served overseas in the Peace Corps, or in other international organizations and roles, and they bring the skills they have acquired working cross-culturally to their roles with us each summer. Our staff elevate a program from a mere trip to a life-changing journey. Our staff compassionately collaborate with your group leaders or chaperones to determine each “leader's” exact role and engagement so that for all participants the experience is the best possible.

COMMUNITY IMPACT In the last year, over 100,000 service hours were completed!

Over 66,974 people benefited from projects in 94 communities across the globe.

Partnerships pave the path to sustainable development. Our role as volunteers is to support the community's vision, not to impose our own. When we partner with local leadership on our programs, we are learning how to create scalable, sustainable solutions to address problems in a way that makes the most sense for community residents. As local leaders who live and work in the community, our partners are able to conduct community assessments, prioritize needs and execute projects on the ground with the public's involvement and support.

GLA believes working with local partners is a fundamental part of sustainable development, effective service and responsible travel, while at the same time allowing us to bring our wealth of experience to the table.

Global Leadership Adventures created the GLA International Foundation to be a year-round channel for direct action to support the community-led initiatives our students become passionately involved in each year. Because GLA covers all overhead costs, 100% of every donation to our Foundation goes directly to important development work happening around the world.

GLAIF, a non profit 501c3 organization, is a platform which allows these young leaders the opportunity to stay actively involved in the causes they became passionate about during their GLA experience. You can make a difference. Fund work that is action-oriented, community-led and focuses on root causes by donating at GLAIF.org.

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PROGRAM TYPES COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT & CHILDREN

OCEAN & CLIMATE ACTION

Work on projects that directly impact local children

Be a steward for the environment by participating

in the community - from school infrastructure to

in projects to promote sustainable practices like

playground restoration, you'll help create a safe

reducing, reusing and recycling. Do hands-on

space for kids to play and learn. You'll also get

work to help preserve the natural world and the

opportunities to play games and make new friends.

communities who depend on its protection.

PUBLIC HEALTH & MEDICINE Learn what health and healthcare look like abroad in underserved communities. This could mean preventative community education or hygiene advocacy, shadowing medical students, assisting in pop-up clinics, collecting diagnostic information or learning from medical professionals.

ANIMAL & WILDLIFE CONSERVATION Observe and protect animals in their natural habitats, national parks, or shelters. Take care of the environment that supports animals by working on projects to clear invasive species, collaborate with experts, and spend time upclose and personal.

CHILDREN & EDUCATION

LANGUAGE IMMERSION

Tutor and provide education to children at school

Learn the language of your host country through

and outside the classroom. Be a friend and role

local immersion and mentored study. Take

model to the youngest generation. Leave a lasting

classes that improve your Spanish, French or

impact on the community through infrastructure

Mandarin, no matter your skill level. Use your

improvements at local schools.

new language skills to get to know locals in your host community.

PHOTOGRAPHY & JOURNALISM

SPORTS LEADERSHIP

Fuel your passion for storytelling though rich

with local youth and revitalizing sporting

language and powerful imagery as you use your

grounds to promote healthy, active lifestyles

skills and develop new ones while supporting

in communities where there is limited access

a developing community. Sharpen your

to organized sports and nutrition education.

photography and writing skills as you gain real-

Choose between programs focusing on

world experience in the field.

soccer or surfing!

Fuel your passion for sports by connecting

SPECIAL THEMED MULTI-COUNTRY

BUILDING FROM START TO FINISH

Traverse national borders to discover the cities

Complete a meaningful building project from

or regions that have the most to offer in terms

beginning to end, leaving behind your legacy for

of exploring a themed learning objective. Enjoy

local families and the community. Work alongside

travel itineraries and activities that are tailored

local organizations who promote sustainable

to support program content while making for a

building initiatives in the community and see your

well-rounded fun travel adventure.

hardwork through from start to finish.

COUNTRY DISCOVERY Deepen your knowledge of an individual coun-

COUNTRY DISCOVERY

try of your interest through a journey from the capital to other important cities or regions within that country. Get an intimate feel for the nation’s history, culture, people and contemporary challenges, including the exploration of often vastly varying regional identities and values.

question

Don't see your preferred theme?

Customize it!

We will work with you on creating a program that touches on your specific educational or thematic interests or needs. You can also combine more than one program type. +1 858 771-0645 ext 5 groups.experiencegla.com

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map Don't see your

preferred destination?

Suggest the destination of your dreams and we'll work with you to create a custom program from scratch. GLA's partnerships with communities and individuals abroad truly span the globe, creating endless opportunities for safe and purposeful travel anywhere.

GLA Custom Group Travel works with academic institutions and individual groups of all types to help create the perfect custom travel experience, drawing on year-round operations in countries around the globe and the best international and local staff imaginable. Programs can be based on meaningful service-learning, deep local immersion, adventure and exploration, experiential academics or any combination of the above.

Each GLA Custom Group Travel experience is crafted end-to-end with care, designed to offer travelers a unique and life-changing view of the world.

ď…Ž OUR DESTINATIONS

CARIBBEAN

Cuba Dominican Republic Guadeloupe Puerto Rico (USA)

CENTRAL AMERICA Guatemala Belize Costa Rica

SOUTH AMERICA Brazil Galapagos Peru

AFRICA Ghana Morocco South Africa Tanzania

ASIA & THE PACIFIC Bali China Fiji Hawaii (USA) India Philippines Thailand

EUROPE

France Italy Greece Spain United Kingdom Multi-country

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GLA FOR GROUPS What's Included: •

Travel Coordinator to assist with program planning and pre-departure

•

On-site orientation

•

All-inclusive in-country accommodation,

cogs Customizable Itineraries We are here to help you customize the perfect program for your group. Be it duration, time of year, theme, location - the sky is the limit. You choose the following to create the ideal program, and we'll do the rest:

transportation, three meals/day •

Highly experienced team of staff in-country to guide the program (+CPR/First Aid)

•

24/7 helpline for staff, chaperones, students, and their parents

•

Local partners in the host country to manage logistics and provide authentic experiences

•

Evacuation and Secondary Medical Insurance while in country

•

Blog to track and your share your group journey (optional)

•

Certificates of service or language hours (optional)

•

2+ free chaperones based on number of participants (not including flights, min. 12 students)

MAP DESTINATION •

Choose from GLA destinations all over the world (see pages 12-13)

•

Propose a destination or region of your own choosing

calendar DATES & DURATION •

We're flexible!

cog OPTIONAL PROGRAM COMPONENTS •

Service-Learning (and number of service hours)

•

Exploratory Travel

•

GLA Program Type (see pages 10-11)

•

GLA Leadership Curriculum™

•

GLA Language Curriculum (and number of language hours)

•

Immersive Learning (NGO visits, meeting with local leaders, cultural activities, etc)

•

Adventure Activities (your choice and quantity)

What’s NOT included:

users GROUP SIZE

•

•

Flights (optionally can be included in the tuition and coordinated upon request)

•

Application fee ($95 non-refundable)

•

Cost of travel documents for participants (passports, visas, other)

•

Travel insurance (for trip cancellation, lost luggage, trip delay, etc)

Tuition starting at $1,200 USD for 12 students based on your customized schedule, duration, dates, destinations, activities, etc.

•

Chaperones and engagement level

List Sample Itinerary COSTA RICA: Beachside Service Adventure MAP Costa Rica calendar 8 Days users 15 students + 2 chaperones (approx $2,099) cog Selected Program Components for this Sample Itinerary: •

Program Type: Community Development & Children + Ocean & Climate Action

•

Service-Learning, Immersive Learning, Adventure, GLA Leadership Curriculum™

HIGHLIGHTS •

Live in a coastal village near a beautiful beach

•

Volunteer on educational or environmental development projects

•

Play soccer with local kids

•

Explore a local artisan market

•

Meet with a local NGO and learn about turtle conservation

•

Zipline through the rainforest canopy

•

Go on a catamaran ride and snorkel among marine life

DAY 1: WELCOME TO COSTA RICA! DAY 2: GETTING ORIENTED + INTRO TO SERVICE + GLA LEADERSHIP CURRICULUM™ DAY 3: SERVICE-LEARNING - COMMUNITY BUILDING PROJECT DAY 4: SERVICE-LEARNING - BEACH CLEANUP + GLA LEADERSHIP CURRICULUM™ DAY 5: ADVENTURE - SNORKELING & CATAMARAN RIDE + CONSERVATION DAY 6: SERVICE-LEARNING - TURTLE CONSERVATION + GLA LEADERSHIP CURRICULUM™ DAY 7: ADVENTURE - ZIPLINING, TUBING, HORSEBACK RIDING, HOT SPRINGS DAY 8: DEPARTURE +1 858 771-0645 ext 5 groups.experiencegla.com

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OUR LEADERSHIP PHILOSOPHY Leading the GLA Way A principal focus at GLA is personal growth and leadership - it's in our name, after all! We believe that leaders are made and not born.

Leadership is embedded in all of our programs across all spectrums to inspire students to continue to “be the change."

Leadership is embedded into our approach and philosophy on all program but for those groups who opt to include our formal GLA Leadership Curriculum™ allows students to engage in leadership development in an experiential and tangible way throughout the experience. It is designed to engage students on all levels and is tailored to each unique group. The curriculum utilizes specific activities related to the destination and theme, critically reflective journaling and intentional staff-facilitated discussion to digest and process daily experiences through the lens of leadership. We celebrate examples of outstanding leaders we encounter in the community; guest speakers bring concepts to life and demonstrate the full spectrum of leadership styles and approaches.

The GLA Leadership Curriculum™ consists of the following five branches that are brought to life on every program through engaging discussions, role plays and interactive activities tailored to each program.

Five Branches of Leadership The GLA Leadership Curriculum™ consists of the following five branches that are brought to life on every program through engaging discussions, roleplays and interactive activities tailored to each program.

Live your values Leadership is rooted in intention: desiring to contribute, bit by bit, to making this world a better place. Leaders recognize that in the tree of life, the strength of their roots—their values—determines the strength of the trunk, branches, leaves and fruit from year to year.

Be courageous Leaders dare to go where others have fallen short. Armed with the humility to see the world as it is, and the audacity to imagine the world as it could be, leaders stand, planted firmly, against the winds and weathering of doubt.

Uncover solutions Leadership thrives on long-term vision, imagination and active problem-solving. Leaders recognize potential where others see despair, creatively extending limbs and leaves toward light, in symmetry and balance.

Take action Leadership is incomplete without action. Putting intention into practice, leaders push for their ideas to flower and bear fruit: results that defeat complacency, break through bureaucracy and challenge corruption.

Connect & influence Leaders know that complex problems are best solved collaboratively. They nurture lasting relationships and weave connections of meaning that others understand. Leaders do well by doing right by others, creating shade and refuge for all those who cross their paths.

GLA LEADERSHIP CURRICULUM™ Each branch of our leadership philosophy has a set of development competencies that support each branch of the GLA Leadership Curriculum™. Each competency is linked to a GLA leadership activity. Groups can pick and choose which activities they would like to use, pending their group's interests and needs, and based on duration of the program. After the applied activity, students would walk away with a clear understanding of the competency. For example, an activity centered around ‘doing the right thing’ means that they will likely be forced to identify their value system and determine how they understand things as being right or wrong.

LIVE YOUR VALUES

UNCOVER SOLUTIONS

BE COURAGEOUS

CONNECT AND INFLUENCE

• • • • •

• • • • •

Do the right thing Respect others and self Appreciate others’ interests like yours Be humble and self reflect Strive to improve

Trust yourself and others Celebrate differences Be adaptive Take calculated risks Bounce back

• • • • •

• • • • •

Take time to understand deeply Double-check conventional wisdoms Think bold and creatively Challenge assumptions Analyze before you act

Care about others Listen and reflect Understand underlying motivations Communicate authentically Build great teams

TAKE ACTION • • • • •

Plan backwards Mobilize resources Execute, execute, execute Review progress & adjust Identify and manage key risks

See our curriculum database below for a glimpse at how we develop these leadership competencies on our programs!

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Our Expectations BE PRESENT

Our mission at GLA is “to inspire the next generation to realize their potential to transform the world and their role in it.” To that end, we expect GLA students to maintain high standards of personal behavior and to be open-minded. The culture will be different, sometimes shockingly so. GLA will challenge students as they are expected to work hard and be present physically and mentally for all activities. We also ask students to take a step back from regular use of technology - particularly their smartphones - so as to maximize their engagement with the program and their fellow participants. Students may get hot, dirty and bug-bitten along the way, but their contribution will transform the community. The goal is for each student to return home with a life-changing experience.

NO TOLERANCE

GLA has a no-tolerance policy towards drugs, alcohol, tobacco and disruptive behavior. Those who violate or are suspected of violating this policy will be immediately dismissed from the program at the sole discretion of GLA staff & group leaders.

COMMUNITY-LED EXPERIENCES

Expect the Unexpected “Boarding the plane, I had no idea what to expect. I never knew that the time I would spend on my GLA program would be the most rewarding, memorable and happy days of my life. I created lifelong friendships and was able to utilize the time I had to challenge myself to grow in every sense. The trip completely inspired me in the best way possible, and I took everything I gained from it back home with me.”

-CLARA | GLA DOMINICAN REPUBLIC STUDENT The best way to approach a GLA program, and any trip you may take abroad, is to expect the unexpected. Unlike a day at a theme park or on a cruise ship, your GLA experience may not match a lovingly crafted itinerary or hour-by-hour schedule. Activities change. Weather surprises. New community needs and availability arise and projects are adapted to reflect them. Don’t let that make you anxious! In fact, at GLA we believe an unexpected change in plans makes our programs abroad among the most rewarding travel experiences you’ll ever have.

GLA makes every effort to offer well-thought-out programs crafted for your participants. Detailed planning and exhaustive communications with partners are indispensable parts of our program development process. Occasionally, however, service and activities are adjusted from session to session, due to weather, changing needs of our local community partners and various cultural celebrations and customs. We expect participants to be open-minded and flexible, willing to embrace the experience when plans change. GLA makes every effort to communicate adjustments to students and families with advance notice. We expect you to be open-minded and flexible.

Why? Because every group is a custom crafted experience. One student group

MENTORSHIP

headquarters working hard year-round to make sure any change in plans is

GLA is not a therapy program. Our staff are highly skilled, professional, caring and fun, but they are not licensed therapists.

GLA programs can be physically and emotionally demanding - applicants should be in good physical and mental health, as well as meet our Essential Eligibility Criteria, or EEC.

might get lucky and spot sharks while snorkeling in the Galapagos or meet an influential local leader. Another group of students may discover they’re in-country during a major holiday or festival and decide to trade in a planned activity for the unique opportunity to witness the local celebration up close. Sometimes, a flight is delayed or a thunderstorm moves in and an activity is cancelled. While we do our best to reschedule missed plans, in some cases we are not able to do so.

Not to worry! GLA’s model means we have experts on the ground and at transformed from a missed activity into a wonderful opportunity to experience something new, different or eye-opening for all of our students. 24/7 support is available for all group leaders and chaperones should assistance ever be needed to make updates and adjustments to program itineraries or activities.

Getting Started

1 2 3 4 5 6

Explore destinations and program options Browse our website or request a catalog to get an idea of the possibilities. Choose from our pre-designed programs or customize your own. Visit groups.experiencegla.com to begin exploring themes and destinations.

Reach out to our dedicated staff Whether you know exactly where you want to go or still not sure where to start, we can

help. Call or email us at + 1 858.771.0645 option 5 or groups@experiencegla.com. We will walk you through the process, help find the best fit program, and send you sample

itineraries and tuition created custom for you.

Review, customize, and approve the itinerary Together, we can come up with the right program. Once you feel satisfied we will support you through your school or organization’s approval process.

Fundraise and recruit

Your students or group may be fundraising and need a bit of time to raise money. We have thousands of families and students with experience and can share our GLA Fundraising Kit with you.

Need more information?

Here are several ways for you to learn more about our programs.

 CALL OR TEXT + 1 858.771.0645 OPTION 5

Our year-round office staff and Enrollment Specialists have been on our programs, and are available to answer your questions and help find the perfect program.

 ATTEND AN EVENT OR WEBINAR

At any event, open house, or webinar, you can talk directly with GLA staff or alumni who will share their experiences and answer questions. www.experienceGLA.com/ meetup

Deposit and enroll Whether student/families are paying us directly or your school/organization is funding this opportunity, we will have each participant create a private account through our application portal.

Get ready to depart!

You and your program coordinator will work to get everything ready to go. We will also provide a customized pre-departure resource site to answer all those nitty gritty details from the schedule and culture to a packing list and visa information.

 REQUEST AN ITINERARY Call us or email groups@ experienceGLA.com to request a day-by-day sample itinerary and have specific questions answered.

 CHAT WITH US

Live Chat is available day and night. Visit our homepage on a laptop or desktop computer to chat. www.experienceGLA.com

 instagram CONNECT WITH GLA‘S SOCIAL COMMUNITY

Join our country-specific Facebook Groups to connect with former and future GLA students. View photos and videos, and seek peer advice on your program of interest. Or follow along on Instagram: @glateens

 SPEAK WITH REFERENCES

Call us or email groups@ experienceGLA.com to request a contact list of parents and families who have sent their teens abroad with GLA.

+1 858 771-0645 ext 5 groups.experiencegla.com

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CATALOG DESIGN AND GRAPHICS: Sarah Davidson, Carol de la Croce

10509 San Diego Mission Road, Suite A San Diego, CA 92108 USA

GLA CUSTOM GROUP TRAVEL TEAM: Exectutive Director - Jessica Miller Director - Heidi Bohn Coordinator - Mary Beattie CATALOG PHOTOGRAPHY: Photo Credits at experienceGLA.com/credits

YOU’RE INVITED!

Annual GLA Global Day of Service

experiencegla.com/gdos

More Info: groups.experienceGLA.com

Questions? Call or e-mail us. +1 858 771 0645 ext 5 | groups@experienceGLA.com