Guidebook to Custom Group Travel

GLOBAL WORKS: YOUR PARTNER IN GLOBAL EDUCATION

Global Works has a well-deserved reputation as one of the most professional and well-organized student travel operations. With a focus on authentic travel experiences, sustainable community service, language immersion and homestays, leadership, and adventure, travelers return home with increased confidence, knowledge, and a greater sense of global citizenship.

Through partnerships with communities and non-profit organizations worldwide, Global Works co-develops sustainable projects that positively impact both travelers and their partners.

Global Works envisions living in a world where:

Empathetic relationships between people and cultures leads to mutual respect and understanding

TRAVEL WITH PURPOSE

OUR MISSION & VISION

Confident, positive, and self-reliant students become leaders and bring a global perspective to their city, nation, and world

The wonder of travel continues to lead to self-discovery, perspective, and a passion for life.

We seek to instill a passion for service work, humanitarian efforts, and environmental preservation throughout the lifetime of a Global Works traveler, to deepen participants’ understanding of social-economic, political, and cultural inequalities of our world, and to open their eyes to their role in positive change.

WHAT SETS US APART?

Global Works collaborates with you on your trip goals, curriculum, dates of travel, group size, and budget.

As a close-knit team of passionate individuals, we ensure you won’t get caught in a corporate shuffle. Using our professional expertise, we keep the process of planning a trip easy and straightforward, with resources, knowledge, and communication every step of the way. Choosing Global Works means joining our family on a journey that both immerses students in another culture and expands their world views.

WHY GLOBAL WORKS?

MEANINGFUL, COMMUNITY-DRIVEN SERVICE:

Our students transformed right before our very eyes as they bonded together and made a direct impact on local Peruvian communities.”

- Stacy L. and Caryn S., teachers

• Partnering with communities and non-profit organizations worldwide, Global Works co-develops projects that make a positive impact on both travelers and their partners.

• We have in depth conversations with participants about what it means to have sustainable community development.

• Students will experience grassroots, meaningful service through our programs, leaving them with a broader sense of their impact on both their local community and world.

INCREDIBLE STAFF:

Our leader’s presence, guidance, and spirit of openness and care throughout the trip made this the most successful trip I’ve taken.”

- Elizabeth C., Teacher

• All Global Works Custom Group Travel programs have a dedicated Trip Leader, 24-7

• More than just a guide - we hire skilled, knowledgeable individuals who organize and lead trips according to high standards of quality, safety and, of course, fun.

• They are leaders chosen for: experience working with students, flexibility, organization, language skills, a sense of humor, and responsibility.

• The average age of our staff is 28.

• All of our staff are certified in Wilderness First Aid and CPR; many hold additional advanced certifications such as Wilderness First Responder.

A CULTURE OF SAFETY:

Thank you for planning activities that would be both fun and enriching, but also challenging to students, while all the time making sure they had the necessary support along the way.”

- Rebecca S., Parent

• We have over 30 years of experience in the field.

• We foster a culture of risk management that pays careful attention to each detail in the planning of our programs.

• Each of our program locations has an Emergency Action Plan, detailing locations of appropriate medical facilities, transportation options, and doctors.

• The Global Works Home Office maintains a 24-hour emergency phone line during your program. It is available for use by all program leaders, participants, and their families back home.

• All Global Works staff are Wilderness First Aid and CPR certified.

• All staff members attend a Staff Training in Colorado, which largely focuses on risk management and best practices in the field.

• Emergency Medical and Evacuation insurance is included in tuition cost.

AUTHENTIC TRAVEL:

I’ve done service work before but this was something different. This time it was us creating a friendship. We cried our eyes out saying goodbye to the community and genuinely felt loved and supported by them. I know our students and I will never forget it.” -

Barbara L., Teacher

• Global Works is not a “teen tour”; we believe in sustainable and responsible travel.

• In an increasingly interconnected world, our authentic travel experiences provide the foundation to a sense of global citizenship and mutual understanding.

• We work with well-established local contacts for lodging, restaurants, transportation, and activities.

• We strive to seek out local cuisine and genuine experiences in all of our program locations.

• Homestay experiences are available in many of our program locations. Families are selected in order to best meet the needs of your students.

B CORPORATION:

Global Works is committed to being a business that affects positive change in the world. In 2017, we officially became a Certified B Corporation. We are committed to high standards of social and environmental performance, transparency, and accountability. This way of running our business transcends how we interact in our office, out in the field, and with our participants and their families.

Universal Learning Goals

Universal Learning Goals are threads that run through all Global Works programs. They embody Global Works’ aspirations for holistic programming. These goals are non-hierarchical and are rooted in the Global Works mission, vision, and inclusion statement, staff input, and developmental needs of teenagers in today’s world. Before and during programs, Directors and Trip Leaders intentionally map out these goals across the various stages of their program to instill this ideology in all of their participants.

PURPOSE:

Students will discover their North Star- a set of interests and values that inform and give meaning to next steps in a student’s work, study, and life paths. Students will develop their own sense of purposeful, responsible, and authentic experience.

WONDER/CURIOSITY/INSPIRATION:

Students will cultivate curiosity and a sense of wonder about the natural and human worlds that will inspire them to continue to seek knowledge and understanding through experience. Global Works programs are a gateway.

RESILIENCE AND CONFIDENCE:

Through the right balance of challenge and support, students will develop confidence and resilience to persevere in the face of challenges.

LEADERSHIP:

Students will understand the power they possess to provide an example for others, to lead, to make space for others to lead, and to follow; and to make a difference in their communities.

GLOBAL MINDEDNESS:

Students will gain a broader perspective, unlearn habits of hierarchical thinking when they encounter cultural differences, and understand that though others see problems differently, they can also be right.

EMOTIONAL AWARENESS AND SELF-REGULATION:

Students will develop greater self-awareness, understand what shapes their expectations, and learn to manage their own emotions. They will learn to prevent emotion from creating unnecessary conflict.

SELF-RELIANCE AND ACCOUNTABILITY:

Students will develop skills to solve their own problems constructively, communicate what they need, and take accountability for what they can control.

SUSTAINABILITY/CITIZENSHIP/CONSERVATION ETHIC:

Students will recognize their contributions to a sustainable future, their obligation to live in right relationship with the planet, and the complex change required to balance the needs of diverse stakeholders.

LIVING IN COMMUNITY:

Students will wholeheartedly commit to the Global Works ethic of inclusion, value compromise, practice constructive communication, learn firsthand what it takes to keep a community healthy and strong, and take steps to repair relationships when necessary.

WHERE CAN GLOBAL WORKS TAKE

YOU?

Costa Rica

Dominican Republic

Ecuador

Fiji Islands

France

New Orleans

Peru

Puerto Rico

Spain

The American South

US Southwest

PROGRAM THEMES:

Spanish Immersion

French Immersion

Human Rights & Social Justice

WHO TRAVELS WITH US?*

“

Building Initiatives

Wildlife & Environmental Sustainability

Pre Med & Public Health

Our students’ reflections on the trip demonstrated the power of the experience. They particularly valued the relationships they developed with local community members, Angel and his family, an integral component of the program.”

- Josh B., Associate Director of Middle School

High Schools

Middle Schools Colleges & Universities

Athletic Departments

Sports Teams

Church & Synagogue Groups

Corporate Groups

THE GLOBAL WORKS EXPERIENCE

WHAT TO EXPECT

Great service, great meals, great pace, great flexibility.”

- Mark M., Head of School

PRE TRAVEL RESOURCES:

You will receive a Global Works Trip Kit to assist with getting the word out about your program and recruiting students. The Trip Kit includes itineraries, customized posters, a program-specific Powerpoint presentation, and information on how to conduct an effective parent meeting.

Global Works partners with a professional travel agency to handle quotes, reservations, and the group ticketing process. For many airlines, you can reserve space for your group without any money down.

Global Works offers Emergency Medical and Evacuation Insurance as part of tuition. We can work with you to pay through your organization or individual families. We can also set up payment plans!

Once your trip is confirmed a “go,” we will send you resources and activities to use with your group as you prepare to depart on your Global Works program. This toolkit will assist you in curriculum topics such as travel writing and photography, service learning, and responsible travel.

A personalized Login Page for each participant and chaperone will be the go-to place for medical forms, health and immunization information, insurance details, a packing list, travel day instructions, and other information pertinent to your program.

Prior to departure, you receive a detailed calendar, stylish Global Works t-shirts, luggage tags, and emergency contact cards for each participant. Additionally, your Trip Leader will get in touch to introduce themselves, set the tone, and answer any last minute questions!

ON-TRIP SUPPORT & COMMUNICATION

We have treasured each blog post, read them multiple times, and shared them with parents.”

Chaperones, parents, and participants can reach a Global Works Director at any time during your program on our 24 hour hotline.

You will have full time support on the ground from a Global Works Leader. Our leaders don’t ‘clock out’ and are always available to guide and facilitate the program.

Your group will provide written updates and photos from the field that our home office posts to the Global Works blog. Parents will receive an email notifying them of each new journal update.

POST TRAVEL CERTIFICATIONS & PHOTOS

Approximately 8 weeks after the program return date, our home office emails Community Service Certificates to each student and chaperone with the number of service hours that you earned.

Parents receive a link to download photos from the trip. Our staff are great photographersSay “queso!”

Once you and your students return from your impactful program, we believe it’s important to bridge this educational experience. We can provide ideas on how to take what you’ve learned through service and cultural immersion and apply it at home.

GET STARTED!

We are excited to travel with you! Follow these steps to get started on planning your Global Works program.

Visit globalworkstravel.com to complete a Trip Planner and receive your custom itinerary.

Receive full-trip logistical support and personalized materials to help you promote your trip and recruit global travelers.

Global Works handles enrollment processing and our representatives are available to attend informational meetings for interested participants.

Embark on your unforgettable journey with a full-time, professional Global Works trip leader and 24-hour home office support.

Phone: (303) 545-2202

Email: info@globalworkstravel.com

More information is always available at: https://www.globalworkstravel.com/custom-group-travel.

JOIN THE GLOBAL WORKS FAMILY

PARTICIPATING PARTNERS

Global Works has partnered with many schools and organizations since it was founded in 1990. This list is only a sampling of our incredible partners.

High Schools & Middle Schools

Avenues: The World School; Brooklyn Latin School; Cape Henry Collegiate; Colorado Academy; The Dalton School; Birmingham Covington School; Golden High School; Middlesex School; Keystone Academy; King School; Millennium High School; Mastery Charter School; Moorestown Friends School; Morgan Park Academy; New Canaan Country School; Piedmont High School; Poly Prep Country Day School; Sage Hill School; San Francisco Day School; St. Stephen's and St. Agnes School; Summit Middle School; Synergy School; Telluride High School; Rudolf Steiner School; North Star Academy; Vistamar School; Wilmington Friends School; Woodstock Union High School

Colleges & Universities

Yale University; Brown University; Agnes Scott College; University of Delaware; University of Colorado; Penn State University; Fort Hays State University; Texas A&M; Montgomery College; University of Arkansas

Athletic Departments & Sports Teams

Georgia Tech Athletics; East High School Girls Soccer; Alma College Athletics

Church & Synagogue Groups

Temple Sinai, Temple Israel, Yale Silfka Center for Jewish Life

Corporate Groups

Coupa

OUR PARTNERS