Summer travel programs for teens

Cultural Immersion, Service, and Focus

ENROLL NOW FOR SUMMER 2024!

A Genuine Sense of
Discovery & Adventure

For 40 years, ARCC has offered extraordinary summer programs for teens. By traveling to locations rarely visited by tourists, we are able to provide unique, immersive, and educational experiences for our students. We have 21 summer program options on six continents. Our summer travel programs for teens take place between June and August and last from two to four weeks.

Three Distinct Styles
of Summer Programs

Focus

ARCC Focus Programs drill down into a single topic important to the country or region of travel. We bring in experts to educate our students on these topics and then get hands-on experience working with these experts. In some cases, we participate in important scholarly research by doing fieldwork alongside professors and grad students. In other programs, we are gaining knowledge and skills and working to protect precious global resources. It is our goal that by the end of your ARCC Focus Program, you are extremely knowledgeable in all aspects of the program’s focus topic.

Cultural Immersion

ARCC Cultural Immersion Programs expose our students to the many facets of a culture, from language, customs, and food to religion and history. Interspersed throughout the group’s travel are lectures by topic experts such as professors and NGOs, language schools, cooking classes, projects with local populations and in some cases a “group stay” in a local home. It is our goal that by the end of your ARCC cultural immersion program you think about this part of the world as a second home.

Service Learning

ARCC Service Learning Programs provide authentic and meaningful service learning opportunities for our students. Using travel as a backdrop, these programs are designed to be rich, fulfilling experiences that make a positive impact both on the communities we work with and on our own students. Together we discuss and consider all aspects of this experience and we tackle tough questions such as “Are we really doing ‘good’?” and “The pros and cons of voluntourism”. It is our goal that by the end of your ARCC Service Learning Program you have had meaningful encounters with the peoples and the lands you have visited and come away proud of the impact you have made.

What Our Travelers Have to Say!

Parent of Brooke Y
Scarsdale NY
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“Brooke adored her leaders. She has gone to camp and taken trips over the summer with leaders since she was 9 years old, and she was incredibly thrilled with the chance to get to know her ARCC leaders. They were far superior in every way to any leaders she has had in the past. They were kind, fun, intelligent, helpful, available, positive, enthusiastic, and genuine, she is so lucky to have had the opportunity to travel with them.”
Parent of Allison W
Houston, TX
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“Allison’s world vision has clearly been expanded greatly. While she was a relatively confident young woman before, I think this trip further bolstered her confidence level and her ability to relate to all the different kids in the group underscored one of her strongest traits: she is accepting and willing to get along with everyone.”
Parent of Olivia H
Midlothian, VA
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“Olivia always returns from her ARCC trips with amazing new relationships and a stronger desire to due future service work.”
Parent of Olivia H
Seattle, WA
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“She found her leaders very knowledgeable about China and she enjoyed learning the history. Despite being very tired, she was bubbling with enthusiasm upon her return. Thank you.”
Parent of Kyle M
Northbrook, IL
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“Kyle definitely expanded his horizons with this trip. His meal choices have become more mature. He recognizes, maybe for the first time, how privileged his own life is and how much help many others in the world need.”
Parent of Maggie G
Coppell, TX
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“ARCC trips teach independence and self-reliance. My daughters have learned to deal with challenges and adversity on their own and in a safe environment. They have learned that they can adapt and succeed, even when way out of their comfort zones. They have made friends, and they have seen and done things that I know they wouldn’t have otherwise seen or done.”
John T
ARCC Student, Seattle, WA
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“Both Leaders were awesome – completely professional, fun and reassuring. Thanks for the great job!”
Katie S
Woodinville, WA
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“I think that the impact that we made during our service projects really made a difference, you could really see it in the faces of the people we helped.”
Sebastian H
Greenwich, CT
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“Only with ARCC and it’s leaders are you able to form a family bond while exploring unseen parts of the world with complete strangers.”
Alya S
Weston, CT
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“There were so many once in a lifetime moments on this trip that I’ll remember for the rest of my life.”
Gigi G
Piedmont CA
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“This was by far one of the best trips I have ever taken. The people you meet, not only your group, but also your leaders and [in-country] guides are absolutely amazing. Hands down, it is completely worth coming.”
Parent of Gigi G
Piedmont, CA
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“Before she left on this trip, Gigi was an independent, confident young girl. Now I see her as a worldly young women, excited to explore new things and grounded in the new friendships that she made on the trip. The leaders were a perfect combination of caring, fun, relaxed and silly. This group seemed to have a very special bond.”
Parent of Olivia P
Nevada City, CA
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“She had a wonderful experience and really broadend her perspectives of our world. Fabulous time, and a strong program”
Lacey S
ARCC Student
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“A challenging adventure that is a chance of a lifetime! Amazing service projects! I was so beyond happy to help all the places we visited, it was an amazing experience.”
Parent of Jared S
Brookline, MA
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“Jared had an amazing time and really learned a lot. He hasn’t stopped talking about his trip since he got back. [It was a] great trip!”
Jillian B
ARCC Student
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“From the immense beauty of the Himalayas to the craziness of city life in Delhi, this program taught me so much about myself and India and challenged me to grow as a person.”
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