Global Leadership Adventures

Global Leadership Adventures (GLA) is an organisation based in San Diego, California, that runs travel and community service programmes abroad for teenagers. Its programmes are open to students aged 11 to 19 from any country and combine community service, hands-on learning about local culture, adventure excursions and leadership development. Destinations are in Africa, Asia and the Pacific, Latin America, Europe and the United States. GLA is a certified B Corporation and traces its roots to the African Leadership Academy.

• High school travel programmes: 7 to 21 days, in summer or spring break
• Middle school travel programmes: 10 days
• Travel internships for high school students: 21 days, with at least 60 hours of fieldwork and study
• Optional fellowships added to a summer programme or internship

Summer sessions usually last 9 to 21 days, most often 14, and spring break programmes last 7 days. Participants can earn 20 to 80 community service hours, and most sessions have 10 to 30 students. Programmes with a language focus include a Spanish Language Experience in Spain and a three-week Spanish service programme in Costa Rica. Tuition is all-inclusive, scholarships and payment plans are available, and students stay at a GLA base with spaces reserved for the group. Dates for spring and summer 2027 have been published.