Because your roots ground you.
But your routes? They take you anywhere.
We offer a once-in-a-lifetime summer program for high school students who want to explore their roots and routes. Our program blends community service, cultural immersion, and self-discovery into one unforgettable journey — with powerful nuggets of personal and professional development woven throughout.
THE ADVENTURE
Roots & Routes is a two-week summer experience in Guatemala designed for high school students (grades 9th–12th). The journey blends learning, exploration, and connection — all within a fully supported environment.
MARK YOUR CALENDARS!
Dates: June 13–27, 2026
Duration: 14 days
Locations: Antigua & Lake Atitlán, Guatemala
Value: $3,490 USD ($249 per day)
WHAT'S INCLUDED
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10+ hrs of private transportation
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13 night accomodation in three hotels
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40+ meals
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20+ hrs of community service in three different organizations
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10 adventure & cultural activities (hiking, zip-lining, volcano hike, cooking class)
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6 personal development activities (ice bath, design thinking workshop, journaling workshop)
NOT INCLUDED
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International airfare
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Travel insurance
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Entry VISA (if required)
Our Pillars
Rooted in Guatemala’s rich cultural heritage, the Roots & Routes program weaves together four key elements: community service, cultural immersion, personal growth, and adventure. Each experience is designed to challenge, connect, and inspire — helping students understand both where they come from and where they’re headed.
IMPACT FOR THE COMMUNITY
Students collaborate with local organizations on long-term projects that create real change. They learn the “why” behind the work and experience the power of service, empathy, and responsibility.
IMMERSION INTO GUATEMALAN CULTURE
Visits to historic sites, artisan cooperatives, and traditional cooking or weaving workshops help students connect deeply with Guatemala’s history, creativity, and community.
PERSONAL & PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT WORKSHOPS
Through guided workshops, students explore identity, values, and leadership. Some sessions encourage open dialogue and collaboration; others invite reflection, journaling, and clarity about future paths.
ADVENTURES AND MEMORIES TO LAST A LIFETIME
From hiking to shared outdoor challenges, exploration becomes a space to cultivate resilience, teamwork, and joy — lessons that last far beyond the trip.
Meet the Hearts Behind the Experience
Roots & Routes was created by two lifelong learners who believe that real growth happens when we step outside our comfort zone and connect deeply with others — and ourselves.
Cristina
CO-FOUNDER
From age 11 to 18, I had the opportunity to attend multiple summer camps and programs in different corners of the world. From marching in a military summer school in the middle of the cornfields of Indiana, to learning about business and leadership in Georgetown University to showering elephants in the village of Chiang Mai, Thailand – I’ve done it all. As an undergraduate, I attended Babson College near Boston and studied abroad with Semester at Sea, sailing across four continents and eleven countries—an experience that broadened my global perspective.
After college, I founded ADMITTED, a holistic coaching business that helps students gain admission to colleges abroad while guiding them on a journey of self-discovery. Roots & Routes is a combination of my passion for working with high school students, my love for crafting meaningful experiences, and my passion for wellbeing and personal development.
Mariana
CO-FOUNDER
I have always been drawn to the world beyond my doorstep. Cultural exchanges became my playground, and travel my greatest teacher. I have had enriching experiences across Denmark, Italy, the USA, South Africa, and my own Guatemala, meeting people from every corner of the globe and discovering, time and again, how diverse, vibrant, and inspiring our world truly is.
Over the years, I have worked closely with high school students, guiding them through the college admissions journey and helping them navigate their own paths of self-discovery. I know firsthand how transformative these experiences can be - and how a single summer, a single trip, a single moment can change how a teenager sees themselves and the world. Roots & Routes is the culmination of all these experiences: my love for travel, for culture, for meeting people, and for guiding young people through meaningful, life-changing journeys.
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Logistics
From the moment students arrive until the day they leave, every detail of the Roots & Routes experience is planned with care, comfort, and safety in mind.
Transportation
All transportation is fully provided. Students and staff travel together in a private bus operated by a trusted local company specializing in tourism services. The same driver and vehicle accompany the group throughout the journey to ensure consistency, safety, and peace of mind.
Accommodation
We partner with well-reviewed boutique hotels and eco-lodges that meet high standards of cleanliness, security, and hospitality. Students share rooms with other participants to encourage connection while maintaining a comfortable and supervised environment.
Meals
All meals are included and thoughtfully curated to introduce students to Guatemala’s rich culinary traditions. We accommodate dietary preferences and restrictions while encouraging everyone to enjoy local favorites like handmade tortillas, beans, and fresh tropical fruits.
Facts & Statistics
Research shows that meaningful experiences during adolescence — especially those involving service, travel, and cultural immersion — can shape confidence, empathy, and future success.
Adolescents who volunteer are 34% more likely to report excellent health and 25% less likely to experience anxiety.
Students involved in service-learning are more likely to graduate high school and continue volunteering as adults.
Among students who study abroad:
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96% report increased self-confidence
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97% report greater maturity
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98% report clearer personal values
Just 30 hours of service can lead to a 19% reduction in depressive symptoms.
Cross-cultural experiences strengthen adaptability, empathy, and problem-solving skills.
Early exposure to structured personal-development programs is linked to greater long-term resilience and life satisfaction.
The Journey
Each day of Roots & Routes is thoughtfully designed to connect students with Guatemala’s culture, nature, and community — while weaving in reflection, learning, and fun.
Below is a preview of what a typical day-to-day flow looks like:
Day 1 | Arrival — Guatemala City → Antigua
Welcome to Guatemala! Students are greeted at the airport and transferred to the colorful colonial city of Antigua, a UNESCO World Heritage site surrounded by volcanoes. The evening begins with a welcome dinner and grounding activity that introduces the Roots & Routes ethos: where we come from shapes us, and where we go expands us.
Days 2–5 | Antigua — Service, Learning & Growth
Student's dive deep into the program's pillars: cultural immersion with a Guatemalan cooking class and cacao ceremony, adventure with a volcano hike, personal development with an ice bath, an community service by engaging in a local school called International Esperanza Project.
Days 6–11 | Lake Atitlán — Culture & Connection
At Lake Atitlán, students collaborate with local organizations like 'Pintando Santa Catarina Palopo' where they will paint the walls of a local community and witness the power of color, visit Indigenous communities, and learn traditional crafts like weaving and cooking. Workshops on leadership, design thinking, and personal development balance community work with self-discovery. Adventure activities like kayaking or zip lining add joy and connection.
Days 12–13 | Legacy & Meaning
Students meet local changemakers at MAIA Impact School (an all-girls school rewriting the narrative on education), take part in a Mayan ceremony honoring roots and routes, and close the journey with an intentional reflection dinner.
Day 14 | Departure
Farewell breakfast and transfer to Guatemala City for flights home. Students leave with lifelong connections — and a deeper understanding of themselves and the world.
Founders & Hosts
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