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General

What is Travel For Youth?

Travel For Youth is an adventure and social impact travel program for teens ages 15-18. Why Travel For Youth? is a more important question…

We are working to build a generation of life-long humanitarians and social changemakers. Through carefully crafted travel experiences, we uproot entitlement, encourage gratitude, and inspire the courage to do hard, uncomfortable things. We educated teens on critical social causes and teach them how to make a difference long-term.

Learn more about what sets us apart here.

Who Can Go On A Travel For Youth Trip?

Teens of all faiths, ages 15-18, are welcome and invited to join! All participants must commit to fully following our safety standards & code of conduct which are inspired by the standards of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. These standards and rules help ensure your well-being during this life-changing experience.

You can learn more about these standards here.

How Long Are Your Teen Humanitarian Trips?

Travel For Youth offers 2-week social impact trips and 1-week bucket list trips.

Need help choosing? Check out our Trip Comparison page here.

Where Do Your Humanitarian Trips For Youth Go?

We offer exciting destinations all over the world including Asia, Africa, South & Central America, and Europe! Summer 2022 destinations are Thailand, Greece, Costa Rica, Morocco, Ecuador, Indonesia, Italy, Bali, and Prague.

Register for a trip here.

How is Travel For Youth Different from HumanitarianXP(HEFY)?

HEFY (now HumanitarianXP) is a wonderful program and was the originator of humanitarian-type trips for Latter-day Saint youth many years ago. They look to offer uplifting service-focused opportunities to large groups of youth.

With TFY, we didn’t set out to create a humanitarian experience program. Those kinds of organizations, like HumanitarianXP, already existed and were doing a great job. We set out to create a unique and powerful travel experience that would build youth and ignite lasting social change.

While some aspects may appear similar, from the root up, we’ve been building something quite unique.

Travel For Youth’s main goal is to create a generation of life-long humanitarians and social change-makers. Because of this, we build our trips around opportunities to increase your cultural understanding and empathy, spend time with the locals, appreciate the unique beauty and adventures of the host country, all while getting proximate to important social causes that desperately need your attention.

Our Travel For Youth trips give the very best mix of cultural immersion, adventure/excursions, and social impact.

For our social cause, the goal is not a one-time service project, but an experience that inspires a life of involvement in humanitarian work and social impact. Instead of the standard building project, we focus each destination on a different social issue.

These causes include things like anti-human trafficking, refugee relief, girls and education, womens’ empowerment, access to clean water, ocean reef restoration, etc. We spend a minimum of 3 days on each trip immersing you and getting you involved in that cause and then empowering you to know how you can get more involved after you return home. You will work hard, see the problem first-hand, and learn how to create lasting impact and change.

Learn more about what sets us apart here.

Is Travel For Youth Part Of BYU's EFY Program?

While there are shared beliefs and standards between the two programs, Travel For Youth is an independent organization that is not affiliated with EFY, Brigham Young University, or the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Can I Volunteer Abroad As A Teenager?

Yes! The opportunity to travel and volunteer abroad is one of the most impactful and life-changing experiences you can have, ESPECIALLY as a teenager.

Participating in international travel and volunteer work builds your confidence, expands your worldview, improves your leadership capabilities, and helps you stand out on your future college applications.

Traveling alone as a teenager, however, isn’t safe. You need to find a great program that will keep you safe, handle all of the crazy travel logistics, connect you with other high-caliber teenagers, and ensure that your volunteer work is helpful, not hurtful to the local community (which, sadly, can often be the case when done incorrectly).

Travel For Youth makes it easy and safe for teenagers aged 15-18 to travel the world and get involved in sustainable humanitarian work. We provide exciting trips all over the globe that will immerse you in the local culture, provide you with absolute once-in-a-lifetime adventures, and involve you in important social causes.

Since our focus is on building YOU, we teach you how to make a difference long-term. Rather than the standard one-time service project, we bring you up close to social causes that desperately need your attention, and inspire you to be a lifelong humanitarian and social changemaker.

Learn more about all of our TFY trips here.

How Old Do I Have To Be To Go On A Humanitarian Trip For Youth?

While a large portion of international travel and volunteer programs begin at the college level, Travel For Youth makes it easy and safe for high-schoolers aged 15-19 to travel the world and get involved in sustainable humanitarian work.

We offer exciting destinations all over the world including Asia, Africa, South & Central America, and Europe!

We can help you find an itinerary that fits your interests, schedule, and budget with trips ranging from one week up to two weeks.

Each trip is specifically designed for teens and provides our secret sauce mix of cultural immersion, once-in-a-lifetime excursions, and unique involvement in critical social causes.

Check out all of our different trips here.

Registration

When Is Registration?

Registration for Summer 2023 spots opens October 1st!

How Much Do Humanitarian Trips For Youth Cost With TFY?

Our 2-week trips range from $4245 – $4445 + Airfare. Our 1-week trips tuition cost is $2645 + Airfare.

How Do I Choose Which Trip To Go On?

First, know that each and every trip will be absolutely jaw-dropping! We pull out all the stops to make each destination unique and life-changing in a way that’s authentic to the particular country. We NEVER just try to fill time, every single part of your trip is intentionally designed to be powerful so no matter what trip you choose, you can’t really go wrong. That’s what makes it hard to choose because they are ALL amazing!

That being said, here are some helpful tips to think about…

What destination, culture, or cause are you most excited about?
Which trip would push you and help you grow the most?
What are other schedule conflicts you need to be aware of (e.g., family reunions or camps)?
What trip pace and trip physical level is a good fit for you?
Do want to get involved with social impact, and are you willing to do the prep to learn about your cause? Or, are you only interested in just the sightseeing side?
Do you have food or health restrictions you need to take into account?

Use our destination pages and our trip comparison page to help you make the best decision for you!

What Is The Difference Between Your 2-week Trips And Your 1-week Trips?

Great question! The 2-week trips are our Social Impact Series. The 1-week trips are our Bucket List Series. Here is what each experience is like…

Social Impact Series (2 weeks): The OG of TFY. These trips give you our secret sauce mix of cultural immersion, once-in-a-lifetime excursions, and unique involvement in critical social causes. It’s two packed weeks of visiting all of the best places, being immersed in the most meaningful cultural experiences, and taking on the region’s ultimate adventures. We give you a life-changing international experience that no one else can.

Bucket List Series (1 week): The places you’ve always wanted to go, the experiences you’ve been dying to knock off your bucket list, the food and sights that have been giving you wanderlust. Our new TFY Bucket List Series brings them all together for the trip of a lifetime. Geared exclusively to travel and sightseeing, these trips are one transformative week of experiencing Planet Earth’s absolute must-see locations.

What Information Do I Need When I Register?

You will need to enter current, basic contact information for you and your parents or legal guardians (full name, phone, email, address, etc.). PLEASE make sure to enter your full name EXACTLY as it is on your passport (e.g., don’t forget middle names, mess up the spelling, put a nickname, etc.). It’s kind of a big deal in travel :).

We’ll ask you if you are wanting to travel with a friend or sibling, anything you are nervous about, and anything extra that we can do to keep you healthy and happy while on your trip.

You’ll then end with agreements and check-out with your $500 trip tuition deposit. Done!

How Much Is The Registration Deposit?

At registration, you will pay a $500 deposit. This officially secures your spot on the trip (yay!) and will be directly applied to your trip tuition.

Can I Sign Up Alone Or Do I Need Another Person?

Absolutely! A large portion of our youth register solo. You don’t need to feel at all worried or nervous about coming alone. Some of the greatest, most life-changing experiences have been had by those youth who came without a sidekick.

AND, you may start the trip not knowing anyone, but you will leave having made several new and lasting friendships. Many of our youth have stayed in touch YEARS after their TFY trip!

What If I Want To Sign Up With A Friend Or Sibling?

Just let us know! When you are choosing your destination, make sure that there are multiple spots available. Then, register for your chosen trip, and specify on both registrations that you would like to travel together.

How Do I Pay For My Trip?

It’s easy! At registration, you will pay your $500 trip deposit. This officially secures your spot on the trip and will be directly applied to your trip tuition.

Your remaining trip balance will be broken into two tuition payments and your flight payment. These will be sent to you in an online invoice via email, making it easy for you to pay these by debit or credit card.

Trip Payment Schedule:

Spot Reservation – $500 deposit
Due at registration
Second Tuition Payment – $1850
Due by Nov. 30th
Final Tuition Payment – Remaining Trip Balance
Due by Feb. 15th
Flight – Based on destination and flight prices
Due in the spring (usually March/April) when group flight is finalized

If you sign up after these payment dates, you will need to communicate with TFY to get caught up with the payments.

Please remember: TFY does not provide refunds. You can learn more about our policy here.

What If I’m Signing Up For A Trip After The Payment Dates? Am I Too Late?

Nope! As long as there is a spot, you haven’t missed your chance. Go ahead and register for your chosen trip, and then get in touch with us. We will help get you caught up on your tuition payments as well as any other trip prep announcements and to-do’s that you may have missed.

If you are signing up REALLY late (as in, close to when the trips are departing), it’s important that you already have a current passport that is valid for at least six months after the end of your trip. COVID has slowed down passport processing times, so first-timers are sometimes waiting for several months for their passports to arrive. If you do not have a valid passport you will have to join us next summer.

What Is Included In The Cost Of My TFY Trip?

Great question! The cost of your trip includes food (three meals a day), lodging, all sightseeing and excursions, travel and transportation within the host country, guides, cultural experiences, the social cause project, as well as medical and evacuation insurance.

The program cost does NOT include round-trip flights to and from the host country, cancel for any reason travel insurance, visas, passports, personal souvenirs, extra snacks, baggage fees, COVID-19 testing, and notary.

Note on flight prices: So many of you are working incredibly hard to pay for your trip, and we feel a great responsibility to keep costs down as much as possible for you. While it is impossible for us to be able to guarantee airline prices, we do have an incredible team of people who book all of our group flights. We work very hard to get the best flight deals to help you save money on that additional cost.

What Happens After I Register For My Trip?

This is when the fun starts! Upon securing your spot, you will see a check-out page confirming your registration and giving you an opportunity to take your first step as a changemaker (don’t miss this part!).

You and your parents will then receive a welcome email that has your participation paperwork, health form, a video for each of you, and a quick look timeline of important dates and future communication leading up to your trip.

Want more ideas of how to prepare for your trip? Check out all of our advice here!

What Is TFY’s Refund Policy If I Have To Cancel My Trip?

TFY does not provide refunds. Innate in international travel are disruptions completely outside of the control of Travel For Youth. These could be your own personal emergencies like health, family circumstances, or unforeseen schedule changes. Although less likely, there could be disruptions that affect your trip destination like natural disasters, political unrest, or pandemic shutdowns.

Because these things are outside of TFY’s control, we do not provide refunds.

We do, however, want you to be taken care of! We are on your team, and we know all too well that life happens and that sometimes emergencies can occur where canceling your trip may be necessary.

There are two umbrella scenarios that you should always cover when you travel. Scenario 1: Your trip gets canceled on you (this could happen because of a natural disaster, a country closing its borders, a massive airline strike, etc.). Scenario 2: You cancel your trip (unforeseen schedule changes, surprise wedding or funeral of a family member, unexpected surgery, uncovered injury or illness, etc.).

For scenario one, included in your trip tuition is comprehensive international travel, medical, and evacuation insurance that covers you for the duration of your trip. This includes trip delay, cancellation, & interruption; medical insurance and evacuation; security and natural disaster evacuation; reimbursements for lost baggage, flight delays, and missed connections.

To be covered in scenario two, we advise all of our youth travelers to purchase Cancel For Any Reason Travel Insurance from a reputable third party. This will allow you to recoup 75 percent of your trip costs (deposit, tuition, and flights) from the insurance company up until 48 hours before departure in the event that you need to cancel for personal reasons.

You learn more about our travel insurance policies and benefits here.

How Does The Waitlist Work?

Spots go fast and sometimes the trip you want is full. In that case, we encourage you to sign up for another destination that is still open. Every trip is amazing, so it is SO worth taking a second or third preference to get a spot.

If scheduling or other reasons have you set on only one trip, then it’s important to sign up for the waitlist. A ‘Join the Waitlist’ button will show up on a trip page when that trip is full.

We only want you to sign up for the waitlist if you are serious about going, so we charge $25 to join the list. You can select up to 3 trips, and then if a trip spot opens for any of your selections, we will notify you immediately and send you a $25 voucher to apply to your registration deposit.

Youth

How Old Do I Have To Be To Go On A Trip With Travel For Youth?

High-schoolers of all faiths, ages 15-19, are welcome and invited to join our program.

I Am Not A Practicing Member Of The Church Of Jesus Christ Of Latter-Day Saints, Can I Still Come?

Of course! All youth, of any faith, that will commit to following our safety standards and code of conduct are welcome and invited to join our trips.

Can I Still Come On A Trip If I Have Food Allergies Or Restrictions?

Yep, that’s not a problem! Many of our youth travelers are in that boat. Choose a destination that has good food accommodations (this is listed in the faqs section of every trip page) and then make sure you include your food allergies/restrictions on your participant health form and give us an early heads up so that we can notify your in-country hosts.

You will be responsible for monitoring what you eat during your trip, but your awesome trip leaders will be there to help and support you.

I Have A Medical Condition. Am I Allowed To Come?

Of course! If you experience depression and/or anxiety, or have been diagnosed with other physical conditions (such as diabetes, epilepsy, cancer, bipolar disorder, etc.), we want you to know you are absolutely still welcome on any of our trips.

Because of the nature of travel; the pace of our itineraries; and the new culture, language, and foods, it can be a lot to deal with, so it is essential that you prepare yourself well and get cleared to travel by your healthcare professional.

  • Please openly disclose all medical information in your application and participant health form so we can know how to ensure you have a safe and positive trip.
  • Make sure you have been taking your medication consistently for at least several months before your scheduled date of departure.
  • Schedule an appointment with your regular healthcare provider and inform them about your upcoming trip and confirm you are safe to travel.
  • Be prepared to be 100% responsible and accountable for bringing enough medication and taking it consistently while in country. While we will have a medical counselor on our trip to help maintain the health of our group and handle any emergencies that may arise, YOU are ultimately responsible for managing your personal medication.

Do I Need To Purchase Travel Or Health Insurance For My Trip?

There are two umbrella scenarios that you should always cover when you travel. Scenario 1: Your trip gets canceled on you (this could happen because of a natural disaster, a country closing its borders, a massive airline strike, etc.). Scenario 2: You cancel your trip (unforeseen schedule changes, surprise wedding or funeral of a family member, unexpected surgery, uncovered injury or illness, etc.).

For scenario one, included in your trip tuition is comprehensive international travel, medical, and evacuation insurance that covers you for the duration of your trip. This includes trip delay, cancellation, & interruption; medical insurance and evacuation; security and natural disaster evacuation; reimbursements for lost baggage, flight delays, and missed connections.

To be covered in scenario two, we advise all of our youth travelers to purchase Cancel For Any Reason Travel Insurance from a reputable third party. This will allow you to recoup 75 percent of your trip costs (deposit, tuition, and flights) from the insurance company up until 48 hours before departure if you need to cancel your trip for personal reasons.

Important: Travel For Youth’s medical insurance covers short-term medical emergencies while on your trip, but you still need your own medical insurance in case you have a problem that requires continued treatment after returning home.

*Due to the state laws of New York, Cancel For Any Reason travel insurance cannot cover participants from New York.

Do I Need Immunizations?

Travel For Youth does not require any specific vaccinations in order to participate in our trips. We believe that the decision to receive vaccinations for international travel is a personal one that should be carefully and thoughtfully made by consulting with your healthcare professional and referring to the information provided by the Center for Disease Control (CDC). 

 

Currently, many countries are requiring COVID-19 vaccines in order to enter as a tourist. As time goes on, it appears that many, if not most, countries are moving toward that requirement. If the COVID-19 vaccine is required by your destination country, you will be subject to that requirement in order to go on your trip. 

 

Destinations Currently Requiring COVID-19 Vaccine: Italy, Indonesia, Bali, Morocco, Ecuador, and Prague

  *Subject to change at any time 

 

Destinations Not Currently Requiring COVID-19 Vaccine: Thailand, Costa Rica, and Greece 

*Subject to change at any time 

 

Important: Travel For Youth cannot be responsible for any consequences incurred as a result of your choice to vaccinate or not vaccinate. 

How Big Will My TFY Trip Group Be?

Each trip has 14-16 youth and 2 adult trip leaders. Keeping our group sizes under 20 is part of the TFY magic! It allows us to avoid “touristy travel” and give you cultural, housing, and adventure experiences that are unavailable to larger groups.

Most trips are comprised of both girls and boys. This allows youth to make lasting friendships with both young men and young women who share similar values.

There are always separate gender sleeping arrangements and pairing off is not allowed. Under any circumstance. Ever. This is a travel program, not a dating service :).

How Do I Prepare Physically And Mentally For My TFY Trip?

This is not physical or mental, but before you do anything else, immediately go and apply for a passport if you don’t already have one! If you do have one, check that it is valid for at least 6 months AFTER your trip ends. COVID has drastically slowed passport processing and renewal times, so don’t wait!

Okay, here goes…

It is important to be ready, both physically and mentally, for your trip. We go hard and accomplish a lot during our time abroad.

First, keep your eye out for the information and resources that we will be sending you about your trip and your social cause. The more you know and understand, the more this experience will mean to you and the more prepared you will be to make a meaningful difference.

Second, understand the nature of travel. The unexpected and the unplanned happen from time to time—flights are delayed or canceled, weather affects excursions, schedules get changed, etc.—it’s all an innate part of travel. Have a positive attitude and realize that whatever happens, you have the choice to see the good.

Third, get ready physically. You don’t have to be Hercules, just be ready to walk A LOT (a few miles per day) and be prepared to participate in your specific destination’s excursions. Each trip has unique adventures such as zip-lining, hiking, snorkeling, surfing lessons, etc. that involve physical activity. You can see the physical fitness level required for each trip on our Trips Comparison page.

Lastly, practice getting uncomfortable: try new foods, start conversations with people you don’t know, put away your phone for a few hours every day, etc. Traveling is exhilarating and life-changing, but it can also be full of moments that are new, hard, or uncomfortable. New people, new cultures, new languages, and new food can be a lot to take in at times. Everything you do to get ready now will make it that much easier. Just know that we’ll be there to walk you through all of it and help make the experience amazing!

How Do Flights Work?

Physics! Lift, weight, thrust and drag. Just kidding, we knew what you meant :).

Everyone is required to travel together as a group to, and home from, our destination country. We’ve found that’s the best way to keep you safe, and it allows the trip leaders to help you navigate airport security (so fun!), customs, flight delays, etc.

Travel For Youth will secure a group round-trip flight to our destination from a major U.S. airport and then pass that information on to you. Group flights are typically booked between February and April.

Flights are not included in your trip tuition, so you are responsible for paying for your flight once the group booking is confirmed.

Important: Please DO NOT purchase a flight from your home airport to the official departure/meet-up airport until you have received our group flight itinerary. You will need to arrive at least 3-4 hours prior to your group’s departure, so you will need the group flight itinerary before you make personal arrangements.

Will Our Group Travel Together The Whole Time?

Yes, yes, and yes! We will be together as a group for the entire trip. There may be times when you break up into smaller groups while touring the local market, etc., but each group will be accompanied by a leader at all times.

Does Someone Meet Me At The Airport?

Yes! Because you will be flying with the group to your trip destination, you will meet your leaders and the other youth at a designated location within the departure airport. The specific airport and meet-up time and location will be communicated to you in the spring when the group flights are finalized.

Who Are My Trip Leaders?

We are INSANELY picky when it comes to your trip leaders. Trip leaders are a critical piece in your safety and trip experience, so we only choose the best!

Each trip will either have a married couple, or two single-adult return missionaries who have been personally vetted, chosen, and trained by the Palmers and the TFY team. You will LOVE them!

Read more about our extensive trip leader vetting and training here.

When Will I Get My Packing List?

Your packing list comes in your special TFY Get Ready Box that is sent out after your final tuition payment. We know you’ll be excited for your packing list, but don’t miss all the other good things we send in it!

Do I Need To Bring Extra Spending Money?

Your trip tuition includes everything you need to have an incredible trip: all meals, lodging, in-country transportation, sightseeing, gear, admissions, tolls, guide fees, special events, and private tours, social impact projects, etc. However, we do suggest bringing some spending money for personal items like souvenirs, extra snacks, postcards, and baggage fees. The amount of pocket money you choose to bring is completely up to you.

Do I Need To Exchange Money Before I Get To My Host Country?

No. If you bring a debit or credit card (must have a pin) you can easily get local currency out of an ATM when you arrive in the country. If you bring cash, you can safely exchange that money upon arrival as well. In both cases, your Trip Leaders will be there to help you so don’t worry!

Can I Fly Separately And Meet Our Group In The Host Country?

Our primary concern is your safety–it is something we take very, very seriously. We are responsible for your physical and emotional safety from the moment we meet you at our departing gate, until the moment you are picked up by your parents upon arrival back in the good ‘ole US of A.

Because of the risk of your separate flight being delayed or missed, the logistics of getting our whole group to the right place at the right time, the distance between the airport and our lodging, and other liabilities, we simply cannot manage coordinating several different flight arrival times.

We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause you, but we feel strongly that it is the safest and most effective way to make this experience worthwhile for every teen in our group.

Besides, flying together is a great bonding experience! Who doesn’t like being crammed into a box, thousands of miles above the ground, sharing stale air with strangers, while splitting legroom with someone they barely met five minutes ago?! See, you’re going to love it!

What Luggage Should I Bring?

You are going to want a good, sturdy travel bag that’s comfortable to pack around. Due to the size of our group, the conditions of our host countries, and the amount of in-country travel we do, you are required to use a backpacking pack or duffel bag instead of a suitcase.

Trust us, dragging wheeled suitcases down bumpy, cobblestone streets or along dirt roads can be really frustrating!

Look for a bag that has the following characteristics:

  • Carries between 40-50L
  • Has two padded shoulder straps (a hip belt is always a bonus)
  • Made of water-resistant material
  • Front-loading (this means that you can access all your stuff from the front instead of only being able to access it from a hole in the top of the bag)
  • Does NOT have a metal frame

Remember that you can always borrow a backpacking pack from a friend or family member.

If you choose to invest in your own bag, these are some of our favorites to help get you started: 40L Patagonia Black Hole Duffel, 50L Fjallraven Duffel No. 6, 40L Osprey Transporter, 42L Cotopaxi Allpa Del Día.

What If I Have More Questions?

We’re here for you! Call or text us at 385-412-6515 or shoot us an email at tfyteam@travelforyouth.org.

How Do I Stay In Touch With My Friends And Followers During My Trip?

Simply put, they are going to have to eagerly await your return.

We get it. Phones are a big part of your life and staying connected with the people you love is important. At the same time, it’s easy to have some phone attachment issues that will rob you of the most amazing and transformative parts of this experience.

Once-in-a-lifetime experiences can become more about the picture for insta than the actual experience. During transitions and downtime, instead of reaching out to the locals and connecting with the other youth on your trip, it’s easier to just pull out your phone and scroll.

You and your parents have invested and sacrificed a lot to make this trip happen, and SO much thought, work, and effort have gone into creating a life-changing adventure for you.

Because of this, Travel For Youth has a strict no phones policy. Don’t worry, we promise you will live (and you might even thank us).

Phone access is necessary for airport meetups with your group, so you are allowed and encouraged to bring your phone to the airport. Upon arrival at your destination, your trip leaders will collect your phone and keep it secure for the remainder of your trip. When and where possible, you will be given time on Sunday(s) to call and connect with your family.

What about pictures?! No stress. Your trip leaders will take care of pictures and video for you so that you can soak it all in real-time instead of reel time.

What about safety? Having a phone actually puts you at greater risk of petty theft and pickpocketing. Your trip leaders have 24/7 access to an emergency line in case there are any issues.

What if my parents need to get a hold of me? Your parents will be given 24/7 access to a phone number that will allow them to get in touch with you in the case of an emergency.

Parents

Are Teen Humanitarian Trips Abroad Safe?

As a teenager, traveling abroad is an exciting opportunity to see the world, learn about new cultures, and experience once-in-a-lifetime adventures. But many parents are nervous about sending their children overseas for humanitarian trips because of the fear of the unknown or the worry that it could be dangerous.

As the parents of three precious humans, we know those feelings well. We have also experienced, however, how absolutely transformative international travel can be.

Travel will teach your teenager to be more grateful, it will show them how to be a better global citizen, it will help them to be brave and to do hard things, and how to have empathy for all different kinds of people.

That is why we started Travel For Youth–to provide life-changing travel experiences for teenagers while putting into place all of the highest, most thorough, mama-bear verified, safety procedures that we would want for our own children.

Travel For Youth provides the safest opportunities for teens to travel globally and make a difference in the world. We run safe youth humanitarian and adventure travel trips all over the globe. Your teen will be able to experience new cultures, languages, foods, people and places, that will influence them for a lifetime.

Learn more about our robust safety practices here.

What If I Need To Let My Teen Know About Something Urgent While They Are On Their Trip?

During the summer we have a 24-hour phone number direct to the TFY founders that you can call in case of an emergency. This phone number will be emailed to you the week your teen leaves on their trip.

Does My Child Need Immunizations?

Travel For Youth does not require any specific vaccinations in order to participate in our trips. We believe that the decision to receive vaccinations for international travel is a personal one that should be carefully and thoughtfully made by consulting with your healthcare professional and referring to the information provided by the Center for Disease Control (CDC).

Currently, many countries are requiring COVID-19 vaccines in order to enter as a tourist. As time goes on, it appears that many, if not most, countries are moving toward that requirement. If the COVID-19 vaccine is required by your teen’s destination country, they will be subject to that requirement in order to go on their trip.

Destinations Currently Requiring COVID-19 Vaccine: Italy, Indonesia, Bali, Morocco, Ecuador, & Prague

*Subject to change at any time

Destinations Not Currently Requiring COVID-19 Vaccine: Thailand, Costa Rica, & Greece

*Subject to change at any time

Important: Travel For Youth cannot be responsible for any consequences incurred as a result of your choice to vaccinate or not vaccinate.

How Do Flights Work?

Everyone is required to travel together as a group to, and home from, the destination country. We’ve found that’s the best way to keep your youth safe, and it allows the trip leaders to help them navigate airport security, customs, flight delays, etc.

Travel For Youth will secure a group round-trip flight to the trip destination from a major U.S. airport and then pass that information on to you. Group flights are typically booked between February and April.

Flights are not included in your teen’s trip tuition, so they are responsible for paying for their flight once the group booking is confirmed.

Important: Please DO NOT purchase a flight from your home airport to the official departure/meet-up airport until receiving the group flight itinerary. Your teen will need to arrive at least 3-4 hours prior to their group’s departure, so you will need the group flight itinerary before making these personal arrangements.

What Are The Housing Accommodations Like?

Safety is our number one priority. When we consider new locations, we always go beforehand and scout out the safest, highest quality housing and neighborhoods available. We never stay in hostels and we vet every accommodation for cleanliness, location, safety, and privacy. In order to provide a more immersive cultural experience, and to better support and give back to the community we are visiting, we prioritize Airbnb’s or private, locally owned bed and breakfasts for the majority of our stay.

What is TFY’s Refund Policy In Case My Youth Needs To Cancel Their Trip?

TFY does not provide refunds. Innate in international travel are disruptions completely outside of the control of Travel For Youth. These could be your own personal emergencies like health, family circumstances, or unforeseen schedule changes. Although less likely, there could be disruptions that affect the trip destination like natural disasters, political unrest, or pandemic shutdowns.

Because these things are outside of TFY’s control, we do not provide refunds.

We do, however, want your youth to be taken care of and we want to help protect the financial investment that you and your family are putting into this experience. We are on your team, and we know all too well that life happens and that sometimes emergencies can occur where canceling your trip may be necessary.

There are two umbrella scenarios that you should always cover when you travel. Scenario 1: Your trip gets canceled on you (this could happen because of a natural disaster, a country closing its borders, a massive airline strike, etc.). Scenario 2: You cancel your trip (unforeseen schedule changes, surprise wedding or funeral of a family member, unexpected surgery, uncovered injury or illness, etc.).

For scenario one, included in your teen’s trip tuition is comprehensive international travel, medical, and evacuation insurance that covers them for the duration of your trip. This includes trip delay, cancellation, & interruption; medical insurance and evacuation; security and natural disaster evacuation; reimbursements for lost baggage, flight delays, and missed connections.

To be covered in scenario two, we advise all of our youth travelers to purchase Cancel For Any Reason Travel Insurance from a reputable third party. This will allow you to recoup 75 percent of trip costs (deposit, tuition, and flights) from the insurance company up until 48 hours before departure if you need to cancel your teen’s trip for personal reasons.

You learn more about our travel insurance policies and benefits here.

What If I Have More Questions?

We’re here for you! Call or text us at 385-412-6515 or shoot us an email at tfyteam@travelforyouth.org.

Trip Leaders

What Are You Looking For In A Trip Leader?

Trip leaders are a critical piece in the safety and trip experience of the youth. For that reason, we are insanely picky when it comes to choosing our trip leaders.

Starting requirements are that you must be at least 21 years old, be a returned missionary (or have evidence of comparable experience), and have extensive international travel knowledge and experience.

Other things we weigh heavily are their involvement in mentoring or volunteering with youth, their current engagement in social impact, deeply knowing and loving the gospel of Jesus Christ, and being brilliant with teenagers.

If this is you, we want to hear from you! We hire both married couples (must apply as a couple) and single adults.

You can get application instructions here.

How Do I Apply To Be A Trip Leader?

Go to our Apply to Be a Trip Leader page, review the roles and responsibilities, and then if you feel like you are a good fit, submit your information in the form to receive the full application instructions.

We begin reviewing applications and hiring trip leaders on a rolling basis starting in November.

What Are My Responsibilities As A Trip Leader?

You are a key part of the safety and trip experience of the youth. As such, we have VERY high expectations for you while you are leading a TFY trip.

Some of your responsibilities include:

  • Protect and maintain the highest standards of youth safety & well-being
  • Be an example to the youth of courage, gratitude, and empathy and help them develop these attributes.
  • Love the youth like crazy and help them have an unforgettable experience
  • Bear testimony of Jesus Christ and teach His Gospel during nightly devotionals and informal teaching moments
  • Help teach, motivate, and inspire the youth to get involved in social impact
  • Assume responsibility for all on-the-ground logistics
  • Carry out the carefully designed TFY itinerary
  • Manage and be accountable for trip budget and funds

You can learn more about your roles and responsibilities here.

Do I Get To Choose Where I Go As A Trip Leader?

Unfortunately, no. We take into account your availability and accept trip preferences and then we assign you to a trip and location based on fit, personality and skills, travel experience, the particular social cause, and a number of other important factors.

Is The Trip Leader Position Paid?

Being a Trip Leader is an unpaid volunteer position that you apply for. We understand that you sacrifice a lot to participate, so.100 percent of your travel costs on the trip are covered.

Need Help With Your Questions?

If you have a question that wasn’t answered above, please reach out!

Contact Us