Padma offers all-inclusive service trips for high school students to help complete our, and our partner’s projects around the world. Past projects have included greenhouse construction, medical camps, marine conservation education and reef restoration projects, home construction, water catchment and purification system development, and endangered species habitat restoration and research participation.
Volunteers help build a high elevation earth sheltered greenhouse for the residents of Chiwang Monastery
in the Everest Region of Nepal. |
Participants in a medical camp at Thupten Choling Nunnery in Nepal spending time with some superstar meditator Tibetan Buddhist Nuns.
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Padma team members hard at work building coral reef restoration structures.
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Choose a trip based on the project and location that most interests you. All trips include leadership training activities, cultural site visits, educational, and adventure activities. Most trips offer multiple service projects including background education and skills training.
Every trip also includes adventure activities chosen based on the region such as: surf camps in Bali, Himalayan trekking in Nepal and India, rainforest hikes and swimming, or scuba and freediving.
Summer 2022 High School Student Service Trips
Join us on the adventure of a lifetime!
Bali & Surrounding IslandsStay in a bungalow on the beach in rural Bali while building and deploying structures to return a section of human impacted reef to its pristine state, hike to waterfalls, scuba dive, freedive, and learn to surf. On neighboring islands, learn about and participate in ongoing manta ray research including scuba or freediving with these graceful giants of the sea.
Trip Cost: $3000 (Group Rates Available) 2-Week Trip Dates: June-August 2022 |
Santa Marta
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Azores Islands, PortugalEngage in whale conservation research and scuba dive focused marine conservation. Dive with giant mobula rays, dolphins, whale sharks and countless fish as part of identification and data collection for ongoing research. Hike and camp while seeing flora & fauna found nowhere else in the world. Trip Cost: $3000 (Group Rates Available) 2-Week Trip Dates: June-August 2022 |
Things to know
Vital Projects
When designing trips, we first consult with local leaders to learn more about the immediate needs of the communities we aim to serve. Our goal is to only select projects that are vital and unlikely to be accomplished without international partnerships. After completion, Padma members periodically visit project sites to evaluate continued viability, functionality, and effectiveness.
Risk Management
Safety preparations come first at every level, from initial planning to trip completion. Medical staff join each group and prepare medical plans and kits specific to each site, and for trip members with specific medical needs. All trips are registered with US embassies/consulates and plans are prepared based on each location in case of emergencies. At every place group members travel to, healthy and hygienic food and water preparation is a primary focus.
Accommodations are selected based on familiarity with the area and in consideration of protecting trip members. Orientation at each new location and a high staff/chaperone to student ratio help ensure the focus remains on service and that potential risks are mitigated before they can become problems.
When designing trips, we first consult with local leaders to learn more about the immediate needs of the communities we aim to serve. Our goal is to only select projects that are vital and unlikely to be accomplished without international partnerships. After completion, Padma members periodically visit project sites to evaluate continued viability, functionality, and effectiveness.
Risk Management
Safety preparations come first at every level, from initial planning to trip completion. Medical staff join each group and prepare medical plans and kits specific to each site, and for trip members with specific medical needs. All trips are registered with US embassies/consulates and plans are prepared based on each location in case of emergencies. At every place group members travel to, healthy and hygienic food and water preparation is a primary focus.
Accommodations are selected based on familiarity with the area and in consideration of protecting trip members. Orientation at each new location and a high staff/chaperone to student ratio help ensure the focus remains on service and that potential risks are mitigated before they can become problems.
Cultural Immersion
Part of Padma’s mission is to educate and share with others marvelous communities and environments they otherwise are unlikely to see. Trip participants often stay in homestays with local families, work on teams together with locals, tutor local children, and participate in community activities. We don’t want you to see new places from a bubble, but instead, want you to make lifelong connections by experiencing being welcomed into the midst of new communities.
Leadership Training & Team Building
Every trip includes daily activities focused on group cohesion and promoting positive leadership qualities such as empathy, compassion, humility and the self-awareness of one's own strengths and weaknesses. These elements are drawn from proven outdoor leadership programs, university leadership institutes, and are also largely drawn from Buddhist based contemplative traditions.
Part of Padma’s mission is to educate and share with others marvelous communities and environments they otherwise are unlikely to see. Trip participants often stay in homestays with local families, work on teams together with locals, tutor local children, and participate in community activities. We don’t want you to see new places from a bubble, but instead, want you to make lifelong connections by experiencing being welcomed into the midst of new communities.
Leadership Training & Team Building
Every trip includes daily activities focused on group cohesion and promoting positive leadership qualities such as empathy, compassion, humility and the self-awareness of one's own strengths and weaknesses. These elements are drawn from proven outdoor leadership programs, university leadership institutes, and are also largely drawn from Buddhist based contemplative traditions.
Fun
Although the majority of time on every trip is service focused, a number of activities are always incorporated that are just meant to be a really good time. In each location we travel to, Be it surfing, freediving and exploring rainforests in Indonesia, Himalayan treks in Nepal, pickup baseball games in Nicaragua, or hanging with sadhus in India, we find the best possible ways to take a break from work, and have fun local style.
It is our goal to provide the opportunity for meaningful, life-changing experiences while keeping costs as low as possible. All selected accommodations and home-stays are highly reputable yet modest, to ensure cleanliness and safety, while also considering cost. Padma maintains a minimum international staff, choosing instead to employ local professionals wherever possible. This not only reduces the overall budget for trips but also supports local economies directly while promoting cultural interaction.
TRIP TUITION INCLUDES:
- Lodging
- Most Meals (Trip members are occasionally encouraged to explore local restaurants with friends)
- Project design, management, and materials
- Local transportation
- Cultural and adventure activities
- Medical staff
- A minimum of 15% of trip tuition is allocated to the Padma Project Fund in support of our ongoing work across Asia.
- We take pride in striving to keep all US admin expenses under 10% of trip budgets.
1-Schedule a phone interview or attend a group online or in-person meeting. This is to make sure our trips are a good fit for you, answer any questions, and help you decide on which trip is ideal for you. To schedule a call to answer any questions, send us a message and we will find a time that works for you.
2-Complete our online Trip Application including a $350 trip deposit to secure your spot.
3-One of your trip leaders will contact you to go over the pre-tip timeline of your adventure and will be your main contact before and during your trip.
2-Complete our online Trip Application including a $350 trip deposit to secure your spot.
3-One of your trip leaders will contact you to go over the pre-tip timeline of your adventure and will be your main contact before and during your trip.
Trip payments can be made all at once or in three payments on this website, by Venmo, PayPal or check. As we have expense deadlines throughout the year if payments are not made on time a $25 fee will be assessed for each late payment. If you can pay all at once that helps a great deal, if you prefer multiple payments, they are due:
1st Payment: March 1, 2022 (At least 1/3rd of remaining balance)
2nd Payment: April 1, 2022 (At least 1/2 of remaining balance)
Final Payment: May 1, 2022 (All remaining balance)
1st Payment: March 1, 2022 (At least 1/3rd of remaining balance)
2nd Payment: April 1, 2022 (At least 1/2 of remaining balance)
Final Payment: May 1, 2022 (All remaining balance)
When completing your trip application, make sure to include any pertinent medical information on the medical form. All medical related information is kept strictly confidential. If you are not comfortable writing down any information, please contact us to schedule a phone call with a medical team member. Medical staff members are on every trip, and help directly administer treatment, or coordinate care at medical facilities. Any medical costs during a trip under $200 are covered by Padma. Additional travellers medical insurance can be purchased prior to trips. If interested in medical insurance, we are happy to discuss options and make suggestions.
All trip members are required to have COVID vaccines before trips begin. For additional vaccine recommendations consult the CDC website for your trip location. It is up to each individual to decide which additional vaccines the receive.
All trip members are required to have COVID vaccines before trips begin. For additional vaccine recommendations consult the CDC website for your trip location. It is up to each individual to decide which additional vaccines the receive.
During our trips there may be opportunities to swim, snorkel, scuba dive, and surf in the ocean. Riptides, large waves, sharp reefs, stings and bites from marine life are some of the inherent risks we will face. Trip participants are never to swim alone and careful consideration of individual swimming ability and experience in the ocean must always be considered.