2023 Strath Haven Spain Cultural Journey

Accommodations

Cats Hostel

Cats Madrid Sol is located in central Madrid, just 492 feet from the lively Santa Ana Square.  The dormitories at Cats Madrid Sol are set around a beautiful courtyard with an 18th-century Moorish-style fountain. Each one includes wooden floors and individual lockers. This property serves a daily breakfast in the coffee room and has vending machines for snacks and pastries. A fridge and a microwave are available for all guests. There is a laundry room with coin-operated machines, as well as an iron. The bar features computers which you can use for free.

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Hotel Abacería

The Hotel Abacería, is located in an orchard in the residential area, “Los Cigarrales”, in Toledo, and is surrounded by nature and views of the historic quarter. Its location allows guests to get to the monumental zone in the center of Toledo, World Heritage Site, in just 20 minutes on foot. This charming and modern Hotel Abacería offers a variety of services, such as equipped rooms, a restaurant, outdoor pool in the summer, parking, garage, complimentary Wi-Fi, and a function room for meetings. Students will be grouped in their rooms according to gender and availability.

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Monasterio Basilio

Monasterio Basilio is located in the center of Granada and provides an ideal location from which to explore the city. This cozy hotel can accommodate up to four students per room with ensuite bathrooms and the quirky aesthetic that defines this hotel makes for a memorable stay.

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Hotel Maestranza

This charming hotel is located in the historical and retail heart of the Ronda, facing the oldest bullring in the world, where bullfighting was born. The spacious hotel offers 70 rooms. During your stay, you can benefit from parking facilities, elegant lounges, an excellent restaurant and a coffee shop. During July and August, guest have free access to an outdoor pool located 5 minutes’ drive from the hotel. The air-conditioned rooms feature wooden floors, a flat-screen TV and a kettle. The private bathroom includes a bath or a shower, hairdryer and free toiletries.

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Albergue Inturjoven Sevilla

Albergue Inturjoven Sevilla is located on the Reina Mercedes University Campus in Sevilla, a 10 minute walk from María Luisa Park. It offers simple, air conditioned rooms and a central patio. The staff at the hostel’s 24-hour front desk can provide information about what to see and do in Seville and the surrounding area.  A buffet breakfast is served every day in the Inturjoven Sevilla’s bright breakfast room. It also offers vending machines, and there are places to eat and drink nearby.

 

 

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Group Flight

Once your flight schedule has been confirmed, the itinerary will appear here.

Walking Tree will secure a seat on the group flight for each participant unless otherwise instructed.

Travelers are responsible for checked baggage fees. Please visit the airline’s baggage webpage to learn if you should expect to pay anything.

We will provide a group manifest – complete with reservation codes and ticket numbers – to the Group Organizer/s before departure, and travelers will need to check in at the airport in order to receive their boarding pass and have documents verified. We recommend arriving no later than three hours prior to the scheduled departure, but contact your Group Organizer for specific details on exactly where and when to meet on the day of departure.

FLIGHT INTERRUPTION, DELAY OR CANCELLATION 
Air travel can be unpredictable.  Regardless of proper planning, there may still be instances when a flight is delayed or cancelled due to staffing shortages, weather, mechanical problems, etc.  Please note that in such an event, Walking Tree Travel (WTT) is not financially responsible for unanticipated costs incurred by travelers en route.  Our programs officially begin and end in the destination country, and because our staff doesn’t fly with the group, Group Organizers (the traveling faculty member/s) become the front-line advocate for the group in the event of a delay. In most cases of cancellations or delays, the airline will be the one who re-books travel or possibly arranges a hotel and food the night.  Our primary role will be to  keep families updated and provide support to the Group Organizer to reach a  quick and effective resolution.

Host Community and Project Details

Packing List

What follows is a sample packing list but you know yourself better than we do so please adjust accordingly. We recommend you bring a larger piece of luggage like a roller, duffel bag, or backpack, as well as a smaller backpack that you can bring on daily outings, weekend excursions and shorter activities.

“Less is more” is a packing tip we encourage for all our travelers. The list below should cover everything you would need, but know yourself and what you are comfortable traveling with.  We suggest bringing only as much as you would be able to carry on your own.

Finally, we recommend consulting a weather forecast for your destination. 

Most importantly, be sure to remember your PASSPORT!

CLOTHES (quantities depend on your trip length) :

• Underwear
• Socks (a mixture of good active socks and casual socks)
• T-shirts (some quick dry)
• Long sleeve shirts
• Sweaters or sweatshirts
• Warmer jacket
• Warm hat
• Scarf and Warm gloves (optional)
• Rain jacket
• Travel/athletic shorts that are breathable and light
• Comfortable, everyday pants
• Nice shirt/top to be worn to more formal dinners (girls might want a skirt or something a little nicer for such occasions)
• Durable athletic/walking shoes
• Sandals (optional)
• Hat

TOILETRIES: BRING THE BASIC TOILETRIES YOU NEED PLUS:

• Sunscreen (you will use a lot)
• Mosquito repellent
• Band Aids and Neosporin
• Hand Sanitizer
• Medication in properly marked original container

MISCELLANEOUS:

• Sunglasses
• Journal and pen
• Book
• Camera (digital, disposable, waterproof)
• Power Converter
• Alarm Clock and watch
• Debit card/US Dollars (we recommend about $50-$150, depending on amount of desired souvenirs, extra items etc.)
• Durable water bottle
• 1 quick-dry towel
• Flashlight/headlamp
• Batteries
• Deck of cards or other portable games
• STUDENT ID
• Spanish/English Dictionary

Support Team

At a minimum, one experienced Program Leader will travel on every trip. In addition to this full time leadership presence, Walking Tree has additional staff in all destinations and 24/7 support from our headquarters in Denver, Colorado. Below you’ll find the the team members involved in the preparation, planning and execution of your program.

Gabriel Duncan

Co-Founder of Walking Tree Travel and Business Lead - Denver, CO

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Colby College – B.A. International Relations and Government

While at Colby, Gabriel spent a semester in Spain at the University of Salamanca studying contemporary Spanish politics and Spanish language. He also lettered for four-years on Colby’s lacrosse team and earned All-American honors. After graduating, Gabriel hit the road. He fished commercially in Alaska, taught in Chile and China, led programs for students in Spain and Costa Rica, and traveled to over 50 countries and all 50 states in the USA. Regardless of where Gabriel is located, he is constantly haunted by his naive faith and unconditional love for Denver sports teams.

Juan Pablo “JP” Rabanales

Global Country Operations Manager

[email protected]

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Earlham College – B.A. International Studies, Minor in Economics

Born and raised in Guatemala in a big family, JP spent seven years living and studying in the U.S., where he was exposed to highly diverse communities. He worked as a Wilderness Leader guiding expeditions across the American Southwest and later attended Earlham College in Indiana after completing the International Baccalaureate in New Mexico. His passion for international affairs led him to study abroad in China and travel extensively throughout Asia and beyond. To date, JP has visited 33 countries, often combining travel with service projects and cultural immersion experiences. Today, he is based in Costa Rica and works full time with the Walking Tree team. Outside of work, he enjoys photography, art and design, hosting friends and travelers, and planning road trips across Costa Rica and Latin America.

Hillary Mora Vargas

Program Leader

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Hillary was born in Sarapiqui, a small town with a rich culture in the heart of Costa Rica. Growing up in Costa Rica gave her the opportunity to be in touch with nature and in close contact with animals in their habitat. Since an early age she was passionate about exploring the world and everything in it, but it wasn’t until she finished high school that she realized she loved to teach and communicate to others about the environment and the world we live in. Since then, Hillary has worked as a guide in nature reserves in the region she grew up and has also directed collaborative environmental education projects with students, including some of her own design. Hillary currently resides in Galicia, Spain, and continues to pursue her passion of exploring the world and helping others to do so as well. She currently works in local tourism and facilitates programs for Walking Tree Travel.

Coral Peral Garcia

Program Leader

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St. Lawrence University – B.S. Psychology and Visual Art and Art History; Universidad Internacional de La Rioja – Msc Neuropsychology and Education

Coral is from a small town in Northern Spain where she lived until she got a scholarship to study in Wales at 16. Since then she has been living abroad, studying in the US and Brazil, and working as an art teacher and high school counselor in Costa Rica and Morocco. She had the opportunity of exploring other corners of the world by collaborating with a South Korean art gallery in art fairs in North America and Europe, volunteering at an elephant rescue center in Thailand, and backpacking through South America with friends. With a background in neuropsychology, Coral is passionate about the creative and learning processes – she believes that there is no better way of learning than through being exposed to different cultures and challenges.

Group Roster

Below is a list of the travelers enrolled on the program.

• 1 Abby Gawne
• 2 Amanda Anckaitis
• 3 Anwen Liu
• 4 Audrey Foster
• 5 Audrey Foster
• 6 Benjamin Santee
• 7 Brooke Forbes
• 8 Calvin Warner
• 9 Casey Conway
• 10 Cole Mahoney
• 11 Declan Zeserson
• 12 Elijah Gillard
• 13 Elsa Beach
• 14 Francesca Clark
• 15 Henry Reacher
• 16 Jackson Meza
• 17 Jackson Meza
• 18 Jennifer Rodgers
• 19 Julia Gaudet
• 20 Leila Townend
• 21 Lucas Connell
• 22 Lydia Naso
• 23 Michelle Ding
• 24 Nadir Tinsley
• 25 Rylie Hall
• 26 Staci Gawne
• 27 Starlie Ouellette
• 28 Stella Akgun
• 29 Suzanne Stadnicki

Blog and Communication

During travel we work hard to keep families updated as frequently as possible with blog posts and photos, giving you peace of mind that your traveler is safe and thriving on their program.  Students regularly contribute to these posts, providing families back home a great way to vicariously track the progress of the trip. You will be notified when the first update is posted, after which we recommend checking in regularly via the black “Program Blog” button at the top of this webpage.

Assuming your school allows the use of cell phones, most destinations are wired enough to allow participants access WiFi at different moments in the program, allowing them to communicate directly with home. Ask your Walking Tree representative about the degree of connectivity on your program.

GLC Curriculum

Standards of Behavior

In order to run a safe and successful program, it is vital that travelers are prepared to be on their best behavior and bring enthusiasm and interest to each and every day. A communal atmosphere of trust and mutual respect is the foundational.  As such, all individuals participating on a Walking Tree program are required to take responsibility for their actions and adhere to a high standard of personal conduct.

IMMEDIATE DISMISSAL

1. Possessing, consuming or distributing alcohol or illegal drugs.
2. Associating with participants while they are in possession of alcohol or illegal drugs.
3. Behaving in a way that consistently damages the group dynamic or jeopardizes personal or group safety. This includes consistently displaying a negative attitude, intimidating or excluding other participants, sneaking out, disobeying group leaders, and any other behavior that is not conducive to an atmosphere of trust and mutual respect.

GROUNDS FOR DISMISSAL OR IN-COUNTRY CONSEQUENCE

1. Getting a piercing or tattoo.
2. Stealing, or deliberately damaging or defacing any personal property, buildings or materials.
3. Threatening physical or emotional harm, or brandishing a weapon.
4. Possessing, consuming, or distributing tobacco or nicotine, including vape pens.
5. Riding mopeds, motorcycles, or any other type of unauthorized vehicle.
6. Being out of designated area or accommodations after curfew.
7. Breaking group rules.

These standards of behavior are essential for the successful completion of your program. Please take the time to review these as a family and make sure everyone understands and agrees to them.

Health and Safety

We strongly recommend visiting the CDC Spain website to get the most updated information on health and vaccination considerations in your destination country. In addition, we encourage you to consult your personal family physician so you can be as informed as possible when making important decisions about vaccinations and other necessary health-related preparations before traveling.

Our in-country staff meticulously prepare for all programs. Walking Tree receives regular updates from the U.S. Department of State’s Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) to proactively stay ahead of any potential security concerns. Our in-country staff also verify the safety records of our partner organizations, vendors, and transportation providers, thoroughly vet homestay families through in-depth interviews and visits, and stay informed about important current events in the region.

Program Leaders are seasoned travelers who are CPR and First Aid certified, undergo thorough training in crisis management, and participate in comprehensive leadership training. We do our best to prepare for any eventuality and have detailed emergency protocols for our leaders, in-country staff, and U.S.-based staff.

We collect medical disclosures from all participants to ensure we can meet every student’s needs during the program. Please inform us immediately of any additional health issues not listed during your initial registration process. Leaders and in-country staff are prepared to respond promptly to any mental, physical, or emotional health concerns and follow comprehensive emergency protocols.

Insurance

While we work hard to ensure the safest experience possible for our travelers on program, experience teaches that travel can be unpredictable. For this reason, we recommend that all travelers consider a travel insurance policy with a Cancel for Any Reason (CFAR) provision. Detailed explanations of plan options can be found via the link below.

To provide travelers and families with a quality option, Walking Tree has partnered with Travel Insured International, one of the most respected providers in the industry.  Begin by getting a quote here.

IMPORTANT NOTE: in order to secure coverage that includes CFAR, you must purchase the plan within 14-21 days of your first payment to Walking Tree. Be careful when you read the tenets of the policy to ensure you understand the required timeframe for purchase. You must also insure 100% of your trip cost, so program tuition + flight. Please reach out to us with questions.