About   |   Targeted Students   |   Desired Characteristics   |   Requirements   |   Selection Process

 

About the Program

The Globetrotter Program is an interactive and “outside of the classroom” learning environment that focuses on self-actualization, service learning and global exploration. The program includes a 6-8 month in-country curriculum, as well as a 2-3 week international trip that combines physical adventure with cultural enrichment and philanthropic service. To date, the Dustin’s GreenHouse Globetrotter Program has taken students and teachers from across Guilford County to Guatemala, Uganda, Ecuador and the Galapagos Islands, Peru, Romania and Hungry. 

 

Our Globetrotters will commit for two years to head up a campaign to promote service learning and the formation and leadership of THE Club within their high school. They will become part of a countywide team that will plant the seeds of service learning and global awareness across Guilford County.

 

We will train our Globetrotter team in leadership, organizing, fundraising that will cuminate in a trip to the Yucatan, where they will get the chance to experience Mayan ruins, biospheres, a Spider Monkey Reserve, an authentic hacienda and scuba diving, first hand with the people, the culture, the history,and the wildlife of the Yucatan .

 
 

Students We Target

High school is a formative and vulnerable experience for most students, and arguably one of the most pivotal chapters in a child’s life. It represents a period of time during which academic successes and failures, extra-curricular activities and personal/life choices begin to have a direct impact on the opportunities that will (or will not) be available to a student in the future. High school is also a time when self-esteem seems to dissipate, family dynamics are tested and new levels of negative influence begin to surface at every turn.

 

Recognizing that we cannot possibly serve all high school students, DGH has chosen to focus on the kids in the “gray” zone. These are students who are not recognized for exceptional talents or achievements. Nor are they classified as “at risk.” These are the under-nurtured students who too often are overlooked because they do not draw attention to themselves – through positive or negative behavior, and the results of these omissions mean untapped potential and missed opportunities.

This year we will only be accepting applications from a few Seniors but will not have any scholarships for Seniors. There will be some full/partial scholarships available for Freshman, Sophomores and Juniors.

 

Itinerary –

We offer a two year leadership training program that will begin in January 2014. We will meet monthly for the six month period before we head to the Yucatan, including becoming certified to scuba dive. We will travel from Greensboro to Cancun. From Cancun, after meeting our guide Dr. Laura Vick, Anthropologist/ Primatologist from Peace University, we will travel to the village of Punta Laguna, where we will work with the Spider Monkey Research Center, and interact with the amazing villagers, including a homestay. We will then voyage to Valladolid and Chichen Itza, working with local archaeologists at one of the Mayan's most famous ruins. The next few days will include a stay at Merida, including several school visits; a day at the Celestun Biosphere Reserve; a trip to Loltun Caves; a two night, three day stay at an authentic hacienda, including a service learning day; day trips to Uxmal, Bacan and Calakmu runis; a day at the Calakmul Biosphere and Balamku; a trip to the Blue Cenote and Lake Bacalar; and finally, a two-day stay including a day dive and a night dive at Puerta Morales.

 

Total time of the trip will be 15 days, trip will be held in late July- early August 2015, exact dates to be determined.

 

Cost - Approximately $3000 (+/-) includes:

All lodging, food (breakfast, lunch and dinner every day except travel days)

Airfare, and all in country travel costs, transportation, activities, camping gear, boats trips, park fees, and hiking guides

 

Dustin’s GreenHouse will have a limited number of  scholarships this year

 

Characteristics We Look For In  A Globetrotter

  •  A desire to explore different cultures, customs and beliefs with a compassionate heart and an open mind
  • A commitment to investing in personal growth which requires vulnerability, self-reflection, honesty and self-discipline
  • An ability to work well with others in diverse, high stress environments
  • A track record of being able to overcome adversity and to learn from one’s mistakes
  • A positive attitude and strong work ethic
  • Charisma and a sense of humor
  • A desire to serve others and to be a part of something that is bigger than one’s self
 

DGH also takes into consideration the following:

  • The anticipated impact a Globetrotter experience would have in the student's life
  • The unique contributions a student would bring to a Globetrotter team, artistic, personality, skills, leadership qualities.
  • Socio-economic limitations that would otherwise limit/prevent an applicant from pursuing similar experiences will be considered for a limited number of partial or full scholarships.
  • The applicant’s involvement in THE Club at your high school.
 

 

Applicant Requirements

  • Applicants must be enrolled in a high school within the Guilford County Schools system. (Students in their senior year are not eligible for the Globetrotter program this year but will be encouraged to be involved in THE Club. Freshman, sophomore and junior students who apply to the program are expected to give a two year committment to be service learning leaders within their school.
  • Applicants must submit a completed Application Packet, which consists of a student application and nomination/sponsor form. (Teachers, principals, employers and/or community or church leaders are invited to complete nomination forms on behalf of applicants.)
  • Applicants cannot have a criminal record.
  • If selected, scholars are expected to attend team meetings and functions for THE Club.
  • If selected, scholars are expected to become Guilford County Service Learning Ambassadors
  • If selected, scholars are responsible for their own transportation to and from meetings.
  • If selected, scholars are required to get a US Passport, or demonstrate that they already have a valid US Passport. (This includes financing the cost of the passport, approximately $120, and managing the passport application in a timely manner.)
  • If selected, scholars will need to have the vaccines or immunizations required for traveling to our destination country. A list of vaccines required for each country can be found at the Center for Disease Control’s website. (Students are also responsible for financing the cost of these vaccines.)
  • If selected, scholars will be expected to be involved in fund raising activities to raise money that can be used for costs of the program and the trip to our destination country.
 

Selection Process

  • Applications for the 2014-2015 Globetrotter Team are due Friday, November 7th, 2014.
  • Students who fit within the Applicant/Scholar Requirements and who demonstrate some of all of the characteristics we are seeking in a Globetrotter scholar will be invited to participate in a series of in-person interviews, which will take place in November 2015.
  • A selection committee will then consider information gained through application packets, student interviews and social media to narrow the applicant pool down to a group of prospective finalists. The finalists will be invited to join the 2015 Globetrotter Team contingent upon their ability to satisfy scholar expectations, which include:
    • Attending team meetings and participating in team events;
    • Demonstrating behaviors that are consistent with those conveyed in their application packet and during the interview process;
    • Playing an active role in team development activities, including helping to raise funds for community service initiatives; and
    • Demonstrating ownership over the Globetrotter experience (which includes meeting passport and immunization deadlines.
    • Continuing the promotion and development of service learning and global awareness at their high school.
 
A final list of the 2015 Globetrotters will be published in January of 2015.