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Turns out the world makes a pretty great teacher β€οΈπ
Apr 26
All that traveling will make you tired... but it`s worth it π
#TBT #Jetlag
Apr 23
Some moments remind you exactly why this work matters. π
βI often find myself stunned that this is my real life. That I get to do this β¦ to walk beside young people as they step out into the world and discover their strength, their potential, their belonging.
To the Kirkland Foundation, to Union City Rotary, to @betheluniversitytn, to GCAC, to our chaperones, and most of all, to these brave and beautiful students: thank you. You remind me why this work matters. Why travel is education. Why global citizenship is for everyone, no matter where theyβre from.β
β Stacie Freeman, M.S.S.W.
Read the full article at link in bio
#TheBlog #TravelAsEducation #GlobalLearning
Apr 21
#TheBlog - GCAC Co-Founder Stacie Freeman traveled through Benin, Togo, and Ghana with one goal, to understand history not just as information, but as something lived and felt. From walking the Route of the Slaves to witnessing Vodun ceremonies, from stilt villages built for survival to communities full of life, tradition, and innovation, this experience was layered, complex, and deeply human. Itβs the kind of learning that doesnβt simplify anything, it asks you to sit with it.
Read @staciebrandentravelsβs full story at link in bio π
Apr 19
It`s true... we love a group pic, but we love them even more when they are taken in Greece! π
π: @buglobalstudies
Apr 17
#TheBlog - This story follows a group traveling through Ireland and Scotland, where students, adults, and leaders shared the same experience from different perspectives. What stood out wasnβt just the places, it was how each generation learned from the other along the way. Conversations got deeper. Connections got stronger. And the experience meant something a little different to everyone.
Read the full story at link in bio π
Apr 14
#TBT to exploring Brazil last year! π
#SalvadorDaBahia #ExploreBrazil
Apr 9
Jet lag, language barriers, different expectationsβtravel puts emotions front and center. π
Learning to manage them with patience and empathy isnβt accidental; itβs transformational. Emotional intelligence is among the most valuable skills any workplace or community could ask for.
#EmotionalIntelligence #TravelGrowth
Apr 6
Videos
Media Mentions
GCAC Blogs
Across Generations: What We Learned Traveling Through Ireland and Scotland
By Stacie Freeman, M.S.S.W. Some classrooms have four walls. Others have cobblestone streets, castle gates, and dramatic coastlines. This spring break, Bethel University / GCAC travelers - students, alumni, and friends - journeyed together to Ireland and Scotland. What unfolded was more than a study tour; it was a powerful…
The World Is Our Classroom: Guatemala
Why Community-Led Nutrition and Health Programs Matter By Stacie Freeman, MSSWWhen I say the world is our classroom, I donβt mean travel for travelβs sake. I mean immersive, community-led learning that addresses real needs - especially hunger, nutrition, and health inequities that shape a childβs entire future. Guatemala makes that…
West Africa: Standing Where History Still Breathes
By Stacie Freeman, MSSW Benin β’ Togo β’ Ghana | December 2025 Content Warning This essay contains descriptions of slavery, sexual violence, and human suffering connected to the transatlantic slave trade. The history described here is disturbing. Avoiding it does not honor those who endured it. If you could travel…
Why Learning a Foreign Language Matters
by Jon Shepherd, Spanish Teacher, Gleason & Greenfield High Schools This fall, students from Gleason and Greenfield High Schools earned college credit through Bethel Universityβs Dual Enrollment Program while studying Maya history, culture, and the Spanish language. Their coursework came to life when they traveled to Mexicoβs YucatΓ‘n Peninsula with…
When Rural Students See the World: How a Passport, a Journal, and a Visionary Community Changed Everything by Stacie Freeman, M.S.S.W.
What happens when you give high school students from rural West Tennessee more than just a seat in a classroom? What happens when you give them a passport, a journal, a college course, and a world-class itinerary? They donβt just see the world, they begin to understand it. From June…
What Happens When Nine Women Say Yes to Themselves in Brazil?
What Happens When Nine Women Say Yes to Themselves in Brazil? A Journey of Rhythm, Sisterhood, and Rediscovery with Women Celebrating Women Across the Globe by Dr. Julie Hill. Co-Founder/President/CEO of Global Citizen Adventure Corps If youβve ever felt the quiet tug of adventureβnot just to go somewhere, but to…
What Monkeys, Kids, and Trash Taught Us in One Week
By Jenna Patton, GCAC Co-Leader They say no two GCAC trips are ever the sameβand Costa Rica just proved it again. This spring, our group of travelers stepped into a week of unforgettable connection, conservation, and community service on the Nicoya Peninsula. From wildlife sanctuaries to sandy shorelines, we showed…
Bethel University Continues Annual Visit to Sister School in South America
COLOMBIA, South America β For ten years, groups of Bethel University students have regularly traveled abroad to Cali, Colombia, and volunteered at the local school named Colegio Americano. The teams are continuing a relationship that began in 1928 when Reverend L. Swartz arrived as the first Cumberland Presbyterian Church Missionary…
A Decade of Partnership Continues a 100 Year Tradition
BY GARRETT BURNS, CHAPLAIN, BETHEL UNIVERSITY A Colombian βcollegeβ with an American twist, Bethel University students continue the tradition of service begun by the missionary founders of Colegio Americano back in 1928. The 2025 trip marked a 10 year anniversary partnership between Colegio and the BU Global Studies program and…
PARIS, FRANCE PROGRAM
A Transformative Journey:How Study Abroad in Paris Encourages the Development of Essential Soft Skills By Stacie Freeman, MSSW Traveling to Paris as part of our study abroad program at Bethel University was more than just an educational excursionβit was a profound opportunity for personal growth and the development of critical…
GCAC News
Bethel Graduate Andrew Carpenter Turns a Study Abroad Experience into a Life Abroad
By: Joel Washburn Andrew Carpenterβs post-graduate plan didnβt include a corner officeβit included a passport. CALI, Colombia β A 2025 graduate of Bethel University, Carpenter recently returned to Cali, Colombia, not as a tourist, but as a resident and teacher. The Business Management major with a minor in Global Studies…
EVERGREEN – by Joel Washburn
Explore the World: Transformative Travel Opportunities Await! In a world increasingly interconnected yet yearning for genuine experiences, 2025 has many opportunities for student and adult travelers seeking to learn and serve. Picture vibrant communities, rich cultures, and breathtaking landscapes where every journey is an opportunity offered through Global Citizen Adventure…
High School Students, GCAC Leadership Visit Mayan Ruins with Bethel University Global Studies
BY JONATHAN SHEPARD, GCAC PROGRAM LEADER YUCATAN, Mexico (October 2025) β Four high school students from Gleason and Greenfield, Tennessee, and the leadership team of Global Citizen Adventure Corps (GCAC) experienced the rich history and culture of the Maya and Mexico during their fall break, traveling with Bethel University Global…
Nine Women from Across the U.S. Embark on Transformative Journey Through Afro-Brazilian Culture in Salvador da Bahia with Global Citizen Adventure Corps
by Dr. Julie Hill, Co-Founder, President, CEO of Global Citizen Adventure Corps. Salvador da Bahia, Brazil β [June 2, 2025] β In an extraordinary cultural immersion, nine women from diverse corners of the United States recently completed a life-changing journey in Salvador da Bahia, Brazil, with the nonprofit Global Citizen…
Bruceton, Camden Residents Make an Impact in Central America
COSTA RICA β Thirteen adults and high school students from Bruceton and Camden made a positive impact during their volunteer service in Costa Rica at an animal rescue center and along the beaches of the Pacific coast. Jenna Patton, a Spanish teacher at Hollow Rock-Bruceton Central High School, served as…
Go Abroad Press Release
National Recognition GCAC Named Finalist for Two Prestigious International Awards Global Citizen Adventure Corps (GCAC), a nonprofit based in West Tennessee, has been named a finalist for two international awards by GoAbroad, a leading platform for global study, volunteer, and work experiences. GCAC is recognized in the categories of Global…
Global Citizen Adventure Corps Featured on WLJT-TV
Global Citizen Adventure Corps (GCAC) is the featured organization on “Tennessee is Talking,” a weekly segment on WLJT-TV, West Tennessee’s Public Broadcasting Service (PBS). GCAC is featured during the March 2025 airings. In an interview conducted by veteran TV personality and news anchor Tom Britt, GCAC’s co-founders, Stacie Freeman, M.S.S.W.,…
PARIS, FRANCE (March 2025)
A group of 22 travelers embarked on a 10-day trip to Paris, France, through Bethel Universityβs Global Studies and Global Citizen Adventure Corps. The group explored iconic landmarks such as the Eiffel Tower, the recently reopened Notre Dame Cathedral, and enjoyed boat cruises on the Seine River, as well as…
Travel Vlogging Teen Realizes Her Dream
When 17-year-old Rachael Libby reflects on first dreaming of world travel, she points to the days of the pandemic and spending a lot of time watching the travel vlogging of others on YouTube. Among her favorites were Kara and Nate, a Tennessee couple who started their channel with a goal…
Keeping the Beat in Cuban Classrooms
DRESDEN/UNION CITY, TN β Julie Hill has more than 27 years of experience as a music educator, scholar, performer, lecturer, administrator, and non-profit arts leader/advocate. And a recent exploratory excursion to Cuba had the Union City resident tapping into all those roles as she, fellow Global Citizen Adventure Corps co-founder…