Family Environment

Our Learning and Living Abroad Program is for male students between 16 and 21. Students live together with our bilingual staff in a family setting. Our daily activities include Spanish Language Lessons, Music Composition and Recording, Physical Fitness, and Community Service Work.

We are most well known for our music expertise and our ability to help our students learn to write and produce their own musical compositions. We teach students how to use the latest digital recording programs for all different types of audio productions.

A Family Environment

Having worked closely with students, parents, and consultants since the mid 1990’s, Rich and Wendy Simpson began to incorporate foreign travel into their educational program in 2004. They are joined by their two adult sons, Andy and Matt, who are both fluent in Spanish and bring leadership, humor, and musical production skills to help all of our students. They are also joined by Eder Rodriguez, native of Colombia. Eder is a resident staff at the Pathways house and about as responsible, friendly, and happy as a young adult as you will find.  He is a powerhouse when it comes to organizing volunteering projects for our students, ensuring Spanish is spoken in the house, and carrying out daily chores and routines with responsibility and humor. 

An Ideal Transition for Young People

The Pathways Lifestyle is based on living, learning, and creating together within a family environment in a Foreign Culture. Our students return to the States with a deeper understanding of themselves and the world that we live in.

Pathways Abroad is a compelling Step-Down Placement for students transitioning from Boarding Schools and for recent graduates of Wilderness Programs. We operate on the philosophy that smaller is better and take pride in fostering a creative, safe home environment for young students to help them transition into adulthood.

The typical amount of time for each student varies from 3-18 months. We accept students year-round on a rolling admissions basis.

Why Pathways?

• Spanish Immersion: Most of our students develop conversational fluency during their time at Pathways Abroad.
• Dynamic Musical Opportunities: Countless students have created songs and albums during their time in Pathways. Our unique focus upon music motivates and excites students with an interest in music and contributes to their “buying into the experience.”
• Our “smaller-is-better” philosophy, family environment, and hands-on approach ensure that students receive attention, care, and guidance from the Simpson Family and their staff around the clock.

Individualized Academic and Gap Year Programs

Students who have not yet earned a High School Diploma work with us to receive a nationally accredited diploma, in conjunction with our curriculum of Spanish Lessons, Music Composition and Recording, Physical Fitness, and Community Service.

Our Gap Year Programs are personalized, structured, and supervised to ensure productivity and safety. Because of our small size, we are able to meet the specific needs of all of our students.