A group of people posing on a grassy area with a distant volcano and cloudy sky in the background.

About Us

Our Mission & Vision

We seek to instill a passion for service work, humanitarian efforts, and environmental preservation throughout the lifetime of a Global Works traveler. We work to deepen participants’ understanding of social-economic, political, and cultural inequalities of our world, opening their eyes to their role in positive change.

Three people smiling in a kitchen while preparing dough on a wooden table, with plants and a window in the background.
Students hiking.

Global Works envisions building a world where:

  • Empathetic relationships between people and cultures lead to mutual respect and understanding.
  • Confident, positive, and self-reliant students become leaders and bring a global perspective to their city, nation, and world.
  • The wonder of travel continues to lead to self-discovery, perspective, and a passion for life.
A group of people poses for a photo with Machu Picchu and mountains in the background.

Our History

Global Works grew out of a summer camp called Stone Mountain Adventures (still there!) in Huntington, PA in 1989, through the work of Pam and James “Biff” Houldin. Our very first program to Puerto Rico provided hurricane relief to rural communities following Hurricane Hugo. Over time, Global Works organically built relationships and programs in destinations around the world. In 2004, Global Works moved from Pennsylvania to Colorado and began offering additional programming to school groups and university partners. We now send 1300+ students across the world each year.

A man and woman pose outdoors on a sunny day, sitting on a rock with trees in the background. The man wears a red shirt, and the woman wears a green shirt.
A group of hikers walks along a narrow mountain path with a river and green mountains in the background under a clear blue sky.

Our Directors

Current directors, Fritz and Polly Moriarty, began as Global Works trip leaders in the late 90s. Their two high school-aged daughters have already completed five trips! Polly and Fritz are committed to continuing Pam and Biff’s vision of student transformation through purposeful travel. Today, the tight-knit home office team works out of Louisville, Colorado, led by the Moriarty family. We are proud to now have a reputation as one of the top travel programs for young adults.

A family of four sits together on a porch step, smiling at the camera.
Four people sit together on a rocky hilltop, overlooking a scenic landscape with the sun shining brightly in the sky.

“The experience of the entire group was similar to the experiences I’ve had traveling that have led me to become an educator and a language and travel lover. Our parents have also sent many thank you letters for such a smooth and inspiring trip….We look forward to starting to plan our trip for next year with Global Works….Thank you so much again for everything.”

Marian Pomann
Teacher and Trip Chaperone

Through the Years

A group of people poses together outdoors on a grassy field with trees and a cabin in the background.
A large group of people pose for a photo outside, standing and kneeling on a dirt path with trees in the background.
Four men stand outdoors in casual clothing, smiling with arms crossed. They are in front of a tree, surrounded by grass and other trees.
Three people standing closely together outdoors in a grassy area, smiling at the camera. The person in the middle is wearing an orange cap and a blue "global works" T-shirt.

Take the Next Step

We help our travelers connect to the world around them, contribute to a brighter future, and have amazing adventures. Learn more about the transformative travel programs we have available for teens and students.

Teen Summer Trips
School Group Travel