Students Shoulder-To-Shoulder
Students Shoulder-To-Shoulder is a Colorado-based nonprofit that runs 10–14 day immersive summer field study programs for high school students across 15+ countries, placing them alongside grassroots NGO leaders and operating the Global Schools Coalition of 20 partner schools.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2010
- HeadquartersVail, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Students Shoulder-To-Shoulder does
Students Shoulder-To-Shoulder (SStS) is a private, mission-driven nonprofit educational organization founded in 2007 and headquartered in Edwards, Colorado. It operates 15 immersive global field study programs for high school students across North America, Central America, South America, Africa, and Asia (including Peru, Panama, Costa Rica, Kenya, and Nepal, plus U.S. domestic sites), placing participants alongside grassroots nonprofit leaders in public health, conservation, marine biology, education, and sustainable development. Programs run 10–14 days with 60–100 service hours, tuition ranges from $4,390 to $5,190 depending on program and partner-school status, and a $1,000 deposit plus April 1 balance payment structure governs enrollment.
The organization does not operate proprietary technology. Program coordination relies on third-party tools: Airtable for applications and stakeholder forms, and Camp Management software for the parent portal and enrolled student directory. The Travel Journal Platform functions as a student reflection/content asset rather than a technology product. SStS instead differentiates through curated, multi-year partnerships with vetted international NGOs (Hands On Peru/CESAPU, Llama Pack Project, CONAPAC, Explorama, Give and Surf) and through its Global Schools Coalition network of 20 partner schools, 16 business/philanthropic partners, and a 1,200+ alumni community served via the alumni network at sstsnetwork.com.
SStS makes money through a fee-for-service tuition model (recognized on program delivery), tiered by partner-school status, with airfare collected separately as a pass-through. Ancillary revenue comes from school membership fees, business and philanthropic partnerships, and donations. The organization operates under Executive Director Bob Bandoni with a staff of 11–50 employees, and no institutional investors, parent company, or M&A activity is disclosed in the available source material.
Students Shoulder-To-Shoulder firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Students Shoulder-To-Shoulder
- Legal name
- Students Shoulder-to-Shoulder
- Website
- https://shouldertoshoulder.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2010
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Students Shoulder-To-Shoulder is a Colorado-based nonprofit that runs 10–14 day immersive summer field study programs for high school students across 15+ countries, placing them alongside grassroots NGO leaders and operating the Global Schools Coalition of 20 partner schools.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Students Shoulder-To-Shoulder industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Experiential Education / Global Service Learning
- NAICS
- Educational Services (611)
- SIC
- Services-Educational Services (8200)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Overseas Summer School Programs (Secondary) (EDAIAHAC)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Extended Learning Time Programs (After-School/Summer Intervention) (EDAJAGAK)
Keywords
Where Students Shoulder-To-Shoulder is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Vail
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Students Shoulder-To-Shoulder business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Summer Program Tuition: SStS generates revenue primarily through tuition fees charged to students participating in its global field study programs. Tuition is tiered by partner-school status (students from partner schools receive a $200 discount) and varies by program destination and duration. Tuition covers program delivery, accommodations, in-country transportation, and curriculum. Airfare is charged separately. Financial aid is available (up to 50% of tuition) for qualifying students. This is a fee-for-service model where revenue is recognized upon program delivery.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Multi-year contract | Peru Public Health - 12-day program (June 27-July 8, 2026), 80 service hours |
| Unit Pricing | Multi-year contract | Peru Andes Conservation & Llama Trekking - 14-day program (June 18-July 1, 2026), 100 service hours |
| Unit Pricing | Multi-year contract | Peru Amazon Rainforest Conservation - ~12-day program (June 21-July 2, 2026) |
| Unit Pricing | Multi-year contract | Panama Marine Biology & Community Education - 10-day program (June 19-June 28, 2026), 60 service hours |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels5 records
Students Shoulder-To-Shoulder product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Students Shoulder-to-Shoulder (SStS) delivers immersive summer field study programs that place high school students alongside grassroots nonprofit leaders in North, Central, and South America, Africa, and Asia. Programs span 10–14 days, combine service work, cultural immersion, Spanish language practice, and structured ethical leadership reflection, and are priced as tuition-based enrollments. The organization also runs the Global Schools Coalition, a membership network for schools integrating SStS programming into their curricula.
Product overview
Students Shoulder-to-Shoulder (SStS) is an educational organization offering immersive global programs for high school students. The core offering consists of summer study abroad programs that place students shoulder-to-shoulder with inspirational nonprofit leaders worldwide. Programs span multiple locations (North America, Central America, South America, Africa, and Asia) and focus themes including Healthcare, Education, Conservation, Entrepreneurship, Human Rights, Sustainability, Spanish Immersion, and Climate Change. The organization also operates the Global Schools Coalition, a network of schools committed to ethical leadership programming. Related offerings include a Travel Journal Platform for student reflections and Parent Portal/Student Dashboard for program management. SStS is not a technology product company but rather a service-based educational organization.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Global Schools Coalition: A network of like-minded schools interested in ethical leadership programming
- Ethical Leadership Forum
Products and services
- Peru Public Health Program A 12-day summer program in Peru pairing high school students with physicians from Hands On Peru to support community health campaigns, nutrition monitoring, infant development classes, and healthy cooking workshops.
- Peru Andes Conservation & Llama Trekking A 14-day program in Peru's Sacred Valley in which students trek alongside indigenous llama farmers, support environmental education, and participate in the Llama Pack Project's sustainable tourism program.
- Peru Amazon Rainforest Conservation A program in the Peruvian Amazon in which students stay at Explorama ecolodges, work with CONAPAC on rainforest conservation, install clean water filtration systems, and participate in sustainable agriculture.
- Panama Marine Biology & Community Education A 10-day program in Bocas del Toro with Give and Surf covering marine conservation (sea turtle protection, coral reef restoration) and after-school programming for over 1,000 youth in island communities.
- Global Schools Coalition A school membership program providing tuition discounts for students, professional learning resources for faculty, custom program design, and access to the Ethical Leadership Forum for partner schools.
Quantifiable outcome
- 15 field study programs across 15+ countries with 80-100 service hours per program
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Students Shoulder-To-Shoulder
Customer profileNamed customers1 record
Segments2 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Students Shoulder-To-Shoulder technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Students Shoulder-To-Shoulder partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Give and SurfcoreGive and Surf is a nonprofit organization operating in Bocas del Toro, Panama. It serves as SStS's primary host partner for the Panama Marine Biology & Community Education program. Students work alongside Give and Surf to deliver after-school programming for over 1,000 youth in remote island communities, participate in marine conservation activities including sea turtle protection and coral reef restoration, and engage with local conservationists. The Executive Director of Give and Surf is Neil Christiansen. SStS has worked with Give and Surf for multiple program years (2019, 2022, 2023, 2024).
- Hands On Peru (CESAPU)coreHands On Peru is a nonprofit co-founded in 2013 by global health advocates as a response to deep inequities in access to medical care in Peru. Through its Center for Public Health (CESAPU), the organization delivers essential health services in vulnerable communities. SStS students on the Peru Public Health program shadow physicians during home visits, assist with nutrition monitoring, conduct door-to-door health education campaigns, support infant development classes, and co-facilitate healthy cooking workshops. The program also engages with Chimuk, a social enterprise affiliated with Hands On Peru.
- Llama Pack ProjectcoreThe Llama Pack Project works to recover the ancestral use of llamas as pack animals to protect fragile mountain ecosystems and create sustainable livelihoods for indigenous high-Andean communities in Peru's Sacred Valley. SStS students on the Peru Andes program work directly with llama farmers, participate in multi-day llama treks, support environmental education in local schools, and assist the Sustainable Tourism Program. The project exemplifies ethical leadership through community-embedded conservation.
- CONAPACcoreCONAPAC is a Peruvian nonprofit whose mission is to promote rainforest conservation through education of the people living along the Amazon and Napo Rivers. SStS students on the Peru Amazon program work with CONAPAC on conservation and community development projects, visit remote river communities through the Adopt-A-School program, install clean water filtration systems, and participate in sustainable agriculture projects. CONAPAC also runs the ReNuPeRu Ethnobotanical Garden.
- ExploramacoreExplorama is an Ecuadorian/ecotourism operator with unique jungle lodges along the Amazon and Napo Rivers, including the Canopy Walkway (one of the longest elevated walkways in the world). SStS students on the Peru Amazon program stay at Explorama lodges, travel by boat between lodge destinations, and experience Explorama's ecotourism model as a case study in sustainable tourism. Explorama provides accommodations, transportation, and guided excursions in the Amazon.
- Cornerstone Safety GroupminorCornerstone Safety Group is referenced as a safety partner on the SStS website, displaying their member badge. The organization likely provides safety certification or risk management support for SStS programs.
- One Percent for the PlanetminorOne Percent for the Planet is an environmental pledge organization that SStS participates in as a member, demonstrating commitment to donating one percent of revenue to environmental causes. The organization's logo appears on the SStS website.
- Global Schools Coalition (Partner Schools)coreThe Global Schools Coalition is a network of 20 like-minded schools interested in ethical leadership programming. Partner schools receive tuition discounts for their students, access to professional learning resources, and the ability to nominate students for programs. Schools collaborate on custom programming and participate in the Ethical Leadership Forum. This is SStS's primary school partnership model for student recruitment and curriculum integration.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Students Shoulder-To-Shoulder competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Rustic Pathways: Rustic Pathways runs community-driven summer service and travel programs for high school students across dozens of countries, with a comparable focus on ethical leadership and grassroots NGO partnerships. It is the closest direct competitor to SStS in target customer, program structure, and price point.
- Global Leadership Adventures: Global Leadership Adventures offers 1-3 week summer service-learning programs for high school students in Africa, Asia, and Latin America, centered on leadership development. Its mission framing and program portfolio overlap closely with SStS's Global Schools Coalition positioning.
- Putney Student Travel: Putney Student Travel designs experiential summer programs for high schoolers focused on community service, cultural immersion, and language learning across multiple continents. Its per-program pricing, duration, and target demographic closely mirror SStS's offerings.
- Where There Be Dragons: Where There Be Dragons runs immersive summer programs for high school students emphasizing cultural immersion, homestays, and engagement with local leaders in Asia, Africa, and the Americas. It targets the same family demographic as SStS and competes for partner school referrals.
- GVI (Global Vision International): GVI operates teen-focused service-learning and conservation programs across multiple continents, including marine biology and community development tracks that overlap with SStS's Panama and Peru offerings. Its teen division targets the same experiential education segment.
- Projects Abroad: Projects Abroad runs volunteer and service-learning programs for high school students in over 30 countries, including public health and conservation tracks. It is a broader global competitor in the high-school service-travel segment that SStS operates in.
- Broadreach: Broadreach offers summer programs for middle and high school students centered on marine biology, conservation, medicine, and community service in destinations including the Caribbean, Latin America, and Africa. Its program themes overlap directly with SStS's healthcare and marine biology tracks.
- School Year Abroad: School Year Abroad offers semester and academic-year immersion programs for high school students in multiple countries, often partnering with U.S. independent schools. While its core offering is longer duration, it competes for the same partner school audience and global citizenship curriculum positioning.
- Travel For Teens: Travel For Teens operates summer programs for high schoolers focused on community service, cultural immersion, and adventure across multiple continents. Its target customer, pricing, and program structure are directly comparable to SStS.
Broad incumbents
- National Geographic Student Expeditions: National Geographic Student Expeditions runs high school summer programs focused on photography, conservation, and cultural immersion, leveraging the National Geographic brand. It targets the same affluent, college-bound cohort and competes for partner school referrals in the experiential education market.
Market position
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Students Shoulder-To-Shoulder social profiles
Digital presenceStudents Shoulder-To-Shoulder financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Students Shoulder-To-Shoulder leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Students Shoulder-To-Shoulder funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Students Shoulder-To-Shoulder M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Students Shoulder-To-Shoulder
What does Students Shoulder-To-Shoulder do?
Students Shoulder-to-Shoulder (SStS) delivers immersive summer field study programs that place high school students alongside grassroots nonprofit leaders in North, Central, and South America, Africa, and Asia. Programs span 10–14 days, combine service work, cultural immersion, Spanish language practice, and structured ethical leadership reflection, and are priced as tuition-based enrollments. The organization also runs the Global Schools Coalition, a membership network for schools integrating SStS programming into their curricula.
Is Students Shoulder-To-Shoulder a public or private company?
Students Shoulder-To-Shoulder is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Students Shoulder-To-Shoulder founded?
Students Shoulder-To-Shoulder was founded in 2010. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Students Shoulder-To-Shoulder based?
Students Shoulder-To-Shoulder is headquartered in Vail, United States, in the North America region.
How does Students Shoulder-To-Shoulder make money?
One revenue line is on record: summer Program Tuition.
Who are Students Shoulder-To-Shoulder's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Rustic Pathways, Global Leadership Adventures, Putney Student Travel, Where There Be Dragons, GVI (Global Vision International), Projects Abroad, Broadreach, School Year Abroad and Travel For Teens. National Geographic Student Expeditions is listed as a broad incumbent.
Does Students Shoulder-To-Shoulder have an API?
No public API is recorded for Students Shoulder-To-Shoulder.
What industry is Students Shoulder-To-Shoulder in?
Students Shoulder-To-Shoulder's product category is Experiential Education / Global Service Learning. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAIAHAC, Overseas Summer School Programs (Secondary), with a secondary code of EDAJAGAK, Extended Learning Time Programs (After-School/Summer Intervention). Its NAICS code is 611 and its SIC code is 8200.