Ties Program Blog

Preparing for Heritage Travel | Ties Travelers Reflect | Hear From Our Team

Elizabeth Kwon 3/12/26 Elizabeth Kwon 3/12/26

Language at the Lake: A New Way to Experience the Heart of Guatemala

Hazel Bendix refects on her transformative Ties trips to Guatemala and shares why she’s excited for the new Language at the Lake program. From cultural immersion and volunteering at El Amor Children’s Home to learning Spanish and building lifelong connections, this program offers adoptees a unique opportunity to explore heritage, language and identity.

Elizabeth Kwon 11/19/25 Elizabeth Kwon 11/19/25

November Gratitude Spotlight: Ana Wilson

Elizabeth Kwon 11/4/25 Elizabeth Kwon 11/4/25

November Gratitude Spotlight: Destiny Fore

Elizabeth Kwon 8/28/25 Elizabeth Kwon 8/28/25

Ties Returns to Colombia: A Journey of Connection, Culture and Homecoming

Ben Kaanta, Colombia Ties Program Manager, reflects on Ties’ return to Colombia and how geographical and cultural layers can inform an experience.

Chloé Gingrich-Howling 7/24/25 Chloé Gingrich-Howling 7/24/25

From Participant to Team Member, Reflections from Ties’ First Intern

Guatemalan adoptee Bella reflects on her return to Antigua as the first Ties Program intern. From mentoring fellow adoptees to learning and living daily life in Guatemala, she shares the emotional and cultural impact of the Service and Language heritage travel experience.

Autumn Ackerson 6/9/25 Autumn Ackerson 6/9/25

Returning to China as an Adoptee: The Trip That Opened the Real Journey

China Ties Program Manager Autumn Ackerson reflects on her personal journey as a Chinese adoptee returning to her birth country—and how leading others on their own return trips has shaped her path.