Coastalsurvey

Not many of these study abroad programs give credit for surfing, but you could learn a language, new skills, another culture, meet foreign babes and possibly score some waves between semesters, which is a lot better than majoring in Kegology at Podunk U.

CoralCay runs teaching expeditions to reefs and tropical forests in the Caribbean, the Philippines and Borneo. Get your PADI certification and maybe some college credits too.

A truly global organization, the Earthwatch Institute will run over 100 expeditions this year to some remote and fascinating places.

It was inevitable that some savvy school administrator would figure out that surfing + credits = cash. Outward Bound has a cool new program in Costa Rica where you can get college credit AND work on your backhand snaps.

This New-York-based org, hooks up students with Au Pair jobs, Camp Counselor slots and a few other low-wage positions in the USA. For Americans going abroad InterExchange offers some pay-to-work programs.

Aimed at high school and college-age students, ActionQuest has some really fun programs afloat.

Originally the hippie answer to Greyhound, the Green Tortoise has grown into an international phenomenon. In addition to their coast-to-coast US bus service, they now offer a 2-week Spanish language bus trip to Costa Rica. (Surfers note: boards exceed the Green Tortoise luggage allowance, so plan to have a friend bring your stick down after the bus trip, which is mostly inland anyway). Vegetarian food, reggae music, and spliffage are all included in the very reasonable fares. Deodorant optional.

Since W.W.I, the American Field Service has been a leading light of youth exchange programs. Learn more at the AFS site.

The Rotary Club, the very synonym for square, runs one of the best youth exchange programs on the planet. Grad students can also benefit from Rotary Fellowships. Worth a look if you want to study abroad.

Go Global — Youth For Understanding (YFU) offers opportunities for young people around the world to spend a summer, semester or year with a host family in another culture.

The ShawGuide is an excellent database of educational programs around the world organized by study-topic.

The Worldwide Classroom is a nonprofit clearinghouse of educational programs abroad that’s very thorough and easily searched.

SERVAS is not strictly an educational program, but their international network of hosts and travelers has been contributing to peace and learning worldwide since 1949. It’s also open to people of all ages.