Book now to reserve your spot on Kevin McGowan and Katie Falter’s bottle school trip: February 12-18, 2026 ***Booking Options Below***
Brighton Believes in Global Citizenship — We’re Headed Back to Guatemala!
We are thrilled to announce Brighton’s second journey to Guatemala as part of our Brighton Believes in Global Citizenship initiative! After the incredible success of our inaugural trip, we are excited to return from February 12th to 18th, 2026, and provide another group of both new and experienced volunteers with this powerful opportunity to learn, lead, and work alongside others to make a meaningful difference in the world. Students who will be in grades 6-9 next school year are encouraged to join! Parents are welcome and encouraged too!
Brighton remains deeply committed to developing empathetic and proactive global citizens. This service learning experience immerses students in the vibrant culture and real-world challenges of Guatemala, fostering a deeper understanding of global issues while empowering them to become part of the solution. Through hands-on work building a school with our partners in the local community, students will experience the impact of their efforts firsthand—and walk away forever changed.
Last year, Mrs. Falter, Dr. McGowan, Dr. Edmunds, TCMS students, parents and members of our Board of Education joined together with the incredible team at Hug It Forward to help construct a bottle school in Panimache, Guatemala. Inspired by this journey and the many powerful lessons it offered, we’re thrilled to launch another trip for a group of passionate learners and leaders.
At its core, this trip is about more than physical construction—it’s about building bridges. Through meaningful collaboration and cultural exchange, students and parents will form lasting connections, expand their worldviews, and grow as compassionate leaders ready to take on the challenges of our time.
We invite you to join us on this extraordinary journey—where community meets purpose, and service sparks transformation. Together, we can continue to build a more empathetic, connected, and just world.
With gratitude and excitement,
Kevin McGowan and Katie Falter
How kids and communities build bottle schools
Pictures from our previous bottle school trip
Want to know more?
Visit the Hug It Forward web site to find out all about bottle schools.
Information about your trip
Please make sure you read all the information on this web site, including the Information section and the FAQ.
Book now by PayPal, check or Zelle
Book today to reserve your spot on our bottle school trip from February 12-18, 2026.
The cost of the bottle school trip is $1,499 per person.
You can reserve your spot by paying a $750 non-refundable deposit by August 12, 2025, and the balance ($749) payable in full by January 12th, 2026.
Please make sure you have read the Terms and Conditions before booking.
Have you read the Terms and Conditions? After reading the Terms and Conditions, please click the “Yes” button to view the booking options.
Available booking options below…
Option 1: Mail us a check (fees do not apply)
- Mail a check payable to “Serve The World Today” to:
Serve The World Today
5810 Long Prairie Rd.
Suite 700 PMB 179
Flower Mound, TX 75028 - Please write on the memo line of the check which trip you are attending
- Send us an email to adam@hugitforward.org – please tell us:
- That you sent a check and what the amount was ($1,499 per person, or $750 if you are just paying a deposit now)
- Which trip the check is for
- The name on the check
Option 2: Pay using Zelle – please check with your bank to see if they offer Zelle as an option for transferring money (fees do not apply)
- Log into your online banking
- Choose to transfer money using the “Zelle” option
- Enter our email address info@hugitforward.org and the amount $1,499 (or $750 if you are just paying a deposit now)
- In the “Message” box, please enter which trip you are booking!
- Send us an email to adam@hugitforward.org telling us that payment has been sent via Zelle
Option 3: Paying by PayPal (fees apply)
Click the “Buy Now” button on the right to pay the $1,499 cost of your voluntourism trip (plus $52.81 in PayPal fees).
Click the “Buy Now” button on the left to pay the $750 cost of your voluntourism trip (plus $26.67 in PayPal fees).
Please read the Terms and Conditions!
Have you read the Terms and Conditions? After reading the Terms and Conditions, please click the “Yes” button to view the booking options.
Fundraising for bottle schools
You might also like to fundraise for Hug It Forward bottle schools. Fundraising for bottle schools is optional – it is not a requirement of participating in a bottle school trip.
If you choose to fundraise, we suggest a $250 fundraising goal, but some people choose to do more or less than this. It’s really up to you – how much you think your friends and families can give, how creative you can be, and how much time you’re prepared to put into it.