Iowa State University • Student Organizations

The Pay It Forward Tour

The Pay It Forward Tour is the ultimate experience for anyone looking to explore the United States, give back to others, and make new friends. This 9-day trip covers 7 cities and explores a different portion of the country each year. Nearly all costs are included in the trip price along with a trip t-shirt! Make memories with friends that will last a lifetime!

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

All the Details!

What do you do on this trip?

We stop in a different city each day. We will typically conduct a service project during the morning, travel in the afternoon, play tourist in our new city once we arrive, and do leadership activities in the evening. Oh, and nap on the bus. Can't forget the naps!

What types of service projects can I expect?

In the past, we have:

Helped a raptor center
Assisted a Humane Society
Worked with an equestrian therapy center
Created a community garden
Worked with multiple food banks
Cleaned up micro trash in Arches National Park
Assisted a Boy Scouts camp with various projects

This looks cool, but you're just saying it's awesome because you want me to come

We do want you to come! Don't trust us that this is an AMAZING experience? Check out our trip recap video to hear directly from the participants of the 2024 Pay It Forward Tour!

Click HERE to watch the video!

Alright, you got me convinced.
Where are you going this Spring Break?

The 2025 Pay It Forward Tour is going west! Join us for a trip to:

North Platte, NE
Cheyenne, WY
Denver, CO
Grand Junction, CO
Moab, UT
Salt Lake City, UT (Our celebration city!)
Sidney, NE (Our connection city to make it back to Ames!)

Click HERE to watch the route reveal party!

What does the trip cost?

When will my money be collected?

The price of the trip is $550 if you sign-up before January 1st. After this, the price increases to $600 per person. But before you say that is a lot of money, check out everything you get! A nearly all-inclusive 9-day trip across the country for about $575. You can't beat that deal!

A $150 non-refundable deposit is due within 7 days of signing up. The remainder of the cost is due by March 4th. A link to a SignUpGenius to drop off your cash or check will be sent to you in your confirmation email.

How Do I Sign Up For The Trip?

We use a system called Eventbrite for our trip sales. However, you will not pay anything through Eventbrite. This simply reserves your spot on the bus! You will pay either by cash or check. This is the only way to make sure you have a seat!

Please make sure read all of the terms of the agreement on EventBrite before signing up. You MUST respond to the registration email we send to your Iowa State email address in order to confirm/finalize your registration.

Click HERE to reserve your seat on the bus

and travel with us this Spring Break!

What if I have questions?

You can reach us anytime through our email or our social media channels! Feel free to stop by one of our volunteer events or general meetings, too!

What if cost is a concern?

If you are in need of financial assistance to join the Pay It Forward Tour, we encourage you to apply for our scholarship HERE.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: How much personal time will I have? (Can I bring schoolwork to complete during the trip?)
A: While we don’t recommend bringing school assignments, we do have a few participants each year who are able to complete some work on the trip. Keep in mind, though, that our itinerary will be packed with exciting service projects and activities that everyone is expected to take part in, both during the day and in the evenings.

If you have assignment deadlines that overlap with the trip dates, we highly recommend completing them before we leave Ames. Although there will be some personal time, most of it will be during bus rides, which is a very popular time for naps!

Q: Can I sign up with my friend(s)?
A: Absolutely! We’d love to have friends sign up together. It’s a fantastic experience to share. During certain service projects and evenings activities, we’ll divide everyone into small groups, so you may be separated from your friend(s) at times. Don’t worry though, because there will be plenty of full-group activities where you can spend time together.

We also encourage you to connect with new people, as building new relationships is a key part of the Pay It Forward Tour experience. By the end of the trip, our goal is for everyone to feel like they know each person on the bus (and that’s usually the case!)

Q: What are the evening leadership activities listed in the daily itinerary?

A: A large portion of the Pay It Forward Tour is dedicated to developing leadership qualities through group activities. These activities are designed to challenge participants to reflect on their values, step out of their comfort zones, and strengthen their ability to connect with others. While some activities feature fun, high-energy tasks, others will include introspective, low-energy exercises.

These activities take place each night of the trip after dinner and often extend into the later evening hours. Participation is not optional, except in extreme or specific circumstances, as full group participation is an integral part of their depth and impact. These evening activities contribute to Pay It Forward’s goal of revealing leadership through service, relationships and action, and many participants find them to be one of the highlights of the trip.

Q: Is Pay It Forward a religiously affiliated organization?
A: Pay It Forward is NOT a religiously affiliated organization. However, many of our meals and housing sites are generously donated by churches, which means we often eat and sleep in church buildings.

While Pay It Forward does not have religious connections or a religious mission, churches often ask to briefly pray over the group before meals. When this happens, we respectfully accept, as these generous donations significantly reduce the price of the trip, at the cost and effort of each church. We ask all participants to remain quiet and respectful during these times, regardless of their personal religious beliefs.

Q: Will I have time to explore each city on my own?
A: While there will be several opportunities to explore and experience the cities, these will be done as a group at specific pre-planned times and locations. All participants are expected to follow the trip itinerary for each day and evening to ensure everyone’s safety and to help make the trip enjoyable for all!

Q: Is Pay It Forward affiliated with the university?
A: Yes, Pay It Forward is a student-led, non-profit organization at Iowa State University (ISU). While it operates independently under student leadership, it adheres to ISU's student engagement policies and Principles of Community.

Consequently, the Pay It Forward Tour has a zero-tolerance stance on alcohol and tobacco products and is committed to ensuring all activities and conditions are free from unlawful discrimination and harassment on the basis of age, color, creed, disability, gender identity, genetic information, national origin, pregnancy, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, and protected U.S. veteran status.