What inspired you to work for ARCC Programs?
When I was in high school, I participated in a ten day service learning and adventure trip to Costa Rica. I don’t know exactly what inspired me to get out of my comfort zone and sign up for that trip, but I’m so grateful I did. That trip not only helped open my mind to different ways of living, being, and seeing the world, but showed me real and practical ways that I could positively impact the world.
Throughout college I developed a love for outdoor adventure, travel, and furthered my interest and study of environmental science. Five years later, when I was looking for a summer position between college and graduate school, I worked for the same organization that I had traveled with as a teen to lead trips for students in the Dominican Republic. I loved that first season trip leading, and found it an ideal way for me to combine my love for community service, showing young people other ways of learning and growing, and protecting the natural environment.
I started with ARCC nearly four years ago after learning about their programs and how they combine so many of the things I love about teen travel programming - community-led projects, experiential education, self-reflection, and fun adventure!
Me and some students on the South America Gap Semester in Torres del Paine National Park, Chile.
Describe a typical day at work.
There really is no “typical” day, which is what makes trip leading one of the most exciting jobs in the world! Our days do have a consistent structure though, if it’s not a travel day or rest day. Usually I’ll wake up early before the students to go for a run or do some yoga, then we’ll all meet for breakfast at our accommodation - if it’s a guesthouse or hostel we’ll usually have it provided, or we prepare our own meal at our campsite. Then we’ll head out for whatever the day’s activity is - hiking, scuba diving, a community service project, or cultural learning opportunity.
Sometimes we’ll have lunch together as a group at a restaurant, or picnic-style if we’re not near a town or city. Sometimes if we are in a town we give the students cash to get their own lunch, or if we’re in a homestay community, then students will eat with their respective families. It really varies! Then, we wrap up whatever activity we’re doing (another couple hours of a project, finish a hike, do a craft workshop, etc.), head back to our accommodations, and usually have some down time in the afternoon to read, relax, play games, or go for a swim.
Realistically, the students are doing those things while we instructors catch up on paperwork, travel logistics, check-ins with the students, or planning curriculum sessions. But we try to join them for the fun stuff when we can! Finally, we’ll usually eat dinner together and enjoy an evening circle where we debrief our day, reflect and establish our plan for the next day before getting a good night’s sleep.
Why do you do what you do?
I have felt first hand the impacts of immersive travel programs, both as a participant and a leader. I truly believe that they are the best way to learn, grow, get outside one’s comfort zone, and start to better understand the world around us. It’s not easy to be a teenager today, and I feel these programs provide a supportive community in which to explore deeper and more profound questions about what it means to be a contributing member of society at a pivotal time in their lives. I’ve witnessed my students become more empathetic, thoughtful, understanding, and patient, and I think these are all characteristics we can strive to emulate!
What is your favorite part of your job?
I absolutely love how much I get to laugh on a daily basis - whether it’s with students, our local guides, or with my co-leader(s). We all get to connect by spending so much time together and experiencing new and unique things as a team. I value how much we learn about each other and the reflective, deep conversations as well, but I don’t think anyone gets to laugh and be silly at work as much as I do. It’s a great reminder that even through challenges and hardships, laughter is the best medicine, and it pays to keep perspective even in challenging moments.
Our Spain, Morocco & Portugal Gap Semester group building a road alongside lovely folks from Tizi Noucheg.
How do you use your education and international background in your current role?
Every day I’m on an ARCC program, I seek to make connections to help the students reflect and better understand the world around them. I work to observe and point out elements of a new or different culture that can provide an opportunity to discuss a bigger world issue or current event. I think about what the students are interested in and challenge them to learn how those things look in a new country or context.
On ARCC Gap Semesters, we run weekly curriculum sessions and students complete a Passion Project to present to the group at the end of the semester. In all, it’s a chance for students to think about what they want to do in life to honor their interests while still making a positive impact on those around them. The ability to think about how they can use their talents and skills to make the world a better place is a key component of these experiences, and my goal is to facilitate an educational, supportive, and immersive environment in which they can do just that.
What challenges do you often face and how do you overcome them?
I love leading trips, but it can definitely be exhausting! Working with so many students’ personalities and trying to meet the needs of individuals in a group setting can be difficult. We spend so much time as a group that it can be challenging for students, and myself, to get enough time and space to fully recharge when our schedules are packed. Over the years I’ve adopted a few self care techniques that I know work for me - journaling, going for a walk or run, yoga, reaching out to friends and family, etc. I know I can rely on these strategies to feel supported and rejuvenated even in the middle of a long program.
The biggest challenge can often be that students haven’t practiced this before and they need to develop habits to keep themselves in a positive headspace. We work together to adapt the schedule and program to their needs, while still recognizing our duty to the communities we work in and maintaining the intentionality of the trip.
What advice would you tell your pre-travel self?
I would tell myself to get ready for the adventure of a lifetime, because travel is something that will change you profoundly. Even (and especially) as a trip leader, these programs are an incredible opportunity to learn about myself, what I want out of life, and what I value in leadership. I would say that I should push fear aside, absolutely go for it, and get ready for my world to open up in ways I could only have imagined.
Our Northwest Gap group in Hawaii.
Why should someone choose ARCC Programs over competitors?
Something that attracted me to ARCC and still keeps me coming back to lead trips is the variety of programs on offer at such high quality. With ARCC I’ve led everything from backpacking trips in Yosemite to jungle adventures in Costa Rica, with scuba diving trips in Hawaii sprinkled in between. I think these trips are perfect for people like me who like to dabble in a wide breadth of activities and take the opportunity to just try some things out free of expectation. They really offer something for everyone if you have a sense of adventure and a desire to try something new.
What hopes do you have for the future for ARCC Programs?
I hope that ARCC continues to leverage their long standing in-country partnerships and find more and different ways to positively impact the communities we get to travel through. While I also hope they send programs out to new locations, maintaining these strong relationships is key to successful future programs. I have been blown away when meeting people across the world who have been working with ARCC students for decades and look forward to their visits each year. I hope they continue to bring students into this huge family and support their learning and exploration for many years to come!
What is ARCC Programs's mission and how do you continue to work toward it?
ARCC is committed to providing unique and life-changing experiences that resonate deep within our students. Through cultural immersion, impactful volunteer projects, and shared experiences, ARCC students engage in intimate authentic encounters with the people, the cultures and the lands they visit. ARCC students have consistent opportunities to learn new things through project-based learning, and to connect with themselves and each other in a supportive environment.
ARCC leaders are highly trained in risk management and first aid protocols which give students (and their families) peace of mind while going off the beaten path and exploring new territory. As the world changes, ARCC adapts while maintaining ethical travel standards and an impactful student experience top of mind.
What do you hope participants take away from your programs?
It’s impossible to control or know exactly what students take away from programs. I think of my role as a program leader as more of an “idea farmer,” planting seeds and hoping that some of the perspectives and conversations we all shared start to take root and eventually shape students’ minds in a different way. I always hope that they can learn to listen more, be more empathetic to those different from themselves, and stay curious to travel, explore, and pursue their passions. I also always hope that they walk away with a newfound sense of confidence and accomplishment for having done some pretty awesome things and impact the people around them in a positive way.
My South America Gap group visiting Machu Picchu on a perfect weather!
If you could participate on one of ARCC Programs's programs, where would you go and what would you do?
I’ve led over a dozen ARCC trips, but some of the most incredible itineraries still elude me! One that has always captured my imagination is the Belize summer program. I love scuba diving, and getting to stay at Reef CI on a private island and do nothing but dive and sit in a hammock for five days sounds like a dream come true!
Why is it important for people to travel abroad and experience new cultures?
This quote may be overly used in these contexts, but Mark Twain’s quote that "Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness” still rings true. Travel gives you the chance to form a personal connection to people across the world who look different, speak a different language, and hold different political/religious/cultural views from your own. It proves that you can still find joy with these people with whom you have nothing in common, whether it’s playing a sport together, working on a project, or dancing together. Travel is the main way that we can learn there is no such thing as “weird” or “wrong” - there are just different ways of doing things, and we are only used to some of them. Experiencing new cultures and environments is just one way to broaden one’s horizons and expand their worldview, but in my opinion it is the most salient, impactful and personal. Plus, travel is fun, exciting, and truly exemplifies what it means to be alive!
What does meaningful travel mean to you?
I think all types of travel are valid, as long as they are not exploitative. To me, meaningful travel involves engaging with the community I am visiting, ideally by working on some sort of project and being conscious of trying to find a way to have a net positive impact on a place. In my personal travels, that doesn’t always pan out, so I try to focus on being friendly, genuine, asking respectful questions and showing interest in the culture and customs of a new place. Meaningful travel involves having experiences that could only happen in that specific place, or at least are enhanced by being in that specific environment. I personally love learning some of the local language, trying local food, and talking with people from that place about what they love about it and what they feel makes it special.
