Staff Interview with Shaun Swartz

How did you discover and get involved with GoBeyond?

Working with GoBeyond was an easy extension of the work I was already doing as an environmental and experiential educator. Having the ability to move into an international capacity while working to inspire the next generation of environmental advocates was always a dream of mine, so when a friend suggested I look into GoBeyond I was thrilled. My first program with GoBeyond was the Ecuador and Galapagos Islands journey called “Protecting Darwin’s Discoveries”—from that first adventure I knew that this was where I wanted to be and that I wanted to continue traveling in this way. 

What is the most fulfilling aspect of your job?

Fulfillment in this job comes in many forms, honestly. In the immediate sense, I find fulfillment in standing back at a work site at the end of a long day and taking account of all the hard work that was put in by the students. Fulfillment really comes, however, from hearing about the changes my students have made in their lives at home after a GoBeyond journey. One of the greatest joys of this work is hearing about how a GoBeyond journey inspired a student to get more involved in their community, whether it’s direct action like organizing beach clean-ups, or a little more indirect like creating fundraisers to support our service partners in the country where the student traveled. Sure, there are hard days and not every single day can be fulfilling—that’s just how life works. However, there is definitely a lot of fulfillment to be found in helping students discover the things they’re passionate about and teaching them how they can make a difference in their corner of the world. 

Who is the typical GoBeyond student?

I would say the typical GoBeyond student is adventurous, curious, and empathetic at their core. Students who are willing to travel to a foreign country to spend time engaging in another culture and learning about the challenges they face have, at least, an appreciation for the world at large. A GoBeyond journey merely reinforces, or brings to light, these qualities they already possess within them.  

What types of skills or knowledge can students expect to learn with GoBeyond?

It really depends upon which program a student chooses. In terms of hard skills, students in the British Virgin Islands “Preserving Paradise” journey definitely gain hands-on experience in environmental work like data collection and environmental restoration. That particular journey is based largely around mark-recapture studies for endangered sea turtles, replanting mangrove forests, and removing marine debris, so the students really get a chance to understand what a career in the biological sciences could look like.

Students on the “Coast to Coast Immersion” journey in Costa Rica, however, would definitely gain skills in construction-style projects like pouring concrete floors in community centers, and painting public spaces such as schools and parks. In terms of soft skills though, the GoBeyond program is almost a leadership experience in disguise. We’re always out in the world having these incredible adventures and trying to make the world a better place.

During all of these experiences students are faced with a number of decisions that bring to light larger themes like developing leadership skills, working together in a team to accomplish tasks, and learning to adapt as situations arise and evolve while traveling. These skills really get to the heart of international travel in that sometimes you just have to go with the flow when you’re traveling. International travel can definitely be unpredictable, and exposing students to that experience from an early age really prepares them to walk confidently through the world as they grow up. 

How do you ensure the safety of your students?

Managing risk is a key part of any GoBeyond Journey. We travel to faraway places, expose ourselves to new foods, cultures, and ways of life. Some of our activities are adventurous in nature; so to say that there are no risks would be misleading. The very nature of our experience is designed to encourage students to overcome challenges while living together in an unfamiliar environment. Many of the risks that exist are inherent, and so can’t be eliminated without destroying the unique character of the activities themselves. However, awareness of these inherent risks is the key to minimizing them, and creating structure around them to mitigate and reduce them in appropriate ways.

What do you feel is your most exciting program?

That’s such a hard question to answer and really just depends on each individual student. Personally, any of the journeys that revolve around environmental work are what most capture my attention. I’m a biologist at heart and love exploring the world around me. Australia, Ecuador, the British Virgin Islands—it’s gotta be a three-way tie among those for sure.

How have past students benefited from their travels with GoBeyond?

According to a poll we recently conducted among our alumni, 87% of alumni reported feeling more responsible, 98% reported learning skills they still use years after their journey, 91% reported an increased global awareness, and 96% of alumni reported a marked increase self-confidence. Honestly, the numbers speak louder than any explanation I could offer. 

Why should future students be excited to get involved with GoBeyond?

In many cases, international travel has never been more accessible than now. Traveling abroad doesn’t (and shouldn’t) mean visiting a gated resort and then returning to the United States without experiencing a different culture. We’re offering more programs now than we ever have, and expanding our service focus to encompass so many different projects, whether they be in support of environmental conservation, humanitarian work, wildlife stewardship, or infrastructure development. There’s something here for everyone, and making a difference in one small corner of the world is just a matter of being willing to step beyond your comfort zone.