Westcoast Connection

West Coast Connection delivered an exceptional experience for my son on his Costa Rica trip this past June. The itinerary struck the perfect balance of adventure, cultural immersion and fun. He loved everything from helping at the wildlife sanctuary and constructing a new basketball court for a local school, to zip-lining, surfing and relaxing in the mud baths with new friends from around the world. As a parent, I appreciated how thorough and reliable the communication was from start to finish. The trip leaders were professional, enthusiastic, and clearly dedicated to creating a safe, positive environment. My son came home proud of the work he did, the connections he made and more curious about the world. This trip exceeded every expectation for both of us!

Chasing Pura Vida West Coast Connection delivered an exceptional experience for my son on his Costa Rica trip this past June. The itinerary struck the perfect balance of adventure, cultural immersion and fun. He loved everything from helping at the wild life sanctuary and constructing a new basketball court for a local school, to zip-lining, surfing and relaxing in the mud baths with new friends from around the world. As a parent, I appreciated how thorough and reliable the communication was from start to finish. The trip leaders were professional, enthusiastic, and clearly dedicated to creating a safe, positive environment. My son came home proud of the work he did, the connections he made and more curious about the world. This trip exceeded every expectation for both of us!

My son attended the 3-week program at McGill in Montreal and absolutely loved it. He has been to many camps over the years, but he said this was by far the best experience he’s ever had. He connected with a wonderful group of kids, many of whom he’s still in touch with today. The program itself was very well organized, and the counselors did an excellent job keeping everyone engaged, entertained, and connected. Overall, it was an outstanding program, and I would highly recommend it.

Noah had the best summer of his life in Greece. He made so many new friends and really liked the counsellors. He was nervous to travel on his own and after 24 hours felt so comfortable. Thank you for provinding him the summer of a lifetime!

Our son recently traveled with Westcoast Connection, and we couldn’t be happier with the experience. From start to finish, the trip was incredibly well planned, and the staff’s communication with us was excellent. We always felt informed and confident that he was in great hands. He had an amazing time and came home with so many new friends and unforgettable memories. Some of the highlights he shared with us included the breathtaking hike through Cinque Terre, exploring the stunning Meteora Pinnacles, scuba diving in Naxos, and visiting the volcano in Santorini. Each activity was thoughtfully organized and gave him the chance to experience something truly special. We’re so grateful to Westcoast Connection for creating such a meaningful, fun, and safe adventure. We highly recommend them and would absolutely trust them with future trips!

My daughter was a rising 10th grader and was on the Costa Rica service and adventure trip. She had such an incredible experience! She loved exploring the different areas of Costa Rica, the beautiful beaches, the stunning rainforests and waterfalls- and most importantly the life changing service experience. She wants to go back again and again!

Westcoast Connections has been an outstanding experience for our family. My daughter has done three summer European tours, and even with all that incredible travel, she still says Westcoast Connections is one of her favorites. The staff is warm, organized, and truly invested in the kids, creating a supportive environment that blends fun, growth, and meaningful friendships. We’re so grateful for the positive impact it’s had and highly recommend it to any family looking for an unforgettable summer program.

My daughter Hailey travelled to Greece and Italy with Westcoast Connection and sending her on this program was the best decision i've ever made. She made incredible friends, absolutely loved her staff and got to travel to so many new places. I felt very comfortable as WCC had great communication with the parents, and always kept us in the loop!

Dylan found this experience incredibly meaningful as a way to give back to communities less fortunate. On top of that he had great fun and adventure with his friends. Thank you for an incredibly experience.

My son Jake did the Greece, the Islands, and Italy program and came home with so many new friends! The staff were fantastic and provided a great mix of supervision while still giving him the independence he was hoping for. The activities were fun and really well chosen for teenagers. Overall, he had an amazing experience, and we’re so glad he went. I would recommend Westcoast Connection to any family looking for this type of program for their child.

My daughter loved her experience. Great councelors, educators during the school year which helped to beauty a great vibe among all kids. Good mix of sight seeing, outdoor physical activity and free time.

Westcoast Connection was awesome to work with, the trip and itinerary were planned so well and my sonmade lots of new friends and had a great time. Some of his favorite parts were the hike in Cinque Terre and the Meteora Pinnacles, Scuba diving in Naxos, and the Volcano in Santorini . I would definitely recommend Westcoast Connection to friends and family!

My son returned from the Greece, the Islands & Italy program and he absolutely loved it. Starting in Italy was perfect for him since he had never been before. He talked a lot about exploring Milan, the coast near Cinque Terre, and a really fun cooking class in Perugia that made him feel like he was “actually living there” instead of just passing through. He is a history buff, so in Greece he was blown away by the mix of history and adventure. Athens and the Acropolis made everything from school feel real, and spots like Meteora and Nafplio were big highlights. His favorite part was the time by the water. Beach days and boat trips in Sivota, then Naxos and Santorini with scuba diving, kayaking, and those “crazy sunsets” he keeps mentioning. He came home more confident, more independent, and with a great group of new friends. As a parent, I felt he was safe and well looked after the whole time. I would 100% recommend this program.

​We were so impressed ​with Sammy's recent trip to Greece and Italy. She had the best experience traveling by herself, and made ​so many new friends. The staff were amazing and we especially appreciated the thorough pre-trip departure support​.​ We were nervous about sending her to Europe on her own, but Westcoast Connection made us feel completely comfortable! Highly recommend!

Superbly organized travel itinerary and excellent leadership team. Lots of fun daily adventures, strolling, sightseeing, and even scuba diving. Well balanced trip featuring both local immersion and group social activities. WCC is highly experienced and very professional.

Westcoast Connections runs fun teen travel programs! The trip offer a variety of sightseeing and adventure, while immersing the travelers in the Greece culture. The safety, staff, and communication with parents are top notch.

So much fun! My son loved his tour and made great friends. Such an experience...he loved touring and enjoying Greece and Italy. Just enough of everything. Accommodations and food were terrific. The counselors make the experience not only fun but safe...

Our 15-year-old daughter had the experience of a lifetime on her trip to Costa Rica with Westcoast Connections. From before we even registered her for this trip until after she got home, we were impressed with the communications and support we received from the Westcoast staff. We felt confident about her safety, health and well-being throughout the trip. The travel, accommodations and activities were all excellent. From a social perspective, she went on this trip without knowing a single other participant and came home with 20+ new, wonderful friends. The staff did a great job making sure the social dynamics of the group were positive and inclusive.

My son loved the Montreal McGill program! He didn’t want to come home. He hopes they do another version at University of Toronto next year. He loved an all the staff members and students. The activities around Montreal were the highlights of his trip. Thank you, West Coast Connections and McGill!

The program brought together students from different cultures and ages. While there were a lot of structured activities, there were opportunities to have down time. There was a lot of thought into the experiences based on the things happening in the city. It was a great way for the kids to experiece the city offerings. The programs were fun and low stress.

My 15 year old son (upcoming sophomore) had an amazing experience he'll never forget on West Coast Connection this summer. The trip was the perfect length (25 days) and offered him many opportunities to step outside his comfort zone -- trying scuba diving, mountain biking, Greek dancing, and singing karaoke all for the first time. Other highlights included beach days with kayaking, hikes in Cinque Terre, cooking classes, group dinners and touring ancient theaters and the site of the first Olympics. My son made great friends (who he's still talking with regularly and having watch parties with over FaceTime!) and took so many photos of the beautiful sites and his new friends (which he never does). He was very complimentary of the counselors Allison, Ryland, Maggie and Brandon. He said they were professional and calm and lots of fun. Parents enjoyed following the instagram (which had great group pics and relevant quizzes so we could follow along on the adventures) and seeing links to photos. Mitch was helpful meeting with us initially to tell us about the trip and coordinate logistics. I 100% recommend this trip to other teens. My son will remember it forever!

Both my girls did the abroad program to Italy, Greece and the Greek islands. They loved the history, culture, architecture and making new friends . They enjoyed the adventure of traveling and exploring different places, and immersed themselves in the cultures , language and foods. West Coast did an amazing jog with the itinerary and planning. Everything was well organized and safe. The counselors were great with the kids and kept them on schedule . It was a great experience!!

My daughter came home saying it was the best time ever. The people, of course, made it amazing, but the community service work she did really made her realize how others are in need of help and support from outside their community. To have made a positive impact in these communities really meant a lot to her. She also enjoyed the adventure part of the trip! Loved doing new things with new people and made string connections with her group. She has now made some of the what friends she'll have for life. Thank you for an incredible experience!

Dylan love the program she liked both locations Greece more than Italy. It was a bit clicky socially, but it was a great group of kids. the cultural skill building aspects at the destinations maybe could be a little more fleshed out. Dylan‘s only complaint was the early wake up days and that she couldn’t use her miles to upgrade on the flights but I think that’s a good rule so that all the kids are together and build their friendships on the flight over. Thanks you for the well run program, good counselor oversight, and great comm with photos and emails keeping us updated

During this trip to Montreal, I met some of the nicest, uplifting, and youth-hearted people. When I first arrived to the airport to be picked up, I was picked up by my staff leader who greeted me with kindness and enthusiasm. She asked the little questions that makes you feel wanted and special. You could tell she really cared about anything you had to say. I then met other participants in the program, and was also greeted with smiles and hellos. This trip was special to me because I was able to explore the city with some of my friends in my own way. I felt like I could shape the program to what suited me, and participate in the optional activities if I felt excited about the landmark, or just hang out in my dorm. My teachers were lovely, and I had so much fun with the other participants in my classes. One of the moments that I keep revisiting in my head the last night of the program. All of the participants and staff were in the lounge room of the residence, and we had dessert made by the staff. All of us sat in a circle, and just embraced the last night with the 14 day participants. There were awards given out, and there were mini yearbooks created. All of the students got to sign each other's yearbooks and write little messages inside. This was a special moment to me because I felt like I could leave with real evidence of just how much this trip meant to me. I still speak with some of the others from the trip, and I truly appreciated everyone who participated.

Our shy 17-year-old jumped into this trip solo—and came back glowing. He made friends, felt included, and had a blast every step of the way. From sign-up to send-off, everything was smooth: flights booked, checklist handled, no stress. The staff exceeded our expectations with how quickly and thoughtfully they responded to any questions we had—they were truly top-notch. We also loved the private Instagram updates—seeing his smile in every photo was the best part of our day. He came home proud of the service work, energized by the adventures, and full of stories we’re still laughing about. If your teen’s on the fence, this is the leap they didn’t know they needed.

My 15 year old son went to the Costa Rica experience. He had so much fun in the program, and felt like he was able to actually be a help at the locations where they worked. He enjoyed all of the participants and loved the staff members!

Participating in the program was an absolute joy! It was a fun and enriching experience where we not only made new friends but also gained valuable knowledge and skills. The activities were diverse and engaging, providing hands-on learning opportunities that made complex concepts easy to grasp. We delved into exciting topics, explored new cultures, and worked on team projects that were both challenging and rewarding. Overall, it was an incredible journey of growth, discovery, and unforgettable memories.

My son went on the OnTour European Experience trip last summer. This has been the most incredible experience he has had the privilege and opportunity to participate in. The culture he gained was incredible and Westcoast was amazing to deal with. The trip was incredibly well organized, professional and compassionate. This was truly the experience of a lifetime and I would highly recommend it to anyone who is considering this for their teen.

Our daughter has been with west coast for 3 years!! What an amazing experience she has had! Both learning making new friends and experiencing life outside of the US. Triple threat!! I can’t say enough great things about this company. Ira was a great help - making us feel as though we are family!

I have been a long time fan of Westcoast Connection (having participated myself in 1988!). My older son had a wonderful experience last summer on a 14 day California trip and Brett had, if possible, an even better time. I would tell anyone who asks that Westcoast Connection is a world class organization and continues to impress me.

Westcoast Connection’s Community Service Program in Thailand was absolutely incredible! This was my 16 year old daughter’s third Westcoast trip and she did not want to come home! From the wonderfully enthusiastic, uber friendly and engaging staff to an itinerary that provided full emersion into the Thai culture and life changing community service projects, this program was exceptional! The adventure began with an introduction to the country itself, exploring the hustle and bustle of city life in Bangkok and it’s markets, sampling the cuisine and visiting some of Thailand’s most beautiful building and temples, including the Grand Palace and the White Temple. With their native Thai guides at their sides, the travelers got an in depth and first hand history lesson about the country while utilizing all of the local modes of transportation including the sky train, canal river boats, vans, buses and Thailand’s famous tuk tuks. Traveling from the northern most region of Chiang Rai to Krabi in Thailand’s southern portion, with stops in between, the group also got to experience life in Thailand’s very rural, if not rustic, parts of the country as well – what an incredible cross section of Thai life! The community service projects included beautification projects, working, teaching and playing with Thai children and epitomizing teamwork in mixing and pouring a concrete court/playground for the Lahu Tribal Village. The community service projects wrapped up with the global adventurers spending a day at the Patara elephant farm where each student traveler was assigned an elephant for the day. Aside from feeding, washing, riding and playing with their elephants, the students were educated about the ever changing role of the elephant over time. It was amazing! WCC also does a fabulous job incorporating fun location specific activities into the community service program. So whether it’s attending a cooking class, a kick boxing class, scuba diving, snorkeling or zip lining, rest assured, student travelers get to live like the locals and they are in for the experience of a lifetime! Having experienced 3 years with another student travel program, I can say confidently and without hesitation that Westcoast Connection is the gold standard in student travel! They are, hands down, the Best of the Best! Thank you Westcoast Connection 360 for another phenomenal summer!

My 16 year old daughter took her 3rd WCC trip and spent 25 days this summer in Thailand on a community serviced based program . . . and it was nothing short of spectacular! The trip leaders were just fantastic! Super responsible and organized, very friendly, professional, and fun, they set the pace and the tone for an amazing adventure! The itinerary gave the students the best opportunities to experience the essence of everything Thailand. An up close and personal travel adventure, the group lived and experienced Thai culture, customs, cuisine and sites, shopped markets, took several modes of local and country specific transportation (including riding in Tuk Tuks ) and visited some of the country's most beautiful and architecturally ornate temples! The community service projects were absolutely life changing! From working with Thai children and exchanging cultural dances and games, to the physical labor of the group projects (teamwork at its finest) to spending the day at an elephant preserve, it was like living world history up close and personal! And they traveled all over the country! What a tremendous opportunity for students to experience another country and it's culture! The things she learned and got to experience first hand are unparalleled! And she did not want to come home! As a parent, I could not have asked for more! Well done WCC! Exceptional job well done!

My trip to Thailand was amazing and a great experience! Every day was planned so well - we had so many fun activities planned. Also the staff were all very nice, helpful, and accommodating. Out your guides were also amazing and taught us about the culture and places we were touring. The service was, although tiring at times, amazing. We got to interact with the locals during service and many other times throughout the trip. The healthcare was also very nice- close to the hotel and very clean!

My son just returned from his fourth Westcoast Trip, this one to Hawaii, and he could not have had a better experience! The time he spent with the Boys and Girls club was truly meaningful and he thoroughly enjoyed all of the activities, the highlight being the incredible surfing. I can't say enough good things about Westcoast. It is a professional, well run organization staffed by caring, responsible and fun trip leaders and counsellors. They all go the extra mile to ensure your kid has an exceptional experience. THANK YOU WESTCOAST for giving my kids memories that will last forever. Kid #3 will be on deck shortly!!