LEADING TRIPS FOR RLT: ADVENTURE, LEADERSHIP, AND CHANGING LIVES

As we look forward to Summer 2020, we share insight from Pierce, who started as a trip leader with RLT in 2018. Our leaders are a large part of what makes RLT trips so special – their insight, experience, and enthusiasm create life-changing experiences for our participants!

The summer of 2018 was the first summer I worked with The Road Less Traveled (RLT). The experience was unlike anything I had participated in before – chock full of immense self-discovery and introspection. I had found something special. While attending our 10-day staff training I was constantly blown away by my co-workers. I found myself learning from and growing alongside dozens of some of the most compassionate, driven, and well-traveled people I have ever met. Not only were my co-leaders adventure connoisseurs, they were school teachers, masters of business, and pre-med students. RLT was one of the more diverse working environments I have ever encountered. I left staff training for my first summer guiding in Colorado feeling prepared, empowered, and stoked to lead students on a beautiful trip.

After 34 days of adventure and 34 nights of the breathtaking stars, it was time for my first RLT summer to close. I finished my sessions with grand memories of students growing and pushing what their perceived limitations and capabilities were. Moreover, my summer culminated with zero doubt in my mind that I would seek out another summer with RLT.

Following 2018, I knew that while I loved Colorado, I was yearning for more exotic adventures. To my great fortune the office staff of RLT felt that I was ready to tackle more logistically intensive trips. I was told that I would be leading not only a session on the Hawaiian islands of Maui and Kauai, but also a session traveling across Costa Rica. Both adventures pushed me to a new level of leadership, sunscreen application, and love for facilitating travel experiences for teenagers.

I’m sitting on my front porch and as I write this I can feel the adventure bug starting to act up. It’s a few months until RLT staff training starts and I am looking forward to catching up with old friends, making new connections, and preparing for another summer of challenges. I’ll be honest – this short expression of gratitude for the RLT community is missing a plethora of fun anecdotes and unexpected side adventures. Though, trust me, it’s for the best. I am fully aware that my handle on the English language is not to the point where I can accurately portray the richness and depth of moments on RLT trips. The best I can do is highly recommend going on a trip, or getting to know a past or current RLT leader. I assure you, you won’t regret it.