Outstanding Leaders

My Program Director, Lyndee, was the nicest counselor I’ve ever had. She was super easy to talk to, flexible, and extremely patient. She was great at letting us be independent, but I also always felt supported.
Theo Greene, Newton, Massachusetts

I loved my leader Jenna so much!! She is one of the sweetest and most caring people I have ever met. She was so good with us and was the perfect mix of being our friend while still being our staff. She was someone we listened to and looked up to.
Ava Powell, Houston, Texas

Maddie loved the Program Director, Zach, and I felt comfortable knowing he was in charge of the group. Always professional, kind, and personable.
Rebecca Kaizer, Chevy Chase, Maryland

Brendis so nice and flexible. She handled everything amazingly. She clearly put in so much effort to ensure we had the best time and got everything out of the trip that we could. I could not have asked for a better Program Director.
Charley Levene, New York, New York

Anastassiya was one of my favorite staff I have ever had! She was such an easy and kind person. When talking to her it felt as if I was talking to one of my friends which I think is pretty hard to find. I was always able to tell her anything and she was so kind.
Aden Kryder, Deerfield, Illinois

Adam was an amazing leader and one of the nicest people I have ever met. He was always happy, in a good mood, and always willing to go out of his way to make sure that we were having a great time.
Andrew Solinsky, Parkland, Florida  

Eli loved his Program Director and won’t stop talking about him. He said he was the best counselor he’s had ever and that is after years of day camp and sleep-away camp. He sounds like a keeper!
Michal Sperling, New York, New York  

The Program Director was fantastic! The tone and energy of the staff and participants was very positive, kind, inclusive, organized, and fun!
Tanya Hitter, Sharon, Massachusetts  

The staff was superb and Hallie couldn’t pick a favorite. Rich and Adam were amazing at managing friendships and making sure my daughter was able to comfortably try new experiences. Hallie made lifelong friends and had the best summer of her life. Thank you!
Sara Newman, Ridgewood, New Jersey  

The staff were all so sweet and genuinely cared about each and every participant on the trip.
Iris Hambach, Columbus, Ohio

Having the friendship and camaraderie among the three staff members Andre, Jenessa and Luisa truly enriched our trip experience, making it so much more enjoyable for all of us. Their bond and teamwork radiated positivity and created a welcoming atmosphere that made every moment memorable.
Sophia Burak, Hampstead, Quebec  

I loved the staff. They were the greatest staff on a teen tour ever assembled.
Jack Lee, Los Angeles, California  

The staff was so amazing they were like parents away from home. They made me feel at home and comfortable here. This experience was so amazing that I am sad to go home.
Aiden Laufer, Miami Beach, Florida

All the staff were excellent and went above and beyond their duties to provide an enriching experience for our teen! Jade enjoyed the way all the staff engaged with the group & individually when necessary! The Program Director, Mollee, was a fantastic communicator! She was also very hands on with Jade’s food allergies in addition to being loving & kind in all aspects of her interaction with Jade. Jade felt very supported and safe with Mollee leading the group! Jade had a fantastic time & came home with a big smile and awesome stories of her time in Costa Rica! Thank you!!! She looks forward to the next one!
Cindy Reejhsinghai, Wesport, Connecticut  

The staff was the best and the people were so nice. Honestly you feel like you are in a family and they are so caring about their participants.
Jaydein Kominsky, New York, New York

Jess IS AMAZING! She was absolutely the best leader ever and she made this trip even better than it already was. She always found a way to keep the energy up and keep the kids happy. She was a great leader.
Addie Nash, Manasquan, New Jersey

The staff was amazing, helpful, available, nice, and friendly. They had the kids’ security and enjoyment at heart.
Anne Sprauel, Paris, France

I loved Jamie. She was super dedicated and always made sure everything was perfect. She treated us like her own.
Alizee Fleurent, Westmount, Quebec

Brielle had the time of her life! She made amazing friends, loved the activities, grew her confidence, and loved the staff. The Program Director, Mason, was fabulous!!! Brielle loved him and felt he was the best!
Laura Davidson, Weston, Florida

Jamie was AMAZING!!!!! He was mature and fun and made sure everyone was taken care of. Jayme was so lucky to have him as her Program Director.
Amanda Blatt, Montreal West, Quebec 

Molly said the Program Director Brian was very considerate of the group. He worked hard. She says he was kind, funny, and interacted with all of them. He took pride in his position with the group and maintained a positive environment. He treated everyone with respect.
Dawn Blinder, Las Vegas, Nevada

I cannot say enough positive things about this program. The itinerary was incredible. The counselors were amazing!!! Mason, Jayden and Lauren made Marly’s European Discovery a once in a lifetime experience. They were truly fantastic counselors and I cannot say enough about them or thank them enough. They truly made a huge difference in Marly’s experience. Counselors are a crucial part of a tour and it really did make all the difference. They made her feel comfortable and safe and as a parent I cannot ask for more especially when I am entrusting my child to them so many miles away.
Melissa Breitstein, Woodbury, New York

Olivia said all of the staff was amazing and flexible and made the trip the very best!
Terri Gordon, Highland Park, Illinois

Naomi was thrilled that she had a fantastic group of leaders that were assigned to her European program. She cannot say enough kind words to describe how the staff made her experience absolutely amazing…well done!
Scott Alintoff, Marlboro, New Jersey

Lucas raved about Robin and said she was a fantastic Program Director. He felt safe throughout the entire trip and really enjoyed the amazing experiences in Ecuador.
Karen Melendez, Chappaqua, New York 

The Program Director Brian was amazing – Isaac really enjoyed him and said they were very safety oriented while still being fun.
Sharon Wolf, Atlanta, Georgia 

The Program Director Bella was absolutely amazing! Very personable, organized, and enthusiastic. She’s a gem!
Richard Winkler, Needham, Massachusetts 

I loved the fact that I was able to get close with new people and the fact that I had the best director ever. Harlan is kind, caring, and compassionate, and is a man that should run Westcoast Connection one day. He really made my summer better and made it a summer I will never forget.
Henry Miller, Syosset, New York 

I had an excellent time on this trip. The food and activities were great but the best part was the staff. All of the staff were fun to be around and I feel like we bonded well over the trip.
Hudson Bloch, Saddle River, New Jersey 

Westcoast Connection had a very positive impact on me. The staff created an amazing feeling of community. They made it clear that everyone should be kind to each other and the kids listened. I made amazing friends and felt that everyone included each other and treated each other with kindness. I had an incredible time on Westcoast – from fun activities, caring staff, a great community, and making really close friends.
Allie Granovsky, Toronto, Ontario

The Westcoast Connection staff were amazing. Every single one of them cared so much about all of us. We got to explore all over Europe and see everything. It felt like a family, all the kids were so close.
Madison Lipner, Plainview, New York 

Alyssa absolutely raved about her Program Director. Her comments and description left me with the impression that he was the perfect mix of fun and relatable for teens and yet very much in charge as a leader, and someone they not only trusted but also respected, appreciated, and listened to. We are very happy with her experience and the entire program.
Sharon & Leigh Kessler, Potomac, Maryland

The staff on Lexi’s tour were amazing. Marc, her director, was also fabulous! She always felt safe and comfortable and loved how much fun all of the activities were. Lexi made many new friends thanks to the environment the staff provided. She always felt comfortable and had the best summer!!
Heather & Sanford Nydish, Blue Bell, Pennsylvania

Abbie felt that Amy was an exceptional Program Director. She was very kind, patient, and helpful. Amy was a key contributor to Abbie’s wonderful experience.
Jennifer & Robert Backstein, Toronto, Ontario

From what I was told, Annie was in charge and had everything totally under control. This is very impressive when traveling with 50+ teenagers from across the country in many foreign places. I was very impressed with her level of management but also being able to balance allowing their kids to have a good time in a safe and respectful manner. Five stars from our family to Annie! Well done! My daughter had nothing but positive feedback about the trip. She met many new friends and was impressed with all that she saw. Her memories will last a lifetime. We are very grateful for all that you have done to make such a wonderful tour for our daughter.         
Robin Altschul, Glenview, Illinois

This program opened my eyes to all the good in the world. The staff are the best people I’ve ever met and the places we go with them were awesome.
Jonah Feldman, Weston, Florida

The Program Director Nick was great. My son said he was caring and effective. He liked all the counselors.        
Gail & Todd Lencz, New York, New York

Aaron had an overall amazing experience. He particularly enjoyed the Via Ferrata and his time on Catalina Island was a highlight. He appreciated the staff and all that they did to help make his summer as memorable as possible. It sounded like a dream team.          
Dvorah Bowen & David Miller, Dollard-des-Ormeaux, Quebec 

Fabulous friendships were made doing amazing activities. Erica was fabulous, she very much connected with each child individually, did a great job integrating the group and was tons of fun with great energy. Cameron was an amazing counselor who was funny and great with the kids. Carly was great to talk to and took amazing pictures. Alyssa was super caring and great with all of the daily medications. White water rafting, Disney and Universal, Olympic Park and tubing at Lake Tahoe were amazing. Color war, celebrity dress up night and secret Santa were all amazing themed activities. Ed the bus driver was the best. 
Stacy & Dagan Lacorte, Suffern, New York

Parker was on the California & the Canyons and Mango was the best Program Director we could have hoped for his trip. He seemed to encourage and bring out the best parts of her for this adventure and likely had a long-term impact on her life. He was kind and nurturing and created a space where she felt safe to express herself and try new things. Parker came home with so many new friends and the goal of seeing some on travels this year and hopefully next summer on another WCC trip.          
Colby Simon & Kasey Simon, Reisterstown, Maryland

I was so lucky to have such great leaders because they are such great people. They listened to us and put our opinions into consideration. They made this a super comfortable environment. I’m really going to miss them, which in my mind indicates that they all had a big impact on me. 
Gabi Brennan, Westfield, New Jersey

Emma’s Program Director Marc was a true gift to have along this experience. He made this trip so special for the teens, teaching them how to prepare for upcoming days and managing their expectations along with keeping them safe. The summer surpassed my expectations and I would have worried much less if I had truly understood the caliber of ALL the staff on the trip!!
Marisa Plotkin, Plainview, New York

Cristiano loved Gigi, Viv and Ryan. He has since talked about stories involving the directors as if he were talking about a new best friend he met on the trip. He was equally as excited about sharing experiences with them as he was with the other travelers and Cristiano has said numerous times that he already misses the directors. The directors were all welcoming, kind, engaging and funny. Cristiano was most definitely in good hands with that team. In fact, Cristiano loved Ryan so much that he now calls Ryan his new “father” 🙂 Cristiano loved every bit of the program. He said that the program put in place to get to know the other travelers was terrific. He loved getting to know the group. He also loved that they were taught about the countries they visited. The education piece was important to us because we wanted Cristiano to enjoy himself but we also wanted him to explore and learn about the different countries. Cristiano made many new lifelong friends… and now needs a job to pay for all of the trips he wants to take to visit them across the country (hahaha!). He truly came home with the glow of joy. 
Traci & Mario Tricoci, Chicago, Illinois

Zachary said that everyone on the staff was amazing. All of them were kind, approachable and welcoming. His Program Director James was “amazing” and “incredible”. He was extremely approachable, knew what he was doing, and was respected by all the teens on the tour.  Zachary felt like the tour itself was well run and was happy with all the stops and locations that he went to. He left feeling very lucky and happy to have been able to see so many incredible places.  
Allison & Matthew Gelfman, Old Bethpage, New York

I had so much fun on my Westcoast Connection trip. I made great friends, learned new things about myself, and saw new places. The Program Director Hannah was amazing and made the trip great. I would definitely go on another trip and recommend it to my friends. 
Molly Bluestein, Gladwyne, Pennsylvania

I really enjoyed the places we visited. I felt like there was a perfect balance of feeling independent, while also being protected and safe. I didn’t need to worry about anything because the staff always had it covered and would take care of it for me. 
Jordana Treisman, Westport, Connecticut

WCC has truly made a huge impact on my life. From being able to do amazing activities, the best staff, and meeting the most amazing people, I am forever grateful for all that WCC has done for me. More than anything, I think that my Program Director, Andre truly helped me be the best version of myself.      
Micah Bidner, Woodbury, New York

Westcoast Connection had great staff members who cared about the happiness and well-being of everyone on the trip. I enjoyed meeting many new people from across the world and would recommend this program to anyone looking to explore the West Coast.
Harry Shaevsky, West Bloomfield Township, Michigan

Moriah was an AMAZING director. Natalie adores her and can’t say enough wonderful things about Moriah. All of the staff, Chris, Jordan, Ethan and Katie, were great! So fun and supportive!
Ellen Polisky-Nudelman & Miroslav Nudelman, Scarsdale, New York

Marc was Jillian’s Program Director and he was fabulous. He seemed to have a pulse on all the children and built relationships with each making the experience a bar raising one. THANK YOU, MARC. Jillian gained a greater sense of responsibility, exposure and independence.      
Jenni & Andrew Smith, Wellington, Florida

This was an amazing trip. All the staff did an amazing job connecting with the participants and put phenomenal effort into making this a trip of a lifetime.
Miles Merkur, Toronto, Ontario

The group leaders really made the trip awesome. They were always prepared and just wanted us to have fun. They were super responsive to feedback and suggestions on what we would like to do.
Isabel Milner, New York, New York

I thought the trip was great. Danny was the best Program Director I could have asked for, and all of the activities were so much fun.   
Andrew Ossino, South Glastonbury, Connecticut

Madison’s Program Director Mango was caring, responsible and super fun. Madison will truly miss him. She enjoyed her time spent with all the counselors. She enjoyed Matan’s sense of humor and knew that all her counselors were there for her whenever she needed. She made great friends and gained independence, self-esteem, and did things out of her comfort zone. Thank you, Westcoast Connection for an amazing 21 days!   
Alana & Phil Rodriguez, Woodcliff Lake, New Jersey

I love how the counselors are so approachable from the second you meet them, and how welcoming everyone is. It creates an easy environment to make friends and have a great trip.           
Lilla Brennan, Savannah, Georgia

This was such an amazing trip with amazing people, and it was truly the counselors that made the program exceed my expectations.
Kayla Giset, Pembroke Pines, Florida

I loved the staff, activities, volunteer work and new friends! All the staff were extremely supportive, kind, energetic, they cared about us and made us all feel welcomed!   
Chloe Lane, Toronto, Ontario

My Program Director Joelle was amazing and made this trip so enjoyable and safe!!! I loved exploring the city through food too.        
Sloane Kaplan, Demarest, New Jersey

The staff was great to be around, super kind, and extremely welcoming.  
Abbott Wagner, Tiburon, California

I loved the community that the staff was able to create, having good vibes each and every day, and keeping everyone smiling constantly. Being able to create a tight community in such a short amount of time was extremely special.
Dylan Baer, Parkland, Florida

The staff on the trip was terrific, communicated when needed, as was Chelsea in the office. Catherine made a bunch of new friends from all over. Truly an amazing experience for her. She had the most fabulous time and said she would 100% do another trip.
Lauren & Eric Bean, Franklin, Michigan   

Program Director Lauren was amazing. She understood, connected with, and worked with Sydney & Zoey in a manner that far exceeded my expectations. The girls respected, listened, and LOVED her. She is someone that knows how to manage teenagers that seek freedom with the right guardrails to best manage them. There are no words to describe how incredible this program was. I have NO complaints, only praise for the staff, the director of the program and the team at WCC. In my girls words, “most incredible summer ever”!
Elise & Matt Wood, Delray Beach, Florida     

Miles said the staff were excellent!!!
Samantha Bederman, Toronto, Ontario    

My daughter loved the Director Allie. She actually loved all the staff on her trip. They helped facilitate the best summer trip ever!!
Tracey & Scott Kauffman, Weston, Florida   

The Program Director and staff made the trip seamless and were there to help in any and all ways. Best trip! Liv was happy the entire time and made the best of friends!
Stephanie & Steve Rosen, Franklin, Michigan    

Bailey had a fantastic experience. She made new lifelong friends that she will continue to keep in touch with. The trip overall was seamless. I can’t even imagine the work that was put into coordinating the activities, hotels, meals, etc. Lauren her diretor was amazing! This was Bailey’s third WCC trip and she said Lauren was the best Program Director that she has had. The entire staff was excellent which made for a very fun experience. Well done WCC!!
Randi & Douglas Fried, New York, New York   

The Northwestern Odyssey was very fun and all the people were so nice. It was an amazing experience. All the activities were great as well. I learned a lot of meaningful things from my Program Director Jamie like how to make others smile and laugh and make friends.
Tyler Haas, Boca Raton, Florida     

Super fun activities and bus rides. The staff was amazing. Always fun, very welcoming, and caring. I learned so much and made so many friends. I’ve had an amazing summer!
Lexi Marcus, Santa Monica, California    

From Arin’s account, Program Director Jen was excellent! She was organized and able to bring excellent experience to a large group.
Emilia & Jeffrey Miller, West Bloomfield Township, Michigan   

Program Director Brad was an exceptional leader and his leader Vivian was beyond compare according to my Garrett. He made tremendous friends and felt included and valued. Westcoast does it again: Magic.
Marjorie & Kevin Recker, Sewickley, Pennsylvania   

All the staff was great! Nathan loved the bond he had with his leader Ali – we heard a ton of great things about her! His director Jamie was great! He gave the group just enough space to explore while still being “safe”.
Bryan & Nathan Feuerberg, Boca Raton, Florida   

My trip was a great experience, because I got to visit amazing places, surrounded by people I loved and vise-versa, and led by staff members who felt more like friendly and affectionate (but disciplining) older siblings than staff members. I loved being in Honolulu and balancing a city environment with a tropical getaway. WCC did a really good job of creating good and exciting activities that also allowed us to become a family.
Max Lerner, Roslyn, New York    

The staff on my trip were exceptional. They were friendly, easy to connect with, and great people. The trip was spectacular. We saw so many amazing landmarks and views, and the activities were so fun.
Ben Resnick, Needham, Massachusetts  

The Program Director was excellent and Masyn both respected and appreciated his balance of leadership and friendliness.
Jeffrey & Stacy Huttman, Boca Raton, Florida   

I have been to camp before but nothing will surpass this program. I can’t even decide what is my favorite part because I loved this experience so much, it has meant so so much to me. I have never been put with a random group of people and felt so loved and safe and accepted. We were all constantly laughing, singing, dancing and enjoying the moments we spent together. Everyone went into everyday with a smile and worked so hard to help people and where so generous with everything. So many people on this trip made a difference in my life and are people that I will always remember but the people that had the biggest impact on me was the staff. I have never in my life had such amazing and inspiring staff in any part of my life. Each and everyone of them gave everything they had to helping people including us. They all went above and beyond to make everyone of us feel special and appreciated. These people will always be in my heart and I’m so sad to see them go. They were more than the people in charge, they were friends. And I truly think that that is the best thing that any staff member could be; someone to look up to, someone who you respect that respects you too, and that is something that they shared with everyone, respect. I will think about this program and the people I met for the rest of my life.
Grace Trotta, Toronto, Ontario   

Excellent program and tour!!!!! Maddi’s director Andre was fabulous! He was kind, exciting, and fun, but he always maintained an appropriate level of mutual respect.
Pamela & Barry Schapiro, Parkland, Florida    

I gained many new friendships from this Costa Rica Community Service program, learning more about teamwork and communications. The staff were so nice and communicative. Although they were our staff, they still acted as if they were our friends but also being role models. I gained so much from this program, making me want learn more and go on another service trip.
Lexi Wolf, Los Angeles, California   

Henry had a great time and appreciated his staff and the trust they put in the kids.
Jeanne & Darren Fogel, Rye, New York   

Jess was absolutely wonderful, we couldn’t have hoped for a better director. She was extremely involved with each child, had amazing initiatives to build the group during the stay, really created a positive group spirit and I can say that she has really made an impact on Claire. Jess is an amazing person and very talented director.
Susan & Remi Lassiaille, Vincennes, France   

I can’t say enough good things about Ella’s director Annie and the entire staff on the trip. They went above and beyond to ensure the kids were safe, happy, and having the best time possible. Ella hasn’t stopped raving about Annie, Maddy, Dom, Jake, and Jordan. They were professional, responsible, and extremely fun. They were not just group leaders, but role models. THANK YOU ANNIE AND TEAM FOR TAKING SUCH GOOD CARE OF THE KIDS!
Shara & Danny Pelz, Miami, Florida