Summer Leaders
Our Summer Leaders
Our summer staff and leadership teams are the special ingredient in creating the summer of a lifetime for every participant on our programs. We take great pride in the praise our leaders earn year after year for their ability to create fun, safe, and inclusive group environments. They are teachers, professors, coaches, student affairs professionals and other leaders who believe in the transformative impacts of travel. And best of all, they love what they do, which is evident from the fact that many return back year after year for 5, 10, even 20+ summers!
Meet a Few of Our Program Leaders and Directors
Meet a Few of Our Summer Company Directors
Competitive Staff Selection & Hiring Process
Every staff member on our programs is certified in CPR and First AID, and must complete our rigorous screening of personal interviews, reference checks, and criminal background checks. Last year, only 18% of applicants earned the coveted position of leader or director.
We pride ourselves on finding the most unique individuals who:
- Have a demonstrated passion for educating and working with teens
- Serve as positive role models in their community
- Demonstrate excellent leadership skills
- Love to have fun and know how to get everyone involved
- Are responsible, social, empathetic, and caring
Thorough Training and Preparation
After being selected as a summer leader, director, or other summer staff member, we require all staff to attend mandatory in-person training sessions, ranging from one week for Program Directors and three days for Program Leaders. Written manuals with detailed policies and procedures are reviewed, and additional role-playing exercises reinforce our safety protocols. This ensures that all staff are well-versed in our philosophy, policies, and procedures, and are ready to provide a well-supervised and fun-filled summer program.
24/7 Support During the Summer
Your staff team is also supported by, and has regular contact with, our Company Directors, Program Coordinators, and Regional Supervisors, who act as their 24/7 support team. In a given summer, we have over 280 scheduled support visits to make sure programs are running smoothly. This in-depth investment in personnel is essential to achieving consistent, excellent program quality.