Want to know about him? We’ve got the scoop on this ARCC Leader!

• Name: Nolan Wildfire
• Age: 25
• Schools attended & Degree: Elon University- Education, University of Tennessee: Higher Education
• Hometown: Pittsburgh, PA                                                                             
• What ARCC trips have you led: Alaska, Ecuador/Galapagos
• What ARCC trip did you go on/would you go on if you were a student? Alaska is life changing! Go there now!
• If you could meet anyone (living or dead) who would it be? Frank Sinatra
• Mountains or Beach? Mountains
• Item you would bring on survivor? Bear Grylls
• Essential travel item? Dr. Brommers Soap
• Favorite piece of clothing? Vibram 5 Fingers
• Sport you played in High School? Volleyball, Cross Country, Basketball
• Favorite Book? Where the Old Fern Grows
• What song would you sing on American Idol? Build me a Buttercup
• What would the title of your biography be? Cheese, Wedgies and the Finer Things In Life
• Favorite condiment? Heinz Ketchup
• What did you dislike about yourself when you were young and now love? Long Legs- I looked gangly
• What food could you eat for the rest of your life? Colby Cheese
• What is your best summer memory? Snorkling with seals in the Galapagos
• Longest you have been without a shower? 3 weeks, STANKY!
• What is one thing that you wish you knew when you were in High School? Girls are trouble!
• What was your first job? lifeguard
• If you had to move to another country, where would you move? Chile

Another of our 2011 ARCC Leaders, Toby Cohen, shares some fun factoids!

• Name: Toby Cohen
• Age: 25
• Schools attended & Degree: The Colorado College-BA History/Poli-Sci Minor: Education
• Hometown: Andover, MA
• What ARCC trips have you led: Africa Service, Costa Rica Service, Turkey/Greece Service
• What ARCC trip did you go on/would you go on if you were a student? Thailand
• If you could meet anyone (living or dead) who would it be? MLK Jr.
• Mountains or Beach? Mountains
• Item you would bring on survivor? iPod Shuffle
• Essential travel item? Baby Wipes
• Favorite piece of clothing? Boat Shoes
• Sport you played in High School? Hockey+ Lacrosse
• Favorite Book? Choke
• What song would you sing on American Idol? Mr. Big- Just to be the next to be with you
• What would the title of your biography be? I’m comfortable if you are.
• Favorite condiment? BBQ Sauce
• What did you dislike about yourself when you were young and now love? My smile
• What food could you eat for the rest of your life? Skittles
• What is your best summer memory? Summer Camp at Camp Young Judea
• Longest you have been without a shower? 3 weeks
• What is one thing that you wish you knew when you were in High School? That it goes by fast!
• What was your first job? Camp Councelor
• If you had to move to another country, where would you move? Barcelona, Spain

Learn more about ARCC Leader Andrea Holm!

• Name: Andrea Holm
• Age: 31
• Schools attended & Degree: University of Navarra- Masters of Education, University of Iowa- BS in Recreation Administration
• Hometown:  Bloomington, MN                                                                     
• What ARCC trips have you led: Blue Water Virgin Islands, Costa Rica Multisport, Cost Rica Service 2 week, Costa Rica Service 3 week
• What ARCC trip did you go on/would you go on if you were a student? Africa Global Action Wildlife Studies
• If you could meet anyone (living or dead) who would it be? Michael Jackson
• Mountains or Beach? Beach
• Item you would bring on survivor? Tooth brush
• Essential travel item? Tooth brush and an ability to adapt
• Favorite piece of clothing? Every zip up hoody I own
• Sport you played in High School? Track and field (400m), Ski Team, Cross Country Running, Soccer
• Favorite Book? Revolutionary Rd
• What song would you sing on American Idol? I can’t sing at all. But maybe “I Think Were alone now” by Tiffany
• What would the title of your biography be? One day I will be a wise old lady!
• Favorite condiment?  Dijon Mustard
• What did you dislike about yourself when you were young and now love?  Gangliness maybe? Being so tall
• What food could you eat for the rest of your life? Grapefruit, cottage cheese
• What is your best summer memory? As a kid- camping with my family in Northern, MN
• Longest you have been without a shower? 1 week
• What is one thing that you wish you knew when you were in High School? That High School is not the best days of your life as people sometimes say! It gets so much better!
• What was your first job?  Dairy Queen
• If you had to move to another country, where would you move? Mexico

Here in the ARCC office it is officially SUMMER! We may go by a different schedule than the rest of the world. Yesterday we welcomed three of our leaders who are leaving for China, TODAY.

Seasoned leaders, Sophia W, David M, and Pete R, spent all day getting equipment, making journals, going over all the details of their upcoming trip with Pacific Ridge to China. The three will fly to China today and meet up with Max C. who will also be leading our first summer trip. The group will have one week to further prepare before meeting the Pac Ridge students and teachers!

Goodbye to our China leaders and Hello to SUMMER!

Spring is on its way, and for many, high school graduation is right around the corner.  Most graduates are preparing for college but others are following a different path.  A “GAP” year is an increasingly popular way for students to gain valuable real-world experiences between between high school and college.  As a leader in student travel, Adventures Cross-Country (ARCC) today announced its newest programs, GAP Semesters in Africa and Asia.

A common practice in other countries for years, the GAP concept is now finding popularity in the United States.  A recent survey of 300,000 freshmen at four-year colleges revealed that 1.2 percent waited a year to enter college, according to the Higher Education Research Institute at the University of California at Los Angeles.

“Our GAP programs have a rich academic fabric complementing each location. We don’t want parents or students to think of this as a vacation. It is an educational, life-changing adventure filled with discovery and hard work,” commented Scott von Eschen, President of Adventures Cross-Country.

Students interested in ARCC’s GAP Semesters will travel on programs in Africa and Asia.  GAP Africa explores the majesty, cultures, and challenges of three East African nations: Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania.  GAP Asia is a unique blend of education, service and exploration of the intriguing and ancient cultures of Thailand, China and Tibet.

ARCC’s GAP Semester programs offer an educational and cultural bridge between high school and college. They are an opportunity to live, work, learn and explore in some of the greatest classrooms on earth. The programs examine five essential themes: Literacy & Education, Public Health, Urbanization & the Movement of Peoples, Environment & Conservation, and Microfinance & Economic Growth.

ARCC’s GAP Semester program is open to students finishing 12^th grade in 2011.   Visit www.adventurescrosscountry.com for more information.  Registration for 2011 GAP Semester programs is now open.

You may have read about Rebecca Golding on our website. She is one of our ARCC alumni and was so impacted by her adventure that she didn’t want it to end when she returned home!  Determined to help out a local school in Costa Rica, Rebecca (aka Becca) raised funds through her club, Pura Vida Club, to donate to the school for much needed supplies. 

We recently recieved an email from Becca updating us on her donation.  She heard from the school and with the funds donated, they were able to purchase:

• Back packs
• Pencils
• Pens
• Chopper
• Scissors
• Correction fluid
• Color pencils
• Eraser
• Note books
• Pilots
• Geometry set
• Soccer balls
• Volleyballs

We are posting pictures on our Facebook page that the school sent along when they gave the kids the new supplies.  Way to go Becca and Pura Vida Club!

We really hope that you have been able to come out to one of our presentations or attend an online slideshow about the Adventures Cross-Country experience.  But, we know that life gets busy and sometimes we just can’t squeeze that extra hour or two out of the day.  So, for all of you who wished you could have been there but couldn’t make it, we’ve compiled some of our most commonly asked questions here.  Of course, if we haven’t answered something you want to know, give us a ring or ask us on Facebook!

1. How many students are in a group/how are they put together? All ARCC groups are co-ed and generally comprised of 12 – 18 students.  Most often, students come by themselves, although friends are welcome to come together.  Groups are formed according to your current grade level and age.
2. How long have you been running programs?  We’ve been running programs for teenagers since 1983- this will be our 29^th summer!  We have programs in over 25 countries that focus on Community Service, Language & Service, Global Action and Multisport Adventures. 
3. Where do we stay? Trip lodging varies by program.  Many ARCC programs stay in small hotels, hostels or sailboats.  Some programs spend nights in dome tents on a beach, alongside a mountain trail or next to a river.  Many adventures combine camping with stays in small hotels and hostels. 
4. How will I know what to pack?  ARCC will send you an Enrollment Packet which includes a very detailed packing list along with other important information.  You will definitely be fully prepared for your adventure!
5. How do I sign up for a program? You can simply give us a call at 1-800-767-2722 and we can walk you through the steps.  To secure your spot on a program, we require an $800 deposit which can be paid by check, visa or mastercard.  You will also need to fill out an online application by visiting our website at http://www.adventurescrosscountry.com/reservations/step1.cfm. 
6. How does communication work during the program?  Students have the opportunity to call home approximately once a week.  In international destinations, this is easiest done by using a calling card.  Parents also receive a special log-in to our website where you can view blog updates approximately every 3-4 days to follow the trip!
7. How much spending money should I bring? Everything you need during the program is taken care of, but of course everyone likes to take home souvenirs or buy some things along the way! We recommend approximately $75 per week as a guideline.
8. When do programs start to fill up? Our programs are filling very quickly and typically fill in March/April, if not sooner! Enrollment is accepted on a rolling basis until space is full.  It is best to give us a call at 1-800-767-2722 to check availability for your program of interest.
9. What is the food like? Food is an important part of every ARCC adventure.  We spend a great deal of time to provide a delicious and well-balanced menu.  Depending on the program, the group may be cooking their own meals or eating in restaurants.  ARCC can easily accommodate vegetarian and most dietary restrictions if notified in advance.
10. How many service hours can I earn? If participating in one of our ‘Community Service’ focused programs, you will earn anywhere from 30 – 60 hours of community service depending on the trip.  Whether it is working with native Hawaiians in a taro field or teaching English to children in Ecuador, ARCC students have the opportunity to contribute to local communities. 

SUP! I love surfing. Ok, that may be a lie. I should say, I love surfing in WARM water. If you are like me, than Hawaii is the place to be. Pulling up to the beaches around the islands, you see trucks stacked high with boards, short, long and the mix.

After returning to Hawaii after 5  years, It is amazing to see the new popularity of the Stand Up Paddleboards or SUP’s. As the name implies, you stand on these boards and use a long paddle to navigate the waters. These boards are nice because they enable the paddler to catch small waves that wouldn’t be ridable on a regular surfboard. Hawaii is the birthplace of surfing and after perfecting this sport, they have invented another exemplifying their pull towards the ocean. Leave it up to the Hawaiians to enjoy the waves anyway they can.

Students on both of ARCC’s Hawaii trips will have a chance ride with Hawaiians and catch a few waves themselves on the beautiful beaches on Maui and Kauai!

Humuhumunukunukuapuaa is Hawaiian state fish. No, I still cannot exactly pronounce this, but I can say that I saw this rare beauty yesterday. On my day off, our friend Tara at Boss Frog’s on Maui, set me up with a 6 hour snorkel to Molokini Crater. Molokini is THE place to snorkel off Maui. After a morning of service, students on an ARCC Hawaii Service trip will be lucky enough snorkel here with Boss Frogs.

It really does amaze me how bright tropical fish can be. In their native habitat, these fish glow much more than in the doctor’s office tank! The reef was vibrant with colorful coral and schools of fish. In all, I saw over 20 different kinds of fish and even two turtles. It was time well spent and an awesome opportunity to swim with the fish in crystalline waters.

Now I understand why the Big Island is the place to scuba dive on the Hawaiian Islands. The water is BLUE, BLUE, BLUE and crystal clear.

My first morning on the island of Hawaii, I drove down to a small bay by my hotel and took a quick swim in the ocean. The Big Island is very new compared to the rest of the Hawaiian chain and the evidence is in the lava rock covering the landscape. I threw on my swimming goggles, scrambled over the black rocks and jumped in. The sun was just rising and the water was perfect. Once in the water, the rocks turned to super fine sand. As I swam out, it felt like was not getting any deeper. I went underwater and realized that the depth was about 20 feet. The water was so clear and pure, the ocean floor seemed only feet away when it was really dozens.
It is no surprise why Kona is a world destination for snorkeling and scuba diving.

After my swim, I drove over and met with Angela who organizes our PADI Open Water Course for all of our Hawaii Blue Water Multisport trips. She showed me around Jacks Diving Locker and the awesome facilities. They have classrooms, a store and practice pool a stones throw away from the famous Kailua-Kona beach. In the practice pool, there is even a viewing window to watch your friends dive!