Teen Travel Blog

June 14, 2010
Hey ARCC Leaders! Welcome to staff training 2010. It is going to be a GREAT next few days! It is going to be crazy busy and crazy fun.  Josh and I are excited to get to know you, and feel free to come to us with any questions, concerns, suggestions, etc.

In the short time we’ve already spent together, it is clear there is a lot of creativity and talents: double-joins, out of control tongues, other languages and event unicycles. Woot Woot! Read the rest of this entry »

We all remember “Where’s Waldo” – the elusive, ever fashionable, spectacle-wearing character that we all as teens searched and searched for in impossibly busy photos?  Well, at ARCC we have decided to create our own version of Waldo – the ARCC Duck!

No, he will not be wearing jeans or a striped t-shirt, but  the lovable, laughable, not-so-cuddly and sometimes squeaky creature is the new mascot on our trips!   One of the most traveled ducks in the world, the ARCC Duck will travel in style, with each group, and experience all the ‘quacky’ moments our staff and students do!  

We will be posting photos regularly of our staff and students on our trips this summer.  So, all you duck-lovers out there (we know who you are)…be on the lookout!  Let us know if you see him! Quack on.

Eric first started leading trips in 2006, when he served as a guide for freshman orientation groups while earning a degree in Anthropology from Princeton University. After completing a NOLS Himalaya Mountaineering Course, Eric knew that he wanted to have the same impact on students that his instructors had on him. He believes strongly in the power of the wilderness, which helps students achieve things they never thought possible.

“One of my favorite ARCC memories was on the last night of the Hawaii trip last summer. We stuffed ourselves with the celebratory final feast, and then played games until we collapsed under a sky of stars on the beautiful deserted beach. Our group grew to be more than just friends over the course of the trip, we were family, and nobody could bring themselves to say goodnight, knowing this would be our last time all together listening to the sound of the ocean and feeling the warm breeze of a Hawaiian night.”

Erin’s life was forever changed on her ARCC Western Adventure when she was 16, where she gained leadership skills, confidence, and friendships that she still values today. Erin also participated on the Australia/Fiji trip, which furthered her love of travel and discovery of new cultures. After college she returned to ARCC as a trip leader, sharing the same passion for the outdoors that she learned as an ARCC student. Erin is currently enjoying one last winter in Colorado working as an adaptive ski instructor before beginning law school in Seattle next fall.

“The amazing group of teenagers on my Ecuador Service trip was excited but anxious for our service project in Pioculin, a remote Amazonian village. We were the first of the four ARCC groups to work on the project of building the school teacher a home. The teacher had to walk two hours each way to and from school before our groups built him this home! The four days we spent building in Pioculin were surreal, our already tight-knit group grew even closer, and as we leveled the ground and put up the frame for his house, the sound of laughter, teamwork, and encouragement resonated throughout the air. It was truly amazing and inspirational to see what happened in the four days our group was there, and all of our students felt extremely proud of their accomplishments. The village and teacher’s appreciation for our hard work was not unnoticed and they thanked us with a festive party full of Ecuadorian desserts and music. It was a night I am sure nobody will ever forget.”

Zach’s summers leading ARCC students help prepare him for his starring role on NBC’s “Friday Night Lights” as a high school junior. Zach plays the Dillon Panther’s quarterback, Matt Saracen, on this popular prime-time show that airs Friday nights. Zach earned a degree in Performing Arts and Education from Northwestern University. Each summer he returns to ARCC where he utilizes his extraordinary talent as an outdoor educator!  Zach has been with us since 2003 and we couldn’t be happier to have him!

“One of my favorite ARCC memories was trekking up over an Alaskan tundra pass. We were greeted by a herd of caribou and views of glaciated river valleys below. We looked down to see the highlight of our adventure, a snowfield. Our group spent the afternoon glissading through this snowfield, laughing all the while. Traveling off trail for the past six days, it was clear that we had this playground all to ourselves.”

Sophia is one of our newest family members, starting in 2009.  She came to ARCC with a strong background in international studies and extensive travel experience around the globe. Currently completing her degree at University of New Hampshire in Political Science and International Affairs, with a minor in Spanish, Sophia spent the Fall interning at a think tank in Washington DC. This position gave her the experience to write about and focus in on US-Latin American relations. Sophia’s passion for international affairs, love for the outdoors, and experience working with teenagers gives her the foundation for her proven success as an ARCC Trip Leader.

“One of my favorite ARCC memories comes from a night we spent in a remote Maasai village in Tanzania where one chief, his 32 wives, 128 children, and 100+ cattle lived. We had arrived a few hours earlier, and after a truly cultural experience of slaughtering a cow with some of the warriors, followed by a hearty dinner of… cow meat, we were swept up by the whole village into an evening of song and dance. The image that will always stick in my mind is watching across the fire pit as, hand-in-hand with beautifully robbed and jeweled Maasai women and men, my teenagers hopped in the traditional Maasai dancing to the singing voices. There couldn’t have been a greater cultural divide between the people gathered, but in that moment, even language couldn’t separate the smiling faces.”

Carson just can’t get enough of us!  As a high school student, Carson participated on ARCC’s Australia/Fiji program. This experience not only sparked her interest in the outdoors, but also gave her a new passion for world travel and cultural exploration.  She became one of our leaders in 2005.  After graduating from Northwestern University in 2005, she spent two years teaching English in Thailand. Carson began a Masters of Public Policy program at UC Berkeley in the fall of 2007.

“One of my very favorite ARCC memories took place during our last night on Amantani, a remote inhabited island in Lake Titicaca, Peru. We had grown close to our host families there, and our entire group was sad to say farewell to the beautiful men, women, and children whom so graciously shared their lives and customs with us for three nights. For our final celebration, our hosts dressed us each in authentic and colorful Andean attire and put on a spectacular dance and music show, giving us the taste of real Peruvian culture. Our entire group beamed with smiles, realizing that this was an experience most are not lucky enough to experience in a lifetime.”

Looking forward to seeing you this summer, Carson!

Ashley has been with ARCC since 2005!  Her broad background in adventure education and community service throughout the world includes volunteering at an education center for migrant children in India and completing a NOLS Australia Outback course. Her vast experience paired with her energy and enthusiasm for teaching students makes her a strong positive role model. A graduate of Wellesley College, Ashley recently moved to San Francisco where she is earning her Masters in Education from the University of San Francisco.

Memorable moment for Ashley?  “My group was preparing to go to the tiny Fijian island of Nawaisomo where we would live with the local community and complete a service project. My students were definitely a bit nervous about the cultural differences, but as our small, wooden outboard boat chugged up to the island, we saw the entire village crowded on the beach waiting for us, waving, with the biggest smiles I have ever seen. Their warm welcome was just the beginning, and, for the next two weeks, we felt like this remote South Pacific island was home.”

We have had the pleasure of having Josh as part of our family since 2007.  A graduate of Northwestern University, Josh brings ARCC an array of outdoor and international leadership experiences. He currently works on the professional ski patrol at Squaw Valley, CA. When he is not skiing for work, Josh is skiing for pleasure! He also enjoys spending his time rock climbing and kitesurfing, as well using his creative side in photography and graphic design. Josh earned his degree in Civil Engineering, but for now finds the greatest reward in maintaining safety on the mountain as a ski patrol and “promoting and witnessing student’s tremendous growth” on ARCC adventures worldwide.

One of Josh’s favorite memories “was when we spent four days in the rural Moroccan village of Dar Bel Amri. We were the first group of Americans to visit this village and needless to say we were all a bit nervous about the cultural differences. When we arrived the villagers welcomed us into their homes as if we were their own children. Over the next few days we lived the daily lives of the villagers. We had new moms, dads, brothers, and sisters. We laughed with the other kids in the village, we taught them English and in turn they taught us Moroccan Arabic. With the huge language barrier we all realized how important and amazing smiles were, and we shared this sign language with our new families constantly. We were able to help build a large part of a new mud brick home for one of the older community members. We prepared and ate meals together with our families each day. At the end of our stay we cooked spaghetti and meatballs for the entire community and the whole village gathered for good food, music, and dancing. It was sad to say goodbye, but we all left the village with unforgettable experiences and memories.”

Can’t wait for summer!

As you are all gearing up for your summer trips with ARCC, we would like to take this opportunity to introduce you to our leaders who are such an important part of your journey!  Each week, we will be featuring a different leader and letting you know more about them and what you can expect from them on your trip.

Toby Cohen

Toby has been with our team since 2009 when he was a leader on the Africa Service Trip.  A student-athlete at Colorado College, Toby balances his time between completing his History and Political Science degrees with a minor in Educational studies, playing lacrosse, and serving as the Financial Chairperson for the Colorado College Honor Council. In between his academic and athletic obligations, Toby has found time to explore the globe! Toby studied abroad in Guatemala, El Salvador, Nicaraga, and Tanzania, gaining the global experience necessary to lead students on adventures of their own.

Toby had this to say about his experience with Adventures Cross Country:  “Two summers ago, I spent one month studying with my college institution in Tanzania, which I considered to be the greatest travel experience of my life. This was all, of course, prior to my experience at ARCC. Simply put, the 25 days I spent in Tanzania with ARCC surpassed any and all expectations, and stands alone as the time of my life! From my students, to my co-leaders, the local support crew, and the magic and beauty that was Tanzania and all its inhabitants, I simply could not have created a more fantastic trip, not even in my wildest dreams. For both students and leaders alike, the ARCC experience will leave you wanting more, no matter how fulfilling your journey was. If I had the chance to go back to the trip that was ‘Africa Service A’, I would go back in a heartbeat, and I wouldn’t change a thing.”

Happy to have you as part of the ARCC family, Toby!