Vantaggi
-Family atmosphere: the supervisors are involved, aware, experienced, caring, emphasize positive participant experiences; staff are diverse, experienced, very committed and professional -Excellent training: safety is #1, review WFR skills, returning staff do training sessions, detailed, trip leader staff is about 60 and there's time built in for relationship building...yay; fantastic training manual -Detailed and thorough: logistics are organized, detailed, and RLT is willing to get your feedback -Meaningful and challenging: programming is rewarding because it's mostly service work, you reflect with your kids on the experience/impact -Time in-between sessions: time to rest (but you're also doing paperwork) -Preference on trips for returners after you've done 1 summer -Plethora of programs all over the world (divided by 12-14 yo and 15-18 yo) with a focus on language, cultural immersion or service-learning (and directors have traveled there personally--have I mentioned it's a family?) -Participants submit an application essay, references and do an interview--chances are you're going to get some great kids! -Great pay (DOE, they pay for your flight home, paid room/board in between trip sessions, partial reimbursement for your WFR course, pro deals)
Svantaggi
-Some of your participants might have some really challenging behavioral issues (but office staff is helpful and we go over this in training) -You won't know your "end date" for the summer until springtime, sometimes around March/April, which can be tricky unless you've already lined up your work plans for fall -You pay for your flight to the training site -You won't be gaining any technical skills (climbing, paddling, mountaineering) if that's what you're looking for -You provide health insurance (since it's a short-term contract) -You'll be using your personal cell phone if you're on a North America trip