Inside 2025 Staff Training: How RLT Prepares Leaders for a Safe, Impactful Summer
2025 Staff Training Journal (Updated Through Tuesday, June 3)
At RLT, safety isn’t a box we check. It’s the foundation of everything we do.
The physical and emotional safety of our leaders and participants comes first—always. If something’s not safe, we don’t do it. It’s that simple. And that’s why our staff training is one of the most comprehensive in the industry.
Every leader is required to:
Complete a 10-day in-house training
Hold a Wilderness First Responder certification (80+ hours, including CPR & AED)
Recertify as a lifeguard
Train in Mental Health First Aid
Pass a full background check, including driving record
Learn detailed protocols reviewed annually by our licensed Medical Advisor
Understand and prepare for location-specific emergencies with evacuation plans and local contacts
We’re also ACA accredited and follow strict safety protocols and procedures across every trip.
Here’s what’s happened so far—and what’s coming:
Monday, June 2
Leaders arrived and settled in. The day kicked off with introductions, orientation, our first meal circle, and a group journaling session. We laid the groundwork for the purpose and expectations of training, and began building community from the ground up.
Tuesday, June 3
Today, training continues with sessions on RLT’s core values, communication practices, and empathy in leadership. Leaders will explore active listening, participant needs, and start preparing logistical systems to support trips around the world.
Wednesday, June 4
We’ll dig into group dynamics, behavior support, and real-world scenarios that challenge leaders to think on their feet. Skits, role plays, and planning time will help bring concepts to life.
Thursday, June 5
Leaders will split into domestic and international training tracks, covering vehicle procedures, travel protocols, cultural awareness, and emergency planning. Later in the day, they’ll dive into community building, well-being practices, and trip communication systems.
Check back every few days for new updates, photos, and a closer look at how our leaders are getting ready for the summer ahead. ✨
Friday, June 6
We started the day with sessions on risk management and supervision policies—key elements in how we prepare leaders to keep trips safe and steady. Leaders also participated in nutrition and hygiene training, med kit reviews, and a session focused on mental health in the field.
Later in the day, they practiced meal prep and kitchen safety, and wrapped up with a solitude sit at the Council Ring—a reflective exercise that asks each leader to pause and write a letter to their future self.
Saturday, June 7
Leaders headed out on a short offsite for hiking, team bonding, and scenario training in the field. They practiced satellite phone communication, moved through mock decision-making situations, and returned to camp for a night off—because pacing and rest matter too.
Sunday, June 8
Back at base, we shifted into more advanced medical work. Leaders reviewed our Standing Orders and special healthcare protocols, refreshed their epinephrine administration training, and ran through a multi-part Wilderness First Responder review.
The highlight of the day was a series of WFR scenarios, where leaders worked in teams to respond to mock medical emergencies. They assessed “patients,” communicated as a group, delivered treatment, and coordinated evacuation plans—mirroring the realities they might face in the field.
Monday, June 9
Training today has focused on service and safety. Leaders are also in sessions on mental health (Part 2), burnout prevention, and search and rescue strategy. Every session is designed to build confidence and reinforce that safety isn’t just about checking boxes—it’s about readiness, awareness, and consistent care.
What’s coming next:
This week includes behavior response role plays, emergency drills, closing procedures, and personal prep for trips. Leaders will also meet to review group forms, finalize logistics, and participate in more real-time response work before departures begin.
We’ll be back later this week with more updates—and a final look at how this team wraps up training and prepares to lead teens on the road less traveled.
📸 Until then, follow along on Instagram for photos and moments from the field.
Tuesday, June 10
Leaders tackled “worst-case” drills, ran search-and-rescue walk-throughs, and finished Mental Health Part 2. The focus: clear thinking and calm communication when things get hard.
Wednesday, June 11
We covered closing-a-trip logistics, homesickness support, and final role-plays. A quick “comms game” kept information flowing under pressure, and we wrapped with tips to prevent leader burnout.
Thursday, June 12
The logistics sprint: final participant forms, gear checks, extra van practice, departure health screens, and one last sweep of every trip kit before packing personal bags.
Friday, June 13
Departure day. To-go breakfast, camp clean-up, gear loaded. Flights lifted off for Norway and Peru; vans rolled toward Alaska, Colorado, Costa Rica, and Maine.
Saturday & Sunday, June 14–15
On site. Leaders walked routes, checked gear caches, met local partners, and rehearsed service projects. A quiet night to rest before students arrive.
That’s a wrap on 2025 staff training! For ten days our leaders drilled wilderness medicine, lifeguarding, mental-health first aid, risk planning, and active listening—while laughing together every evening and building a team they can trust.
Today they’re at their program sites, fine-tuning details so everything is ready when the first teens step off the plane. We can’t wait to welcome them and carry forward thirty-four years of life-changing travel. 💕
