Our mission & vision
Life-changing experiences that foster personal growth.
Through travel, meaningful service, and stewardship of the natural world, we help young people build the skills and connections to make the world a better place. Same mission since 1991.
Our values
Safety
Every leader completes 10 days of training, gets Wilderness First Responder certified, and passes a background check. We’re accredited by the American Camp Association.
Meaningful service
We only work on projects a community actually asked for. Good service starts with listening, not deciding for people what they need.
Resilience & self-confidence
Every trip pushes teens right up against the edge of their comfort zone, on purpose. Facing something hard with real support is how confidence gets built.
Community & connection
No phones on RLT trips. Teens cook, work, and travel together instead, and that’s where the real friendships start.
Leadership
Leadership isn’t a title here, it’s what you do when no one’s watching. Every traveler takes a turn as Leader of the Day: planning meals, reading the map, making the calls.
Sustainability & stewardship
We travel to some of the world’s most beautiful places. We teach teens to take care of them, on the trip and after they’re home.
Through the years
A service project, one of hundreds over the years.
Building day. All hands in.
Deep in the backcountry.
The reward for the climb.
[ Photo,
local artisan textile work ]
local artisan textile work ]
Learning from local artisans along the way.
What parents say
"My daughter did two RLT summer trips and came back both times more confident and more grateful. This program changes kids."
Meghan G.
"RLT gave my son something to write his whole college essay about, and helped him find environmental science as a major. It mattered that much."
Benedetta V.
"Costa Rica was the best two weeks of his summer, maybe his whole year. He talks about his leader and his trip group all the time."
Will’s family