MEET YOUR TRIP LEADERS

Weeks of training, wilderness certifications, and the best people out there.

Meet the team
60 seconds with our trip leaders
Decades of safety, in every leader.

Every RLT leader completes 10 days of staff training, 80-hour Wilderness First Responder certification, and a background check before they ever meet your teen. Groups stay small on purpose, so leaders know every teen by name, not just as one of the group.

A lot of them started as RLT students themselves, then came back years later to lead the same kind of trip that shaped them.

What it takes to lead a trip

Every RLT leader clears the same bar, no matter the destination or how many summers they've done this.

RLT trip leaders hiking together during staff training
  • 21+, with prior experience working with teens ages 12–19
  • 80+ hours of wilderness medicine training (WFR or Wilderness EMT), plus CPR & AED certification
  • A Red Cross-certified lifeguard on every trip
  • Trained in Mental Health First Aid
  • Full background check, including a verified driving record
  • Trained to lead safely in the outdoors, and partnered with certified guides and outfitters for technical activities like climbing, whitewater, and scuba
An RLT trip leader briefing the team during staff training
Extensive training before any trip

Every leader attends our in-house training each June in northern Wisconsin, run personally by RLT's Directors and a core group of experienced past leaders.

What they train on
  • Health, safety, and sanitation
  • Group development and team-building
  • Communication and leadership styles
  • Country-specific health topics
  • Transportation and vehicle safety
  • Medical protocols
Before every trip
  • Full trip logistics briefing
  • Country-specific emergency procedures
  • GPS satellite communicator (Spot) usage
  • Evacuation procedures
Staff training week
What training week looks like
Trip leaders in training together, candid Trip leaders in training together, candid Trip leaders in training together, candid Trip leaders in training together, candid Trip leaders in training together, candid Trip leaders in training together, candid
In their own words
2026 Trip Leader
"Every service partner I worked with this summer was outstanding: so empathetic, so into the mission, and left lasting impacts on the kids."
2026 Trip Leader
"It's so awesome to make meaningful connections with the students and see them grow throughout the trip."
2026 Trip Leader
"I genuinely loved working for RLT this summer. It was an incredibly unique learning experience that impacted me in so many ways."
Think you'd be a great fit?
We'd love to hear about your experience leading trips, teaching, or working with teens.
Apply to lead a trip