The Road Less Traveled is an extraordinary opportunity to join with others, build deep relationships, meet challenges together and enrich the world.The Road Less Traveled is a life-changing educational travel experience for 12-19 year olds—an extraordinary opportunity to join with others, explore humanity, build deep relationships, and develop an appreciation for our world’s vast adventurous scenery and its people. RLT offers domestic and international community service, language and multi-sport adventure travel programs throughout North America (Alaska, British Columbia, Colorado, Florida Keys, Hawaii, Maine and Puerto Rico) and places around the world (Bali, Belize, Cambodia, Costa Rica, Ecuador and the Galapagos, Greece, Iceland, Italy, Laos, Norway, Spain, Tanzania, Thailand and Vietnam). RLT engages in a service of presence and active listening in the world supporting young people to get outside, seek adventure, experience challenges, make new friends, build community and understand the world and its people in a new way. Working closely with communities and in environments around the world, we have forged a strong alliance of caring professionals all driven by their deep conviction and concern for the future and welfare of others. We have developed an impressive body of knowledge, innovative methods and approaches for informal cultural exchange with the hope of building trust. Trust is the single most important element if we are to effectively and compassionately serve others and the world.
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What You'll Be Doing |
The world is a very big place. Take a deep breath and a long stride, and suddenly you're looking up at an elephant in Thailand, whitewater rafting surrounded by the Colorado Rockies, trading stories by the light of a campfire in Alaska, or swaying high above Costa Rica's rainforest canopy. Go to far places. Work and give with both thought and conscience. Stay open to challenges, meet them head on. Welcome surprise. Value teamwork. Look deeply into the big, bountiful world, and revel in the knowledge that there are still many, many Roads Less Traveled... Working for RLT is an extraordinary opportunity to join with others, build deep relationships and meet challenges together. Join RLT as you enrich the world and the lives of others!
2025 Trip Leader & Intern Jobs
Adventure Programs International Service Learning & Language IMMERSION Programs International Service Learning & Language EXPOSURE Programs Service Learning Programs |
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| Staff Training & Time Commitment | A ten-day training is mandatory for all summer staff prior to the start of RLT programs. Check out the above video to see what goes on! Dates of employment can range anywhere from June 1st to the end of July or middle of August, depending on your trip assignment. You may lead one, two or possibly three sessions of a program over the course of a summer. They will make every effort to employ you for as long as you wish, but flexibility is necessary with trip assignments and dates, keeping in mind the student experience is a direct result of its leadership. If you are a first year Trip Leader with RLT, it may be late spring or even staff training before final placement is determined. |
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Compensation & Perks |
Compensation for first year Trip Leaders begins at $65/day with the ability to earn more based on experience, certifications or qualifications. Compensation includes all food, lodging and transportation from the start of staff training through the end of your final trip (RLT pays for flights to/from staff training as well as to/from your destinations). You will also receive a stipend towards certifications, pro deals on outdoor equipment from a variety of well-known manufacturers and the opportunity to work with world-renown, expert guides! |
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| Job Qualifications |
The following are characteristics/qualifications that each staff person is expected to match regardless of position: • Experience • Maturity • Confidence • Personality/Motivation • Flexibility/Patience/Organization • Current WFR or WEMT • Lifeguard Training or Swiftwater Rescue • Current Unrestricted Driver's License • Legal right to work in the United States |
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Application & Connections |
RLT is always looking for motivated people with a passion for life-changing travel to join the team! RLT is especially interested if you share in their love of young people, the outdoors, a passion for life-changing travel, and most of all, the desire to make a difference. If you are detail oriented, confident, creative, athletic, an outdoor enthusiast, seasoned traveler, quick thinker, problem solver, outgoing, personable, competent in adventure travel, and experienced in the service industry, apply online now (a cover letter and resume is required).
Laura Dunmire |
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The Road Less Traveled offers 
Trip Leaders must have knowledge of three or more wilderness travel methods in whitewater rafting, sea kayaking, international trekking, biking, backpacking, technical rock or ice climbing and mountaineering. Mandatory requirements for adventure trips include the ability to lead groups of students on backpacking trips through remote wilderness areas from three to eight days. This includes backpacking preparations, backcountry travel, route finding, campsite selection, equipment maintenance, Leave No Trace camping techniques in desert and alpine terrain and proper protocol in dense bear country. All Trip Leaders must possess the ability to make prudent decisions in adverse conditions.
Trip Leaders have extensive experience with community service, international travel, managing multiple responsibilities abroad, experience and/or living abroad and cultural immersion. Knowledge of the following is helpful but not mandatory: sea kayaking, whitewater rafting, trekking, surfing and snorkeling.
