Five lessons learned from putting boots on the ground

This July, I joined a group of students from the University of Arizona for a week-long trip to Puerto Rico. Originally, I was only going to stay in the background and ensure all was well while I did my computer work, but the universe had different plans. I quickly got absorbed into the emotional energy of the group and put my guide shoes back on. It really is like riding a bike. A day on the program, and I was back to facilitating name games, shouldering jugs of water, and embracing the transformative power of travel. As a leader, I learned a ton of lessons during that trip:

1. Feel the Programs
2. We need to feel the travel programs once in a while. It is one thing to talk about travel, service learning, and adventure, and another thing completely to immerse ourselves in it. The energy and passion we get from this are invaluable.
3. Learn From Your Travelers
4. We can learn a lot from our travelers. Being on the program, I was able to engage directly with our travelers and gain firsthand knowledge of why they want to travel. This was the best market research possible and taught me lessons I'll use for our marketing, sales, and operations moving forward.
5. Build Empathy With Staff
6. Creating empathy with our program leading staff. Sitting in our air-conditioned offices in front of a computer does not compare to being next to them on a bus with a bad driver, in the heat during service, or at a restaurant that completely messes up an order. We need to get on the ground to build that connection.
7. It's Hot Out There
8. It's hot out there. Climate change is real, and we are living the reality of it on the ground. The level of heat we have felt on the program this summer is beyond the norm, and it's putting a strain on our staff and participants.
9. We Lead Fortunate Lives
10. We lead fortunate lives. The places we are privileged to visit are amazing, and we need to take it in every once in a while and appreciate it.

As a result of this, we are considering making guiding a trip every two years a mandatory part of full time employment at Offbeat Travel.