A great trip begins long before departure. We keep the process clear for families, organize the details behind the scenes, and make sure participants know what to expect from the moment they register through the final airport goodbye.
Every Wild Traveler program is a little different, but the process below gives families a clear picture of how registration, pre-trip planning, arrival, communication, and departure work.
Register
Reserve a place and begin the planning process.
Prepare
Forms, flights, gear, health information, and deadlines.
Arrive
Meet the leaders, meet the group, and settle in.
Stay Connected
Clear communication between families, leaders, and administration.
Return Home
Organized departure support through the final goodbye.
Registration
Start with the right trip.
Before registering, families are welcome to contact us with questions about a program, participant readiness, travel logistics, or anything else that will help determine whether a trip is a good fit.
To reserve a place on a Wild Traveler trip, families complete our online registration and submit an $800 deposit. Space is limited on our small-group programs, so we recommend registering early when possible.
Once registration is complete, we begin guiding your family through the pre-trip process.
Submitting the registration and deposit reserves the participant’s place while the family moves into the pre-trip planning process.
Pre-Trip Planning
We organize the details before departure.
Registered families receive the information needed to prepare for their specific program, including important dates, travel instructions, packing information, participant forms, and trip-specific details.
Before departure, we collect information including:
- Emergency contact information
- Health and medical information
- Dietary needs and allergies
- Travel itineraries
- Participant experience and comfort levels
- Other information relevant to a safe and successful trip
Our staff reviews this information before the program begins so trip leaders are prepared for the group they will be working with. Families also receive reminders as important deadlines approach.
Travel
Getting to the program.
Families are responsible for transportation between home and the arrival and departure location listed for their program. Because Wild Traveler programs take place in different destinations, airports and meeting locations vary by trip.
Please confirm your trip’s travel details before purchasing airfare. If you are unsure whether a particular flight works with the program schedule, contact us before booking.
- Submit the participant’s complete flight itinerary.
- Tell us about schedule changes or cancellations.
- Notify us if unaccompanied-minor service will be used.
- Travel with required identification and documents.
- Review airline baggage requirements.
- Keep our contact information handy on travel day.
The trip starts with the group.
A Wild Traveler leader meets participants at the designated airport location. From there, arrival day is deliberately simple: everyone gets settled, essential gear is checked, expectations are introduced, and the group begins becoming a group.
Arrival Day
Clear meeting plans. A calm first day.
Detailed airport meeting instructions, contact information, and arrival procedures are provided before departure so participants and parents know exactly what to expect.
Depending on the program, arrival day may include lunch, introductions, a gear check, orientation, group activities, and travel to our first accommodation or campsite.
Trip leaders use this time to make sure everyone has arrived safely, confirm essential gear, introduce program expectations, and begin building the routines and relationships that will carry through the trip.
Contact The Wild Traveler as soon as possible. Our team will work with the family and trip leaders to adjust the arrival plan.
Connected when it matters.
Family communication
Our programs travel through places where cell service and internet access may be limited, and we intentionally create space for participants to be present with the group rather than constantly connected to home.
Trip leaders maintain regular communication with Wild Traveler program administration throughout the trip.
If there is an important reason you need to reach your participant, contact us directly and we will coordinate communication with the group.
Participant phones
Phone access is intentionally limited during Wild Traveler programs. Participants have opportunities to contact home at designated points, including after arrival and before returning home.
Longer programs may also include a scheduled call home during the trip. Additional access is always available when needed for an emergency or important personal situation.
A window into the adventure.
When connectivity and the program schedule allow, trip leaders share photos, short videos, and updates from the group so families can follow along.
We generally aim to post updates every few days, but participants and the program always come first. Remote locations, travel days, weather, and limited internet access may occasionally mean updates take a little longer.
Often, the places that make the best adventures have the worst Wi-Fi.
One last piece of the journey.
Departure day is both logistical and bittersweet. After traveling together, sharing challenges, and building a group community, participants have time to say goodbye before beginning their journeys home.
Wild Traveler leaders help participants navigate the airport process, including locating the correct check-in area and making sure they are prepared to proceed through security.
Families receive the trip-specific departure plan in advance, and our staff keeps track of participant itineraries so we know when each traveler is scheduled to leave.
We manage the moving pieces.
Teen adventure travel involves flights, forms, gear, medical information, transportation, accommodations, activities, and communication. Our job is to manage those pieces so participants can focus on having an extraordinary experience and families can feel confident about what is happening along the way.
Talk with us.
If you have a question about registration, flights, arrival procedures, communication, or departure, get in touch. We’re happy to help before the trip starts.