The Small Things Matter – Travel With Us

I recently listened to a podcast where the host discussed their Buddhist upbringing, emphasizing the significance of rituals and care. They pointed out the custom of removing shoes when entering a home, much like when you enter a temple as a custom engrained in their worldview. I admire how this simple act, born out of respect, conveys the message, “I am taking my shoes off to enter an important place. I am giving you my best self and acknowledging the place in the act.”  It prompted me to reflect on how care can be demonstrated through subtle gestures in our daily interactions, from active listening and our choice of words to the mindful and culturally relevant decisions we make. It also makes me think about those moments where care is not expressed, or when these subtle acts are overlooked or unacknowledged – the erosion of intention has a real impact on our collective culture as compassionate, mindful people living together on this diverse planet, we call home. My reflection on this reality has made me deeply consider ALIVE and our ongoing commitment to make a positive impact in the world.

As ALIVE approaches its 25th year, we find ourselves in a phase of introspection and receptivity to valuable feedback. The questions we ponder may not yield direct answers, yet they serve as the foundation of our curiosity. How can we develop programs that empower students to build a strong personal foundation while embracing uncertainty? How do we encourage students to recognize and welcome positive stress as a catalyst for growth, while promoting well-being and equilibrium? How can we guide students to understand that their unique talents and strengths are the key to making a meaningful contribution to society? How can we help show students this wonderful world we live in together, and how do we help them foster a level of care for culture, the environment, and the importance of collective values? These questions, among others, fuel our discussions as we navigate through a world in flux.

Responding to numerous requests and after careful consideration, we have decided to broaden ALIVE’s offerings to include more international and national experiences. While we acknowledge that expanding one’s perspective on life does not require leaving familiar surroundings, we have witnessed the transformative impact of immersing oneself in diverse cultures, fostering strong bonds and meaningful learning opportunities. We are not interested in offering tours, or building international and national experiences that are solely tourism focused. We see a different pathway to engage students globally and nationally. We are excited by the opportunity to create something fresh, educational, and exciting that fits into the ALIVE brand and is filled with intention and purpose.

For the past 8 years we have nurtured important relationships in Bhutan and have seen the relevant value in this type of program. We will continue to advocate for our Bhutan experiences while building new custom programming around the world. Our aim is to strengthen partnerships with schools to provide enriching experiences aligned with our core values and mission. Our approach emphasizes ongoing self-reflection on our responsibilities while enhancing students’ capacity to think critically and act effectually within their communities. We will of course continue to focus on delivering our existing camp-based programs focused on personal leadership, community building, wilderness expeditions, and local adventures, and we are excited about this new branch of ALIVE and the potential impact it may have on the students we work with.

While we are enthusiastic about this new opportunity, we know that adding to our full-time team is an important element of providing the level of care and intention our partner schools have come to expect from ALIVE. Recognizing the importance of exceptional care, we are pleased to welcome Kristin Read to our team as the Program Director of Global Experiential Programs, leveraging her extensive expertise as the Director of Global Citizenship at St. Mildred’s-Lightbourn School for the past nine years. Kristin will join our full-time team later this upcoming summer when she moves on from SMLS. We invite you to learn more about Kristin’s impressive background by visiting her bio page.

We see a pathway towards fostering more intention into the international and national experiences students participate in.  Let’s use the time and energy that goes into these programs well, aiming for greater impact, reflection, and the development of character, culture, and respect for those who participate. As we move towards expanding ALIVE’s offerings, envision us as a company that metaphorically removes its shoes before setting forth together – not in pursuit of cleanliness, but as a gesture of respect, attentive listening, and a willingness to embrace imperfections to foster honest relationships and transformative learning experiences.