So, what’s it really like?

The Westcoast Experience

What’s a Westcoast Connection trip like? Well each trip is packed with a great variety and choice of activities. We will visit incredible cities, stunning National Parks, see amazing sights, do fantastic activities, rest our heads in great hotels and eat in delicious restaurants – but Westcoast is much more than that!

It is not simply a trip but an experience. We understand something far more important than where to go and what to see and that is: YOU. We use our 30 years of experience to make sure that every day of every program is socially comfortable and truly fun-filled for every single participant. We’ve learned how important it is to give every traveler individualized attention. It’s really extraordinary care – for your parents as well as for YOU.

30 years ago, we began with a simple philosophy of “EACH & EVERY”, and could never have guessed that over 20,000 teens would come to share the special excitement of our spirited and tightly knit groups where everybody is included in an enriching program. But don’t take our word for it, check out ‘What They’re Saying’ or give us a call and we will be happy to put you in touch with references from your area.

When it comes down to it, how much you enjoy your trip depends on how quickly your group becomes a family. Nobody understands this better than “Westcoast”.

Safety and Supervision

At Westcoast Connection, nothing else comes first. Safety procedures, equipment, helmets, certified lifeguards – we’ve got it covered. Every Westcoast staffer is certified in first aid and CPR. From our extensive trip planning department through our front line leaders, it is our single biggest priority! We are extremely proud of our safety record of 30 years and welcome all questions you may have in this area.

It starts with your leaders. Your Directors and Trip Leaders are people with incredible backgrounds. They are sensitive, warm, caring and approachable and always there for you. They are also CPR and first aid trained, and they are non-smokers. To learn more about our caring leaders please click here.

Your Trip Director and leaders are with you daily. They have regular contact with our Company Directors and Regional Supervisors who are an incredible resource with over 250 summers of combined teen travel experience as the 24/7 support team. This way we can lend a hand wherever and whenever a little extra effort is called for. Last year we had over 130 scheduled supervisory trip visits where we make sure all is running well, provide ongoing support to our leaders in the field, and have fun with you! This investment in depth of personnel is unrivaled in teen travel and is a critical element to achieving consistent, excellent program quality.

Our Trip Members

Many Westcoast travelers come as individuals and we have a genuinely, geographically diverse enrollment. The certainty that everybody is not all from one area helps eliminate cliques at the outset and establish an open environment that benefits you. (Last season 85% of our travelers were from across the USA, with the balance from Canada and overseas.) We take great care in assembling groups to look out for your social experience.

We can’t say it too many times: this is a really comfortable group experience. Great dynamics on every trip start with our secrets for group bonding. Our “bag of bonding tricks” includes ice breakers, a zany people hunt, and many other surprises. We work hard to get everyone moving beyond first impressions, creating a feeling of total acceptance.

Amazing Activities

Every day is filled with new adventures and activities. If we’re not seeing the sights, eating like there’s no tomorrow, or resting up because there IS a tomorrow… we’re out there playing!

Yes, we believe the experience we create on a Westcoast program is what makes our trips so successful but the activities we choose to do are important elements not only for the fun-factor but for the energy they help create. Activities like summer skiing and snowboarding, whitewater rafting, biking, water skiing and wakeboarding are just a few of the things we like to do. Of course, we also enjoy a bit of nightlife as well, from dance clubs to comedy clubs. This is way better than summer camp!

Taste the Difference

A big part of a summer’s success depends on how well you eat. We are proud of the fact that year after year trip members compliment us for our quality, quantity and choice of food. Mind if we namedrop? Hard Rock Cafe, The Cheesecake Factory, Buca di Beppo, California Pizza Kitchen. Mind if we continue? Some really great surprises, like an award winning restaurant in San Francisco’s Chinatown. We do what it takes to satisfy the pickiest of eaters, and will gladly accommodate most special dietary requests. You’ll never go hungry!

When we camp out, we really eat well! We buy the food daily, keep it cool in our refrigerated “kitchen on wheels,” then serve it up on redwood picnic tables at all our sites. BBQ never tasted this good- and it’s all-you-can-eat!

Where We Stay

Once your action-filled day of Westcoast Connection teen travel is over, you’re going to need a place to crash. Our teens enjoy the finest centrally located properties: Monte Carlo in Las Vegas, Scottsdale Marriott and Michelangelo in Sorrento to name a few.

In addition to some great hotels and resorts, we enjoy some fantastic college dorm stays. You get to preview college life and to take advantage of incredible facilities.

For more information visit the section marked ‘Where We stay’ on each trip page!

Trips with Deluxe Camping

For those trips with camping (see links below), we spend about 1/3 of our nights enjoying deluxe camping. This experience is extremely comfortable and designed to give you a feel for the scenic areas we visit.

Our experienced leaders will introduce you to the joy of camping and guide you in everything you need to know. On these trips, you will stay at private campgrounds where you'll find private hot showers and bathroom facilities. You’ll enjoy sturdy cabin style tents (16'x10') with windows and floors and with quick and simple set-up.  With 6 students per tent, there is plenty of room for you to have your bag with you in your tent. Westcoast provides comfortable camping cots and self-inflating Thermarest air mattresses for a great night's sleep.

For more information on our campsites, click on the trips below to learn more about where we camp on that trip!

Transport

Just can’t wait to get on the road again! You’ll ride in our chartered deluxe, air conditioned coaches. These latest models on the road provide the safest rides possible, and all have iPod compatible/DVD systems, driver cell phones and restrooms.

Keeping in Touch

While you’re out having the summer of your life, parents feel good too. They can keep in touch with our communication centers, 24/7. We’re as in touch as any trip operator could possibly be -- via cell phones, and e-mail. We also post photos online and send broadcast emails weekly to let mom and dad in on all the fun. The goal: uncompromising safety & peace of mind, day after day, hour by hour, minute by minute. Of course, you may bring your cell phones as well.

Giving Back

We believe in promoting responsibility and community, and have a long history of helping charitable organizations. Our trip members and staff have created a rock music video dedicated to the dreams of children in need who are supported by The Starlight Foundation and they have skated, bowled and roller bladed to raise funds for many special wishes to be granted. We volunteer each summer at the Food Bank of Los Angeles and through our Adventure scholarships, we have increased opportunities for teens to enjoy our programs.

Your Best Choice!

All this happens because our long history of experience makes us experts in teenagers. As a result, our summer experiences are socially comfortable and rewarding for all participants. Westcoast Connection makes every traveler feel comfortable with becoming part of a group of new friends – and that is more valuable than any one hotel, any one restaurant or any one destination. We understand what teens want to see and do when they travel. We do it the way you would plan it if YOU were conducting the trip.

Westcoast Connection delivers what travelers and parents are looking for.

Please take the time to look through our website and feel free to give one of our Directors a call to start your Westcoast Connection Summer of a Lifetime!