If you're considering a back-end Westcoast Connection tour (where your teen joins after the trip has already started), or a WCC tour in general, I strongly encourage you to think twice and do more research.
Our daughter joined the final 10 days of a 25-day Greece trip. What we weren't told was that by Day 15, the social dynamics were already firmly in place. The group had spent two weeks traveling together, creating inside jokes, friendships, matching outfits, routines, and cliques. Most of the teens were of the same faith (Jewish) and had gone to camps in previous years together and came in as huge friend groups that already seemed to share a lot of common background and references, which made it even harder for a newcomer to be included. WCC markets to this demographic and we had no clue about this. She was iced out and has never felt so isolated in her life. Most wouldn't associate with her at all. For reference, she is well traveled and was so excited to meet like minded teens. From the moment she arrived to the group she wanted to come home.
They claim to be an inclusive environment where counselors help participants (solo travelers) make new friends. That was a major reason we chose them. Unfortunately, that wasn't our daughter's experience. Even after I raised my concerns before she left, I was assured they would have a get to know you activity but that never happened.
She was one of only a handful of new participants joining halfway through the tour. There was no meaningful effort to integrate the new kids into an already established group. She didn't even get the chance to introduce herself when she arrived.
My biggest disappointment isn't that teenagers naturally form friend groups, that's completely normal. It's that Westcoast Connection never adequately prepared us for how difficult joining a trip halfway through would be and that most kids knew each other and were the same faith. Not to mention, by day 15, the teens that started the tour are growing tired and so when fresh legs arrive all excited to go and do things, the group would rather stay at the hotel. Had we understood the reality of entering a group that had already spent two weeks bonding, we would never have enrolled her on that itinerary.
Parents and teens spend thousands of dollars hoping their child will have an unforgettable experience. Unfortunately, our daughter's trip was unforgettable for all the wrong reasons.
If Westcoast Connection continues offering mid-trip enrollment, they should either be completely transparent about the social challenges involved or have a structured integration plan that actually works. Right now, it feels like they're selling the same experience to late arrivals that the original participants receive, when in reality, they're not the same experience at all. read more
