Today, we remain the most trusted name in educational teen travel and service and adventure programming. There are many reasons why we outperform every other summer experience. Here are just a few examples of what sets us apart...
our statistics
The numbers speak for themselves - 7 out of 10 students join us because of a personal recommendation or are returning for a second summer. 75% of our professional staff return each year and over half were once students themselves.
experience
Arc is backed by over 30 years of experience in the field of experiential education. Combined with ActionQuest, Lifeworks and Sea|mester we are one of the oldest and largest organizations of our type, delivering educational programs to over 600 students a year. Our safety record, combined staff experience, and long history of both student and parent satisfaction make us the natural choice for teens looking beyond traditional summer programs.
leadership
We take great pride in the knowledge that our full-time staff are some of the most highly qualified and experienced in the industry. Directors Mike Meighan and Jim Stoll sail with our larger program in the British Virgin Islands every summer, preferring to keep an active role in the program that they created at the grassroots level.
For our summer staff, we are proud to attract and recruit the best in the field. Our staff consists of avid world travelers, highly qualified professionals, and fun and experienced facilitators and educators. All members of our team are dynamic, multi-talented, and passionate individuals with an unending devotion and commitment to the safety and experience of our students.
Click HERE to learn more about our staff
program philosophy & design
On any Arc program, we strive to create a stimulating educational environment in which our students become challanged to learn, grow and make connections between the subject and their environment that would be impossible in a traditional educational setting. Students are guaranteed to grow during our programs and have a lot of fun in the process. Our programs are non-competitive and grounded in experiential education. All involve international travel, culture, and adventure.
To ensure Arc Expeditons is living out its vision and mission, we limit our programs to small, co-ed groups of 8 to 26 teenagers. This encourages close friendships to form while fostering unique, hands-on experiences. Students have a greater feeling of accomplishment from having completed things themselves, and their self-reliance and confidence soar as a result. Living, and learning as part of a small team provides a perfect environment to develop these skills as well as leadership, compassion, and communication.
open to all
No previous experience is necessary for most Arc programs.
program variety
Unique to Arc is that in addition to our wide variety of programs, we also offer three other distinct paths for those who wish to experience and learn more with us. No other program offers this level of diverse instruction and experience.
ActionQuest
is the teen summer adventure arm of Arc and offers programs in
the Caribbean, Mediterranean, Galapagos & Ecuador, Tahiti and Australia.
ActionQuest combines international adventure with cultural immersion
and travel. Most programs are run aboard sailing vessels and include
scuba diving certifications and tropical marine biology. Visit www.actionquest.com for
more information.
Lifeworks combines international community service projects with cultural immersion, travel and outdoor adventure. Lifeworks is about people and making a difference. Visit www.lifeworks-international.com for more information.
Living full-time aboard our traditional schooners and sailing through
extraordinary destinations that span the globe, Sea|mester teaches accredited
academics unconfined by the four walls of a traditional classroom. Visit
www.seamester.com for more information.
the lifeworks forum
This is a unique and fundamental element of all of our programs. Held at intervals throughout the trip, the forum is designed to complement the experiential learning that takes place throughout the day. Students have the opportunity to participate in – and lead – discussions and reflections on a variety of topics related to their experience.
Of all of the skills that students take from their programs, it is the
life skills that can carry them the farthest. At Arc, we feel
that while building one’s life, it is important to base it on a
foundation of compassion and personal integrity. For many of our teens,
it is the Lifeworks Forum that helps them examine and strengthen this
foundation.
the college advantage
In an increasingly competitive world, where colleges and employers look beyond
the grades of students to the experiences that shape them, Arc offers a unique
and extraordinary experience that stands out on college applications and resumes.
As an inspiration for school essays, video projects and more, many alumni give
Arc credit for giving them the "leg up" in application processes.
Learn more about how Arc helps its students achieve college and employment
goals at Our
Results page.
