As a parent of two teenagers who have participated in Rustic Pathways programs, I understand the challenge of getting detailed insights into their experiences once they’re back home.
In my role as Rustic’s Director of Safety and Risk Management, I have the advantage of knowing our programs, our local teams, and the safety measures we implement. This familiarity helps me ask questions that encourage my children to share more about their journeys.
To assist other parents in engaging their teens in meaningful conversations about their travel experiences, I’ve compiled a list of open-ended questions. These prompts are designed to go beyond simple yes-or-no answers and help uncover the depth of your child’s experience with Rustic Pathways:
Note: if your child shows signs of illness after returning home, we encourage you to see your general practitioner if symptoms last more than 24 hours; remember to tell your doctor about the places your child visited.
We’d love to hear any feedback you have in the comments below! Sometimes it takes students a few days or weeks to reflect on what happened, so keep asking and see if anything else comes up as they share their stories with family or friends.
Click below to learn how Rustic Pathways intentionally designs programs to foster student growth in learning outcomes most closely associated with future academic, professional, and interpersonal success.
With a masters degree in risk management and more than 20 years of relevant experience, Dave is the perfect fit to lead Rustic's Health and Safety Team. Dave joined Rustic in 2014 after owning a consulting firm specializing in implementing risk management and emergency response programs for domestic and global tour operators. He now works with our global teams to ensure quality and consistency in all Rustic programs. Dave lives in Colorado with his wife and children.