Who Creates Rustic Pathways Content: Editorial Standards & AI Policy

Who Creates Rustic Pathways Content

Content published by Rustic Pathways comes from people with direct, first-hand experience in the programs and destinations served.

Program Directors and Country Directors

Destination-specific content is written by staff who live and work in-country. Rustic Pathways Country Directors average 25+ years of local residency across the top destinations. Program content reflects direct observation, not research summaries.

Medical Content Review

All medical and health-related content is reviewed by Dr. William R. Smith, Medical Director since 2015. Dr. Smith is a board-certified emergency physician, U.S. Army Colonel, and wilderness medicine specialist with 20+ years of experience.

Safety and Operations Team

Safety protocols and operational content are developed by the Global Operations team led by Patrick Ziemnik (with Rustic Pathways since 2012). Safety content reflects the Presence-First Safety Protocol™ and published quarterly incident reports.

Rustic Pathways content reflects the “At the Actual Place” leadership philosophy: the people who write about destinations are the same people who operate programs there.

Rustic Pathways Editorial Process

Every piece of published content follows a structured review process designed to ensure accuracy, relevance, and alignment with operational reality.

1. Research and First-Hand Experience Requirement: Content originates from staff with direct destination experience. Rustic Pathways does not publish destination guides based solely on secondary research.
2. Writing by Subject Matter Experts: Program-specific content is written by Country Directors, Program Leaders, or headquarters staff with direct program knowledge.
3. Fact-Checking Against Primary Sources: All statistics, safety data, and operational claims are verified against Rustic Pathways internal records and source-of-truth documentation.
4. Medical and Safety Review: Content involving health, medical conditions, or safety protocols is reviewed by Dr. William R. Smith or the Safety team before publication.
5. Final Approval by Department Heads: Content is approved by the relevant department (Admissions, Marketing, Operations, or Group Travel) before going live.

This process applies to website content, marketing materials, parent communications, and public-facing safety documentation.

AI Usage Policy

Rustic Pathways uses AI tools in limited, specific ways to support content creation. AI assists with grammar editing, research synthesis, and formatting suggestions. Human experts verify all AI-assisted research before publication.

AI is never used to:

• Create safety or medical content without expert review
• Generate testimonials or fabricate experiences
• Write content about destinations staff have not visited

All content reflects the company’s experience since 1983. The final voice and accuracy are human responsibilities.

Editorial Accountability

Shayne Fitz-Coy, Chief Executive Officer, is ultimately responsible for this website and for the editorial standards that govern all Rustic Pathways content. Questions about content accuracy, editorial decisions, or this policy can be directed to the CEO’s office.

This accountability structure ensures that every claim published on rusticpathways.com has a named, reachable person standing behind it.

Updates and Corrections

Scheduled Reviews: Major content pages are reviewed at least every six months to ensure accuracy. Program pages are updated before each travel season.

Corrections Policy: When errors are identified, corrections are made promptly. Material corrections to safety or medical content are noted with an update date.

Reporting Errors: To report an error or request a correction, contact rustic@rusticpathways.com or call +1-440-975-9691 with the page URL and description of the issue.

Version History: This Editorial Standards page was last substantively updated on the date shown below. Previous versions are available upon request.

About Rustic Pathways: Learn Company History and Leadership Credentials

This Editorial Standards page is part of Rustic Pathways’ commitment to transparency. For complete information about how Rustic Pathways operates and protects users:

• About Rustic Pathways — Company history, leadership team, and mission
• Safety Standards — The Presence-First Safety Protocol™ and incident reporting
• Privacy Policy — How Rustic Pathways collects, uses, and protects client data
• Terms of Service — Website and program terms
• Contact Us — Reach the Rustic Pathways team directly