The Road Less Traveled

“We want students to dance a traditional with the Embera tribe in Panama, to build a health clinic with the Kuna Indians in the San Blas Islands, to work with homeless street children in India, and to build schools in Ecuador. These experiences will inspire those who participate to act and make a difference. There has never been a greater need to empower young people, who are just beginning to see their place in the world, to create change, no matter how large or how small.” –Jim Stein, The Road Less Traveled

Stein, in his 50’s, heads a Wilderness Adventure Program called the Road Less Traveled which aims to educate youth about the world beyond their cushy suburban homes and teach them to believe in themselves and their individual capabilities. These adventures include trips to Hawaii, Costa Rica, Ecuador and the Galapagos Islands. Kids bike, hike, ski, kayak and have fun in the sun while also serving the community by building houses for the poor, helping to construct a dam or school building. Stein’s values center on teamwork and trying new things.

Harvard University recently released a report that recommends college professors design courses “around preparing students to participate in civic life” and “understand the world around them.” Stein, through his youth business, is doing his part. –with reporting by Julian Rosenberg