What position do you hold at Westcoast Connection/ 360 Student Travel? What has been your career path so far?
Ira: I am one of the Principal Company Directors of Westcoast Connection/ 360 Student Travel. I found my way to the summer recreation industry after years as an entrepreneur. My passion for travel and summer camps led me to pursue a career in student travel. I am fortunate to have been in the industry for 15 years -- I enjoy sharing my passion with our teen travel families and always look forward to developing new itineraries and programs throughout the world.
Did YOU study abroad?! If so, where and what inspired you to go?
Ira: Although I never had the opportunity to study abroad myself, I have been fortunate to travel all over the world. I can attest to the ways in which world travel and experiencing other cultures first hand is an enriching, educational and a life-changing experience. It is my passion to provide these opportunities to students today and to help them find the program that’s right for them!
What does the future hold for Westcoast Connection - any exciting new programs to share?
Ira: We have many exciting additions for summer (and spring break) 2014! We have added a new program in Central Europe (Croatia, Slovenia, Austria and the Czech Republic). We have also developed a new photography division featuring a skilled photography expert on staff for our programs in Costa Rica and Italy & France. We have also added two new community service programs – a summer program in Hawaii & Alaska (28 days) and spring break programs in Costa Rica (8 days). If you are inclined toward our Pre-College Enrichment division, check out our expanded course offerings in Barcelona and Florence.
What about the future of the student travel industry? How do you think international education in high school will change over the next 10 years?
Ira: I see the student travel industry thriving and continuing to grow. It has been our experience that as technology has developed parents have been able to close the gap between themselves and their traveling teen making overseas destinations more accessible. In our increasingly globalized society, more families are seeing the value in experimental learning through travel and becoming global citizens. As families are traveling more with their kids when they are younger, I see high schoolers branching out to new and more off-the-beaten-path destinations, for example- Croatia, Thailand and Africa.