Westcoast Connection

2 kids, 2 different trips and both had the time of their lives! Highly recommended!!

My son had an incredible experience on the California extravaganza as part of West Coast. Westcoast was superbly organized and the trip was a huge success despite the viral pandemic. As parents we felt very comfortable that our son was being looked after and our son had great experiences with a well balanced itinerary. The counsellors were superb and provided good support and fostered independence. The social experience proved invaluable given the lack of social interaction during COVID-19. I would highly recommend West Coast for parents and teenagers considering travel.

Our daughter participated in Westcoast Connection's California Extravaganza program this past summer.From the very beginning of the application process, we felt well informed. Mitch Lerner from the Toronto office was always there to answer any concerns and provide information. We really felt the kids joining the program would be in good hands.Throughout the duration of the trip, we got excellent feedback from our daughter, as well as from the staff on hand. We felt the program had the right balance of both social interactions and adventures & challenges. It was exciting, enriching, safe and well managed.Our daughter came back with so many new experiences. She made many new friends and is more confident than ever in her ability to travel, study or take on new challenges in the future.Since the program ended she keeps in touch with many of her local and international friends which she met on the program. Some of her new US friends came to visit her and stayed with us, and she visited a few of her new friends from NY and Chicago.We were so impressed with the program, that when our daughter requested to sign up for the Hawaii tour for next summer, we were more than happy to sign her up.We highly recommend Westcoast Connections to teens!

my daughter had the worst experience.the problem was the way the company handled it.would not recommend

Both our kids travelled with Westcoast Connection last summer and had the best summer of their lives. Our son did the Ecuador and Galapagos volunteer service trip. He said it was one of the greatest experiences he has ever had - he was deeply inspired by the communities he met locally and the projects he worked on. Travelling and exploring the world are the very best way to learn and grow. He has stayed connected with his friends from across the USA and Canada and this trip has cemented his passion for adventure travel.Our daughter went on the Ultimate California trip and had the most amazing summer. Her tour leader and counsellors were outstanding - kind, fun, compassionate and inspiring. The trip fostered a sense of independence, challenged her to try new activities like river rafting and explore places such as UCLA campus and Disney with new friends . She has stayed close with people she met, plans to travel to Europe with Westcoast, and has told us she hopes to be a counsellor on Westcoast one day. As a parent, I can strongly attest to the attention to detail, the strong focus on safety and the profound impact Westcoast trips have had on my children. I would highly recommend without reservation.

My 16 year old son had a fabulous time on his California Westcoast trip. The team at Westcoast brilliantly navigated the covid issues. I would absolutely recommend Westcoast to parents wanting to give their children a summer of adventure and increased independence.

West Coast Connection has been a huge part of my life. They create life-changing experiences and life-lasting friendships. Doing West Coast has allowed me to step outside my comfort zone, make new friends, and grow as a person. The staff at WCC are unbelievable! They always ensure everyone's safety, but that the same time, make sure that everyone is having an enjoyable time. Everyone feels welcomed and part of the group. Hopefully, West Coast will be able to run its program this upcoming summer as its what I look forward to all year.

We couldn’t have chosen better travel programs for our two teens. Our son went to California and daughter to Europe.Both had an amazing summer. The staff were outstanding, fun yet very professional. We highly recommend WCC. Anthony and Justine

I knew my child would see the best sites and enjoy the best activities. The itinerary was amazing and the support getting him enrolled in the program was professional and helpful.What I didn't realize my son would get was the confidence and life skills he came home with.After almost 3 years of missing out on key social and entertainment opportunities, my son was having trouble connecting with his peers and taking part in new activities. Something as simple as ordering a sandwich was difficult for him or reaching out to friends for plans. But he boarded the plane and set off on his Westcoast Connection program. He immediately messaged me that he had connected with the staff. Within days he had a core group of friends. This reinstated his confidence and reinforced the fact that he can make new friends.This September, he walked into a new high school without any of his middle school peers able to make friends because of the social programming, supportive staff and atmosphere that Westcoast Connection provided.The freedom he had to search out his favourite foods at lunch and be responsible for paying for it has improved his independence. He learned how to communicate, cooperate, negotiate with and have empathy and responsibility for his roommates and group mates. These are valuable skills he will use throughout high school, with university roommates and peers as well as out in the real world every day.Sending my son on a Westcoast Connection program was so much more than what it seemed at registration. I am grateful to the office and field staff for not only providing my son with the summer of a lifetime, but the skills that will last him a lifetime. He is already registered for next summer. --

My son just returned from his fourth Westcoast Trip, this one to Hawaii, and he could not have had a better experience! The time he spent with the Boys and Girls club was truly meaningful and he thoroughly enjoyed all of the activities, the highlight being the incredible surfing. I can't say enough good things about Westcoast. It is a professional, well run organization staffed by caring, responsible and fun trip leaders and counsellors. They all go the extra mile to ensure your kid has an exceptional experience. THANK YOU WESTCOAST for giving my kids memories that will last forever. Kid #3 will be on deck shortly!!