The Road Less Traveled

What The Road Less Traveled does

The Road Less Traveled (RLT) is a privately held Chicago-based operator of overnight teen travel programs founded in 1991. The company designs and delivers service-learning, cultural immersion, and adventure travel programs for middle and high school students (grades 6-12, ages 11-18) across more than 16 destinations in the United States, Europe, Southeast Asia, East Asia, Central America, North Africa, and the Caribbean. Programs are structured by duration — 7-day domestic, 14-day domestic or international, 16-day international, and 21-day international — with named itineraries such as Thailand: Elephants, Education, and Cultural Exploration ($7,495), Puerto Rico: Reef Restoration ($6,295), Greece: Coastal Conservation ($7,395), and Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos: Journey Through Asia ($7,495). RLT also operates PADI- and SSI-certified scuba programs, a custom trip line for schools and institutions, and serves as an official Presidential Volunteer Service Award (PVSA) certifying organization. The company is accredited by the American Camp Association (ACA) and staffs all trips with Wilderness First Responder (WFR)-certified leaders at a typical 6:1 student-to-leader ratio, supported by a Chicago headquarters team spanning enrollment, marketing, logistics, finance, and hiring functions.

RLT's business model is predominantly direct-to-consumer tuition revenue from families, priced $6,295-$7,495 per participant for one-time enrollment in summer programs. A secondary B2B revenue stream comes from custom-designed group trips for schools and educational institutions, priced on a bespoke professional-services basis. Go-to-market is sales-led via phone, email, Calendly-scheduled consultations, and a CampInTouch-powered online enrollment workflow that includes application, teacher reference, health history, and director phone call before deposit. Marketing is conducted primarily through the company website, parent testimonials, organic SEO, and word-of-mouth referrals generated by a 34-year alumni community. Operations are supported by no proprietary technology platform; the stack is a third-party enrollment SaaS (CampInTouch), standard Squarespace web infrastructure, and reCAPTCHA, with a recommended (not embedded) insurance partnership with Travel Insured International. The company was acquired by Andy Shlensky from founders Jim and Donna in early 2020 and operates independently with no disclosed external investors, parent company, or subsidiaries; Shlensky separately owns North Star Camp (Wisconsin) and is partner at Bubbles Academy (Chicago), creating a cross-program talent and youth-development ecosystem that supports RLT's leader recruitment and brand positioning.

Name

The Road Less Traveled

Legal name

The Road Less Traveled LLC

Website

https://theroadlesstraveled.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1991

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Teen Travel Programs

NAICS

Travel Agencies (561510), Scenic and Sightseeing Transportation, Land (4871)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900), Hotels, Rooming Houses, Camps & Other Lodging Places (7000)

akta.pro primary industry

Short-Term Secondary Immersion & Cultural Exchange Trips (EDAIAHAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Service Learning, Volunteer & Community Engagement Trips (THAKAGAF), School Group & Curriculum-Led Trips (THAKAGAB), Language Immersion & Cultural Exchange Programs (THAKAGAE)

Keywords

• Teen travel programs
• Adventure travel services
• Service learning trips
• Youth summer programs
• Experiential education travel

Headquarters

HQ city

Chicago

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Teen Travel Program Tuition: One-time tuition fees for summer travel programs ranging from 7-21 days. Programs include domestic and international destinations with varying price points from $6,295 to $7,495 per participant.
2. Custom School/Group Trips: Bespoke travel programs designed for schools and institutions. Includes custom itineraries, service projects, and educational experiences tailored to group requirements.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

The Road Less Traveled (RLT) operates overnight adventure travel programs for middle and high school students (grades 6-12, ages 11-18), combining community service, cultural immersion, wilderness adventure, and Spanish language immersion. Programs range from 7 to 21 days across 16+ domestic and international destinations and are led by WFR-certified guides at high leader-to-teen ratios. The company also designs custom group trips for schools and organizations.

Product overview

The Road Less Traveled (RLT) operates a portfolio of overnight adventure travel programs for middle and high school students (grades 6-12) established in 1991. The core offering consists of structured teen travel programs categorized by duration (7, 14, 16, and 21 days) and program type (Wilderness Adventure, Animal Service, Community Service, Spanish Immersion, Cultural Immersion, and Scuba Diving Programs). Programs serve teens ages 11-18 with destinations spanning domestic US locations (Alaska, Colorado, Hawaii, Maine, California, Puerto Rico) and international destinations (Azores, Japan, Costa Rica, Greece, Norway, Peru, Thailand, Vietnam, Italy, France, Morocco, Spain, Iceland, Scotland, Ireland, Dominican Republic). Named programs include Thailand: Elephants, Education, and Cultural Exploration; Puerto Rico: Reef Restoration; Morocco: Desert Nights; Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos: Journey Through Asia; Peru: Mystic Mountains; Greece: Coastal Conservation; Dominican Republic: Caribbean Community; Spain: Connect Through Community; Norway: Peaks and Valleys; and Scuba Diving Programs with PADI/SSI certification. RLT also offers Custom Trips for schools and organizations seeking tailored experiences. Pricing ranges from approximately $6,295 to $7,495 for standard programs, with service hours typically ranging from 10-66 hours depending on trip length and focus.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Thailand: Elephants, Education, and Cultural Exploration 20-day high school program ($7,495) combining English teaching at elementary schools, elephant sanctuary service work, snorkeling, and exploration of Bangkok and Chiang Mai. Service hours: 44-66.
• Puerto Rico: Reef Restoration 14-day high school program ($6,295) featuring PADI scuba certification, El Yunque rainforest hiking, environmental restoration work with local non-profits, and bioluminescent bay kayaking. Combines community service with Caribbean cultural immersion.
• Morocco: Desert Nights 16-day high school program ($6,795) featuring High Atlas Mountains community service, Sahara Desert camel trekking, Ait Benhaddou exploration, Marrakech cultural immersion, Essaouira surfing, and Moroccan cooking experiences.
• Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos: Journey Through Asia 21-day high school program ($7,495) combining Halong Bay cruising, hill tribe village volunteering, Angkor temple exploration, Hoi An biking, school English teaching, and Kulen Mountain trekking across Vietnam and Cambodia.
• Peru: Mystic Mountains 16-day high school program featuring Sacred Valley service projects, potable water infrastructure work, Machu Picchu exploration, Via Ferrata climbing, Cusco cultural experiences, and Andean community engagement. Service hours: 25-35.
• Greece: Coastal Conservation 16-day high school program ($7,395) featuring sea turtle and marine conservation work with scientists, Ionian Islands sea kayaking, Athens Acropolis visits, and Kefalonia exploration.
• Dominican Republic: Caribbean Community 14-day high school program featuring bateyes community service, infrastructure projects, public health initiatives, Isla Saona snorkeling, and Santo Domingo cultural immersion. Combines Spanish immersion with meaningful service.
• Spain: Connect Through Community 14-day high school program ($6,695) featuring Costa Brava camping, Barcelona exploration, La Sagrada Familia visits, food redistribution service projects, Via Ferrata climbing, and Montserrat hiking with Spanish immersion elements.
• Norway: Peaks and Valleys 21-day high school program featuring Jotunheimen National Park backpacking, sea kayaking through fjords, Rallarvegen trail biking, Bergen exploration, and multi-activity Scandinavian adventure.
• Colorado Programs 14-day programs including 'Tails of Kindness' for middle school (animal service) and 'Call of the Wild' for high school (wilderness adventure) featuring Rocky Mountain activities and service projects.
• Teen Scuba Diving Programs PADI and SSI-certified scuba programs for teens offering Junior Open Water, Open Water, Advanced Open Water, and specialty certifications. Includes Italy: Dive the Med and Puerto Rico: Reef Restoration, providing lifetime dive certifications and marine conservation experience.
• Community Service Programs Service-focused programs with hands-on community projects designed and directed by local communities. Participants can earn President's Volunteer Service Awards (PVSA) through verified service hours.
• Custom Trips Customized group travel programs for schools, organizations, and families seeking tailored teen travel experiences with service, adventure, and cultural elements specific to their group's needs.

Quantifiable outcome

• 34 years of operation with zero serious injuries
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• North Star CampcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOwner Andy Shlensky also owns and directs North Star Camp, a premier traditional boys camp in northern Wisconsin for ages 8-15. Both organizations share expertise in youth development and summer programming.
• Bubbles AcademyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOwner Andy Shlensky is owner and partner at Bubbles Academy in Chicago, an arts-integrated early childhood development center and preschool for children 0-5.
• Camp for All Kids FoundationminorOthersNon-profit organization focused on ensuring accessibility of summer camp experiences. Andy Shlensky serves on the board.
• Four Star FellowshipminorOthersYouth development fellowship program. Andy Shlensky works closely with this organization.
• Whole Child ArtsminorOthersArts-focused youth development organization. Andy Shlensky serves on the board.
• Travel Insured InternationalminorGTM or Marketing PartnerRecommended third-party travel insurance provider. RLT refers families to this provider for trip protection and has had positive experiences working with them over many years.
• PADI (Professional Association of Diving Instructors)coreTechnology or IntegrationScuba certification partner providing Open Water, Advanced Open Water, and specialty certifications to teen participants through RLT programs.
• SSI (Scuba Schools International)coreTechnology or IntegrationAlternative scuba certification partner alongside PADI, offering lifetime certifications for teen divers.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Rustic Pathways: Rustic Pathways is one of the largest teen service-travel operators, running 7-21 day programs for high schoolers across 20+ countries with similar pricing ($5K-$8K). Closest direct competitor in service-learning + adventure format for the same teen demographic.
• Global Leadership Adventures: GLA runs 2-4 week teen volunteer and service-learning programs in 20+ countries for students 14-18, with comparable tuition levels and a similar mix of cultural immersion, service, and adventure. Direct competitor in the high-school service-travel category.
• Where There Be Dragons: Dragons runs experiential education programs for high school and college students focused on cultural immersion, homestays, and service in Asia, Africa, and the Americas. Closely comparable in program philosophy (small groups, cultural exchange, service) and target demographic.
• Putney Student Travel (Experiment): Experiment (formerly Putney) operates high-school summer abroad programs with service, language, and cultural components in 20+ countries. Similar program structure (2-4 weeks, inclusive pricing, teen focus) and comparable target families.
• Bold Earth Teen Adventures: Bold Earth offers 12-25 day teen adventure and community service programs across the Americas, Africa, and Asia. Comparable in duration, age range (13-18), service-plus-adventure mix, and inclusive pricing model.
• VISIONS Service Adventures: VISIONS runs teen community-service programs in the US, Caribbean, Central America, and Europe with similar 2-3 week durations and tuition pricing. Direct overlap in teen service-travel positioning.
• Loop Abroad: Loop Abroad operates teen veterinary and animal-service programs in Thailand, Costa Rica, and other destinations, combining service learning with cultural immersion. Comparable in teen service-travel model with a more focused animal-service niche.

Broad incumbents

• EF Education First Tours: EF Tours is the largest student travel operator globally, offering group and individual teen travel programs across 50+ countries with the resources of a multinational education company. Broader portfolio but directly overlapping target customer (US teens and schools).
• National Geographic Student Expeditions: Nat Geo Student Expeditions offers high-school summer programs combining adventure, photography, and cultural immersion at premium price points. Overlaps with RLT on teen experiential travel with a stronger adventure/photography angle.
• Outward Bound: Outward Bound runs wilderness and experiential education programs for teens and adults in the US and internationally, with a stronger focus on outdoor leadership and expeditions. Comparable in teen outdoor education mission and small-group delivery model.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/therlt
• Facebookfacebook.com/theroadlesstraveledadventures
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/the-road-less-traveled

Compliance6 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about The Road Less Traveled