To be outdoors all summer, to go to sleep under the stars—this is the stuff great memories are made of. What about the nitty-gritty details of the trip though? Our trip leading philosophy is really quite clear. As a leader for a group of teenagers, you are a role model. You are the one who establishes and demands adherence to a set of regulations which all can abide by. Within the context of your individual trip, Longacre's overriding concern is for the health and safety of all participants. Clearly defined limits of acceptable behavior are required for the group to work, play, and live together for the length of their trip.

You cannot be afraid of stepping up and taking a swing at the ball. This is where your self-confidence, assertiveness, compassion, and respect for others come into play. As a leader, you will be disciplining kids. You will be enforcing no drugs, no alcohol, and no cigarettes. You will be adhering to a schedule that has been previously established to move a group of 10 to 16 kids and leaders from point A to point B within a certain period of time. You will be demanding respect from kids who have an attitude. Balance all this with respect for the kids and you will be rewarded with a group of kids who idolize you, who fall on your every word, who laugh at your jokes, and love your cooking.

Leadership is shared between two or three adults on each trip, a Leader and one or two Assistant Leaders. Although the job descriptions are very similar, there is a vast difference between the two. The Leader anticipates problems before they occur, responds appropriately in emergency situations, handles the trip's finances, and assumes responsibility. Consequently, the bulk of the stress falls on the shoulders of the Leader.

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