At DC, we live and breathe travel! Many of our staff members have been travel enthusiasts since, well, if not the cradle, shortly thereafter; others discovered the transformative power of travel only as adults and haven’t stopped exploring since.
There’s no season like the summer to get adventurous! Below, we recall some of our favorite moments from summers past.
“Growing up in Alaska, summers were short but packed with adventure. With long days of sunlight, you’d be remiss not to make the most of the outdoors. One of my favorite memories is kayaking along miles of rugged coastline, completely immersed in nature. The beauty was pristine—no crowds, just the quiet of the water and the raw, untouched landscape. It’s the kind of experience that leaves you feeling refreshed and deeply connected to the wild—an opportunity that only Alaska can offer.”
–Angela Bailey, Director of Sales & Coordination
“Hands down, one of the best summers of my life was the summer of 2019. I was fortunate enough to spend time traveling through Tanzania with my wife and her parents alongside Mama Simba, DC’s long-time trip leader and one of the most inspiring people that I have met. We spent time in the villages of Moshi and also headed out on safari. I still look back on this as one of the best experiences we shared together and a trip that will always remain close to our hearts.”
–Alex DuBois, Executive Director
“One of my favorite summer memories is when I went to Costa Rica with my Spanish class at 15 years old. This was my first trip without my family and genuinely sparked my love of travel. The reason this trip was so special was not because of the beautiful landscapes or the incredible animals, but because of the connections I made with the local community. We spent most of our time with Costa Rican teenagers for language exchange. This one week with them made such a huge impact on my life and I sobbed when I had to leave. I have been to many countries since and the best part of each remains to be when I can foster connections in the local communities which is what Discover Corps is all about.”
–Colette Williams, Travel Operations Coordinator
“When I think of summer, nothing compares to the family vacations I took as a child. Having a dedicated space and time to spend with my parents and siblings, with no outside distractions or responsibilities, created such a warm bubble of connection for our family. Even 30+ years later, that togetherness is quintessential “summer” to me. Now that I have two young children of my own, I’m excited to infuse that love of travel and togetherness in our family! We’re planning a trip to Japan in August to keep up the tradition.”
–Jenica Pistone-Donahue, Marketing Administrator
“A fun summer memory was working in a pub (called a hotel in Australia) in the outback of Australia. I worked with 3 other girls from around the world (Argentina, the Netherlands & England). We worked in the pub downstairs and lived in the motel upstairs. It was a very fun and interesting time getting to know the locals of a small outback town. A wallaby once wandered into the pub!”
–Leila Barth, Travel Operations Coordinator
