Our Group Leaders
Our Group Leaders
Experiment group leaders are dynamic, responsible, and emotionally mature adults who support Experimenters in a number of ways. In close collaboration with our in-country partners, Experiment group leaders facilitate a safe and secure setting, wherein students can have meaningful and memorable learning experiences. Maximizing the safety and health of all participants is each group leader’s top priority.
Group leaders are chosen for their leadership skills, particularly in working with young people, as well as their cross-cultural experience and language competency.
- Beginning with the orientation, leaders work with Experimenters to increase their knowledge of the host country and culture, develop communication skills, and cultivate new attitudes and awareness.
- During the course of the program, group leaders keep in close contact with homestay families, conduct group excursions, and guide students through discussions of and reflections on their experiences.
- At the end of the program, leaders help students evaluate their experiences and assist them in considering how they can integrate what they learned about themselves and the world into their lives moving forward.
A leader's role is to:
- Collaborate with our in-country partners to maximize the health and safety of all participants
- Work with our in-country partner offices to administer program logistics and budget
- Facilitate the learning experience and encourage the personal growth of all participants
- Negotiate expectations placed on the leader by the Experiment's partners overseas, host families, participants, participants' parents, and Vermont staff.
We look for group leaders with:
- A bachelor's degree or equivalent experience
- Leadership experience working with high school students
- Experience studying and living overseas
- Competency in the language of the host country
Although group leaders come from all professions, they are most typically:
- Teachers
- Recently returned US Peace Corps volunteers
- Graduate school students
