{"id":5258,"date":"2022-02-23T11:30:03","date_gmt":"2022-02-23T15:30:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.explorica.ca\/blog\/?p=5258"},"modified":"2024-03-26T16:51:08","modified_gmt":"2024-03-26T20:51:08","slug":"young-heart-interview","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.explorica.ca\/blog\/young-heart-interview","title":{"rendered":"Young at Heart: An Interview with Program Leader Wayne Tourneur"},"content":{"rendered":"
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If you loved your study abroad experience (or are still kicking yourself for not having one), we\u2019ve got good news: Your lifelong learning journey has just begun! Say yes to adventure at any age on an adults-only trip\u2014here\u2019s how.<\/p>\n

This month, we\u2019re talking adult group tours with Wayne Tourneur, a long-time Explorica Program Leader. We sat down with Wayne to discuss everything from memorable tour moments to advice for first timers on an adults-only tour.<\/p>\n

Wayne hails from Three Hills, where he was raised on a family farm with roots dating back to the early 1900s. He graduated from the University of Alberta before beginning to teach at a K-9 school in Drayton Valley. It was here Wayne first started taking students on field trips of all sorts: overseas, outdoor survival trips in the foothills, skiing holidays at Fortress Mountain\u2013even a trip to the Calgary Olympics.<\/p>\n

After nearly a decade, Wayne moved to Frank Maddock High School and enjoyed 22 years there. At Frank Maddock, he continued with student trips, culminating in a tour to Egypt with 74 students just before the Arab Spring. Now retired, he\u2019s made the shift to leading adult tours. \u201cI certainly miss the students and the collegiality of my peers,\u201d Wayne said. \u201cBut in a small way, the adult trips make up for it. And, naturally, I can’t wait to go on the next one!\u201d<\/p>\n

Throughout the years, Wayne and his wife have continued to farm 1,500 acres with help from their three sons, daughter, and the children\u2019s spouses. He\u2019s also been involved in the petroleum industry, environmental work, and safety management software.<\/p>\n

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Q: When and why did you first start organizing and leading tours? <\/em><\/span><\/h4>\n

\"\"A:<\/span> Way back in grade 10, my high school chose me to attend a student conference during summer break in Ottawa under a program called “Educanada.\u201d We toured the general Ottawa area before crossing over the border into New York state\u2014my first time out of the country. It was a really eye-opening experience for this farm boy from rural Alberta. To say I thought it was pretty cool is an understatement.<\/p>\n

When I returned to classes in the fall, I begged <\/em>my teachers and principal to put on our own student trip. The principal, who was also my French teacher, acquiesced and arranged a trip to France. As much as I loved the Ottawa trip, France blew me away. It was\u2014and remains\u2014one of the highlights of my life!<\/p>\n

There was no doubt in my mind that, when I became a teacher, I wanted to give students that same thrill I felt when I first travelled. In 1986, I led my first student trip to London and Rome with 34 grade eight and nine students. We had an incredible time!<\/p>\n

Q: You have a long history of leading group travel. What do you enjoy most about leading group tours?<\/em><\/span><\/h4>\n

A: Seeing the sheer wonder and enjoyment on the faces of students and chaperones (and now adults) when we explore some incredible places that, for many, will be a once-in-a-lifetime experience. These trips have never been just about the sites we visit. They\u2019re about showing people what the world has to offer\u2014and knowing I was able to facilitate that experience for them!<\/p>\n

Q: You led many student trips during your career as an educator. What inspired you to make the switch to adult trips?<\/em><\/span><\/h4>\n

A: Ha, that\u2019s an easy one! Nearly every student trip I led, there were chaperones pleading for me to lead adult trips when I retired.<\/p>\n

Q: In your experience, what have been the benefits of travelling as part of an adult group?<\/em><\/span><\/h4>\n

\"\"A: There are probably too many to list, but the camaraderie or “closeness” of the group really stands out! Group activities help to make everyone feel like family. Participants love to know there\u2019s a friendly face around when they go for a drink in the lounge or come down for breakfast in the hotel. I cannot emphasize enough how close the group becomes; in fact, many people have made lifelong friends because of these travel experiences!<\/p>\n

Q: Do you feel there are benefits of group travel over individual travel?<\/em><\/span><\/h4>\n

A: Oh boy, there are so many! Knowing you\u2019re safe while travelling is so important, and a group brings that peace of mind. Being in the care of a 24\/7 Tour Director who speaks the local language, knows the participants by name, and is literally your go-to person for everything is priceless.<\/p>\n

Having everything arranged ahead of time is wonderful, too. Nobody has to line up to purchase entry tickets to venues; it\u2019s already been taken care of. You\u2019ll get to see all the things your Tour Director or local guide suggests\u2014things that likely would be missed if one travelled as an individual.<\/p>\n

And what some may take as minor is unbelievably important for me: the location of your hotels! In Europe, all the major sites and places where things are “happening” are located in the centre of the city.\u00a0 Our group loves doing things in the evenings but isn\u2019t interested in riding local transit for an hour. That\u2019s what will likely happen if, as an individual, you book your own hotel without knowing exactly where it\u2019s located. Explorica knows that, for me, location, location, location is paramount.<\/p>\n

Q: What have been your favourite destinations\/tour itineraries?<\/em><\/span><\/h4>\n

\"\"Due to the number of trips we\u2019ve taken, I\u2019ve been to a great many places: practically all of Europe, as well as parts of Asia, the Middle East, and South America. I can honestly say there\u2019s never been a trip I didn\u2019t have a terrific time on, but there are some special places.<\/p>\n

Egypt and Jordan combined with a Nile cruise was spectacular. (I should note that Egypt is a very safe place to visit. Tourism is everything to them; in fact, when I took students there, I was in touch with the deputy Egyptian ambassador to Canada. He put it simply: “Egypt has two things: tourists and sand. And sand isn’t worth anything!\u201d) I now recommend to my friends and family, if they want to take a holiday in the sun, choose Egypt. It’s safe, sunny, and relatively inexpensive.<\/p>\n

Another great trip was our South America trip to Brazil, Argentina, and Peru. We took part in Carnival in Rio, boated by Iguazu Falls, explored Buenos Aires, and then took in the beauty of Machu Picchu. We ended the trip with a boat ride up a tributary of the Amazon and a stay in some rainforest ecolodges. Super cool!<\/p>\n

Certainly, I have to mention that Europe is fantastic. People must visit the big three cities in their lifetime: London, Paris, and Rome\u2013and, obviously, the countryside that goes along with those!<\/p>\n

Finally, I highly recommend that folks try river cruises. We\u2019ve done five, and every one of them proved to be incredible.<\/p>\n

Q: When travelling as an adult group, is there usually a subject or theme the trip focuses around (i.e. history, cuisine, art)? What have been the more popular trips amongst your adult travellers?<\/em><\/span><\/h4>\n

A: During parts of trips, the itinerary does focus on certain themes. For example, a trip we did through Italy found us staying at a villa in Tuscany. So, needless to say, we enjoyed the vineyards as well as taking part in Italian cooking classes.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s interesting to note that many folks are repeat participants. On average, roughly half the group has been on one of my previous tours, and some have even told me to keep them signed up no matter where we\u2019re going! I think that says something about how enjoyable the group dynamics are.<\/p>\n

Q: Tell us about one of your favourite on-tour memories.<\/em><\/span><\/h4>\n

\"\"I think that a recurring success we have is our dress-up nights. Now, I don\u2019t mean formal wear\u2013I\u2019m talking about themes! For me, laughter and fun are the magic ingredients for people to really have a great time on these trips, and our dress-up nights definitely add that to the mix.<\/p>\n

The themes I choose are usually something to do with Canada, be it dressing like workers from various business sectors, dressing like your ancestors would have when they came to Canada, or dressing like Tarzan and Jane when we were in the Amazon.<\/p>\n

One particular dress-up night was on a cruise on the Rhine. Outside of our group, it was a predominantly older French crowd. I suggested to our crew that when we entered the ship\u2019s lounge that night, we should all grab someone from the other group to dance with. The result was stunning\u2013the whole French group got into it, too, and we had an incredible night with lots of laughs. We remained good friends with this crowd throughout the remainder of the cruise.<\/p>\n

Q: I understand you\u2019ve been leading group tours with Explorica for five years. How has your experience been with Explorica?<\/em><\/span><\/h4>\n

Absolutely terrific! From day one, they\u2019ve understood what I wanted for our groups and, if there were any doubts, they didn\u2019t hesitate to check with me to ensure I was getting exactly what I wanted. It\u2019s a great feeling knowing that, when we develop our itineraries, we\u2019re doing it as a team.<\/p>\n

Essentially we get beautiful, centrally located hotels, top-notch Tour Directors, and fantastic itineraries at a great price. What more could you ask for?!<\/p>\n

Q: You recently came back from a trip to Italy, Croatia, Albania, and Greece. What was your experience travelling with a group during a global pandemic? <\/em><\/span><\/h4>\n

\"\"The recent trip (in November 2021) was, of course, very unique. But due to the fact we worked closely with Explorica before the trip, discussing everything from safety protocols to health insurance, everything went according to plan. Explorica ensured our group was outfitted with plenty of surgical masks, testing was accessible, and our Tour Director prepared us for every country’s requirements in terms of mask usage and other relevant issues. Everybody enjoyed a great trip and returned home healthy.<\/p>\n

Q: What motivates you to continue to organize group trips? Where to next?!<\/em><\/span><\/h4>\n

A: Simple: because they\u2019re so much fun! Beyond that, it\u2019s certainly meeting new group members, seeing sites that we do not have in Canada, and having people come up to me on the street to tell me they\u2019ve heard so many good things about our tour\u2013all those things make it a fantastic experience for me.<\/p>\n

The next trip, which I call the \u201cGuns & Roses Tour,\u201d will take us to a number of World War sites, starting in Paris, then following along the coast to ultimately end up in Bordeaux and Marseilles. Further down the road, Japan is on the radar!<\/p>\n

Q: What advice do you have for someone new to leading adult tours?<\/em><\/span><\/h4>\n

\"\"A: First and foremost, if this is your first adult trip, keep things simple. Adults love free time and don\u2019t need to be entertained in the same way as students. Stay in places for at least two nights if possible\u2013a 14-night itinerary should not have 14 different hotels!<\/p>\n

Choose destinations with name recognition; you can never go wrong with London, Paris, Greece, Rome, or southern Italy. Pick times of the year that the weather will be reasonable for your chosen destination, but also that your target participants are available. If possible, try to ensure your group is big enough to utilize what is called a private group, meaning your group isn\u2019t combined with others. That way, you\u2019ll have complete freedom to make decisions like stopping in different places along the way.<\/p>\n

Last, use companies like Explorica to ensure your group is covered in case of unforeseen issues. For example, when we were in Iguazu Falls in southern Brazil, the airline cancelled our flight to Buenos Aires at the last minute. Explorica stepped in immediately and got us an alternative flight from another airline\u2013for 24 people!<\/p>\n

Q: Any final comments or information?<\/em><\/span><\/h4>\n

Over the years, I\u2019ve utilized five different travel companies, and it goes without saying that I\u2019ve definitely been most satisfied with Explorica. They\u2019ve gone well beyond what some other travel companies were willing to do to accommodate our group. I can honestly say that the people I plan these tours with are now my friends. They\u2019re great people, and that\u2019s the only type of people I want to work with!<\/p>\n

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Thanks for sharing with us, Wayne. Your awesome stories remind us that the experience is everything. We can\u2019t wait to add France and Japan to your list of successful trips!<\/p>\n

Like Wayne\u2019s Guns & Roses Tour, all our programs are fully customizable\u2014we can even work with you to build your dream trip from scratch! For more information or to browse tour options, please visit explorica.ca<\/a> or contact Joe Wyatt at jwyatt@explorica.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Don’t leave all the fun to the kids: We\u2019re here to help you say yes<\/em> to adventure at any age!<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

If you loved your study abroad experience (or are still kicking yourself for not having one), we\u2019ve got good news: Your lifelong learning journey has just begun! Say yes to adventure at any age on an adults-only trip\u2014here\u2019s how. This month, we\u2019re talking adult group tours with Wayne Tourneur, a long-time Explorica Program Leader. We Read More …<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":5260,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[693773,693774],"class_list":["post-5258","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-explorica-news","tag-adult-tours","tag-interview"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.explorica.ca\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5258","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.explorica.ca\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.explorica.ca\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.explorica.ca\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.explorica.ca\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=5258"}],"version-history":[{"count":24,"href":"https:\/\/www.explorica.ca\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5258\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":5289,"href":"https:\/\/www.explorica.ca\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5258\/revisions\/5289"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.explorica.ca\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/5260"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.explorica.ca\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5258"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.explorica.ca\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=5258"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.explorica.ca\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=5258"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}