Diving In: A Road Scholar Staff Adventure on the Eastern Shore

Choosing a program that fit his interests and experience also gave Rushton common ground with the other participants, since as a younger employee at Road Scholar, he felt a bit of uncertainty when it came to making those connections. "Even though I know how adventurous and inclusive our participants are, I still wasn’t sure what it was going to be like or how well we’d relate, given the age difference," he says. 

Breaking Down Barriers 

That initial hesitation quickly dissolved. "It was really wonderful, actually experiencing how inviting the participants were," Rushton recalls. "I worried about feeling like the odd one out, but within the first night, we were clicking. Despite the age gap, they were so interested in talking to me and invested in learning about Road Scholar." 

Rushton was particularly struck by the participants' enthusiasm for learning. "They were asking our Group Leader and instructors so many questions about everything! ‘What kind of bird is that?' ‘What kind of plant is that?’ It made me understand our participants so much better — they’re endlessly curious about the world and want to learn while they’re exploring it," he says. 

Preparation Made Easy 

One aspect that impressed Rushton was the comprehensive pre-trip preparation. "Road Scholar was really great in terms of sending emails a few weeks before the program with a checklist of what to bring and what conditions to expect," he says. "They made it very clear that we kayak rain or shine, which, of course, hadn’t occurred to me. I’m not sure I would have thought to pack rain gear otherwise!" 

Even when he forgot a few items, like a towel, Rushton found that the accommodation had him covered. "I was really impressed with just how well taken care of we were. Seriously, the biggest challenge was just driving there. By the time I arrived, I felt totally settled." 

Professional Insights 

As a marketing professional, Rushton was grateful for the valuable insights he gained that have gone on to influence his work. "One of the things I was hoping to get out of the program was understanding our participants better, and there's no better way than spending five days with them," he explains. 

"It’s Marketing 101, really,” he adds. “The most effective way of reaching a demographic is understanding who they are and how they communicate. When I started, I really wasn’t sure I knew how to connect with our participants in a way that was truly, authentically compelling. I’ve learned a lot, and this program really helped.” 

Spending so much time with Road Scholars provided Rushton with unexpected revelations about marketing preferences. "I asked them how they knew about the program, and almost all of them told me it was from our print mailings — our catalogs and brochures. They were aware of the website and that you can sign up online, but they felt at home with the physical print marketing material we send them." 

For Rushton, "That was probably my biggest takeaway,” he says, “especially since I work so much in the digital world. They just really love print materials, and it definitely changed my perspective." 

Memorable Moments 

Perspective-changing moments extended beyond the professional. "On our second-to-last day,” Rushton recalls, “we were kayaking in a bay and suddenly we were literally kayaking next to dolphins. It was so unexpected!" 

The naturalist kayaking with them explained that dolphins bring their calves into the bay because it's warmer and has fewer predators. “We saw so many of them — they greeted us, they knew we were there, they were putting on their own show. It was really, really incredible," he says. 

Life Lessons from Fellow Adventurers 

One of the benefits Rushton found of exploring with other Road Scholars was the life wisdom he picked up from his new community. "They all treated me like their grandchild, giving me so much life advice,” he laughs. “But honestly, I was so impressed with their athleticism,” he adds, noting that some of the participants wished Road Scholar offered even more challenging hiking programs. “Their energy level is enviable,” Rushton says. 

In fact, watching one octogenarian navigate the waterways with ease left a lasting impression on him. "Seeing the oldest man in the group kayak like a pro, I kept asking, ‘How do you do that?’ He said, ‘You don’t stop — you just keep moving and don't let your age define you.’" 

The Road Scholar Difference 

Rushton is now hooked on the Road Scholar approach to experiencing the world. "If I travel anywhere in the States, or even internationally, I want to go with Road Scholar,” he says. “Exploring anywhere new can be intimidating, but being in a Road Scholar group really makes you feel so much at ease, infinitely more so than if you were to do it on your own." 

A Journey of Discovery 

Rushton set out to understand Road Scholar's audience and ended up discovering something much deeper: a community that defies age, a spirit of adventure that knows no boundaries and a way of exploring that transforms how you see the world. As the 80-year-old kayaker told him, "You don't stop because you get old. You get old because you stop." For Rushton, this Road Scholar journey was more than just a program — it was a window into a philosophy of continuous learning, endless curiosity and living life without limits. 

This article is part of our series highlighting employee experiences on Road Scholar programs. Missed the first two? Read about Steve A.’s pickleball adventure or Jaime D.’s data-researched travel strategy, and stay tuned for more insights from our team members as they explore the world of educational travel.