The Cornerstone Blog

Providing insights, updates, and guidance to the experiential education & travel industry

Community, Cornerstone News, Staff, Guidance Cornerstone Staff Account Community, Cornerstone News, Staff, Guidance Cornerstone Staff Account

Reaching & Managing Fit-to-Fly while Navigating Mental Health Conditions

At Cornerstone, we specialize in assisting our members in navigating a wide range of challenges that can arise during travel. When those challenges encompass issues related to mental health and medical needs, these can significantly impact an individual's ability to travel or return home, especially in cases involving a psychotic break.

Read More
Community, Cornerstone News, Staff, Guidance Cornerstone Staff Account Community, Cornerstone News, Staff, Guidance Cornerstone Staff Account

Tips for Preventing and Responding to Sexual Assault on Travel Programs

Sexual assault prevention and response are critical responsibilities for owners of travel and experiential education companies. Unfortunately, we’re seeing trends in which participant to participant cases are increasing across the industry. Ensuring the safety and well-being of travelers is paramount, requiring a proactive approach to both prevention and response. This blog outlines best practices for preventing and responding to sexual assault, emphasizing the importance of human-centered strategies, clear communication, and ethical conduct.

Read More
Community, Cornerstone News, Staff, Guidance Cornerstone Staff Account Community, Cornerstone News, Staff, Guidance Cornerstone Staff Account

Insights from our 2024 Cornerstone Leadership Retreat

As the sun sets on our first leadership retreat, we find ourselves filled with inspiration, reflection, and a renewed sense of purpose. Over several days in April, CEOs and business leaders from member organizations gathered to delve deep into the challenges and opportunities of our industry. Here are some key takeaways from our time together.

Read More
Community, Cornerstone News, Staff Cornerstone Staff Account Community, Cornerstone News, Staff Cornerstone Staff Account

Navigating the Stress Continuum: A Framework for Organizational Wellness

While perseverance and dedication are commendable qualities, it's crucial to recognize the impact of stress on individuals and teams. In this article, we delve into the Stress Continuum model as a valuable tool for assessing and addressing stress within the travel and experiential education industries.

Read More
Community, Cornerstone News, Staff Madeline Willett Community, Cornerstone News, Staff Madeline Willett

Proactive Mental Health Best Practices for You & Your HQ Staff

Bracing for the inevitable stresses of managing programs is a recipe for burnout and frustration among HQ staff and leadership teams. So, what can you do to proactively address HQ burnout and manage the leadership team’s mental health on the precipice of your busiest season? How do you support each other, as a leadership staff, through peak season before burnout becomes an inevitability?

We spoke with organizational leaders and the Cornerstone mental health team to offer best practices and insights below.

Read More
Mental Health Madeline Willett Mental Health Madeline Willett

Supporting Participants and Staff Traveling with ADHD Stimulant Medications

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, or ADHD/ADD, is getting its due in the travel industry.

As clinicians, we’ve learned much about this complex disorder in a relatively short period of time, due to the increased call for better support and understanding in domestic, school, and workplace settings. However, despite increased recognition, we still struggle (particularly in the travel and experiential education industry) to support participants and staff with ADHD.

Read More
Cornerstone News, Staff, Mental Health Madeline Willett Cornerstone News, Staff, Mental Health Madeline Willett

Meet Cornerstone’s Mental Health Team

Meet our Mental Health Team! As the first organization to provide all-inclusive health, safety and risk management services for the travel and experiential education industries, Cornerstone relies on a team of experts. To offer our members customized consultation, advisement, and thought leadership, it takes a professional who can navigate the space between industries.

Today, we’d like to introduce you to our mental health team, compassionate and self-motivated professionals who assist with the ongoing development of training and education, support our members, and develop best practices to keep organizations evolving. We’re fortunate to be joined by a the following individuals with significant industry experience and passion for transformative travel.

Read More
Best Practices, Mental Health Madeline Willett Best Practices, Mental Health Madeline Willett

Managing your Wellness while On-Call

You know that being “on-call” is necessary for your travel business.

During peak season, your staff is in the field 24/7. They are constantly working to support participants’ wellbeing, perhaps operating in an unfamiliar environment, handling crises on the ground, and ensuring all the hard work you’ve spent planning your programs is delivered as designed. They’re likely stressed, looking to you for guidance on a variety of issues, and don’t “get away” from the group for personal time nearly enough.

Read More
Mental Health Madeline Willett Mental Health Madeline Willett

Emotional First Aid on Programs: What, Why, & How

Experiential education and travel-based programs offer an intensive, often life-changing learning experiences for both the participants and staff. During these programs, individuals are challenged personally as they reflect upon their core beliefs, encounter stressful travel and social situations, and confront some of our global society's greatest challenges.

Read More