With just over 1 year left of our 5 7-year, 50-state road trip we’re starting to think about what’s next. We’ve been asked that a lot over the last 6 years – what will you do after the road trip? Will you get a house? Keep traveling? Another road trip?
We were reluctant to say what we’d do since even on the road trip, our strategy and plans have changed again and again – remember that time we drove all the way east just to turn around and drive all the way back west? Just to drive back east again!? Good times, good times.
But last year, we started to realize what we didn’t want. We don’t want to continue our nomadic lifestyle. At least not for a while, and if we do a road trip again in another country we’ll probably do it differently. We’ll have more on our post-road trip plans coming in posts over the next several weeks and months, but some things have started to take shape so it’s time to share it with you – our faithful readers. Now, if you get our weekly email you already know the secret! But, if you don’t get that weekly email (why not!? You can sign up here), it’s time to let one of our cats out of the bag.
Things didn’t go exactly to plan after writing that post back in April 2023. I ended up not spending my summer traveling with teens to various locations. My time with that company was cut short and to be honest, I was alone (Stephen was on the Party of 5 trip) and I was devastated. But, with some therapy, excellent friends, my awesome and supportive mom – who also happens to be a lifelong entrepreneur, and Stephen’s cheerleading – I’ve seen that that was a really great thing that happened to me. I know that’s what we all say to try and frame something that’s negative as a positive, but this truly, truly was because it gave me the push I needed. In July, I started my own teen travel company, Ignite Travel Group, LLC and it officially launched on December 1, 2023.
Our mission is to focus on providing affordable, authentic, fun, and educational travel experiences to marginalized teens. Any teen is welcome, but our primary mission is to market to and reach teens who have been excluded from travel opportunities due to their race, gender identity, sexual orientation, and/or other socio-economic disadvantages – especially where any of those identities intersect with being economically disadvantaged (yes, that’s an inclusive and empathetic way of saying poor or low-income.) Our focus is on changing the face of teen travel – to be more inclusive and diverse.
Our vision is to break down barriers to travel – to help people see travel as important, valuable and necessary, not just a luxury. We’re working to include marginalized groups in our leadership and marketing – but we’re also going to be focused on having diverse young people have a role in our leadership structure. We want Ignite Travel Group, LLC to look completely different from other teen travel companies – from our participants, itineraries, and destinations to our organizational structure.
We have a 3-pronged approach to our business model. Two of which have already started and a third will launch in 2024. We offer teen trips – I mean, we’re a teen travel company, so that’s a given really. These trips will be unique, affordable and a blend of fun and educational with a bonus component that I’ve discussed here.
We also offer adult trips – what!? Yes! And a significant percentage of the fee for our adult trips will be a donation to support our social mission to expand access to travel opportunities for economically disadvantaged teens.
The third piece is coming in 2024 when we will be launching our 501c3 – Spark Travel Scholarships which will provide scholarship opportunities to teens for any travel-related expenses. And not just our trips – but anything a teen might need help with when they are traveling with school, community organization, their friends, or family. Fees for the trip are covered but a teen doesn’t own a suitcase? They’ll be able to apply for that. Need hiking boots for a Pacific Coast Trail ecology experience? Vaccinations for Africa? Their passport for Canada? All of those things will be something they can apply for under our scholarship program.
We’re starting small since the road trip is our main priority for 2024. We’re offering two trips – a teen trip for up to 8 young people to Ireland in July and an adult trip for up to 6 people (3 spots remain at the time of writing) to South Africa in October. Both are $3,500 but include different things based on our mission. The teen trip includes international airfare, as we will travel internationally as a group, while adults will be expected to purchase airfare and make their way to Johannesburg. Both include all accommodation (based on shared room rates), transportation in-country, all meals, all activities and gratuities. Plus, as mentioned above, the adult trip includes a donation to support future teen travels with our organization.
We plan to expand in 2025 when the road trip is over to offer 3-6 trips and to continue to go from strength to strength in the years that follow. If you’d like to know more please contact us – and if you love travel as much as we do consider sharing our site, following us on social media, and joining in one of our adventures!
No Home Just Roam will still exist too. Stephen has some great ideas for expanding our content options once the road trip is over since we still plan to roam from our home base. Plus, we have a whole year and 10 states left to see including Florida, Alaska, Hawaii, Montana, and even Indiana (I know you’re on the edge of your seat for that one!) So keep following along, join our FB group if you haven’t, and watch this space for more exciting developments as we head into the final year of the road trip on January 1, 2024.
Beth says
I, for one, am looking forward to Indiana! That is close enough for me to drive over and see you guys for a day or so!! I’ve been plugging your new business to everyone that will listen. Can’t wait to join you on one of the adult trips!
Tina says
Have you shared your potential “home” state for 2025? Best of luck with your travel group. Very inspirational!
Shae Pepper says
We haven’t yet. We have narrowed it down a bit from about 15 different places to 5 – so keep watching this space! 😀
Shae Pepper says
Oooh! I can’t wait to see you!
Rosie says
We had a great visit to Columbus, Indiana last year — although it is a small city, it has outstanding modern architecture — google it to learn more! Your new company sounds amazing, best of luch.
Shae Pepper says
Thank you so much! We’re going to New Harmony, IN for a few days and then to Indianapolis but we’ll have a look to see if Columbus is nearby 😀