I was an “adventurous babysitter” for over five years and that’s how it was

Skip science lessons, today Burning Man is on the agenda!

Welcome to the world of Adventure Nannies – a company catering to nomadic, adventurous parents looking for carers to accompany them on their offbeat outings – be it festivals in the desert, ski trips to Aspen or meditation retreats in India .

Ashley Wainwright, a 33-year-old from Connecticut, told DailyMail.com that she had been with the company for more than five years and had traveled the world during that time, with one of her more unusual assignments involving a musician. who had brought their children on tour.

Instead of giving young people a fixed schoolwork, Adventurous nannies are hired “to encourage and support families who have unique needs and desires for their children,” the company said.

During her time as an adventurous nanny, Wainwright has traveled the world, with one of her more unusual assignments involving a musician taking their children on tour.

Wainwright says the most important qualities needed to be an “adventure nanny” are “adaptability, patience, and a pinch of creativity goes a long way.”

When asked about her most extreme adventure babysitting experience, she explained, “I was once employed by a musician and we had two back-to-back legs of a tour of Europe.

“We landed for about a week, got home to the US for less than 48 hours and then headed straight back to Europe. We were there for another 10 days or so and did a lot more country hopping before heading home.

“On our flight home, one of our connections (we were on four flights in total that day before we got home) was delayed and we missed our next connection by just a few minutes.

“I remember both my employer and I sitting in silence, finally making eye contact and we just started laughing. There was nothing to do but laugh at the moment. From door to door it took us about 26 hours to get home.’

Wainwright said she made anywhere from $30 to $45 an hour, before overtime, when she was on the road full-time.

This amounted to $70,000 to $100,000 annually.

These days, the caretaker prefers to spend time closer to home with her partner and their two cats, and last year she mainly cared for families on the East Coast.

When asked about her plans for the rest of the year, she replied, “This year has a lot more in store – much of which will be spent with my family, friends, partner and two cats.”

Wainwright said she made anywhere from $30 to $45 an hour, before overtime, when she was on the road full-time (stock image)

Officially launched in 2012, the company was focused on “finding exceptional travel nannies with unique skills for adventurous families across the country”

“I look forward to diving into that quality time with those close to me and going on personal vacations, taking more time to ski and bouldering, and attending as many concerts as I can.

‘I am looking forward to having time to complete my Bachelor’s degree in Public Health: Child, Family and Community before the coming fall.’

The idea for Adventure Nannies was born in Denver in 2007 when founder Brandy Schultz realized she had become an adventure nanny herself. join families on treks through the Canadian wilderness, trips to Burning Man and other off the beaten track destinations.

In between Brandy’s adventures, she met an aspiring musician, Wesley Schultz (now of The Lumineers), who had recently moved to town and was working as a busboy to make ends meet.

They began dating, and as Brandy’s schedule filled up with families trying to hire her for upcoming trips, she saw an opportunity to start a business and support Wesley’s music.

The company officially launched in 2012 with a focus on “finding exceptional travel nannies with unique skills for adventurous families across the country.”

According to the website, “only five percent of our 10,000+ applicants each year pass our rigorous qualification process.”

It adds that those who do are “genuine individuals – but they share some key characteristics,” with these being adventurous, forward-thinking, intelligent and professional.

Looking ahead, Shenandoah Davis, co-founder and CEO of Adventure Nannies, says she has many plans for the company.

“I always half-jokingly tell people that my 10-year plan for Adventure Nannies is to send the first nanny into space! But seriously, I’m thrilled and so grateful for all the ways Adventure Nannies has grown over the past seven years,” she told DailyMail.com.

“We’ve met so many incredible families and nannies and the need for businesses like ours has only grown with the pandemic.”