Our Story
How a guy from Miami Beach turned an idea into three decades of world travel.
The beginning
By Scott Fineman, Founder
In 1993, I was hired as a counselor for Summit Travel who ran trips around the US and Canada for those who had more severe difficulties. In the following four years I continued my summers with Summit learning as I traveled along tackling all the many things that came up with groups of non-typical teens and young adults. The best education and experience I could have ever asked for.
I also noticed something simple: high-functioning adults on the autism spectrum had aged out of the structured experiences that worked for them as kids — summer camps, group programs, the kinds of places where everybody knew their name.
Adult life had a lot more choices but a lot less belonging. Travel — real travel, the kind their neurotypical siblings were doing — felt out of reach. The accessible-travel industry was built around mobility, not neurodivergence. You know the old saying, "there's gotta be a better way."
Finally in 1997, after graduating Fordham University with a Master's in Clinical Social Work, Frontier Travel CAMP was born. From now on it would be a 3:1 staff ratio, have medical staff on as many trips as possible, great transportation, nice hotels, delicious restaurants and, most importantly, be real careful to only accept nice, kind hearted, high-functioning young men and women.
I promised myself that I would run the trip like any parent would, with love, kindness, excitement, and the feeling of safety and belonging. No raising voices, no rushing people, low stress, and making sure everyone knows deep down that they can be who they are. If you want to find gems in Australia, just say the word. You want to find Godzilla in Tokyo, I know exactly what building top he likes to hang out on. We'll do the best we can to make your dreams happen.
Over the last 29 years, I built the thing that didn't exist. A summer-camp alternative that grew up with its travelers. A travel company that took adults on the spectrum to Europe, Asia, South America, Australia, the Caribbean and beyond. Finally, in 2024 we decided to do a brand change so we made a new name for ourselves, Frontier Travel CLUB. We're really a club. We've become a real close-knit family.
“We are all capable of more than we believe.”
— The Frontier credo, since 1997
Founder
Scott founded Frontier Travel Club in 1997 and has personally led every trip since — over 200 of them, across more than 40 U.S. states (including Hawaii and Alaska) and 50+ countries: Canada, Australia, Japan, the UAE, Iceland, all over Europe, Central America, and the Caribbean. Travelers who’ve come back year after year describe him as something between a guide, a friend, and family.
His clinical foundation comes from a Master’s in Clinical Social Work from Fordham University in New York and 32+ years working with children, adolescents, and adults on the Autism Spectrum, with ADD/ADHD, and with learning disabilities — plus specific training in behavior management. He’s based in Coconut Grove, Florida. He answers his own email, and he’ll tell you the truth about whether a trip is the right fit for your son or daughter — even when the answer is “not yet.” That candor is part of why families have trusted him with their adult children for almost three decades.
If you’re not sure whether Frontier is right for your family, Scott will get on a Zoom with you. No sales pitch. Just a conversation.
The Team
Frontier Travel Club, Inc. staff is dedicated to the special needs of its members. Staff provides individual attention to travelers’ needs 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Our patient and caring staff is trained to work with individuals with special needs and is committed to ensuring the comfort and safety of our travelers. Our low staff turnover is testament to the warm and loving atmosphere that our family provides.
Counselors are chosen on strict criteria which includes education and experience related to populations served. All of our staff are over the age of 25 and have had years of field experience. Our degreed social workers, special educators, and nursing staff help travelers handle money, dispense medications (only upon request), and communicate with travelers to be sure they’re always happy. Staff also help facilitate travelers’ socialization by helping individuals express their interests and desires to their peers. Frontier provides a supportive and safe environment empowering travelers to communicate with each other and to make more positive decisions on a daily basis without the fear of ridicule.
The rest of the team
Operations
Business Development & Marketing
Lauren Fineman is the wife to Scott and handles all of Frontier Travel Club's Business Development and Marketing. She also works with Scott to plan upcoming trips and has been on many trips herself with the team.
Bachelor's in Business Administration · Miami Beach, FL
Trip Staff
Special Education Teacher
Anna Trautwein has been working with Frontier Travel Club for over 16 years. Anna is from Frankfort, Kentucky where she is a Special Education Teacher.
M.A. Teaching Special Education K-12 · Frankfort, KY · 16+ years with Frontier
Trip Staff
Special Education Teacher
Rachel Lindenberg is from Kutztown, Pennsylvania and has been working with Frontier Travel Club for over 15 years. She is a Special Education teacher for the last 21 years.
Autistic support, K–2 · Kutztown, PA · 15+ years with Frontier
Trip Staff
Deputy Manager, Residential Care Home
Sarah Cooke is from Hereford, England. She is the Deputy Manager at a residential care home for adults with learning disabilities, autism, and acquired brain injury.
Associates in Health and Social Care · Hereford, England · Joined Frontier 2017
Trip Staff
Transition Coordinator & College/Career Readiness Teacher
Ashley Pallisco grew up in Michigan, about 35 minutes north of Detroit, Michigan. She has a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Special Education, a Master's in Science in Special Education: Autism Research, and is currently pursuing a Doctorate in Education (EdD) for Educational Leadership with a focus on Adult Transition Programs for students with special needs.
EdD candidate, Educational Leadership · Michigan
Trip Staff
Assistant Principal, Coral Gables Preparatory Academy
Monica was born and raised in Miami, Florida. She is the Assistant Principal at Coral Gables Preparatory Academy. Before that, she was a 3rd grade teacher for 21 years.
Specialist's in Educational Leadership, FIU · Miami, FL
Medical Lead
Doctorate Nurse Practitioner
Jinil Harvey was born in South Korea, but raised and lives full time in Utah. Jinil has a Doctorate Degree in Nursing and is currently a Doctorate Nurse Practitioner for an ENT in Utah. She has been working with Frontier for over 12 years.
DNP · Utah · 12+ years with Frontier
Trip Staff
Family Service Manager
Eboni Thompson is from Frankfort, Kentucky and has a Bachelor of Science in Family and Consumer Sciences. She currently is a Family Service Manager for the Administrative Office of the courts.
B.S. Family and Consumer Sciences · Frankfort, KY
Trip Staff
Behavior Coach
Ashlie Malcolm is from Frankfort, Kentucky, where she was a teacher for 18 years and now, for the past 6 years, has worked as a Behavior Coach. Ashlie has a Bachelor's of Science and a Masters in Educational Leadership from the University of Cumberlands.
M.A. Educational Leadership, U. of Cumberlands · Frankfort, KY
Trip Staff
Board Certified Behavior Analyst
Chloe Benjamin is from Worcester, England and has been working with Frontier Travel Club for over 14 years. Chloe has a Bachelor of Science in Psychology, a Masters in Clinical Psychology, and is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst.
BCBA, M.A. Clinical Psychology · Worcester, England · 14+ years with Frontier
Why the same faces
Many of our travelers have been with Frontier for ten, fifteen, twenty-plus years. The staff they meet on their first trip is often the staff they meet on their tenth. That matters. We invest in retaining the people who travel with you — because trust takes years to build, and once it’s there, it’s worth protecting.
Milestones
1997
Scott Fineman founds Frontier as a summer-camp alternative for adults with developmental challenges. First trips are within Florida.
2001
First international trip — Canada coast-to-coast, twelve travelers, two staff. The model proves out: adult travelers can absolutely do the world.
2007
Frontier becomes a Florida Seller of Travel (ST38752). Multi-trip rosters become annual. Parents start booking siblings on the same trip.
2014
First trans-Pacific trip — Japan. The "we go where regular travel goes" identity solidifies.
2020
Pandemic pause. The roster stays in touch by Zoom every Friday. Nobody loses their deposit.
2023
Travel resumes. Demand exceeds supply. Six trips run instead of three.
2026
Australia, California, and Icon of the Seas.
