Written by the WorldStrides Corporate Social Responsibility Team At WorldStrides, we strive to promote safe spaces where our participants feel comfortable speaking up and openly about their identity, expression, and experiences. WorldStrides policies, such as our Inclusive Housing Policy and WorldStrides View on Gender Identity and Gender Expression policy are designed to foster inclusivity for our participants, chaperones, and program leaders through the intentional creation of safe spaces, program resources, and clear conduct expectations so all can feel a sense of belonging and community th ..read more

Ahoy, fellow globetrotter! You’ve just returned from an epic WorldStrides program, and your backpack is still buzzing with memories. But what about those trusty travel companions—the worn-out sneakers, the faded tees, and the trusty water bottle that’s seen more sunsets than you can count? Fear not! Let’s embark on a sustainable journey to give these items a second life. 1. The Textile Tango: Recycling Clothes with a Twist The Sad Saga of Landfill-Bound Threads Did you know that 50 billion garments end up in landfills each year in the US? That’s enough fabric to wrap the Earth in a cozy sweat ..read more

We are thrilled to partner with Horton’s Kids, an award-winning DC nonprofit serving children and families in Ward 8, to provide three K-12 students with full scholarships to pursue life-changing, career-focused experiences in 2024. Horton’s Kids empowers children growing up in DC’s most under-resourced communities so that they graduate from high school ready for success in college, career, and life. The organization serves 600 children and families living in Southeast DC neighborhoods that have been profoundly impacted by decades of disinvestment and barriers to opportunity. The impact is dra ..read more

By Mary Howerton, WorldStrides FEmpowerment Member December 1st is a day that holds profound significance for women across the globe, as we are thrilled to celebrate National Women Support Women Day. This day serves as a poignant reminder of the progress we’ve made, the challenges we’ve overcome, and the work that still lies ahead in empowering women in the workplace. “Women for women” is not just a powerful cliché; it’s a rallying cry for solidarity and support. This National Women Support Women Day, let’s seize the opportunity to strengthen the bonds within our WorldStrides community. Whethe ..read more

With over 80,000 miles of trails in the National Trail System, National Hiking Day, celebrated annually on November 17, encourages us to get outside and hit the trails! Aside from the benefits of encountering beautiful views, hiking actually has a lot of health and wellness benefits, too! WorldStrides Executive Creative Director, Paul Kidd, shares how getting outdoors helps him. “In the middle of life’s craziness, I always turn to nature and hiking. Those trails, amidst the daily grind, are my escape. I’m Paul, and you’ll find me seeking solace amidst the trees and wide-open spaces. Hiking is ..read more

As a parent, you want to set your high schooler up for success. You know that helping them explore interests and careers now can give them a head start on their future. But where do you begin when it comes to career exploration?  Career exploration is all about helping your teen learn about various careers so they can make informed decisions about their education and career path. It involves exposing them to various career paths and fields of inquiry, giving them hands-on experiences, and allowing them to assess what fits their skills and interests.  Here are some tips to guide your ..read more

What to do with Your Teens Desire to Explore Anyone with teenagers knows that there is a growing curiosity about the world beyond home. During these years, it’s common for teens to push boundaries. Watch a few FailArmy #FailsoftheWeek, and you’ll see a repeated pattern of teenage stunts, TikTok challenges, and dares gone wrong. Parents of even the most driven students are sure to have chased down a teen who “lost track of time” past curfew or got caught scrolling social media during study time. But that drive is what also encourages them to discover their passions and gain confidence thro ..read more

By: Denise Gammon, Curriculum and Academics Specialist at WorldStrides In my tenth-grade history class, I was required to memorize the front page of the local Monday newspaper for a quiz on Friday of that week. This was my (otherwise very engaging) history teacher’s attempt to meet the current events educational standard set by our state. At the time, this quiz was possibly my only exposure to the news. It kept me somewhat aware that there was a world beyond the walls of my high school, albeit a week behind. This is not true for students who occupy the classrooms of today. They are more inform ..read more

Student Ambassador Abigail Pusey took her first trip to Washington D.C. with us and not only learned a significant amount about the nation’s capital, but also about herself. Read on to hear what Abigail had to say about her adventures in D.C. “Earlier this year, I went on my first WorldStrides trip to Washington D.C. Let me just say from first-hand experience, it was an amazing trip filled with lots of fun, friends, and great memories! On my trip to Washington D.C., I went to several museums. My favorites were the Holocaust Museum, the Natural History Museum, and the National American History ..read more

The WorldStrides 2023 Student Photo & Video Contest was one for the books! We had so many incredible submissions this year that made choosing the winning grand prize video a tough decision. WorldStrides would like to express our gratitude to every student who participated. We watched all of your submissions and were blown away by the creativity and effort put into each photo and video. We hope you all continue to travel and explore the world. With that being said, the 2023 Grand Prize Winner is (drumroll please)…Levi Black! Let’s congratulate Levi for his outstanding video. Levi and his cl ..read more