Nothing can derail a student tour as quickly as poor decorum. At best, poor decorum is a distraction that dilutes the purpose, focus, and enjoyment of the experience for all involved in the school trip. At worst, poor behavior involves contacting parents and sending students home. Following the suggestions below can reduce the chance of these scenarios occurring on your school tour.    PRE- TOUR Pre-Trip Orientation Meeting Host a pre-trip meeting with students and their parents/guardians to discuss the itinerary, rules, and expectations for behavior during the tour. This meeting pro ..read more

This spring, we have focused on how student travel provides different social and emotional growth opportunities. This week, we discuss WHY learning proper behavior and decorum through student travel is important.   Decorum is important for students student travel for several reasons: Personal Growth Practicing proper behavior during travel contributes to the overall personal growth of students. It helps develop qualities such as responsibility, adaptability, and self-discipline, which are valuable life skills. Representing Their School or Institution Students are often ambassadors of ..read more

St. Patrick’s Day is celebrated on March 17th and is known for its association with Irish culture and the patron saint of Ireland, St. Patrick. While the day is often associated with festivities and parades, there are outstanding educational aspects related to its Irish history, customs, and culture as well as many excellent student tour inclusions that educators can include in their school trips to Boston, New York, Philadelphia, and Washington that allow us to experience the significance of St. Patrick and Irish American’s journey and contributions in our rich history.   St. Patric ..read more

The importance of historical sites in educational tourism cannot be overstated. Among these, George Washington’s Mount Vernon stands as a pillar of American history, offering unique insights into the life and legacy of one of the nation’s founding fathers. In a move that combines preservation and progress, the iconic estate is set to undergo a comprehensive renovation. The renovation will start in July 2024 and be completed by November 2025. It will include a temporary closure of the mansion and the Educational Center and Museum.  The museum has completed many restoration projects in the ..read more

No student trip has ever taken off without the support of parents. Thinking ahead about their concerns will help you answer questions and provide the reassurance parents need to support the educational or performance tour you’re planning for their children.  The greatest concern most parents have about any overnight trip is that they will not be there to keep a watchful eye over their children. As the trusted adult leading the tour, it helps to walk parents through the many ways you are looking out for the welfare of the kids who will be in your care.  Parents will still worry, that ..read more

We have heard it from hundreds of teachers. Leading a student tour is one of the highlights of their school year. We surveyed some of our more experienced Tour Leaders and heard five common answers to what they find the most rewarding  to them for leading a student tour. It’s scary and exciting at the same time. That pretty much describes most things in life that are worth doing and it’s true about taking students on an overnight trip. There are definitely reasons not to do it, but if you’re looking for the encouragement you need to go for it this year, here are five reasons you’ll love l ..read more

Student trips are fun, engaging, and educational ways for kids and teens to learn a variety of things in a real-world setting. Not only are student trips informative and educational, but they are an excellent way for students to socialize and create core memories that will last them a lifetime.  The only downside of student trips is the expense. To ensure no kid misses out on such a great opportunity, we’ve put together some of the best ways students can fundraise to cover all or most of their trip expenses.  1. Crowdfunding Campaign Thanks to social media and the internet, crowdfund ..read more

Is it any surprise that science & technology-focused school trips are becoming more popular?  As STEM careers dominate the workforce, schools are pushing for more hands-on science experiences for their kids. Whether you want to spend your time visiting museums or exploring different biomes on a naturalist-led trip, there are dozens of incredible science school trip destinations for your students. Here are seven science school trips that will inspire your students and exceed your curriculum requirements. Southern Florida Southern Florida is home to diverse landscapes and ecosystems, ma ..read more

We have been so thrilled these past few weeks as students return to travel! Since the beginning of March, students, parents, and teachers have visited spots all along the historic east coast. While groups prepare to depart for their trip of a lifetime, the most common question we get is, “What’s open in our destination city?” While changes happen every day, more and more of our favorite itinerary items are open for touring. Here is our most up-to-date list of what attractions are open for visitors! Washington, D.C. For up-to-date travel guidelines, click here. National Museum of Natural Hist ..read more

With vaccines and therapeutics on the horizon, many teachers are looking to restart their annual trip in 2022. Even when we’ve put this pandemic completely behind us, there will be aspects of travel that are forever changed. The Student Youth Travel Association has worked tirelessly through the pandemic to create resources for travelers focused on health, hygiene, and a safe return to travel. Recently, they published the Covid-19 Travel Toolkit, a 23-page document that answers your questions about how each stage of the trip planning process can be adjusted to focus on safety and wellness. Here ..read more