Did you know our Tour Directors are with you every step of the way on our international tours? They are local experts and have a wealth of knowledge, so when you visit a new country you can be confident your students (and you!) are learning from the best in the business, while also getting access to some hidden gems!
Our Tour Directors all over the globe really miss sharing in educational adventures with our teachers and students, and even though we’re unable to travel overseas right now, there’s still a lot to look forward to. We had a chat with WorldStrides Tour Directors Carolyn Henry and Elisabeth Quick, to hear first-hand the influence that travel has on students and why they love what they do.
Weaving learning into every part of the tour is something that both Carolyn and Elisabeth are passionate about. Carolyn’s favourite activities with students are those that promote self-discovery. ‘I love when I can help a shy student find their voice or watch a student who is terrified of heights overcome that fear by viewing New York City from the 100th floor of the One World Observatory.’ Self-discovery, growth, and independence is an often-cited benefit of educational travel, for many students travelling provides opportunities they would not usually encounter within their local community.
Cultural exposure is a focus for Carolyn when she’s educating students on tour, and says, ‘Exposure to the world through travel is the highest form of education in my opinion. Educational travel is of the utmost importance to the young and the old. This type of travel allows history, cultures and people to come alive through actual experiences and exposure.’ When surveyed, 43% of Australian teachers cited cultural growth as the biggest motivator for organising school tours for their students.
Elisabeth never gets sick of seeing students’ enthusiasm, intelligence and curiosity when on tour, and says, ‘They ask questions that don’t occur to adults to ask, they soak up everything they come across, and they demonstrate the impact of the trip by their sheer expressions of joy at the surprise and impact of new, unfamiliar places.’
Travel gives students a stronger sense of their own identity but also a better understanding of their own privilege and other cultures. Elisabeth says, ‘I think travel is one of the most important things anyone can do, young or old. It teaches us that we and our own culture are not the centre of the universe, that people from other places are always both like us and different from us.’
‘Students learn that their way is not the only way, or necessarily the best way to do things, that unfamiliar foods can be delicious, that people who are different from us can bring us great new knowledge, insights and experience. Travel to new places requires awareness, flexibility, a receptivity to unfamiliar experiences, and it imparts a sense of adventure. In my own life, I consider travel to be the single most important thing I’ve ever done, and I also see all travel as educational, in and of itself.’
As both Elisabeth and Carolyn have attested to, travel delivers an abundance of educational benefits for students of all ages. On tour, learning and development is supported by our experienced Tour Directors, ensuring your students have the best possible experience.
Now is the best time to start planning future travel adventures for you and your students, chat to one of our experts on 1800 655 661 or email info@worldstrides.com.au
