Taking Students Beyond Classroom Walls

We believe that travel enhances the process of self-discovery, leading students to learn as much about themselves as the places they visit. Every WorldStrides itinerary is built around a thematic curriculum that connects with all kinds of learners, so everyone will become excited about the program. At WorldStrides, we believe that lifelong learners are created when we focus on building itineraries that include opportunities for social, personal, and intellectual growth. We stimulate students to learn and develop in a way that cannot be duplicated through a textbook. Our goal is to engage students and build critical thinking skills that will make them successful in college and throughout their lives.

Fueled by the power of travel as an enriching learning experience, a WorldStrides education is:

• - directed by accreditation standards
• - enriched with stimulating curriculum materials and technology
• - delivered by high-quality educators
• - measured with well-designed assessments.

Accreditation

WorldStrides was the first accredited student travel organization in the nation. Accreditation recognizes educational institutions for performance, integrity, and quality and entitles them to the confidence of the educational community and the public. WorldStrides is accredited through regional accrediting bodies across the nation, including the Northwest Accreditation Commission, the Western Association of Schools and Colleges, the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools, and AdvancED (the parent organization for the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Accreditation and School Improvement, and the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Council on Accreditation and School Improvement). We are accredited using the same high standards used to evaluate other schools in the United States and our student trips are designed to meet national curriculum standards.

Curriculum

Lessons in the field are centered on our unique Discovery Journals, a visual companion book containing supplemental readings, discussion questions, and mini-projects that guide students through the sites they visit. Space is provided for students to record their responses to thought-provoking questions about society, sketch their designs for improving a city's green spaces or designing a memorial, record data about the water quality of a community, and more. Discovery Journals are designed by educators who like to see the world as students do and present information in fun and engaging ways. The content is reviewed regularly to reflect the most up-to-date information and learning strategies.

While the content of each Discovery Journal is designed to accompany what students will see as they travel, the activities and skills that are included are closely aligned with national curriculum standards. Skills for success in today's world cannot be learned in the classroom alone; the Discovery Journal is one tool that helps us to merge the world of the classroom with the "real" world.

Instruction

The WorldStrides Education Team, directed by Amy Westby and Jessalyn Elliott, oversees curriculum development, instructor training, and evaluation of student work. Amy and Jessalyn have a combined 20 years experience in classroom teaching. This experience, combined with their passion for travel, enables them to think dynamically and introduce new and meaningful ways of learning for all students.

In the field, programs are led by caring and dynamic experts - our Course Leaders - who help students achieve key learning objectives and think critically through creative activities and group discussions. Our average Course Leader has 15 years of experience leading tours or working with students. All Course Leaders hold a four-year degree and over nine out of ten hold Master's degrees or higher. Our Course Leaders have a range of unique careers - teachers, authors, journalists, interpreters, lawyers, judges, academics, and political campaign staff,  just to name a few - that helps to make each trip a truly unforgettable experience for teachers and students. Course Leaders undergo training annually to learn, practice, and implement best pedagogical practices and stay on the cutting edge of student instruction.

Assessment

Thorough assessments enable us to understand what students are gaining from our programs. They help us improve and continue to offer rigorous and engaging programs.

Students have the option of demonstrating what they have learned by participating in WorldStrides' Discovery for Credit program*. These online courses are supplemental to the travel experience and to the courses students may be taking in school. They are aligned to national curriculum standards, and they expose our students to online learning at its finest.

*Students who desire to enroll in Discovery for Credit courses should consult their school guidance counselors and/or school policy handbooks to determine their eligibility for course credit.