Why Travel With Your Class

Why Travel With Your Class

Traveling with your students is one of the most important things you can do as an educator. An educational travel experience not only enables students to put into practice the concepts they’ve learned in the classroom, but it also challenges them to step outside their comfort zones and helps them develop skills, habits, and mindsets closely associated with future success.

Benefits of Educational Travel and School Trips

Students who travel with their teachers and peers on an educational trip report feeling happier and more engaged at school. They also perform better academically and interpersonally than their peers. According to results from the survey, ‘Travel Improves Educational Attainment & Future Success” students who travel:

  1. Are more engaged—80% thought educational travel sparked greater interest in what they were learning in school.
  2. Are more successful in school—More than half of students who traveled achieved better grades.
  3. Are more likely than their peers to pursue higher education opportunities—57% of people who traveled as children went to college.
  4. Are more likely to earn higher wages—Adults who took domestic education trips during their youth earned 12% more than those who didn’t.

In addition to the positive changes you’ll see in your students after taking a group trip together, traveling with them will benefit you as an educator in many ways as well.

You’ll get to see your teaching outcomes in action, which can help you improve the way you present specific lessons and concepts in the classroom. Nothing beats the hands on learning like assisting with turtle conservation in Costa Rica or learning about biodiversity in the jungles of Peru.

A group trip will also strengthen the rapport between you and your students. You’ll find that a shared travel experience builds trust among your students, as well as between you and them, which will lead to a more cohesive–and productive–classroom environment when you return home.

Hear from educators who have traveled with their students to find out exactly why you should, too.

Often, students have preconceived notions about countries and cultures. Though educators try to break down those stereotypes through innovative lessons, nothing compares to students seeing a culture first-hand and meeting people from that culture who don't fit any mold they have seen in the media. During our time with Rustic Pathways, my students were able to have meaningful conversations and discussions that slowly melted away any stereotypes they had. I saw my students blossom as they discussed religion, politics, and education with locals and their Rustic Pathways Program Leaders. My students came away with a profound appreciation of another culture, and I believe if every student had this experience, there would be so much more understanding in this world.

Quote by: Alexis Savas, French Teacher; Rock Canyon High School in Highlands Ranch, Colorado Traveled with us to Morocco

How to Travel With Your Class

The benefits of traveling with your class are undeniable, but on your own, the nitty-gritty of organizing and conducting a safe, effective trip is a lot to handle. When planning your own student travel program with your class, these are some of the many tasks that it will entail:

Component
Travel with Rustic Pathways
Do it Yourself
Itinerary Creation
Safety and Risk Management Planning
Local Connections
Marketing Materials
Parent/Teacher Info Meetings
Budget Planning and Support
Native Language Speakers and Guides
In Country Support
Updates to parents and Administrators
24/7 support
Debriefing activities/ Group Discussion
Post Trip Debrief
Student Impact Measurement
Passports and Visas
Booking Accommodation and Carefully Selected Hotels
Arrange All Meals and Activities
Land Transportation
Airport Arrivals and Departures
Travel Insurance
Travel Documents Assistance
Group Leader/Tour Leader & Local Staff

When you travel with us, we handle all of these and more. Your only job? Doing what you do best. Be there with your students to explore your destination, abroad or closer to home. Bridge the gap between your classroom curriculum and the real world. Help inspire the next generation of global citizens.

Ready to get started? Connect with us to start planning your perfect trip.