International Travel Learning Opportunities for Educators
“Teachers cannot teach what they cannot understand. Therefore, teachers…must be equipped with the knowledge, skills, and
first-hand experiences they need to help their students better understand the world in which we live (Global Education Advisory Council Report, June 2011).” What better way to gain first-hand knowledge of international cultures than the study in that culture! Several organizations offer fully-funded or low cost foreign study or volunteer programs for educators. The following are organizations that promote study tours for educators:
Department of State Exchange Programs: Programs for U.S. citizens who are teachers, high school students, college graduates, undergrads, and professionals may apply for a variety of exchange programs.
Earthwatch Institute: Provides field experiences in science, math, and other disciplines so that you can pass on that greater knowledge of the natural world to students
Fulbright Hays Summer Seminars: Fulbright Hays provides opportunities for overseas experience. The program is open to educators and administrators with responsibilities for curriculum development in fields related to humanities, languages, and area studies. Topics and host countries of the seminars vary from year to year. All seminars are in non-Western European countries. Seminars are designed to provide a broad and introductory cultural orientation to a particular country or countries. My experience as a fellow in the 2010 program in Senegal was life-changing. I highly recommend this program. Cost share to traveler is minimal.
Gilder Lehrman Institute: GLI runs intensive summer seminars with renowned historians of American history. Choose from 40 programs taking place at colleges, universities, and historic sites across the United States and in the UK.
Global Exploration for Educators: Also known as GEEO, this organization runs international travel programs for educators. Though there is a fee for these programs, their goal is to make travel an educational experience that all American teachers may have, so in addition to the minimal cost of the trip, incentives such as professional development credit and scholarship/grant opportunities are available.
International Voluntary Service: This group organizes service projects from three weeks to three months in
length in international volunteer projects in more than 100 countries around the world including the U.S.A.
International Research & Exchanges Board, Teachers for Global Classrooms: This program provides a professional development opportunity for middle and high school educators from the U.S. to participate in a program aimed at globalizing teaching and learning in their classrooms. This website is an element of the capstone project designed to disseminate information to the larger communtiy upon completion of the learning experience.
National Peace Corps Association: The National Peace Corps Association (NPCA) is a nonprofit organization supporting Returned Peace Corps Volunteers and the Peace Corps community through networking and mentoring to help guide former Volunteers through their continued service back home. It is also the longest-standing advocate for an independent and robust Peace Corps and its values. Current short-term opportunities are open for from six weeks to six months in East and Southern Africa.
Peace Corps: Live, learn and work with a community overseas. Be a Volunteer. Typical volunteer terms run two years. Click here to see a twelve-minute introductory video.
People to People: People to People is a travel provider that offers the combination of cultural experiences to a variety of locations through Ambassador Programs. Programs are designed for students and/or adults.
Teaching Traveling: A site created to inspire more teachers to travel and more travelers to teach. There are many inspiring articles about teachers who travel and tips about how to make it happen. Note the article about a fellow IREX teacher, Sara K.
first-hand experiences they need to help their students better understand the world in which we live (Global Education Advisory Council Report, June 2011).” What better way to gain first-hand knowledge of international cultures than the study in that culture! Several organizations offer fully-funded or low cost foreign study or volunteer programs for educators. The following are organizations that promote study tours for educators:
Department of State Exchange Programs: Programs for U.S. citizens who are teachers, high school students, college graduates, undergrads, and professionals may apply for a variety of exchange programs.
Earthwatch Institute: Provides field experiences in science, math, and other disciplines so that you can pass on that greater knowledge of the natural world to students
Fulbright Hays Summer Seminars: Fulbright Hays provides opportunities for overseas experience. The program is open to educators and administrators with responsibilities for curriculum development in fields related to humanities, languages, and area studies. Topics and host countries of the seminars vary from year to year. All seminars are in non-Western European countries. Seminars are designed to provide a broad and introductory cultural orientation to a particular country or countries. My experience as a fellow in the 2010 program in Senegal was life-changing. I highly recommend this program. Cost share to traveler is minimal.
Gilder Lehrman Institute: GLI runs intensive summer seminars with renowned historians of American history. Choose from 40 programs taking place at colleges, universities, and historic sites across the United States and in the UK.
Global Exploration for Educators: Also known as GEEO, this organization runs international travel programs for educators. Though there is a fee for these programs, their goal is to make travel an educational experience that all American teachers may have, so in addition to the minimal cost of the trip, incentives such as professional development credit and scholarship/grant opportunities are available.
International Voluntary Service: This group organizes service projects from three weeks to three months in
length in international volunteer projects in more than 100 countries around the world including the U.S.A.
International Research & Exchanges Board, Teachers for Global Classrooms: This program provides a professional development opportunity for middle and high school educators from the U.S. to participate in a program aimed at globalizing teaching and learning in their classrooms. This website is an element of the capstone project designed to disseminate information to the larger communtiy upon completion of the learning experience.
National Peace Corps Association: The National Peace Corps Association (NPCA) is a nonprofit organization supporting Returned Peace Corps Volunteers and the Peace Corps community through networking and mentoring to help guide former Volunteers through their continued service back home. It is also the longest-standing advocate for an independent and robust Peace Corps and its values. Current short-term opportunities are open for from six weeks to six months in East and Southern Africa.
Peace Corps: Live, learn and work with a community overseas. Be a Volunteer. Typical volunteer terms run two years. Click here to see a twelve-minute introductory video.
People to People: People to People is a travel provider that offers the combination of cultural experiences to a variety of locations through Ambassador Programs. Programs are designed for students and/or adults.
Teaching Traveling: A site created to inspire more teachers to travel and more travelers to teach. There are many inspiring articles about teachers who travel and tips about how to make it happen. Note the article about a fellow IREX teacher, Sara K.
International Travel Learning Opportunities for Students
The Fulbright - National Geographic Digital Storytelling Fellowship a new component of the Fulbright U.S. Student Program that provides opportunities for U.S. citizens to participate in an academic year of overseas travel and digital storytelling in up to three countries on a globally significant social or environmental topic. This Fellowship is made possible through a partnership between the U.S. Department of State and the National Geographic Society.
Global Leadership Adventures: Teen volunteer service trips for high school students. Volunteer in Africa, Asia, or Latin America. Expect to pay tuition for this program.
NETC Educational Travel: Arranges student tours internationally.
People to People: People to People is a travel provider that offers the combination of cultural experiences to a variety of locations through Ambassador Programs. Programs are designed for students and/or adults.
Global Leadership Adventures: Teen volunteer service trips for high school students. Volunteer in Africa, Asia, or Latin America. Expect to pay tuition for this program.
NETC Educational Travel: Arranges student tours internationally.
People to People: People to People is a travel provider that offers the combination of cultural experiences to a variety of locations through Ambassador Programs. Programs are designed for students and/or adults.
Domestic Travel Learning Opportunities for Students
Smithsonian Student Travel: Our tours are operated by EF Education First, the world's largest private education company, on behalf of the Smithsonian Institution, the world's largest museum complex and research organization.
U.S.A. Student Travel: USA Student Travel provides a variety of educational, leadership, theatre arts, celebration and adventure, and science programs with customized and learning-standards based itineraries, trips, tours, classes, workshops and more. Traveler cost.
U.S.A. Student Travel: USA Student Travel provides a variety of educational, leadership, theatre arts, celebration and adventure, and science programs with customized and learning-standards based itineraries, trips, tours, classes, workshops and more. Traveler cost.