Destination Spotlight

New Program Spotlight: New York City – East Coast STEM

New York City is famous for having something for just about everyone – and that’s why we’ve introduced new trips that approach America’s largest city with a focus on STEM.  This tour offers the best of, well, ALL, worlds by combining all the NYC highlights with science-packed visits like the New York Academy of Science, the American Museum of Natural History, and the fantastic SPYSCAPE espionage museum to learn about real-life spies. There is plenty of time for fun too, like taking a walk in the oh-so-well-known Central Park and even enjoying dinner in the middle of Times Square. Here’s a peek at the itinerary for the New York City – East Coast STEM program.

Day 1: Welcome to the Big Apple! Travel to NYC and meet your WorldStrides representative to get your once-in-a-lifetime experience started! There’s no better place to kick off a STEM trip than at the National Geographic Encounter where students will engage with an immersive underwater experience. Young scientists will learn about marine biology, eco systems, and conservation as they travel across the Pacific Ocean using the groundbreaking visual technology.

Witness the hustle and bustle of the big city first-hand as you enjoy dinner in Times Square to close out the day.

Day 2: After a brain-fueling breakfast, the group will head over to the Launch Math and Science Center for a robotics workshop in which the will design and build their very own robots using a variety of motors, sensors, LEDs, wheels, etc.

Next on the agenda – a New York Academy of Science wind turbine workshop where students will learn about clean energy options. Bonus! They will also design and experiment with turbines to determine how to maximize output.

What’s a trip to NYC without dinner and a show? After a delicious meal, enjoy the excitement of a Broadway show and pose for a group photo in Times Square. Cheeeeese!

Day 3: A day of discovery and reflection is on the books for the third day in New York. Walk across the 1.1-mile-long Brooklyn Bridge while taking in the breathtaking view of the Manhattan skyline and the Statue of Liberty. The learning never ceases on a WorldStrides program, so while you walk the bridge consider the engineering and mechanical feats required to build just an impressive structure in the late 19^th century. Fun fact: construction of the bridge began in 1869 and took 14 years to complete!

Reflect as you visit the twin pools of the 9/11 Memorial that pays tribute to the nearly 3,000 victims of the September 11, 2001 attacks. Created as a living part of the city, the memorial is a beautiful green space meant for remembrance and memory. There’s no better place for the group to rest and reflect before riding an elevator up 102 stories in only 47 seconds in One World Trade Center to view the spectacular 360-degree vista of the city from the observatory. Also known as the Freedom Tower, One World was constructed from 2006-2014 on the same site of the buildings that were destroyed in 2001.

Any future finance majors in the group? Experience Wall Street and walk through America’s financial center, home to the New York Stock Exchange, the Federal Reserve Bank, Chase Manhattan Bank, and Federal Hall.

Learn what it takes to be a spy and engross the group in the espionage museum that is SPYSCAPE. Adventure your way through the galleries where you’ll learn about real-life spies, the tools they use, and even determine what spy roles you would be best suited for. Opened in 2018, SPYSCAPE is perhaps New York’s coolest new attractions!

Day 4: It’s your last day in New York, so a stroll through Central Park is a must. Enjoy all this 840-acre oasis in the city has to offer, including the Strawberry Fields, the Great Lawn, and the Carousel. It may look elegant now, but the 57-horse carousel was built over 100 years ago and was originally found in an abandoned trolley terminal in Coney Island.

There’s still time for more STEM! Before beginning the journey home, visit the Intrepid Air and Space museum which is located on an aircraft carrier docked in NYC! Explore the ship and its many artifacts, including the space shuttle Enterprise and a decommissioned submarine. History and STEM all in one!

Our newest STEM programs include New York City and Boston trips. Want to experience it all in one trip? Check out the NYC & Boston – East Coast STEM itinerary and don’t miss anything both these destinations have to offer young scientific minds.