August 11, 2016 — The 2017 Inauguration promises to be a historic affair, and more than 6000 students will get to see it for themselves, thanks to WorldStrides, the nation’s largest and most trusted educational travel provider, and the Smithsonian Institution, the largest museum and research complex in the world.
2017 marks the 10th Presidential Inauguration where WorldStrides has offered teachers from around the country the opportunity to bring their students to witness this historic event. And, for the first time, WorldStrides, in collaboration with the Smithsonian, has added a new program designed especially for college students. This special four- or five-day travel experience offers faculty-led groups unique insight on the institution of the presidency through visits to Smithsonian locations in Washington, D.C., as well as panels and speakers who will provide invaluable context on the quadrennial event.
To view these unique opportunities and the full itinerary for the Smithsonian University Travel Program – Inauguration 2017, click here.
The Smithsonian University Travel Program – Inauguration 2017 is available to any American college/university with a group of 12 or more students. WorldStrides will work with each group to customize a travel itinerary that suits its needs. The deadline for initial registration for the program is September 15.
This new university-level offering joins WorldStrides’ successful suite of Inauguration travel programs, including:
- 2017 President Inauguration travel for middle/high school groups
- Optional extension to visit nearby Williamsburg, Virginia
- 2017 Heritage Festival performance competition for choral and instrumental ensembles
All of the above programs are designed for educators to lead their students, and are currently open for new groups.
About WorldStrides
WorldStrides, founded by a middle school teacher in 1967, is the largest student educational travel organization in the United States and is accredited as a school by the regional accrediting bodies recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. WorldStrides specializes in providing educational travel opportunities to approximately 350,000 students annually. More than 5,000 elementary, middle and high schools, and more than 350 universities choose WorldStrides to provide inspiring lessons beyond the classroom. WorldStrides, a portfolio company of The Carlyle Group, is headquartered in Charlottesville, Va. The organization has offices in 60+ locations around the world including the United Kingdom, Australia, China, Chile, and Canada.
For more information on WorldStrides, visit www.worldstrides.com.
About Smithsonian
Founded in 1846, the Smithsonian is the world’s largest museum and research complex, consisting of 19 museums and galleries, the National Zoological Park and nine research facilities. There are 6,500 Smithsonian employees and 6,300 on-site volunteers. Approximately 26.7 million people from around the world visited the Smithsonian in 2015. The total number of objects, works of art and specimens at the Smithsonian is estimated at 138 million. For more information on the Smithsonian, visit www.si.edu.
Media contact:
Julia Given, WorldStrides Vice President of Marketing
434-951-5998
juliag@worldstrides.org
Claire Brown, Smithsonian Assistant Director, Communications
202-633-2371
BrownCh@si.edu