Stuck in a Halloween activity rut? If you’ve been doing the same spooky activities for years, check out our ideas for Halloween classroom fun for different subjects, and you may be inspired to try something new. Kick off the holiday season in your classroom with some entertaining, educational, and... Read More

On a warm evening last June, I witnessed a remarkable interaction that impacted me both personally and professionally.  At the Juneteenth celebration at the Museum of Fine Arts here in Boston, I watched a dancer delicately lift her arm in the air as she gracefully spun her wheelchair back and forth... Read More

WorldStrides tour directors are an essential part of what makes our programs authentic, educational and fun. Part guide, part tour manager, part instructor of Learning through Exploration and Active Participation (LEAP) activities on our international programs, tour directors are the “boots on... Read More

Download our WorldStrides classroom calendars! Each month, we feature a downloadable monthly calendar. They are packed full of interesting facts from our team of education experts, as well as a beautiful photos from our sites, holidays and other special dates. Pick between a science or a history ver... Read More

Congratulations to Rachel S., a 5th grade teacher from Raleigh, North Carolina, who won a WorldStrides trip to Costa Rica during her appearance on Wheel of Fortune on September 9! Rachel tells us she grew up watching Wheel of Fortune every night with her family, and she often joked with her mom that... Read More

Updated on August 21, 2019 The votes are in, and our Photo & Video Contest winners have been announced! Congratulations to all the finalists and grand prize winners! Curious for a little more info? We asked the finalists to share a little bit about their entries, and the moment when they snapped... Read More

This was originally posted on the blog soccerparenting..com.  The 1.3 million people expected to gather in France for the FIFA Women’s World Cup starting this month will likely set a new attendance record for the event. The most successful U.S. women’s national team in history will take the fie... Read More

For students who perform, WorldStrides’ Festival at Carnegie Hall is a preeminent experience, and we are honored to have Jeffery Redding, a preeminent and Grammy award-winning conductor, once again leading the National Youth Choir at one of our upcoming festivals.  I was delighted to sit down wit... Read More

Congratulations to the Spring 2019 Higher Ed Traveler Scholarship winners! These two deserving students will each be traveling with their universities this Spring/Summer, with the help of a $3,000 merit-based scholarship. This merit-based scholarship program was developed in 2017 to provide opportun... Read More

In honor of Teacher Appreciation Week, WorldStrides will be showcasing our five 2019 Teacher of the Year recipients. These teachers have gone above and beyond, inside of the classroom and out. We are thrilled to honor them for their commitment to students and share their stories! Holly Grefe is a ... Read More

In honor of Teacher Appreciation Week, WorldStrides will be showcasing our five 2019 Teacher of the Year recipients. These teachers have gone above and beyond, inside of the classroom and out. We are thrilled to honor them for their commitment to students and share their stories! Chelsea Roidt is ... Read More

In honor of Teacher Appreciation Week, WorldStrides will be showcasing our five 2019 Teacher of the Year recipients. These teachers have gone above and beyond, inside of the classroom and out. We are thrilled to honor them for their commitment to students and share their stories! Lynn Bourinaris is... Read More

In honor of Teacher Appreciation Week, WorldStrides will be showcasing our five Teacher of the Year recipients. These teachers have gone above and beyond, inside of the classroom and out. We are thrilled to honor them for their commitment to students and share their stories! For over six years, Gin... Read More

In honor of Teacher Appreciation Week, WorldStrides will be showcasing our five 2019 Teacher of the Year recipients. These teachers have gone above and beyond, inside of the classroom and out. We are thrilled to honor them for their commitment to students and share their stories! Jason Whited is a... Read More

As a global organization, WorldStrides has a global responsibility. And as an educational travel company, what’s one of the best ways to educate? By example. The WorldStrides family is committed to being socially, environmentally, and fiscally responsible, both in our offices and on tour. We focus... Read More

Like many of you, my heart broke to watch Notre Dame Cathedral burning this week. To see something that has stood so proudly, and with so much history and meaning, get eaten away so quickly is the kind of somber moment I wish we never had to see. The world watched and cried together. Those […... Read More

Show us your talent and you could win $1,000! Get your cameras (and phones!) ready. Our 2019 Photo & Video Contest is here! Any student who travels on a WorldStrides program from January 1, 2019 to July 15, 2019 is invited to enter their photos and videos from their travels for a chance to win! ... Read More

Don’t know what to pack for your upcoming program? We’ve got you covered! Now you can show your WorldStrides pride with some cool new threads from our store. From apparel to (most importantly) travel accessories, this is your one stop shop for quality products that carry the name and logo of the... Read More

Our Festival at Carnegie Hall rewards the most elite music groups with the opportunity to perform at the world-famous Carnegie Hall on the Ronald O. Perelman Stage. The illustrious history of this great hall demands that the highest standards be applied to all performers who take the stage, and it i... Read More

At WorldStrides, the safety and security of our student participants is paramount – which is why we’re proud to introduce Robin Reliford, our Vice President of Health and Safety. A veteran of the field, Robin leads health, safety and crisis management, which means monitoring world events, implem... Read More

The current government shutdown has been dominating our news headlines for the past few weeks. At WorldStrides, our extensive experience prepares us well for this scenario, as we have handled previous partial and full closures before. Our dynamic Course Leaders seize this learning opportunity for st... Read More

In 2002, WorldStrides Helping Hands was established to ensure that exceptional students with financial difficulties can bridge the gap and experience our valuable travel programs. Funds for these scholarships are raised by employees through year-round fundraisers. Those funds are then matched by Wor... Read More

The WorldStrides 2018 Lesson Plan Contest has come to an end, and we are thrilled to share the spoils with you! Our Curriculum and Academics Team evaluated each submitted lesson plan for instructional integrity and chose winning lesson plans that were so robust that they looked ready to be taught to... Read More

Through WorldStrides’ STEM programs, students can take advantage of our relationships around the country and globe to get unique insights into the worlds of science, technology, math and engineering. Here are a few noteworthy experiences students can have while on our STEM programs. Iceland He... Read More

The Albert H. Small Normandy Institute, in collaboration with George Washington University and WorldStrides, invites student/teacher teams on a learning journey through the D-Day Campaign of 1944 and the sacrifices made by young Americans to defeat tyranny. Selected team will participate in an inten... Read More

As an educator myself, I am a firm believer that teachers should share. Share stories, share tips and, yes, share lesson plans! If you are here on the WorldStrides website, I have to believe you are a teacher who believes in experiential learning and travel. If so, welcome to a like-minded community... Read More

After the votes were tallied, there were two clear cut winners in the 2018 Photo & Video Contest. We asked Roller Skates photographer Mia Hutchinson and The Beauty of Italy videographer, Emily Davis to tell us about the moment when they pointed their cameras and began shooting their award-winnin... Read More

Have you heard about the Gift of Education? Our most successful fundraising tool, the Gift of Education, helps thousands of students each year raise funds for their trips. Last year, students raised over $2 million dollars! 100% of all money raised goes directly toward offsetting their trip price.... Read More

Making a life-changing travel program affordable to families in your community is an essential component of planning, and coming up with unique fundraising ideas that work can be challenging. Here are six great ideas for different fundraisers from WorldStrides teachers and employees. Read More

Our programs can expose students to many things they do not get to experience in the classroom. This in turn allows teachers to be part of teaching the whole child, and ensure their students move forward to being more well-rounded individuals who are better prepared to succeed outside of school. Le... Read More

It’s “Teacher’s Week” on the iconic game show Wheel of Fortune, and WorldStrides is sponsoring all the trips featured on the Wheel this week. The teacher contestants will have the chance to win a trip to France, Costa Rica, Alaska, and Spain, each time they spin. Curious about why we chose t... Read More

This week, Wheel of Fortune is kicking off its 36th season with “Teacher’s Week,” and WorldStrides will be sponsoring a trip each night on the famous 2,400-pound Wheel. Contestants will have the chance to win one of these awesome experiences each time they spin, and we can’t wait to watch! C... Read More

These dedicated curriculum consultants create customized academic engagements to meet any curriculum need for our Higher Ed Custom Programs! Each member of our Global Academic Team collaborates with companies, NGOs, schools, governments, and WorldStrides’ extensive network of professional cont... Read More

Carnegie Hall is a venue that needs no introduction. The Festival at Carnegie Hall gives the most elite choirs, bands, and orchestras the opportunity to perform on the Ronald O. Perelman Stage in the Isaac Stern Auditorium, the largest performance venue at Carnegie Hall, and learn under the directio... Read More

Summer is the perfect time for nourishing your mind. We asked WorldStrides employees what was on their summer reading, watching, and listening list. Here are a few favorites:   Recommended by Shannon Kontalonis, Senior Events Manager (and Former Teacher) Creative Schools By: Ken Robinson, Ph.D.... Read More

Is this flag the single most important artifact at the Smithsonian Institution? It just might be. In celebration of the Fourth of July, we’ll be seeing a lot of American flags this week – on mailboxes, main streets, parades, t-shirts, and even painted on faces! It got us thinking about THE flag ... Read More

On a recent custom program in Cuba, our team partnered with Community College of Baltimore County as they set out to study Mortuary Science. Yes, mortuary science, as in the study of funeral service. This unique program gave this group of future morticians and funeral directors a cross-cultural view... Read More

WorldStrides ISA Custom Programs for higher ed typically incorporates immersive global engagements that allow students to meet professionals working in their field. Our unique Global Academic Team works closely with business faculty to develop immersive itineraries that feature visits with business ... Read More

Memorial Day. Maybe you think of it as the beginning of summer, and time for a barbecue. While that’s all fun and good, it’s important that we don’t forget what the holiday is all about. Here are seven facts about why we really celebrate Memorial Day. Hint: None of them involve hot dogs. The t... Read More

Royal wedding traditions are a serious matter in Britain. When Prince Harry–sixth in line to the British throne–marries American actress Meghan Markle on Saturday, some parts of the wedding are expected to go according to royal tradition, but others are left to speculation until the big ... Read More

I’m proud to share some news with you this week about our organization. Last week, another company in the educational travel world filed for bankruptcy and left dozens of school groups in the Ohio area scrambling. When we heard this news, we made the decision to reach out to two groups who’d pla... Read More

In honor of Teacher Appreciation Week, WorldStrides will be showcasing our five Teacher of the Year recipients. These teachers have gone above and beyond, inside of the classroom and out. We are thrilled to honor them for their commitment to students and share their stories! Today’s recipient is ... Read More

In honor of Teacher Appreciation Week, WorldStrides will be showcasing our five Teacher of the Year recipients. These teachers have gone above and beyond, inside of the classroom and out. We are thrilled to honor them for their commitment to students and share their stories! Today’s recipient is ... Read More

In honor of Teacher Appreciation Week, WorldStrides will be showcasing our five Teacher of the Year recipients. These teachers have gone above and beyond, inside of the classroom and out. We are thrilled to honor them for their commitment to students and share their stories! Today’s recipient is ... Read More

In honor of  Teacher Appreciation Week, WorldStrides will be showcasing our five Teacher of the Year recipients. These teachers have gone above and beyond, inside of the classroom and out. We are thrilled to honor them for their commitment to students and share their stories! Today’s recipient is... Read More

In honor of  Teacher Appreciation Week, WorldStrides will be showcasing our five Teacher of the Year recipients. These teachers have gone above and beyond, inside of the classroom and out. We are thrilled to honor them for their commitment to students and share their stories! Our first recipient is... Read More

WorldStrides love teachers…but we sure aren’t alone. We have big plans to honor 5 educators with our 2018 Teacher of the Year award (with cool prizes!) for Teacher Appreciation Week. But while you are waiting for the big announcements, we thought you might like to know about some free fo... Read More

Congratulations to the Spring 2018 Higher Ed Traveler Scholarship winners! These deserving students will each be traveling with their universities on immersive learning opportunities in Poland and Singapore, respectively. The scholarship program evolved from our belief in the value of higher-ed glo... Read More

You’ve probably heard about the archipelago of islands, famous for inspiring Charles Darwin’s Theory of Natural Selection. In this remarkable place, the diversity of wildlife changes from island to island, leading to Darwin’s observation: “…by far the most remarkable feature in the natural... Read More

This May, I was able to attend the launch of the Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite-S (GOES-S), and I got hooked on “earth selfies” – more formally known (by, you know, scientists) as weather imaging. The GOES-S satellite is the second of a series of 4 geostationary weather sate... Read More

The cherry blossoms in D.C. aren’t the only famous flowers around the world. Love spring? (Or summer or fall?) Here are some other places where you can see Planet Earth in all her glory! Outside of Brussels in Belgium, a forest known as “Halle’s Wood” shows off for spring with a virtual ... Read More

On our first trip with WorldStrides in 2008, we had some free time on our last day in Paris, so my colleagues Kari, Maureen, and I spent the afternoon in a café, writing personal notes to all of the students on the trip. We told them about how proud we were of them, how much […] Read More

In most of the country, winter has been hanging around far too long. (Seriously, GO HOME WINTER.) Unfortunately, the flu season is hanging around with it! According to the CDC, cases of flu A have decreased but not yet concluded. However, flu B cases are still occurring. The last thing you want to p... Read More

Last Thursday dawned crisp and cold with a bright blue sky and the cherry blossom trees in near-full bloom. I was fortunate enough to be leading a tour group to the Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Indian. This was a scheduled stop on their itinerary and although they had spent t... Read More

The American law school curriculum is designed to prepare students for practicing law in the United States, so it could be tempting for educators to focus entirely on the American system. But the practice of law is intricately bound to the realities of globalization, and the Duquesne University Sch... Read More

Ready for your upcoming international trip? One of the first items on your to-do list is likely getting a passport (or renewing your passport) or, in some cases, getting a visa*. The first thing you’ll need to do to start the process is get your photo taken. But this photo is decidedly not li... Read More

The land that brought you sushi, bonsai, and the bright lights of Tokyo is ripe with fascinating tidbits. Get to know Japan (which—by the way—is the site of our brand new premier International Teacher Convention) with these 12 interesting facts. Japan consists of 6,852 islands. The islands were ... Read More

Spring has finally sprung in Washington, D.C. and that means it won’t be long before the cherry blossoms are in full bloom. It is one of the most beautiful times of year in the nation’s capitol. Here are some important things you should know before venturing out to see the flowers: The f... Read More

For most Americans, Easter is time to dye eggs, indulge in some sweets, and attend church. If you happen to be lucky enough to get a ticket to the White House, maybe you’ll even participate in the Easter Egg Roll on the White House lawn! While those Easter traditions may be familiar to Americans, ... Read More

The next time you’re at one of the amazing Smithsonian museums in Washington, D.C. – or reading Smithsonian Magazine, or, really, doing anything with our friends at Smithsonian– take a few minutes to pay some extra attention to the Smithsonian logo. It’s this one:   Simple enough, right... Read More

After last summer’s hurricanes ravaged Florida, Texas and Puerto Rico, WorldStrides felt compelled to help. True to our mission, we chose to focus on the young people whose lives have been turned upside down by the continued efforts to rebuild. On Presidents’ Day weekend, we escorted 42 eighth g... Read More

As part of our Fundraiser Hall of Fame series, we’d like to introduce to you to Laura Mulligan Thomas. Laura is the driving force behind the award-winning Charlottesville High School orchestra, an advocate for student travel, and an expert at fundraising. To date, her students have raised over $1... Read More

Auburn University at Montgomery faculty leader, Shelly Taliaferro, is well-traveled when it comes to exploring biology hotspots around the world. First inspired by her own high school biology teacher’s passion for the natural world, Shelly has championed once-in-a-lifetime opportunities for he... Read More

Our WorldStrides Perspectives programs International Travel Specialists are both our ambassadors and our master planners. They’re spreading the word about our travel programs, and then working directly with our teachers to make their trip meet and exceed expectations. Meet Michael Edelstein, custo... Read More

Show us your best shot – or video – and win $1,000! Get those cameras ready. Our 2018 WorldStrides Photo and Video Contest is here! Any student who travels on a WorldStrides program from January 1, 2018 to August 1, 2018 is invited to enter their photos and videos from their program for a chance... Read More

It’s Groundhog Day! Here are 5 facts to quench your obvious thirst to learn more about it. This mercurial marmot is referred to by several names, including chuck, wood-shock, thickwood badger, and our favorite, whistlepig.   In Quebec, the day is called Jour de la Marmotte. Sounds more... Read More

As part of our Fundraiser Hall of Fame series, we’d like to introduce to you to our newest inductee, Omaha educator, Cory Vasek! His approach to fundraising is to maximize profit – and he has fine-tuned his methods over 21 years of traveling with WorldStrides. A teacher of World History and Ame... Read More

It’s almost that time of year again – Bowl Game time, that is! While our favorite part of bowl games are the parades and halftime shows (of course!), we also love the game and we’re waiting anxiously along with our performers to know who will be playing where this year. Here are our 2017 bowl ... Read More

As part of our Fundraiser Hall of Fame series, we’d like to introduce to you to our newest inductee, Wisconsin educator, Mike Scoville! This long-time Program Leader and his students are in the community year-round, raising funds for their trip and creating connections with their neighbors. Mike i... Read More

As part of our Fundraiser Hall of Fame series, we’d like to introduce to you to our newest inductee, South Los Angeles middle school teacher, Martha Infante. Martha is an educator at Los Angeles Academy. From early on, she knew her students would never be able to compete with their peers from wel... Read More

We picked the brains of both WorldStrides employees and teachers for their best suggestions on useful fundraising campaigns to help raise money for educational travel opportunities. Download the WorldStrides Fundraising Guide below for all sorts of ideas, whether you’re headed to a music festival,... Read More

Dear Educators, Parents, and Students, It was a disturbing and sad weekend here in WorldStrides’ hometown of Charlottesville. About 500 of our employees live and work here near our headquarters. To the best of my knowledge, all of our team members are safe, but for those of us who call this regio... Read More

As part of our inaugural Fundraiser Hall of Fame series, we’d like to introduce to you to our first inductee, Alex Wheeler! Alex traveled with WorldStrides in March of 2014 to Spain and France. Now a junior at Murray State University, Alex was inspired to double major in history education and Span... Read More

WorldStrides is aware of the two incidents that occurred in London at the London Bridge and in Borough Market. We have confirmed all students traveling with our programs are accounted for and safe. On Saturday night (June 3), three men drove a van into pedestrians on London Bridge and launched a kni... Read More

As U.S. lawmakers work to finalize a budget deal and avert a government shutdown on Friday, April 28, WorldStrides continues to take a proactive approach to prepare for any potential disruptions in Washington, D.C. At this time, we’re glad to see that an imminent shutdown seems unlikely, but o... Read More

Spring Break – a week long break for students and players of all ages to unwind and enjoy the burgeoning spring season. For WorldStrides Excel Programs, Spring Break means one of the most rewarding times of the year. This year, we sent 20 Olympic development soccer programs to Scotland, England, S... Read More

In light of uncertainty around the roll-out of President Trump’s recent travel bans, WorldStrides released guidance to its university clients in the Capstone division about upcoming international travel. Most programs and customers are not affected by the executive order, but international student... Read More

WorldStrides had a significant hand in presenting the National Anthem at the Men’s and Women’s Final Four over the weekend. Sky’s the Limit Productions, a division of WorldStrides OnStage, provided production assistance for the National Anthem ahead of the games. Our participation didn’t end... Read More

If you’re anything like us, you can’t wait for the summer to watch Fox’s So You Think You Can Dance. The show brings contemporary dance to the homes and hearts of many. We tune in episode after episode to be inspired by the choreography and to be moved by the expression of dance. The choreogra... Read More

We’re celebrating our 50th Anniversary at WorldStrides and as part of that celebration, we’re aiming to reach 50,000 likes on Facebook! In this month’s Social Sarah, we’re making sure everyone in our company “likes” WorldStrides on Facebook – and we want you... Read More

WorldStrides is celebrating 50 years as the leader in student travel by sharing the stories that have shaped our company’s past and will propel us into the future. Throughout the year, we will highlight stories from our history, many of the people who have made us what we are today, and some of th... Read More

Happy holidays from our CEO, Jim Hall, and all of WorldStrides! Learn more about our educational travel programs. Read More

As the regular college football season draws to a close, WorldStrides OnStage programs is gearing up for bowl game season! We’re just as excited as our performers to find out who will be playing in bowl games across the country. While we wait for the big announcements, here are our bowl game predi... Read More

WorldStrides is celebrating 50 years as the leader in student travel by sharing the stories that have shaped our company’s past and will propel us into the future. Throughout the year, we will highlight stories from our history, many of the people who have made us what we are today, and some of th... Read More

Have you heard about the Gift of Education? Our most successful fundraising tool, the Gift of Education, helps thousands of students each year raise funds for their trips. Last year, students raised over $2 million dollars! 100% of all money raised goes directly toward offsetting their trip price. I... Read More

WorldStrides is celebrating 50 years as the leader in student travel by sharing the stories that have shaped our company’s past and will propel us into the future. Throughout the year, we will highlight stories from our history, many of the people who have made us what we are today, and some of th... Read More

WorldStrides is celebrating 50 years as the leader in student travel by sharing the stories that have shaped our company’s past and will propel us into the future. Throughout the year, we will highlight stories from our history, many of the people who have made us what we are today, and some of th... Read More

Our team prides ourselves on going above and beyond to make each and every program a memorable experience for students, teachers, and parents alike. Our Director of Sightseeing, Rob Teweles, recalls one memorable occasion in which he was one student’s hero, moments before he was scheduled to l... Read More

WorldStrides is celebrating 50 years as the leader in student travel by sharing the stories that have shaped our company’s past and will propel us into the future. Throughout the year, we will highlight stories from our history, many of the people who have made us what we are today, and some of th... Read More

At WorldStrides, we believe in being good stewards of the world through travel, education, and giving back to communities. Chris Hoffman, Vice President and Assistant General Manager of WorldStrides Capstone programs, and his wife, a teacher, wanted to give back to the community in Uganda where the... Read More

WorldStrides is celebrating 50 years as the leader in student travel by sharing the stories that have shaped our company’s past and will propel us into the future. Throughout the year, we will highlight stories from our history, many of the people who have made us what we are today, and some of th... Read More

WorldStrides is celebrating 50 years as the leader in student travel by sharing the stories that have shaped our company’s past and will propel us into the future. Throughout the year, we will highlight stories from our history, many of the people who have made us what we are today, and some of th... Read More

WorldStrides is celebrating 50 years as the leader in student travel by sharing the stories that have shaped our company’s past and will propel us into the future. Throughout the year, we will highlight stories from our history, many of the people who have made us what we are today, and some of th... Read More

WorldStrides is celebrating 50 years as the leader in student travel by sharing the stories that have shaped our company’s past and will propel us into the future. Throughout the year, we will highlight stories from our history, many of the people who have made us what we are today, and some of th... Read More

The Inauguration Heritage Festival only happens every four years. On January 20, 2017, students have the opportunity to be in the nation’s capital for this historic event, then perform at an adjudicated festival! At our 2017 Inauguration Heritage festival, students will perform before a panel of n... Read More

WorldStrides is celebrating 50 years as the leader in student travel by sharing the stories that have shaped our company’s past and will propel us into the future. Throughout the year, we will highlight stories from our history, many of the people who have made us what we are today, and some of th... Read More

WorldStrides is committed to giving every student the opportunity to travel with us to amazing destinations. We offer several fundraising and financial assistance tools to help students make their trip a reality, including our most successful fundraising tool, the Gift of Education e-cards! Gift of... Read More

WorldStrides is celebrating 50 years as the leader in student travel by sharing the stories that have shaped our company’s past and will propel us into the future. Throughout the year, we will highlight stories from our history, many of the people who have made us what we are today, and some of th... Read More

Michael Smith, now General Manager and Senior Vice President for WorldStrides Capstone programs, was just a kid when he first learned about the company with which he would later work. His primary school had partnered for WorldStrides (then Lakeland Tours) for a trip to Washington, D.C., for nearly 2... Read More

If you have been daydreaming of performing at the renowned Sydney Opera House in Australia, here’s your chance! The High School Honors Performance Series at Sydney Opera House builds upon the heritage of the Carnegie Hall Series and challenges accomplished 9th-12th grade musicians at one of ... Read More

I recently had the opportunity to travel to the diverse countries of Iceland and Greenland, destinations that are growing rapidly in popularity with travelers for their stunning landscapes and educational opportunities. Known as the land of ice and fire, Iceland is one of the most amazing destinatio... Read More

WorldStrides is celebrating 50 years as the leader in student travel by sharing the stories that have shaped our company’s past and will propel us into the future. Throughout the year, we will highlight stories from our history, many of the people who have made us what we are today, and some of th... Read More

WorldStrides wrapped up another exciting year and welcomed the start of another with our annual year-end picnic earlier this month! This year’s picnic not only celebrated another great year, it served as the kickoff for our year-long 50th Anniversary celebration. While our picnic is usually he... Read More

When On-site Coordinator Vern Saunders meets student groups in Washington, D.C., you’ll always find him dressed in a suit and tie. Yes, always. Even in D.C.’s summer heat! It is who he is: the consummate professional with a contagious enthusiasm for his job. That enthusiasm brought him to WorldS... Read More

WorldStrides is celebrating 50 years as the leader in student travel by sharing the stories that have shaped our company’s past and will propel us into the future. Throughout the year, we will highlight stories from our history, many of the people who have made us what we are today, and some of th... Read More

WorldStrides is celebrating 50 years as the leader in student travel by sharing the stories that have shaped our company’s past and will propel us into the future. Throughout the year, we will highlight stories from our history, many of the people who have made us what we are today, and some of th... Read More

Fundraising is a great way for groups to offset trip costs and allow more students to the opportunity to travel. We’re always looking for new and creative ways to raise funds to share with our program leaders, parents, and students. We recently asked our program leaders to share some of their be... Read More

Many groups that travel with us choose to hold fundraisers to offset trip costs and allow as many students as possible to experience the benefits and excitement of educational travel. Some of the unique fundraising opportunities we’ve heard of lately have included benefit performances, face painti... Read More

This Sunday, May 29, marks the running of the 100th Indianapolis 500. The event recently announced the first sellout in the history of the race, setting the field for what’s sure to be an exciting weekend. Did you know that WorldStrides is a part of the Indianapolis 500?  We’ve got dance teams ... Read More

WorldStrides, the nation’s largest and most trusted educational travel provider is pleased to announce that Missouri Olympic Development Program (MO ODP)  is partnering with the company to deliver international soccer tours for their players through their WorldStrides Excel Sports programs. This ... Read More

On Monday, I had the honor of running in the Boston Marathon. Running Boston is always a memorable experience. Taking in the city’s storied history while passing through the large, enthusiastic crowds cheering on runners along the course is invigorating. This year’s marathon was extra special as... Read More

WorldStrides, the nation’s largest and most trusted educational travel provider, is pleased to announce that Pennsylvania West Olympic Development Programs (PA West ODP) is partnering with the company to deliver international soccer tours for their players through their WorldStrides Excel programs... Read More

One of our favorite things at WorldStrides is connecting with our Program Leaders and students as they embark on adventures with us all over the world. What better way to do that than social media? Starting this month, our social media guru, Sarah, will share social media tips and tricks in our mont... Read More

Throughout the month of February, WorldStrides Excel encouraged travelers to send us their action shots. We wanted to see their best soccer photos and videos captured from around the world. We received 50 entries, making it hard to pick a winner! In the end, the winner was Daniel Hott (@danielhott10... Read More

  Earlier this month, I spent some time at the WorldStrides Shanghai office. Though China is a world away from our WorldStrides headquarters in Charlottesville, Virginia, our goal remains the same: to enhance students’ lives through educational travel. Every time I travel to the Far East, it ... Read More

The Maryland State Olympic Development Program (ODP) has been traveling with WorldStrides Excel on international soccer programs since 1999. This year, from March 27 through April 4, 2016, Maryland ODP is taking six teams to Europe. The 2003 Boys are traveling to Stirling, Scotland; the 2003 girls�... Read More

Greetings from Paris! I arrived in Paris on Friday to meet with staff and students from International Studies Abroad (ISA), a premier study abroad company we acquired last month. It’s been great to put faces to names, meet many of WorldStrides’ newest employees, and talk about an exciting, promi... Read More

The crystal ball is out! Who will play in a bowl game? Who will stay home? It’s the thing that is on all college football fans’ minds—will your team play in a bowl game? The sports junkies are starting to predict which teams will earn bowl game invitations this season, and we’re chiming ... Read More

Our Excel International Sports tours emphasize cultural exchange and competitive play for youth and collegiate soccer, basketball, lacrosse, golf, hockey, rugby, and swimming teams. Excel Vice President Eric McAleer is a former pro soccer player and has a wealth of knowledge about athletics and trav... Read More

Welcome! As you can see, we at WorldStrides have been busy redesigning our website and we’re very excited about it. The new site is designed for discovery – we want you to browse our programs, find destinations you’ve always wanted to explore and opportunities you’ve wanted to pursue. ... Read More

Band directors traveling with us to a bowl game or parade event get an extra perk each year. Recently, WorldStrides began commissioning an original concert band piece with renowned composer and arranger Carl Strommen to be given to band directors each year. The first original piece, “Kivgik,”... Read More

Fun city? Check. Screaming fans? Check. Top-notch choreographers with resumes you want for yourself one day? Check plus. Meet the WorldStrides choreographers. The choreographers we work with make all the difference to our dance and cheer programs and it’s easy to see why. Whether you are a small... Read More

A very special welcome to the WorldStrides family goes to John Hill, a West Virginia high school English and Drama teacher whose October 26 appearance on Wheel of Fortune earned him his very own WorldStrides DiscoverNow! trip to Costa Rica. To hear him tell it, his appearance on the famed game sho... Read More

If you read the first part of this blog, Fun-d-raising (Part 1), then you know I view fundraising as more than raising funds. The key points I covered were: raising funds (obviously!) personal growth in responsibility, organization, entrepreneurship, and self-respect communication to the community a... Read More

As a former teacher (who expended a lot of fundraising efforts with my classes) I often find myself discussing fundraising. And, lately, I have been reflecting on it a lot. Of course fundraising has the goal of raising funds—it’s built into the name. But it also raises awareness in the community... Read More

When anti-government agitators announced plans to shut down Bangkok with a citywide protest, three groups traveling with WorldStrides were already in or had plans to visit the Thai capital. The WorldStrides response was multi-faceted, quickly assessing the situation on the ground, creating “safe z... Read More

Years ago, an Alabama high school teacher led a student travel program for her students. When she left the school, the trip ended and several teachers struggled to reorganize a program. That is, until Program Leader Michaela Young introduced a new idea: a WorldStrides DiscoverNow! Costa Rica program... Read More

Though her mother’s diagnosis of a rare form of lung cancer has put tremendous financial strain on the family, an eighth grader from Minnesota will be joining her classmates on their class trip to Washington, D.C., after all, thanks to a full scholarship from Helping Hands. The student and her fam... Read More

While visiting Turkey with his university group on a WorldStrides Capstone program, a student experienced a sudden heart attack attributed to an undiagnosed heart condition. Within one hour of the student’s collapse in Istanbul, Dr. Christopher Lang, WorldStrides Medical Director, was on the phone... Read More

Whether your students are helping their parents with the cost of their trip or saving money for souvenirs, fundraisers are a quick and easy way for students to generate money for an educational tour. Each week in April I’ll be sharing a new idea that will put the FUN in fundraiser! If you can’t... Read More

Whether your students are helping their parents with the cost of their trip or saving money for souvenirs, fundraisers are a quick and easy way for students to generate money for an educational tour. Each week in April I’ll be sharing a new idea that will put the FUN in fundraiser! If you can’t ... Read More

Whether your students are helping their parents with the cost of their trip or saving money for souvenirs, fundraisers are a quick and easy way for students to generate money for an educational tour. Each week in April I’ll be sharing a new idea that will put the FUN in fundraiser! If you can’t... Read More

Though her eyesight is deteriorating from a medical condition that will eventually leave her blind, an eighth grader from Wisconsin will see Washington, D.C., this March, thanks to a full scholarship from Helping Hands. The scholarship program is funded by WorldStrides employees to help students wit... Read More

Dr. Christopher Lang, an emergency room physician at the George Washington University Department of Emergency Medicine, is WorldStrides’ Medical Director. He manages our exclusive Doctors on Call Program, and recently shared his advice on preparing for international travel. Are hospitals safe ... Read More

It’s important to us at WorldStrides that every student has the opportunity to pet a dolphin in Florida, or discover what makes our government tick in Washington, D.C. That’s why we are so proud to say that our FLAG Scholarship was awarded to over 4,400 students in 2011. This means, to date, nea... Read More

After a 9.0 magnitude earthquake shook Japan in March 2011, WorldStrides successfully evacuated two university groups from the earthquake and tsunami zone, per their specific needs and travel schedule. This response included the evacuation of a group of students who had arrived in Japan just two day... Read More

In honor of the 10th anniversary of Kohl’s Cares®, a philanthropic program launched by Kohl’s to support children’s health and education, the Menomonee Falls, WI-based retailer will give $500,000 to 20 different schools this fall – that’s $10 million in grant money up for grabs! If you or... Read More

Looking for a unique way to raise money for your WorldStrides program? Many WorldStrides groups have fundraising success by hosting benefit concerts and shows. The students take part in organizing every aspect of the event, from finding performers to advertising. Here are a few ideas for how studen... Read More

As the number of H1N1 virus cases within the U.S. and abroad rose in 2009, WorldStrides Capstone programs worked proactively to keep participants safe from exposure to the serious disease and to avoid potential travel complications because of heightened security at airports around the globe. This pr... Read More