Overview
Retrace the heroic journey of America’s greatest civil rights leaders from Atlanta, Georgia, to Birmingham, Selma, and Montgomery, Alabama. Learn from local guides about the struggle for civil rights in the United States while visiting renowned sites such as the Martin Luther King Jr. National Historical Park, the National Center for Civil and Human Rights, and the National Memorial for Peace and Justice. Reflect on the past and inspire your students’ future growth with this uniquely rewarding and thought-provoking experience.
Itinerary
Day 1
Travel to Atlanta, GA
Lunch
Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historical Park visit
Immerse yourself in Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s inspiring legacy while exploring his childhood home, neighborhood, and the historic Ebenezer Baptist Church. Visit the King Center to reflect at his tomb and learn more about his life, Civil Rights leadership, and lasting global influence.
Dinner
Travel to Birmingham, AL
Hotel check-in
Day 2
Breakfast and hotel check-out
Birmingham Civil Rights Institute visit
Experience the Civil Rights Movement in Birmingham through interactive exhibits, iconic artifacts, and multimedia displays. Explore the realities of segregation in the Jim Crow era, learn about the 1963 Birmingham Campaign, and hear personal stories of courage, protest, and activism.
16th Street Baptist Church visit
Step into the city’s first Black church and learn about its powerful legacy as a critical Civil Rights meeting place. Admire the grand pipe organ and symbolic Wales Window while reflecting on the lives lost in the 1963 bombing as you explore this sacred landmark.
Travel to Selma, AL
Lunch
Brown Chapel AME photo stop
Visit this historic chapel, built in 1908 by formerly enslaved people. Learn its history as an important hub of the 1965 Voting Rights Movement, and a starting point for the "Bloody Sunday" march.
Edmund Pettus Bridge
Walk across the Edmund Pettus Bridge and reflect on its pivotal significance as the site of the 1965 "Bloody Sunday" beatings, when state troopers attacked and forced 600 peaceful civil rights marchers back across the bridge.
National Voting Rights Museum and Institute visit
Trace the history of American voting rights, from our nation's founding in 1776 through the Civil Rights Movement, and feel the impact of the individuals who collectively changed history. See original artifacts and hear stories from events like the Selma to Montgomery march.
Dinner
Travel to Montgomery, AL
Hotel check-in
Day 3
Breakfast and hotel check-out
Legacy Museum and National Memorial for Peace and Justice visit
Explore the profound history of racial injustice in America, from slavery and decades of racial terror to the Civil Rights era and bias in today’s justice system. Conclude this sobering experience by reflecting on the lives lost at the nation’s first memorial honoring lynching victims.
Downtown Montgomery walking tour
Journey through the heart of Montgomery and discover its pivotal role in the Civil Rights Movement. Explore iconic landmarks, see the church where Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. pastored, and learn about the events and leaders that advanced social justice and equality in America.
Lunch
Travel to Tuskegee, AL
Tuskegee Airmen National Historic Site visit
Feel impact of these courageous men and women who challenged racist military policies at this historic airfield and museum where 1,000 African American pilots trained to fight during WWII. Learn how they transformed the military and eventually were awarded the Congressional Gold Medals.
Travel to Atlanta, GA
Dinner
Hotel check-in
Day 4
Breakfast and hotel check-out
APEX Museum visit
Experience African American history through immersive exhibits, rare artifacts, and multimedia storytelling. Learn about the iconic achievements, struggles, and contributions that have shaped the past and present, from ancient African civilizations to contemporary Black America.
Lunch
Depart for home
Dinner
Already Included
Transportation to & from your destination
Hotel accommodations
Meals (unless otherwise noted on your itinerary)
WorldStrides Course Leader - a dynamic destination expert who brings learning to life by leading your group's activities and discussions
Admissions to top attractions (details in itinerary)
WorldAssist staff members available 24/7/365 should your group need extra help
Free high school credit for students who choose to complete WorldStrides free online coursework post-program
Professional development credits (CEUs) for educators
Field Research Guide (Discovery Journal)
Scenes from Alabama
Health & Safety
Financial Assistance
Financial Assistance
WorldStrides provides over $2.5 million in financial assistance each year to thousands of families. Families with annual adjusted gross incomes of less than $85,000 may qualify. One simple call to Customer Service and you’ll know how much may be available for your trip even before signing up. Please note: financial assistance is given on a first-come, first-served basis.
Payment Plans
Advantage Payment Plan
At program sign-up you can opt to pay in full, or break up the cost of your trip with the Advantage Payment Plan. This plan allows you to pay a small initial deposit, then have your remaining payments spread out into affordable monthly amounts.
EZPay
We offer an EZPay option, which is a simple way to pay for your WorldStrides program by scheduling hassle-free, automatic drafts from your checking account. With EZPay, you'll never be late or miss an installment.
Fundraising Tools
Our easy-to-use tools put students in the driver's seat of their own fundraising efforts. Students can send e-cards, share links on social media, and even send out printed letters through WorldStrides' Gift of Education program. In one click friends and family members can make a direct donation to the trip - with 100% of the money raised going to offset their trip price. Thousands of students pay for their entire trip each year through the Gift of Education.
Also, WorldStrides makes program-specific scholarships available as well as other scholarship resources. Ask your Account Manager for more information about scholarships and fundraising tools.