Our Educational Approach
Taking the LEAP®
LEAP, which stands for Learning through Exploration and Active Participation®, is at the heart of everything we do. Our educational philosophy is built upon the hands-on, exploratory approach to learning that we know makes all the difference for your students.
Our People Make the Difference
Our commitment to educational excellence begins with our expert team of educators working together to design exciting, innovative approaches to learning.
Academics Team
Our expert team of in-house educators support students at every level, from creating all of our exciting educational materials to maintaining our accreditation status.
Program Leaders
Our partner teachers bring learning to life for their students by playing an active role in planning and creating programs to fit the needs of their students.
Field Educators
Our Tour Directors and Course Leaders get to know their students as individuals, fostering greater engagement and active participation.
Passionate Students
Our programs engage and challenge students at every stage of the learning journey, from elementary schoolers to university students.
Excellence by the Numbers
Every year, over 5,000 students enroll in credit-bearing coursework that accompanies their WorldStrides program, but that’s just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to tallying up our educational impact.
1,600+
Field educators trained and employed to lead our programs every year.
5,800+
Program Leaders and chaperones that earned professional development credit through WorldStrides in 2023
Accredited Like Your School
Education is the core of what we do. That’s why WorldStrides became the first student travel company to be accredited in 1996. Ever since, we’ve been held to the same strict academic standards as schools across the world by international accrediting bodies including:
Cognia
Cognia provides educational accreditation and certification to organizations around the world. Cognia is the parent organization for the North Central Association Commission on Accreditation and School Improvement and the Northwest Accreditation Commission.
MSA-CESS
The Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools is one of six accrediting bodies in the country, working primarily in Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Delaware, and Washington D.C.
WASC
The Western Association of Schools and Colleges is a world-renowned independent accrediting association working with schools primarily in the western United States, including the California Department of Education.
NEASC
The New England Association of Schools and Colleges is a globally recognized independent nonprofit membership organization working with institutions across the six states of New England and in more than 85 countries around the world.
Learning Tools & Courses
To facilitate the ideal learning environment, we provide students and teachers with a variety of tools, tailored to the age of the learner and the subject matter.
Discovery Journals
These extensive resources cover a wide range of destination and subject-specific material. They’re a great tool for students on educational travel programs to use before, during, and after their travels to help solidify what they’ve learned.
Academic Credit
Students participating in a WorldStrides program are eligible to earn academic credit. Students in grades 6-12 can earn high school credit and students in grades 9-12 can earn college credit.
Professional Development Resources
Traveling educators are eligible to receive professional development credit that can be used toward license recertification.