“Our group arrived back home last night, on schedule, with no concerns whatsoever.  The consensus of our experience was overwhelmingly positive.  Personally, I could not have been happier with the way the trip unfolded.  You did a fantastic job putting this enriching intersession together and the staff in Spain from Spanish Trails, led by husband/wife duo Tracey and Charles, as well as guides Derek and Danny, were so attentive to our every need.  The itinerary could not have been better.  This was a homerun, as far as intersession experiences go, and I hope this affirming response brings you great satisfaction.

Thank you, again and again, for your commendable efforts on what has been a year-long effort.  As mentioned above, it was s smash hit.  SSFS is fortunate to have a graduate with your expertise and personal care helping us in this signature program.”

-Eduardo

Spanish Teacher
Sandy Spring Friends School

Here is a video testimonial from a Student Journeys trip to Peru

Here is a video testimonial from a Student Journeys trip to Africa

Here is a video testimonial from the Student Journeys Costa Rica Tour

Here is a video testimonial from the Student Journeys Costa Rica Service Project

Student Journeys trip to Baja California

Waterfall in Malocas Jungle

Everyone has a defining summer in their life as a young adult. “The best summer ever” usually is something you never forget, something you go on to tell future generations about. How great would it be to pass on the story “My amazing summer in Brazil!”

Summer programs are perfect for the busy young adult who spends 9 months of the year in a conventional, traditional classroom. A chance to pull them away from the summer routine of computer and video games in a virtual world, and get them out in the real world to shape their minds. Student Journeys permits them the opportunity to still be in a comfortable, close knit group of peers from their own school, while making memories in new lands and strengthening bonds they can bring back with them when school starts again in the fall.

Generally, traveling in groups during the summer is much more inexpensive and less crowded, allowing the opportunity to discover more and take the best advantage of the time.

Take Brazil for example. During our traditional summer, it is actually their winter! The months of June to December is often referred to as “summer” by the locals because it is the dry season. These months provide ideal temperatures, hot and sunny with lower humidity and cool breezes.

It is after the crowds of Carnaval and Easter, allowing full immersion of a Brazilian culture and not partying tourists. With less crowds, visiting sites like Rio de Janiero, the infamous Statue of Christ, and UNESCO colonial cities are much more enjoyable.

Since it is their off season, flights and accommodations are not at their peak rates and much more reasonable. There are overnight flights out of Atlanta and Miami, with just a one-hour time difference, which means you can start your day bright and early with minimal jet-lag impact.

Student Journeys just uploaded two new itineraries to Brazil, Brazil Amazon Boat Expedition and Brazil Amazon Jungle Experience! All summer programs that Student Journeys offer is fully customizable for the student groups needs and desires. Because of the personalized and close attention, it is sure that a summer trip will be “the summer of their life.”

Clouds Rolling in Student Peru Trip

What happens when the trip that your class has been preparing for is in jeopardy of cancelling because of a natural disaster? Do you call it quits and wait for next year? Do you cut your losses and return your hard fund-raised efforts back to your supporters? Or do you find a way to make it happen?

Last season, Student Journeys arranged for a group of 15 determined students to visit Peru. This 9 day itinerary included visiting picturesque villages, ancient archeological ruins and hiking the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu. The 4 day trek on the Inca Trail is one of the most iconic hiking routes, ascending alongside rivers, plains, forests and mountains, a fairly challenging trip for these well determined students.

Unfortunately, devastation struck Machu Picchu in January. Catastrophic rains descended on Peru, causing intense flooding and mudslides, destroying railways and washing away paths leading to “The Lost City of the Incas”. Due to these unfortunate events, Machu Picchu and the Inca Trail closed for months, restoration efforts taking longer than expected.

No one was allowed to hike the Inca Trail, and many trips to Peru were cancelled.

With months of preparation and eagerness, this news was devastating for these students who had trained and anticipated for the exciting journey. To find out that the trip was on the verge of being cancelled left many of the students with broken spirits and shattered dreams.

To the rescue, Student Journeys and their dedicated teachers worked diligently in order to rescue the journey, finding possible alternatives for the group. Daring a little known trail, the class undertook a hike to Choquequirano, another ruin city of the Incas. Their Student Journeys guide, Ryan Ballard, was actually more excited about this new “path less traveled” itinerary than the original trek. He knew it would be more challenging but he knew it would offer an amazing experience as the “undiscovered Machu Picchu.” The students were amazed to find out that they were one of the few lucky groups who still had the opportunity to see the breathtaking Inca ruins of Peru and Student Journeys was delighted to provide the opportunity.

The trip took place at the end of March, students returning with amazing photos and life experiences. Ryan confirms that the trip was one of the top he has ever led. The best moment he describes, “We reached the top of the mountain in the early morning, and a dense cloud/fog was rolling in. It was epic, something straight from Indiana Jones- overlooking the carvings and tombs, we were the only ones there in the early sunrise,- it was awesome.” He said, despite the difficult trail, the vibe between the students was very positive and he was proud of the tremendous amount of team work and group bonding that he witnessed. He is looking forward to leading the same school on another trip this spring to Vietnam.

Student Journeys is excited to offer a new voluntourism opportunity in Galapagos for student groups and organizations. Voluntourism, or student trips that involve volunteer work, has been increasing in popularity as giving back to communities through volunteer work is an incredible way to elevate a student trip from simply educational to a deep and meaningful travel experience.

The Galapagos Voluntour offers student groups a chance to study the region’s plants and wildlife, interact with its people and study its culture, explore the adventurous opportunities of the area, and to give back to the people and ecosystem of the Galapagos Islands. Student Trip highlights include:

• Learning to use a machete to eradicate invasive plant species
• Planting and nurturing native and endemic plant species
• Assisting special needs children with horseback riding therapy
• Leading disadvantaged children through hikes, horseback rides, and games to teach them about nature and the environment
• Sea kayaking and snorkeling with sea turtles, sharks, rays, sea lions, and marine iguanas
• Sharing hardened lava trails with lava lizards, blue-footed boobies, mockingbirds, finches, and other species that continue to fascinate evolutionary biologists
• Studying the giant Galapagos tortoises – up close and personally
• Learning to ride waves from surfing experts
• Relaxing on white sand beaches next to sea lions and marine iguanas

For more information about taking your student group on a trip to the Galapagos, visit The Galapagos Voluntour at StudentJourneys.com!

Looking to stimulate your students to achieve at a higher level, create a better learning environment in your classroom, and help your students become more well-rounded young adults? Many teachers and principals will agree that taking your students on a Student Trip may be the most effective way to achieve these goals. Here are six reasons why:

1. Bring your Text book to Life – There is no doubt that taking students to actually see, touch, and smell the things they are reading about piques student interest and increases retention of knowledge. This is especially true for visual learners, yet all students benefit from physically interacting with what they are studying. Take your students out into the global classroom to truly experience the subject matter.

2. Give your Students Tools for a Global Society – The more that technology advances, the smaller the world becomes. Tomorrow’s leaders will be interacting with people from different countries and cultures on a daily basis.  Student trips increase global awareness, tolerance, and understanding – all essential elements of a truly rounded education. Student Trips that involve volunteerism are excellent ways give students experiences working with people from different cultures.

3. Inspire your Students to Learn New Languages – For students who don’t often travel outside of their own community, it can be difficult to find the motivation to learn a new language. The wide spread use of English and advancement in translation technology sometimes makes students ask, “What’s the point?” Yet when students travel to foreign places, meet people of different cultures who speak multiple languages, and actually form relationships with these people, they return home with a new hunger to become bilingual.

4. Inspire your Students with Fresh Perspectives– Students often live in small circles with limited perspectives on the wonders of the world outside their local community. Taking your students to see the great artistic achievements of the world or to places that offer new ways to express oneself opens minds to new ideas and possibilities. A day in the life of foreign shoes leaves a lasting impression.

5. Build Confidence in Students – Arguably the most important reason to promote student travel is this: Taking students to foreign places gets them outside of their “bubble.” Many students come to know their local community as the universe its self and develop anxiety from a sense of not fitting in. Student travel opens their eyes to the fact that the world is a very large place full of contrasting and diverse cultures, people, and beliefs. Introverted, shy, anxious, depressed, and even angry students often return from student travel experiences with a new understanding of life and a fresh attitude towards themselves and their futures.

6. Bond with your Students in a Different Learning Environment – When you take students out of their normal element, they are more likely to open up to each other and to their teachers. On student trips, new bonds of trust and understanding are formed between travel mates, which carry back to school. The more students trust and feel comfortable around each other and their teachers, the more positive and efficient the learning environment becomes.

To watch video testimonials about student trips, learn more about planning a student trip, and more, please visit Student Journeys.