Educational travel and voluntourism often function a channel for experiential learning. An educational vacation or community service trip can enrich knowledge of places and customs in ways that can’t be taught in textbooks, especially for younger children who are likely to absorb practical lessons like a sponge. Through cultural exploration and immersion, students are enriched as global residents while developing higher language and geography skills, in addition to greater confidence and problem-solving skills.
Rustic paths, a worldwide teen adventure travel and community service program, operates leading immersive and authentic student travel programs for middle and highschool students, gap 12 months students and college-age students. The service-based programs include locations from Australia to Japan to Alaska and more. The programs can be found in 25 countries and students gathered a complete of 38,060 service hours in 2023, with plans to extend through 2024, while 68% of student travel programs are primarily focused on sustainability. Rustic Pathways has announced theirs 2024 Student Programs.
Travelers on the lookout for a comprehensive educational experience for all ages should consider these resorts.
Marriott Fiji Momi Bay, Fiji
The Kids Discovery program has been rigorously crafted to not only entertain but in addition educate young people, fostering a way of curiosity, environmental responsibility and cultural appreciation. Children can change into Momi eco-warriors by constructing nests, planting trees and learning about Fijian wildlife through hikes; Momi marine biologists through fish feeding, coral planting, rocky shore discovery, water testing, marine statement and beach combing; or families can learn together by planting corals, constructing fish houses and planting mangroves.
Turtle Island, a personal island resort within the Yasawa region of Fiji, is open to families 3 times a 12 months. Children are invited to change into stewards of the island and learn the way to farm, fish, weave baskets and visit local villages. The property recently announced “Turtle Island Field Trips,” an academic program that provides local students from neighboring islands and villages a rare opportunity to transcend their textbooks and villages and learn firsthand about hospitality.
As a part of the immersive kid’s program Paintbox, children take part in activities that educate them in regards to the destination they’re in and the culture of the individuals who live there. For example:
- Montage Kapalua Bay, Hawaii. Located on Namalu Bay in West Maui, just ten miles from Lahaina, this intimate resort invites Montage’s youngest guests to learn Hawaiian language and hula and take heed to the stories of Montage Kapalua Bay’s cultural ambassadors. Activities like exploring from Mauka to Makai (from land to sea), turtle tracking along the Kapalua Coastal Trail, or lessons at Maui’s water playground in Namalu and Kapalua Bay foster a connection to the island.
- Montage Palmetto Bluff, SC. At the posh Lowcountry resort, resident naturalist Cassie Beato leads young and adult guests on waterway ecotours and mountain climbing tours to Bird Island, the resort’s treehouses, River Road and more.
The Tryall Club, Montego Bay, Jamaica
Because Tryall Club is positioned on 2,200 acres of pristine coastline with lush forests, the emphasis is on learning about nature. For example, considered one of the activities is the Hummingbird Safari, which incorporates bird watching where children study local birds and have the chance to feed them. There are also opportunities to immerse yourself within the culture, reminiscent of playing traditional Jamaican games reminiscent of cricket and rounders, Jamaican folklore time where children study Jamaican stories and culture, reggae dancing and far more.
Kaya Palazzo Golf Resort Belek, Turkey
Known for its stunning 18-hole golf course on site, the 5-star Kaya Palazzo Golf Resort, Belek offers something for everybody within the family. The property’s supervised “Mini Club” offers educational programs for little ones, from arts and crafts to literary workshops to physical activities and interactive shows. To foster an intense reference to Turkish culture, children can take part in hands-on pottery workshops and learn in regards to the country’s millennia-old history of ceramic production.