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Explore the World with Nat Geo
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“This program was a life-changing experience. Everything we did made our time in Tanzania amazing. We were able to interact and truly connect with the people of our host town. It really made us travelers and not tourists.” Katherine B., Tanzania Expedition, 2013
There is a certain spirit of adventure that has driven National Geographic explorers since our earliest days. It’s an irrepressible desire to discover, to learn, and to understand our planet. That spirit sent marine conservationist Jacques Cousteau plunging hundreds of feet to the ocean depths in a “diving saucer” named Denise that he invented. It sent National Geographic Explorer-inResidence Will Steger skimming across Greenland’s massive ice cap behind a team of tireless huskies on the longest unsupported dogsled expedition in history. As any of our explorers will tell you, discovering the unknown can change your life. We invite the next generation of explorers to get out in the field and follow in the footsteps of National Geographic’s photographers, writers, and scientists. You might tag and track cheetahs with wildlife biologists in Namibia, go on photo shoots in Prague with a National Geographic photographer, or work on a community project at an elementary school in Thailand. It only takes a little digging to find that there is wonder—big and small—all around the world. Come discover it with us.
OUR LONG HISTORY OF EXPLORATION National Geographic has been exploring the planet since 1888, and our network of experts and contacts across the globe is vast and deep. We tap into these resources to create unique and exciting travel opportunities for students. Live among local students in the Himalaya of India, or meet traditional musicians on Ireland’s Aran Islands. Conduct research on orcas with scientists in the San Juan Islands, and monitor manta rays while snorkeling or diving off the stunning coast of Mozambique with a National Geographic Emerging Explorer. To make these innovative trips possible, we have partnered with Putney Student Travel—a highly respected student travel organization that has offered quality student expeditions for more than 60 years. Putney is a leader in its field, delivering innovative, safe, and fun expeditions all around the world. 4
OUR TRIPS We offer four types of programs: expeditions, field workshops, photo workshops, and community service programs. On our special Conservation in Action expeditions, we celebrate the legacy of National Geographic through hands-on programs that will have you working closely with scientists and researchers on some of National Geographic’s top conservation priorities. (See the box on page 7 for more information.) Our trips range from eleven days to three weeks. On our expeditions, you’ll experience the best of the destination through in-depth exploration of a country or region. Our field and photography workshops are shorter, generally 12 days, with one or two bases from which you’ll set out to explore our spectacular surroundings. On our community service programs, you’ll settle into a local community and take part in everyday life while working on a variety of service projects. Throughout each program you’ll work on an On CALL TOLL-FREE 1-877-877-8759
Assignment project, whether it’s a slideshow presentation, a field guide, a portfolio of photographs, or a gallery opening for an exhibition of your work. (See pages 6 and 7 for more information about our On Assignment projects.)
OUR EXPEDITION TEAMS STUDENTS. Traveling with your peers naturally creates a spirit of collaboration and teamwork. You’ll develop strong bonds while working in teams on your projects. Plus, seeing a place alongside your new friends brings a whole new dimension to your experience. Our expeditions range between 14 and 28 students. Community service programs are limited to 18 students and our field and photo workshops average 25-30 students. TRIP LEADERS. Our trip leaders are dynamic college graduates who are pursuing careers in fields such as photojournalism, conservation biology, and cultural anthropology. They are energetic, creative,
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“So many thrilling and exciting things happened in our day trips, and I loved the adventurous aspect of the workshop. It was eye-opening to realize how much there is to discover in my own backyard: an American city!”
responsible, knowledgeable, and fun. They know the destination well and seek to share their love of travel with high school students. Our student-totrip-leader ratio is usually between six and eight to one. NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC EXPERTS. On each expedition and field workshop, a National Geographic expert—a photographer, writer, researcher, or explorer—joins a portion of the trip. On our photography workshops, a National Geographic photographer accompanies the entire program. Our experts are leaders in their field who will enrich the trip with their stories and insights. (See our experts and trip leaders on pages 8, 9, and 10.)
OUR HOME AWAY FROM HOME The accommodations we use are well located and comfortable. On most programs, we stay in small, family-run inns and hostels; student centers; university housing; or research stations. Sometimes our accommodations are part of the adventure. For instance, we’ll settle into safari camps in South Africa’s Kruger National Park, enjoy seaside cabanas in Belize, and sleep under canvas “swags” in the Australian Outback.
Anna G., San Francisco Photo Workshop, 2013
help you prepare for your trip—National Geographic books, magazines, or maps—as well as a complimentary one-year subscription to a National Geographic magazine of your choice.
OUR COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT On many trips, you have an opportunity to participate in community service projects that allow you to become more engaged with the place you’re exploring and to make a useful contribution. Depending on the location and the community’s needs, you may work on small-scale construction, tutor students in English, clean up a park, or help out at an orphanage. Or, you can focus on service work on one of our community service programs in Peru, Costa Rica, Thailand, and Tanzania. Estimates of community service hours for each of these programs are listed on the itineraries (pages 52–55). Visit our website for additional information about community service hours on all of our programs.
OUR SUSTAINABLE TRAVEL PHILOSOPHY
As an organization that seeks to inspire others to care about the planet, National Geographic is committed to sustaining the character and integrity of each place we visit—its environment, culture, heritage, and the well-being of its residents. In providing authentic travel experiences for students, we strive to protect the sites we visit, support local economies in our choice of accommodations and services, and increase students’ understanding and appreciation of other peoples and customs through meaningful friendships and cultural exchange.
OUR SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM Each year we provide financial support for students seeking educational summer experiences who could otherwise not afford them. For more information about the National Geographic Student Expeditions Scholarship Program, see page 11.
OUR BLEND OF EDUCATION AND ADVENTURE Each of our trips builds in outdoor activities like hiking, snorkeling, rafting, glacier trekking, or horseback riding; as well as immersion in the local community, where you’ll play sports with kids, cook with local women, or visit artisans in their homes. Prior to your adventure, we will send you materials to APPLY ONL INE AT NGSTUDENTEXPEDITIONS.COM
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