Teach & Travel November 2023

Teach&Travel I N T H I S I S S U E : 2 024 E D U C ATO R S' B U Y E R S G U I D E

T H E L E A D I N G S O U R C E F O R E D U C AT O R S W H O P L A N S T U D E N T T R AV E L

N OV E M B E R 2 0 2 3

Massachusetts A SMALL STATE with BIG INFLUENCE CELEBRATING CREOLE AND CAJUN CULTURE IN LIVELY LOUISIANA BRITISH COLUMBIA'S ENDLESS NATURE AND INDIGENOUS LEGACY

SYTA

S T U D E N T & Y O U T H T R AV E L A S S O C I AT I O N

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T E AC H & T R AV E L M AG A Z I N E | N OV E M B E R 2 0 2 3

THE COVER I'm sure somewhere in Missouri.

Photo © Whoever took the picture.

IN THIS ISSUE VOLUME 24 ISSUE 2 NOVEMBER 2023 THE COVER © View Boston

F E A TU R E S 12 CELEBRATING CREOLE AND CAJUN CULTURE in Lively Louisiana

PUBLISHER OF TEACH & TRAVEL SERENDIPITY MEDIA, LLC www.serendipity-media.com | (866) 252-7108

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40 MASSACHUSETTS: A Small State with Big Influence

44 BRITISH COLUMBIA'S Endless Nature and Indigenous Legacy

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D E P A R TM E NTS 6 STAYING EDUCATED The Certified Student Travel Organization Program

8 PROFILE Laura McMaster: Championing Student Travel

10 SAFE TRAVELS Hiking on the Safe Side

48 TRIP BEHAVIOR Adapt & Innovate

50 EXPERIENCES A Masterclass in Carnegie Hall

52 STUDENTS SPEAK Slowing Down

STUDENT & YOUTH TRAVEL ASSOCIATION

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S Y TA .O R G

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NOTE | SY TA PRESIDENT

ALEX J. Urdaneta President, Student and Youth Travel Association President of Viajes A Plus

s

School is back in session, and student travel is in full swing. Right now, are a variety of month-long observances that celebrate the richness of our national diversity. In September, we celebrated Hispanic Heritage Month; October celebrated Filipino-American, GermanAmerican, Italian-American, Polish-American Heritage as well as LGBTQ+ history; and in November we are celebrating National Native American Heritage. These observations provide us with opportunities to celebrate our unique talents and traditions, along with our similarities as humans.

Traditionally, Thanksgiving is a time when we give thanks for our many blessings. In a nod to our internationalism, Thanksgiving is an officially designated holiday in Australia, Brazil, Liberia, the Netherlands, the Philippines, and the United States in November; in Canada, Grenada Saint Lucia in October, in Rwanda in August. This holiday has become one of my favorite days of the year. I wish you all the best for this day and the upcoming holiday season.

In this issue of Teach & Travel, we take a look at itineraries for vibrant Louisiana, historic Massachusetts and beautiful British Columbia. From the cultural celebration of New Orleans to the landmarks of Boston, the mountains of Vancouver and everywhere in-between, you’ll find tons of great ideas for your future trips.

If you’re looking for even more resources, like a great SYTA student travel operator to work with, check out our annual Educators’ Buyers Guide. It’s full of experts from around the world who are ready to help you make that dream trip happen—along with a guide to student-friendly attractions and destinations.

This issue also has travel tips, covering safety when hiking; modifying and innovating when the unexpected occurs; and the benefits of a Certified Student Travel Organization (CSTO).

Finally, we shine the spotlight on students and educators. Check out our profile on this year’s SYTA Youth Foundation Visionary Award recipient, Laura McMaster, as she talks about her passion for education and how that led to traveling the globe with students. You can also read about a trip to a masterclass in Carnegie Hall and hear from another finalist in the “World Is a Classroom” student essay contest.

We hope the information contained in this edition broadens your view on the impact of student travel, its benefits, and the way you can keep changing the lives of students for good. ¡Hasta muy pronto!

S Y TA S T R AT E G I C PA R T N E R S

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T E AC H & T R AV E L M AG A Z I N E | N OV E M B E R 2 0 2 3

TR AVEL NEWS

SYTA and BONARD Release 2022

STUDENT TRAVEL BUSINESS BAROMETER EXECUTIVE S UMMA RY

A NNUA L R EPOR T 2022

Student Travel

BUSINESS BAROMETER

I NT RO D UC T I O N

ST UD ENT T R AV EL BUSINESS BA R OME T ER

Introduction

S T U DE NT T R AV E L B U S INE S S B A R OM E T E R

A NNUA L R E POR T 2022

ANNUAL REPOR T 2022

EX ECU T IV E SU MMARY

STUDENT TR AVEL BUSINESS BAR OME TER

Executive Summary

Executive Summary

In-country travel

Out-of-country travel

IN 2022, THE BAROMETER SURVEYED A RECORD HIGH SAMPLE OF 140 TOUR OPERATORS AND TRAVEL AND EDUCATION AGENCIES FROM 22 COUNTRIES WORLDWIDE

ANNUAL REPORT 2022 Map legend 65 % – 60 %

354,000

+267%

STUDENTS TRAVELED IN-COUNTRY IN 2022

MORE STUDENTS TRAVELED IN 2022 COMPARED TO 2021

• In-country student group travel experienced a robust recovery in 2022, surpassing the expectations of tour operators. Whereas tour operators initially anticipated that over 295,000 students would embark on in-country trips, the actual number was 353,500, exceeding expectations by 20%.

• Looking ahead to 2023, 47% of tour operators have optimistic expectations, aiming to achieve more than 80% of their pre-pandemic booking volume from 2019 and by 2025, 66% of respondents expect to reach their pre-pandemic volumes.

• In-country travel reached 54% of its pre-pandemic volume in 2022. The recovery was primarily led by tour operators based in the U.S., where student groups resumed travel several months ahead of the rest of the world.

10 % – 5 % 4% – 3% 2% – 1%

10%

MORE THAN INCREASE IN PRICES WAS SEEN IN OVERALL TRIP COSTS

• Majority of tour operators saw prices increase by more than 10% over 2019 figures for in-country trips. Transportation, covering bus, train, and flight tickets, increased more than any other trip component, by more than 15%.

The second largest increase was for accommodation.

• Prices are expected to climb for all trip components throughout 2023. Tour operators noted that price increases in the first quarter of 2023 were more significant than anticipated.

60,000

+198%

24%

STUDENTS TRAVELED OUT-OF-COUNTRY IN 2022

MORE STUDENTS TRAVELED IN 2022 COMPARED TO 2021

OF ALL STUDENTS TRAVELED TO THE UK, TOP DESTINATION IN 2022

a substantial number of whose customers chose the UK (21% and 52%, respectively).

• A complete recovery in out-ofcountry travel may require a few more years. For 2023, 38% of respondents predict that more than 80% of the travel volume seen in 2019 will be reached, and a majority (70%) believe that it will take until 2025 to reach over 80% of the 2019 travel volume.

• Tour operators predicted a substantial recovery in 2022 for out-of-country travel, estimating that around 59,000 students would travel abroad. As with in-country travel, the actual number of students traveling internationally in 2022 exceeded expectations, reaching 60,000. This represented a significant (198%) increase over the previous year.

• The recovery of the student group travel sector was largely propelled by in-country travel in the USA, which reached 67% of its pre-pandemic volume in terms of student numbers in 2019. The actual number of students traveling surpassed the expectations of tour operators by 27%, a 65,000 more students on the road.

• The UK became the leading destination, being chosen by 24% of customers in the student group travel sector. This popularity was primarily driven by both U.S.-based and Europe-based tour operators,

• The USA, France, UK and Spain are expected to gain further popularity for out-of-country trips in 2023.

• As many as 57% of out-of-country trips took place as scheduled, a significant increase from 2021, when 9% of trips were executed as planned. As travel restrictions were lifted, a significant portion of out-of-country trips proceeded as planned, with minimal cancelations.

• For specific destinations, outof-country travel has recovered much more slowly than in-country: Australia reached 36% of its prepandemic volumes, Canada 27%, and the USA 9%. A gradual rebound is expected to start in 2023.

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13%

34%

54%

OF TOUR OPERATORS ORGANIZED IN-COUNTRY TRIPS

OF TOUR OPERATORS ORGANIZED OUT-OF-COUNTRY TRIPS

OF TOUR OPERATORS ORGANIZED BOTH IN-COUNTRY AND OUT-OF-COUNTRY TRIPS

In-country travel refers to any trip conducted within the students’ own country.

Out-of-country travel refers to any trip which includes traveling from one country to another.

A NNUA L R EPOR T 2022

I N - COU N T RY T R AV E L

ST UD ENT T R AV EL BUSINESS BA R OME T E R

Number of students taking an in-country trip

Student group travel was defined as student tours composed of at least two people aged 10–18, traveling out of their everyday environment on the same dates and following the same itinerary.

NUMBER OF STUDENTS EXPECTED TO TRAVEL

NUMBER OF STUDENTS ACTUALLY TRAVELED

2019

Research was carried out by an online survey conducted between December 2022 and February 2023.

2020

2021

2022

2023

655,000

5

557,000 354,000

KEY P ERFO RMA NCE IND IC ATO RS

S T U DE NT T R AV E L B U S INE S S B A R OM E T E R

A NNUA L R E POR T 2022

KEY P ERFO RMA NCE IND IC ATO RS

S T U DE NT T R AV E L B U S INE S S B A R OM E T E R

A NNUA L R E POR T 2022

101,000

80,000

Based on 86 STOs running in-country trips.

In-country travel Key performance indicators In 2022, the industry saw a strong rebound in in-country student group travel – one that even exceeded tour operators’ expectations.

Booking trips and activities well in advance will also be an important strategy as the sector rebuilds its capacity post-pandemic. Armed with the lessons from 2022 and fueled by optimism, the industry could see its performance exceed expectations again in 2023.

OVERALL, IN-COUNTRY TRAVEL REACHED 54% OF ITS 2019 VOLUME. THE RECOVERY WAS PREDOMINANTLY DRIVEN BY TOUR OPERATORS BASED IN THE U.S., WHERE STUDENT GROUPS STARTED TO TRAVEL AGAIN SEVERAL MONTHS BEFORE THE REST OF THE WORLD.

Three major factors that contributed to this were pentup demand, postponements from the last two years as well as an increased number of last-minute bookings.

Student groups also opted for in-country trips as there were restrictions still in place for out-of-country mobility.

Going into 2023, tour operators expect to reach 85% of their 2019 student numbers.

OVERALL, 267% MORE STUDENTS TRAVELED IN 2022 COMPARED TO 2021.

The average trip duration for in-country trips has remained stable over the past four years with the exception of disruptions happening in 2020, when student trips were considerably shorter (3.8 days). This was mainly due to the fact that student groups moved only until March on short-term trips.

With labor shortages in hospitality, attractions and in the motorcoach/public transportation industry, tour operators, suppliers and customers had to quickly adapt to the new reality as the sector changed over the last two years.

WITH MORE THAN 557,200 STUDENTS EXPECTED TO TRAVEL IN 2023, IT IS CRUCIAL THAT THE INDUSTRY SHOULD PREPARE FOR A SUSTAINED AND INCREASED NUMBER OF TRAVELERS IN 2023 AND BEYOND.

anticipated a significant rebound in 2022, projecting

approximately 59,000 students would embark IN on 2022 TOUR OPERATORS Out-of-country travel that out-of-country trips.

THE AVERAGE TRIP DURATION IN 2022 WAS 5.9 DAYS, SLIGHTLY LONGER THAN IN 2019 (5.1 DAYS).

In 2022, the average student group size was 65 students.

This was higher than in 2019 and 2021 (56 and 52 students respectively). The smallest group size was recorded in 2021, when the industry saw on average smaller groups traveling for a longer period of time (6 days on average).

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In 2022, the number of student groups taking out-ofcountry trips recovered more slowly, primarily due to ongoing travel restrictions in certain destinations (e.g., the need to show a negative test upon arrival in the U.S.).

SINCE OUT-OF-COUNTRY TRAVEL IS T YPICALLY PLANNED EARLIER THAN IN-COUNTRY TRAVEL, STUDENTS AND TEACHERS CHOSE TO TRAVEL WITHIN THEIR OWN COUNTRY INSTEAD OF VENTURING ABROAD.

INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF STUDENTS TRAVELING

EXPECTED TO TRAVEL

Key performance indicators

It is prudent to look at where the sector stands compared to 2019.

PARTICIPATING TOUR OPERATORS EXPECTED TO SEE MORE THAN 295,000 STUDENTS TRAVELING, BUT ENDED UP ORGANIZING IN-COUNTRY STUDENT GROUP TRAVEL FOR A TOTAL OF 354,000 STUDENTS – REALITY OUTPERFORMED EXPECTATIONS BY 20%.

SURPRISINGLY, THE AC TUAL NUMBER OF STUDENTS TRAVELING ABROAD IN 2022 SURPASSED EXPEC TATIONS AT 60,000, WHICH MARKED A 198% INCREASE OVER 2021.

295,000

Several destinations emerged as popular for international student group travel in 2022, with the UK, U.S., France, and Canada standing out in particular.

+267 %

STUDENTS

Year-on-year comparison 2021 vs 2022

Of these destinations, the UK held the top position, being most popular among both U.S.-based and Europeanbased tour operators.

In addition, the availability and pricing of flight tickets played a significant role in influencing the decision to choose in-country travel. The limited availability of flights, coupled with the uncertainty surrounding travel regulations and possibility of last-minute changes, made out-of-country travel less accessible and potentially more expensive for student trips.

ACTUALLY TRAVELED IN 2022 LOOKING AHEAD INTO 2023, TOUR OPERATORS

WHILE THE GROWTH NOTED IN 2022 IS ENCOURAGING, IT IS IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT THE SECTOR HAS ONLY RECOVERED APPROXIMATELY 22% OF ITS 2019 PRE-PANDEMIC VOLUME.

As regards key trip attributes, the average trip duration was lower than in 2021 – 9.7 days – but higher than the 8.1 days observed in 2019. Given the increase in transportation prices, groups opted to travel for longer.

In 2021, with minimal to no activity taking place due to the pandemic, student groups traveling outof-country were scarce. However, tour operators

The average group size was 25, compared to 32 in 2019, which was the smallest group size reported in the last four years.

ARE EXPEC TING MORE THAN 104,000 STUDENTS TO TRAVEL TO INTERNATIONAL DESTINATIONS, WHICH WOULD REPRESENT ABOUT ONE THIRD OF PRE-PANDEMIC VOLUMES.

354,000 STUDENTS

PAR TICIPATING TOUR OPERATORS WERE EXPEC TING MORE THAN 295,000 STUDENTS TO TRAVEL, BUT ENDED UP

ORGANIZING IN-COUNTRY STUDENT GROUP TRAVEL FOR 354,000 STUDENTS – REALIT Y OUTPERFORMED EXPEC TATIONS BY 20%.

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SY TA and our research par tner, BONARD, have been ac tively engaged in monitoring the global student group travel market since 2014. We introduced the quar terly Student Travel Business Barometer in 2019 to equip our stakeholders with timely, relevant and reliable data on the industr y’s per formance.

Despite the continued loss of business in 2022 due to the Covid-19 pandemic, travel is ver y much on the rise, and we believe continuing to gather data is crucial to keep accurate records of the industr y to maintain awareness of and suppor t for student travel and to provide benchmark data that will assist with accurate forecasts for the future.

This annual repor t outlines the overall pic ture of the student and youth travel market in 2022, provides a pic ture of the impac t of Covid-19 on the student travel industr y, and looks ahead to projec tions for 2023, 2024 and beyond.

The research mapped student group travel patterns in the following areas: » Three key performance indicators: anticipated and ac tual student numbers in 2022 and a forecast for 2023, average trip duration, and average group size. » Impac t of Covid-19 on student group travel. » Outlook for major international travel destinations.

To view the study, visit teachtravel.org/tools-and-resources.

S Y TA .O R G

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DESTINATION UPDATES

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T E AC H & T R AV E L M AG A Z I N E | N OV E M B E R 2 0 2 3

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S Y TA .O R G

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S TAY I N G E D U C AT E D

THE CERTIFIED STUDENT TR AVEL ORGANIZ ATION (CSTO) PROGR AM

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In 2017, SYTA partnered with the Center for Student Travel Safety (CSTS) to undertake an industry changing initiative to improve overall safety and risk management practices throughout the student and youth travel industry.

The Center for Student Travel Safety was founded in October of 2015 to help travel organizations address the challenges faced when traveling groups of students domestically or internationally.

The Certified Student Travel Organization (CSTO) certification is intended to educate the industry on the administration of safety and risk management standards for student and youth travel.

Increasingly, school administrators, educators, procurement officers and parents are seeking ways to evaluate and select student travel companies that meet industry standards and provide them with ways to understand the products and services they are buying from their student and youth travel providers.

SYTA and the Center worked with members, allied organizations, educators and the government to develop standards that are actionable and attainable by student and youth travel companies and their staff.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS IS THE CERTIFICATION PROGRAM ONLY FOR TOUR OPERATORS AND OTHER GROUP TRAVEL PLANNERS? Yes. The CSTO is based on these organizations who facilitate safety and risk management practices with the support of their supplier partners.

HOW DOES AN ORGANIZATION ACHIEVE CERTIFICATION? An organization seeking certification will demonstrate compliance with 9 mandatory standards and at least 16 elective standards. The 9 mandatory standards include the STYA membership requirements for active members.

There are 21 elective standards to choose from and the organization must meet at least 16 of the elective standards that best fit the needs of their company.

ONCE AN ORGANIZATION IS CERTIFIED, DO THEY NEED TO DO IT AGAIN? Yes. Certified travel organizations must re-certify every three years, following the same application process as the initial certification.

IS THERE A COST TO BECOME A CERTIFIED STUDENT TRAVEL ORGANIZATION (CSTO)?

Yes. There is a one-time application fee ($250 for members and $500 for non-members) and a certification fee ($1500) that includes the information, tools and resources needed to become certified and the certification onsite visit. The fee for renewing every three years in $750.

HOW DOES AN ORGANIZATION RECEIVE TRAINING ON CERTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS? SYTA provides many resources to help organizations through the entire certification process.These resources include personal assistance from SYTA staff and a peer mentor (if you choose). Also, provided will be resource guides and templates that support the standards.

Contact center@syta.org for additional information on certification.

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T E AC H & T R AV E L M AG A Z I N E | N OV E M B E R 2 0 2 3

BY JOSH VEAL CSTO STANDARDS AT A GLANCE This is an overview of the standards that need to be met in order to earn certification status as a Certificated Student Travel Organization. Detailed information is available at my.syta.org. » Mandatory Standards » Minimum Student & Revenue » Background check, Organization’s Principals » Consumer Protec tion Education » Business License and Mailing Address » Laws, Regulations and Licensing » Organization Insurance » Code of Ethics » Crisis Response Plan and Training » Crisis Response Simulation Training » Elec tive Standards (minimum of 16 must be met) » Non-Discrimination and Harassment Policy and Training » Child Abuse Prevention Plan » Seat Belt Usage » FMCSA Safety Briefing » Motorcoach Facility and Equipment Assessment » Tour Satisfac tion Survey » Family Assistance and Support » Emergency Evacuation Briefing » Accommodation Property Assessment » Health Information Management » American Disability Ac t (ADA) Specialist » Health Information Portability and Accountability Ac t Specialist » Dining Facility Assessment » Staff Background Checks » Swimming Safety » First Aid, CPR and AED Training » Incident Reporting and Response Procedure » Annual Incident Analysis » Lost Tour Participant Protocol » Advice for Teacher Leaders » Attrac tion and Venue Best Prac tices » Security Organization Assessment

S Y TA .O R G

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PROFILE

Photos © Laura McMaster

Since 2010, Laura McMaster has been travelling with students to destinations within North America and Europe, opening the world to more than 400 of her Miles MacDonell Collegiate (Winnipeg, MB) students.

These efforts led to McMaster being awarded the 2023 SYF Visionary Award, given annually to someone who demonstrates a commitment to enriching student lives through travel and/or contributes to the advancement of our industry through education, volunteer activities or community service.

McMaster works closely with tour provider EF Educational Tours to plan custom itineraries that engage her students and fit family budgets, while also volunteering her own time to fundraise, host predeparture meetings, coach other educators through student travel, and engage in professional development activities.

L AUR A McMA STER:

CHAMPIONING STUDENT TRAVEL

HOW DID YOU GET STARTED WITH STUDENT TRAVEL? I was teaching a course called Theory of Knowledge, which had a unit about art and beauty. I took students to our local art gallery on a field trip, which was fine, but when I realized colleagues were taking students to France to speak French I figured I could take kids to see the great art galleries of the world. Of course, no one can spend days in an art gallery, so my itineraries obviously broadened. I started in New York City, at the MOMA and the MET, and now my preference is for Italy, where art and beauty seem to be on every street corner. I have also loved going to

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Greece, and I found that combining Greece and Italy gives students real insight on history, including the history of art and architecture.

WHAT DO YOU ENJOY ABOUT STUDENT TRAVEL? I love the opportunity to offer these amazing experiences to students. I also really enjoy building a great team of teacher chaperones to come with me. I love to see new connections emerging between students. Life “on the bus” can be a way of breaking down some of the lines that form in a school culture. Students who never would have met become thick as thieves. Some find themselves as leaders. Some are suddenly humbled as

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they are unsettled by the familiar. All of these experiences are valuable!

DO YOU HAVE ANY BIG TRAVEL HIGHLIGHTS? On my first trip to Europe, we landed in Frankfurt in the middle of an airline strike. 700 f lights had been cancelled.

We were told we “might” get a f light to Rome the next day. We chose instead to get on a train: Frankfurt to Basel, Basel to Milan, Milan to Rome, arriving only about 18 hours behind schedule.

We learned so much in that experience!

First, I was astonished at the level of trust the students showed; they were entirely confident that I was in control of the situation and would make

BY JOSH VEAL decisions in their best interest. It really motivated me to be sure that I was always deserving of that trust. Second, we had to leave our bags behind, so we all learned about packing light and what we really needed. Finally, we learned that when adventures arise while travelling, they can be really positive! Most of my students had never been on a train! We ended up calling that tour the “Planes, Trains and Gondolas” tour of Europe.

WHAT RECENT CHALLENGES HAVE YOU HAD TO OVERCOME IN REGARDS TO TRAVEL? Most of the challenges postpandemic have arisen from those who aren’t familiar with group travel. I was entirely confident the demand would still be there, but our senior administration thought that parents would be very risk-averse. However, I’m happy to report that my first postpandemic tour sold out on the first day. We had so many students on the wait list that we duplicated the tour for 2024, and it sold out as well.

The new focus on equity and inclusion has created an unexpected challenge, with some critics wanting to remove international travel entirely because it is not accessible to all students. I think this is a misguided attitude, and would like to see all of us instead focus on opening up opportunities for those who wish to travel and cannot because of cost.

We can achieve so much if we work together! Fundraising, scholarships, grants—let’s focus on widening opportunities rather than narrowing.

WHAT DO YOU APPRECIATE ABOUT EF EDUCATIONAL TOURS? I can’t say enough about EF. When we landed in Frankfurt on that crazy day, an EF rep was waiting for us, and stayed with us until we met our Tour Director in Milan. I have worked with

a number of Tour Consultants and they have all been sharp, friendly, organized and ready to answer all my questions. When it comes to student travel, I’m known as “Sarge” because I run a tight team and want everything super organized. Everyone at EF appreciates this and works to help me do all the preparation that makes a tour run smoothly. EF also offers so many learning opportunities, and I’m grateful to be able to do some leading as well, supporting other group leaders who are getting ready for big adventures. Shout out to my EF family: Joanne, Shawna, Roxy, Leyla, and my amazing TD Alex Munera. EF’s motto is “travel changes lives”. I’ve seen it happen over and over. It has certainly changed mine.

WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING FORWARD TO NEXT? I’m excited for travel this year: a trip to New York with my family, a professional development opportunity in Paris, and a student tour to Italy in March. However, I’m most looking forward to moving into a new chapter of my professional life. I won’t be a classroom teacher forever, but I am actively looking for ways to stay engaged in student travel. I will be living in a rural area, and am interested in how I can start supporting travel in the community even when I won’t be in the classroom.

This could be especially interesting in the rural area where one school might not have enough kids to make a tour viable, but if I can help multiple schools connect so travel is possible, I would find that really fulfilling. I am at a stage of life, both personal and professional, where I am taking an attitude of “YES!” to any opportunity that comes along. Who knows what I’ll say yes to next!

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SA FE T R AV E L S

HIKING ON THE SAFE SIDE

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Hiking is a wonderful way to experience a destination first hand while also being active and getting some steps in. And while it’s always nice to admire beautiful photos of forests or mountains, it’s even more pleasant to get out there yourself to soak up the sights and breathe in some fresh air. As your groups set out into nature’s splendor this summer, be sure they’re prepared ahead of time by offering up these pro tips.

Most will recognize that a successful hike doesn’t simply happen. It’s the result of careful planning, consideration and preparation. According to the experts at the American Hiking Society (AHS), there are several steps to take before you even set out on your hike—and we suggest passing these tips onto students well ahead of the actual trip.

Start from the ground up by ensuring you all have proper footwear, which will allow you to have the most comfortable hiking experience possible, including proper traction for varying environments and surfaces (f lip f lops need not apply).

Layering is also imperative, with rain gear and dry-fast layers being must-have items, as the weather—depending on your destination—can turn on a dime.

Hats and gloves are also accessories you’ll be happy to have if the situation warrants. And if you’re hiking anywhere with even a small chance of ticks, try to wear long pants of a light color, tucked into your footwear. It might sound hot, but lightweight nylon or polyester garments are cool and breezy. Then, try to

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BY SAR AH SUYDAM

Managing Editor, Groups Today

take a hot shower within two hours of leaving the trail, and do a tick check afterward for any stragglers.

Remember: Better safe than sorry!

It’s also important to bring a paper map of your destination, in the case that service renders phones and GPS devices unusable. You should anticipate needing sun protection, regardless of cloud cover or season. Sunscreen, sunglasses, a hat, and long or UVprotective clothing are great options.

One essential that could always use some extra emphasis? Water— and plenty of it! If you’re wondering how much to bring with you, AHS recommends planning to consume half a liter of water per hour in moderate temperatures/terrain, in addition to packing a device that can safely filter the water around you, should you run out. It’s also wise to pack some calorie-dense foods to keep yourself fueled and energized along your adventure (think energy bars, jerky, nuts and seeds, fresh or dried fruits and veggies, etc.).

Of course, safety is a huge part of preparing for a hike or any time spent out in nature/backwoods terrain.

AHS suggests having a way to start an emergency fire (while keeping fire safety best practices in mind); having a f lashlight or way to see in the darkness; carrying a first aid kit (in addition to considering taking a

class to know how to properly treat injuries); a knife or multi-tool; and a shelter or way to protect yourself from the elements such as an emergency blanket.

One final—yet essential—item AHS recommends bringing on all of your outdoor adventures? A trash bag and disposable gloves, as it’s absolutely vital to clean up after yourself in nature. By bringing a trash bag with you, you’re able to not only clean up after yourself, but also grab any trash you see along the way that has been left behind by others.

Happy hiking!

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U . S . D E S T I N AT I O N | L O U I S I A N A

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BY JOSH VEAL

CELEBRATING CREOLE AND CAJUN CULTURE IN LIVELY LOUISIANA

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Student groups are more than welcome in the vibrant rich state of Louisiana, where history, music, and f lavors collide to create a one-of-a-kind experience for student travelers. Nestled in the heart of the American South, Louisiana beckons with its unique blend of Creole and Cajun inf luences, promising an unforgettable educational adventure.

Here in the Bayou State, you’ll find endless cultural celebration, from Lafayette, Cajun Country’s heart, to New Orleans, where jazz fills the air and mouthwatering cuisine abounds.

Louisiana offers an enriching journey through its diverse traditions, making it a captivating destination for student groups.

You could start in the west with Lafayette, where students can savor zydeco music and delve into the region’s heritage. The city’s Cajun roots have a long history going back to the immigration of French Canadians, a.k.a.

Acadians, which was mispronounced into the word Cajun we know today.

Walk through history at the LARC’s Acadian Village, Lafayette’s oldest authentic vision of life in 19th century Southwest Louisiana and a showcase of historic homes alongside winding bayous, depicting unique Acadian architecture of the time, complete with wooden pegs, mud walls, cypress wood and high-peaked roofs. Similarly, Vermilionville Living

MidCit y Architec ture Esplanade Avenue. Photo © New Orleans & Company/Paul Broussard Brass Band. Photo © New Orleans & Company/ Todd Coleman

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History Museum & Folklife Park is a 23-acre historic and folklife park along the banks of the Bayou Vermilion that depicts the Acadian, Creole and Native American cultures from the time period 1765–1890.

This historic village features guided tours, costumed artisans, live music, cooking school, dance lessons, and more.

For a day of art and music, head to the Acadiana Center for the Arts, a central hub of cultural life offering museum-quality galleries, an arts education center, a broadcast venue, workshops, conference and office spaces and modular theater with adaptive acoustics. Or for a quicker experience highlighting a legendary local artist, visit the George Rodrigue Gallery and enjoy the bright primary colors and whimsy of the artist who worked to preserve Cajun heritage.

Also check out the Lafayette Science Museum, with displays and exhibits that are fun for all ages. See real-life meteorites, watch a starstudded show in the planetarium, learn about Louisiana’s oil and gas industry, and get creeped out by spiders and bugs in The Crawl Space.

Then, you can head outdoors for some up-close science with an airboat tour through the Atchafalaya Swamp, the largest swamp in the country. The basin, known as America’s Wetlands, is filled with 270 species of birds, 100 types of fish, and 65 kinds of reptiles and amphibians.

Next, we head east to Baton Rouge, the capital city of Louisiana. You’ll want to visit the State Capitols, both new and old, of course. Also check out Baton Rouge African American Museum, where you can hear the stories of people of color and step aboard an authentic 1953 bus from the year of the Baton Rouge Bus Boycott.

Other top attractions include the beautiful LSU Rural Life Museum & Windrush Gardens, the history-filled LSU Rural Life Museum & Windrush Gardens, and the intimate Manship Theatre Shaw Center For The Arts.

Then, it’s off to Louisiana’s River Parishes, a strip of land about 30 miles long along the Mississippi River, known for unique history, agriculture, cuisine, and ecosystems. To get a grasp of the terrible reality of slavery’s past, visit Destrehan Plantation for educational exhibits and demonstrations, including the mansion, actual slave cabins and a look at the 1811 Slave Revolt. You can also learn the story of Laura Locoul Gore and those who lived and worked on her family’s sugarcane plantation at Laura Plantation.

Second Line, Atchafalaya Swamp. Photos © New Orleans & Company

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U . S . D E S T I N AT I O N | L O U I S I A N A

The next stop is a visit to the region’s newest attraction, Creole Sugarland.

The tour presents the historical connection between bonfires and sugarcane, and everyone will experience hands-on demonstrations involved with the techniques of raising, harvesting, and eating sugarcane.

If you’re in the River Parishes, you have an incredible amount of nature to enjoy. Hike through Wetland Watchers Park or the nature trail at the St. James Parish Welcome Center. See the magic of the swamps up-close with a kayak tour at Wild Louisiana Tours, or experience the thrill of riding on a pontoon boat at Cajun Pride Swamp Tours.

Eventually, we depart for the “Big Easy,” a.k.a. New Orleans, known for its incredibly unique and vibrant culture, cuisine and history. Start in the city’s oldest neighborhood, the French Quarter, known for nightlife, colorful buildings and iron balconies. Enjoy a walking tour with stops like Jackson Square, a National Historic Landmark nestled in the center of the French Quarter, St. Louis Cathedral, the oldest Cathedral in North America, and The Cabildo, once the site of the Louisiana Purchase transfer and now home to a Louisiana State Museum.

One of the best ways to get an overview of New Orleans is through a city tour.

Local companies like Gray Line offer terrific driving tours that travel through the city’s unique neighborhoods, each with their own personalities. You’ll also get the chance to stop at City Park, one of the nation’s largest urban parks, and one of New Orleans’ famous above-ground cemeteries.

New Orleans is also home to top-ranking, student-friendly attractions including The National W WII Museum, which is designated by Congress as the official WWII museum of the United States. Offering a compelling blend of sweeping narrative and poignant personal detail, the museum features immersive exhibits, multimedia experiences, and an expansive collection of artifacts and first-person oral histories, taking visitors inside the story of the

The National W WII Museum. Photo © New Orleans & Company

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war that changed the world.

Students of all ages will also enjoy the Audubon Aquarium of the Americas, one of the top five aquariums in the country. See more than 250 species, including endangered species, such as African penguins, and rare animals, such as white alligators. Just down the river is Audubon Zoo, with 58 acres of animals in their natural habitats.

Animal favorites include elephants Jean and Panya, a Komodo dragon and a rare white tiger from California, named King Zulu. But also look for bears, monkeys, snakes, orangutans, elks and more exotic animals than you can imagine!

Finally, it’s time to turn north out of New Orleans, heading 23 miles across the Lake Pontchartrain Causeway to The Northshore, “Louisiana’s Easy Escape.” The region boasts world-class culinary f lavors, thriving downtowns, aspirational adventures and plenty of outdoor recreation to enjoy.

Visit St. Tammany Parish, home to several historic sites and museums exploring the rich Native American and African American heritage and history over the centuries. Check out the eccentric Abita Mystery House, a folk art environment with thousands of found objects and homemade inventions giving a picture of Southern life. See exotic animals at the Global Wildlife Center, a sprawling 900-acre wildlife preserve.

And if you’re in the Northshore, you absolutely have to visit Insta-gator, home to more than 2,000 alligators, where everyone gets a chance to hold a baby alligator in their hands. Or, see one in the wild on a guided ecotour of Honey Island Swamp. The opportunities are endless.

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A SPECIAL THANK YOU

to the 2023 SYTA Annual Conference Sponsors #SYTA2023

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TRAVEL INSURED INTERNATIONAL A CRUM & FORSTER COMPANY

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SY TA's Educators' Buyers Guide / 2024 / Members as of September 2023

2024 BUYERS GUIDE

T E AC H & T R AV EL E D U C ATO R S'

T O U R O P E R AT O R S . S U P P L I E R S .

K n ow in g w h o yo u c an tur n to w h e n p lannin g s tu d e nt tr ave l has n eve r b e e n m o re imp o r t ant . Teach & Tra vel, th e l ea din g s o urce f o r e du c ato r s w h o p lan s tu d e nt tr ave l, is p ro u d to b r in g yo u th e 2024 Edu c ato r s' Bu ye r s G ui d e. Edu c ato r s w ill f in d a lis t of SY TA M e mb e r co mp ani es w h o c an p rov i d e gui dan ce o n h ow to h e lp yo u an d yo ur s tu d e nt s tr ave l s af e l y an d su ccess f ull y. SY TA M e mb e r s are: »

Stewards of your travel funds and practice transparenc y in financial arrangements

»

Focused on health and safet y and trained in risk management

»

Insured, vet ted and cer tified

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Educated on issues , trends and conditions specific to student travel

»

Able to access special rates and travel products

Teach & Tra vel is p ro u d to co nn e c t yo u w ith p rof essi o nal tr ave l p lann e r s rea d y to assis t yo ur s tu d e nt tr ave l n e e ds .

For more information and resources, visit teachtravel.org.

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SY TA's Educators' Buyers Guide / 2024 / Members as of September 2023

CENTER FOR STUDENT TRAVEL SAFETY Safety standards and certification programs were developed with educators, administrators, and schools who share the same passion for travel and student travel safety as SYTA members. The certification programs are administered through the Center for Student Travel Safety.

SYTA

S T U D E N T & Y O U T H T R AV E L A S S O C I AT I O N

THE PREMIER PROFESSIONAL TRADE ASSOCIATION THAT PROMOTES STUDENT AND YOUTH TRAVEL WORLDWIDE.

SAFETY RESOURCE CENTER SYTA believes student travel safety is a partnership between student travel companies and their clients. To that end, SYTA provides education, research, and resources to educators through Teach & Travel magazine and e-newsletters, the Safety Resource Center on SYTA.org and teachtravel.org.

STUDENT TRAVEL RESEARCH The Student Travel Business Barometer is the only annual quantitative data resource of its kind for domestic and international student group travel. This comprehensive research report includes trend data for previous years and provides forecast data for the coming years. The Student Travel Business Barometer Annual Report 2022 also provides an analysis of trends and industry growth from 2019 through 2022. Survey respondents include both international and domestic tour operators. In 2022, we were proud to partner with the American Bus Association (ABA) and National Tour Association (NTA) to significantly expand our research segment in the U.S. We will continue to work with our international partners to provide global insights and data. | Research@syta.org

WHAT IS SYTA? | SYTA is the non-profit, professional trade association that promotes student and youth travel worldwide. Our Members are companies that work with teachers and educators to provide safe educational travel for students.

OUR MISSION | SYTA is the premier association of businesses dedicated to providing life-enhancing travel experiences to students and young people. We instill confidence in our travelers by establishing quality and safety standards for travel providers, and we empower our members through advocacy, education, training and networking opportunities.

SYTA'S SAFETY COMMITMENT | SYTA has undergone a significant expansion of its student travel safety program, including the establishment of new comprehensive standards for student travel operators and suppliers and the creation of a certification program for individuals and companies specializing in student travel. In 2020, SYTA launched the Certified Student Travel Organization certification and re-established the requirements for the Certified Student Travel Professional certification. CSTO & CSTP provide a framework for student travel organizations and their staff to learn, train, and guide their clients—in thorough safety standards and protocols. SYTA members actively participate in health, safety and risk management measures that are in place for student travel.

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EBG | TOUR OPERATORS ORGANIZATION

ADDRESS

PHONE

WEBSITE

1st Choice Educational Tours

PO Box 950, Batavia, NY 14021

(585) 343-1313

www.tours4students.com

A-1 Tours

2 Emmons Dr., Princeton, NJ 08540

(888) 927-8927

www.a1tours.com

A+ Voyages

693 Rene Levesque Ouest, Quebec City, QC G1S 1T1, Canada

(418) 683-6388

www.voyagesaplus.com

Academic Expeditions

3277 Arbor Trace, Charlottesville, VA 22911

(917) 520-5453

www.academicexpeditions.com

AdvantEdge Tours, LLC

6480 S. Downing St., Centennial, CO 80121

(303) 794-4391

www.advantedgetours.com

Adventure Student Travel

27176 State Highway 6, Kirksville, MO 63501

(877) 397-5700

www.adventurestudenttravel.com

Alta Voyages (formerly Voyages Tour Etudiant)

874 Archimede St., Levis, QC G6V 7M5, Canada

(418) 835-3336

www.altavoyages.ca/en

American Christian Tours

201 E. South St., Rice Lake, WI 54868

(715) 234-6500

www.acts-tours.com

American Edventures

25283 Cabot Rd., Ste 108, Laguna Hills, CA 92653

(949) 768-1776

www.americanedventures.com

American Travel Consulting

PO Box 750, Albertville, AL 35950

(256) 572-0669

www.americantravelconsulting.com

Apple Student Tours

2727 Camino Del Rio South, Ste 219 San Diego, CA 92108

(619) 299-9686

www.applestudenttours.org

Aristotle Travel LTD

Lazaraki 6, Glyfada, Athens 16675, Greece

302109000000

www.aristotletravel.com

Asia Getaway Inc.

7668 El Camino Real, Ste 104-618, Carlsbad, CA 92009

(760) 672-0898

www.asiagetaway.com

Atlas Workshops Inc.

45 Prospect St., Cambridge, MA 02139

(617) 475-0141

www.atlasworkshops.com

Benedict’s Bus Service

2166 Charleston Rd., Wellsboro, PA 16901

(570) 724-5867

www.benedictsbus.com

Bob Rogers Travel

3440 LaCrosse Ln., Naperville, IL 60564

(800) 373-1423

www.bobrogerstravel.com

Branson On Stage Live!

PO Box 6609, Branson, MO 65615

(417) 334-5599

www.bransononstagelive.com

Capital Tours, Inc.

200 Merrimack St., Ste 401, Haverhill, MA 01830

(978) 373-9140

www.capitaltours.net

CCIS / Discover Student Travel Contact: Bryan Stevenson, bryan@ccistravel.com / Address: 6965 Piazza Grand Ave. Suite 315 Orlando FL. 32835 / Phone: (724) 287-3222 Discover Student Travel offers “Budget Friendly Adventures” and was created to ensure that ALL students have access to travel, while providing first-class customer service and attention to detail.CCIS, Complete Custom Itinerary Service, was established in 1993 and provides first-class customer service while delivering a boutique experience with concierge level inclusions, focusing on customized, all-inclusive trips.

CETA Tours

3120 Schneider Ave SE, Ste 1B, Menomonie, WI 54751

(715) 232-8541

www.cetatours.com

CHA Educational Tours

400 Market St., Ste 460 Philadelphia, PA 19106

(215) 923-7060

www.cha-tours.com

Choice Music Tours, a Direct Travel company

2 Penn Center West, Ste 220, Pittsburgh, PA 15276

(866) 583-6061

www.choicemusictours.com

Class Travel, LLC

11098 E. Mission Ln., Scottsdale, AZ 85259

(480) 699-3418

www.classtravelllc.com

Close Up Foundation

1330 Braddock Pl., Ste 400 Alexandria, VA 22314

(703) 706-3300

www.closeup.org

Club Aventure Jeunesse

739 Rue St. Pierre, Terrebonne, QC J6W 1E1, Canada

(450) 961-2848

www.clubaventurejeunesse.com

College Campus Tours

697 Lawton St., SW, Atlanta, GA 30310

(404) 755-3535

www.CollegeCampusTours.Net

Corporate Travel Service, Inc.

41780 W 6 Mile Rd., Ste 100, Northville, MI 48168

(313) 565-8888

www.ctscentral.net

Dance the Magic!

15061 Springdale St., Ste 105, Huntington Beach, CA 92649

(714) 890-5678

www.dancethemagic.com

DC Trails

8025 Mims St., Lorton, VA 22079

(703) 360-2800

www.dctrails.com

Director’s Choice

7201 109th St., Lubbock, TX 79424

(877) 328-2583

www.directorschoice.com

Edu Trips

PO Box 19, Orangeburg, NY 10962

(845) 848-2767

www.edutrips.com

Educational Discovery Tours

7050 Windstar Dr., Reno, NV 89523

(530) 582-6030

www.educationaldiscoverytours.com

Educational Experiences

2629 Alhambra Ave., Deland, FL 32720

(800)761-2556

www.educationalexperiences.org

Educational Tours & Travel Corporation

1079 E. Riverside Dr., Ste 101, St. George, UT 84790

(435) 656-4849

www.ettours.com

Educational Tours Inverness, FL

1123 Sterling Rd., Inverness, FL 34450

(352) 344-3589

www.edtours-us.com

Educational Tours, Inc. / www.tours-eti.com Contact: info@tours-eti.com / Address: 2385 Delhi Commerce Dr., Ste 1-A, Holt, MI 48842 / Phone: (800) 654-4560 / Fax: (517) 699-0677 Educational Tours, Inc. is dedicated to delivering powerful educational and performance experiences with worry-free travel in the U.S. and internationally.

With over 180 years of collective travel planning experience, ETI takes the guesswork out of trip planning and puts all the services you need in one place.

Educational Travel Adventures

4400 Route 9 S, Ste 1000, Freehold, NJ 07728

(732) 410-5677

www.ETAdventures.com

Educational Travel Consultants

915 Holly Knoll Dr., Anderson, SC 29626

(828) 693-0412

www.educationaltravelconsultants.com

Educational Travel Services, Inc.

PO Box 82605, Portland, OR 97282

(503) 653-3988

www.etsi.ws

Educational Travel Tours, Inc.

PO Box 9028, Trenton, NJ 86500

(609) 587-1550

www.educationaltraveltours.com

EduTravel, Inc.

42 Sousa Mendes St., Toronto, ON M6P 0B2, Canada

(416) 923-4683

www.edutravel.com

EF Explore America

Two Education Cir., Cambridge, MA 02141

(617) 619-2001

www.efexploreamerica.com

Ellison Travel & Tours Ltd

311 Main St., Exeter, ON N0M 1S7, Canada

(519) 235-2000

www.ellisontravel.com

EPN Travel Services

1784 W Schuylkill Rd., Douglassville, PA 19518

(888)323-0974

www.epntravel.com

EXP Trips

1430 W BRd.way Rd., Ste 201 Tempe, AZ 85282

(602) 638-2016

www.exptrips.com

First Class School Tours

5401 East MLK BLVD, Tampa, FL 33610

(813) 952-8732

www.firstclassschooltours.com/contact/college-tours

Flamingo Educational Tours

10049 NW 1st Ct., Plantation, FL 33324

(954) 915-9199

www.flamingoedutours.com

Florida and Beyond Group Travel

6334 Parson Brown Dr., Orlando, FL 32819

(407) 624-4787

www.fabgrouptravel.com

Four Seasons Tours / www.fourseasons-tours.com Contact: Randy Dye, Vice President of Operations, randy@fourseasons-tours.com / Address: 2582 Maguire Rd. #218 Ocee, FL. 34761 / Phone: (800) 421-4159 Four Seasons Tours, Inc. is a student group tour operator specializing in Performing Arts, Sr. Class & Educational group trips, cruises and competitions since 1984!

Four Winds Tours and Travel 4

6800 Jericho Tpke., Ste 120W, Syosset, NY 11791

(516) 334-2400

www.fourwindstours.com

SY TA's Educators' Buyers Guide / 2024 / Members as of September 2023

ORGANIZATION

ADDRESS

PHONE

WEBSITE

Gateway Music Festivals & Tours

PO Box 1165, Monticello, MN 55362

(763) 271-2580

www.musicfestivals.com

Gerber Tours, Inc.

214 3rd St., Mineola, NY 11501

(516) 826-5000

www.gerbertours.com

GL Travel

8780 Auburn Folsom Rd., Granite Bay, CA 95746

(800) 681-4578

www.gltravelco.com

Global Travel Alliance, Inc.

12750 Nicollet Ave., Ste 210, Burnsville, MN 55337

(407) 816-8784

www.globaltravelalliance.com

GLR Tours

400 Tradecenter Dr., Ste 5900, Woburn, MA 01801

(617) 420-5002

www.glrtours.com

Good News Tour & Travel, Inc.

1818 Wooddale Dr., Ste 103, St. Paul, MN 55125

(651) 487-0661

www.gntt.travel

Good News Travels

3504-12 Hwy 153, Greenville, SC 29611

(800) 288-5575

www.goodnewstravels.com

Grand Classroom, Inc.

PO Box 7166, Charlottesville, VA 22906

(434) 975-2629

www.grandclassroom.com

Great Adventure Tours, Inc.

13480 Sylvestre Dr., Tecumseh, ON N9K 0C2,Canada

(519) 727-3661

www.greatadventuretours.com

Green Light Group Tours

7 Old Mission Ave., St. Augustine, FL 32084

(904) 819-1820

www.greenlightgrouptours.com

Greenspring Tours Inc.

PO Box 358, Timonium, MD 21094

(401) 561-1119

www.greenspringtours.com

Group Travel Consultants, Inc.

8902 Compton Shore Ln., Orlando, FL 32829

(407) 207-4371

www.grouptravelconsultants.com

Group Travel Network

5401 S. Kirkman Rd., Ste 530, Orlando, FL 32819

(407) 347-5921

www.grouptravelnetwork.com

Grueninger Music Tours

9011 N. Meridian St., Ste 100 Indianapolis, IN 46260

(317) 465-1122

www.gogmt.com

Guardian Travel Group

1008 Frances Pkwy., Park Ridge, IL 60068

(847) 957-7293

www.guardiantravelgroup.com

Hampton Jitney

253 Edwards Ave., Calverton, NY 11933

(631)283-4600

www.hamptonjitney.com

Harmony Tours

1001 E Harmony Rd., Ste A-300, Fort Collins, CO 80525

(800)284-2177

www.Go2Harmony.com

Hemisphere Educational Travel

1375 E. Woodfield Rd., Ste 530, Schaumburg, IL 60173

(847) 541-7575

www.hemispheretravel.com

Holbrook Field Trips

1502 New Hill-Olicew Chapel Rd., Apex, NC 27502

(919) 363-6276

www.busfieldtrips.com

Infinity Tours & Events

440 N University Ave., #103, Provo, UT 84664

(801) 477-8963

www.infinitytours.us

Integrity Tours

300 SE 2nd St., Ste 600, Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33301

(888) 462-9566

www.integritytours.com

Junior Tours

935 Route 34, Ste 3C, Matawan, NJ 07747

(732) 566-0050

www.juniortours.com

Kaleidoscope Adventures, Inc.

PO Box 611, Oakland, FL 34760

(800)774-7337

www.mykatrip.com

Kelly Tours, Inc.

2788 US Highway 80 W, Savannah, GA 31408

(912) 964-2010

www.kellytours.com

Kipling Tours

Salcombe House, Long St., Sherborne, England DT93BU, United Kingdom

(844) 240-3979

www.kiplingtours.com

Landmark Educational Tours

1 Central St., Ste 205, Middleton, MA 01949

(781) 850-3317

www.landmarkeducationaltours.com

Latitude Group Travel Pty Ltd

D3.0 63-85 Turner St., Port Melbourne, Victoria 3207, Australia

(+61) 3 9681 6044

www.latitudegrouptravel.com.au

Legacy Tour & Travel

703 Dudley St., Decorah, IA 52101

(563) 382-1271

www.legacytourtravel.com

Live Travel and Tours

Carlton House, 19 West St., Epsom, Surrey KT18 7RL, United Kingdom

44 1372 722154

www.livetravelandtours.com

Main Street Travel, LLC

3215 Long Hollow Pike, Hendersonville, TN 37075

(615) 345-6663

www.mstctours.com

Mann Travels

4400 Park Rd., Charlotte, NC 28209

(704) 556-8300

www.manntravels.com

MARQUIS Discoveries

204 W Spear St 3832, Carson City, NV 89703

(434) 906-6895

www.marquisdiscoveries.com

MARS Tours & Travel

PO Box 1390, Stephens City, VA 22655

(540) 869-1864

www.takeafuntrip.com

Maximum Tours

3132 Long Beach Rd., Oceanside, NY 11572

(516) 594-2000

www.maximumtours.com

Music Celebrations International

1440 S. Priest Dr., Ste 102, Tempe, AZ 85281

(480) 894-3330

www.musiccelebrations.com

Music Festivals & Tours/Music Showcase Festivals

PO Box 4579, Reading, PA 19606

(800) 545-0935

www.musfestivals.com

Music Travel Consultants

5348 W. Vermont St., Ste 200 Indianapolis, IN 46224

(317) 637-0837

www.musictravel.com

NationsClassroom / www.nationsclassroomtours.com Contact: Cody Lonsway, clonsway@nationsclassroom.com / Address: 9204 Center Oak Court, Second Floor, Mechanicsville, VA 23116 / Phone: (800) 900-1776 NationsClassroom provides educational tours that are simple to plan and gratif ying for educators, reasonably priced for parents, and most impor tantly safe and inspiring for students.

New England Coach Tour and Travel

17 Freetown Rd., Ste 3, Raymond, NH 03077

(603) 895-3000

www.newenglandcoach.com

Noteworthy Tours, Inc.

231 West Washington Row, Sandusky, OH 44870

(419) 627-2757

www.noteworthytours.com

Nowak Tours

1395 Barn Run Dr., Valley City, OH 44280

(330) 483-4900

www.nowaktours.com

Omnitour

105 Cote de la Montagne, Quebec, QC G1K 4E4, Canada

(418) 692-1223

www.omnitour.ca

One If By Land Tours

PO Box 78798, Charlotte, NC 28271

(704) 884-2415

www.oneifbylandtours.com

Our Group Tour

4903 Ashley Circle SE, Owens Cross Roads, AL 35763

(844) 286-6227

www.ourgrouptour.com

P.A.C.E. Travel

805 Greenwood Dr., Hendersonville, NC 28791

(828) 698-0634

www.pacetravel.net

Peak Group Travel

6542A Lower York Rd., Ste 144, New Hope, PA 18938

(215) 598-8690

www.peakgrouptravel.com

Pearl Harbor Tours

891 Valkenburgh St., Honolulu, HI 96818

(808) 312-3705

pearlharbortours.com

Perform America-TX, LLC

5517 Louetta Rd., Ste B, Spring, TX 77379

(281) 886-7690

www.perform-america-tx.com

Performance Tours

PO Box 188, St Paul, MN 55042

(763) 576-6909

www.perftours.com

Performing Arts Consultants Music Festivals

807 Mantoloking Rd., Ste 100, Brick, NJ 08723

(732) 475-6200

www.usafest.org

Perspectives Eduscho Ltd

1830 Walkley Rd., Ste M052, Ottawa, ON K1H 8K3, Canada

(613) 443-6358

www.perspectives-edu.com

Premier Tour & Travel

499 N. Hermitage Rd., Ste B, Hermitage, PA 16148

(724) 342-4546

www.premiertourandtravel.com

Prime Tours

565 Metro Place S, Ste 300, Dublin, OH 43017

(614) 766-5553

www.eduprimetours.com

Prodigy Student Travel, Inc.

1001 High St., Worthington, OH 65737

(614) 436-8747

www.prodigystudenttravel.com

Prometour Educational Tours

339 Rue St. Paul E, Montreal, QC H2Y 1H3, Canada

(800) 304-9446

www.prometour.com

Putney Student Travel

345 Hickory Ridge Rd., Putney, VT 05346

(802) 387-5000

www.goputney.com

Receptively Yours

1349 Olympia Park Cir., PO Box 1220, Ocoee, FL 34761

(407) 905-0992

www.receptivelyyours.com

Red Line Group Travel

PO Box 8223, Van Nuys, CA 91406

(323)371-0373

www.redlinetours.com

Rein Teen Tours

30 Galesi Dr., Wayne, NJ 07470

(973) 785-1113

www.reinteentours.com 5

EBG | TOUR OPERATORS ORGANIZATION

ADDRESS

PHONE

WEBSITE

Richmond Tours

101 Seaview Ave., Staten Island, NY 10304

(718) 979-3111

www.richmond-tours.org

RODOTOURS

Jose Benitez 2186, Col. Obisapdo, Monterrey, Nuevo L. 64060, Mexico

(407)-590-9363

www.rodotours.com

Rustic Pathways

6082 Pinecone Dr., Mentor, OH 44060

(440) 249-6088

www.rusticpathways.com

Sapphire Tours & Travel, LLC

601 Route 206, Ste 26-426, Hillsborough, NJ 08844

(646) 504-9390

www.sapphiretours.com

Scholastica Travel, Inc.

601 S. Main St., Greensburg, PA 15601

(724) 837-4600

www.scholasticatravel.com

School Tours of America

9600 Long Point Rd., Ste 350, Houston, TX 77055

(713) 973-1189

www.schooltoursofamerica.com

Schools Out Tours

101 Gerald St., Charlottetown, Prince Edward Is. C1A 2M9, Canada

(877) 955-2244

www.schoolsouttours.ca

Short Hills Tours

46 Chatham Rd., Short Hills, NJ 07078

(973) 467-2113

www.shorthillstours.com

Small Journeys Inc and All Journeys, Inc.

20 Ingham Rd., Briarcliff, NY 10510

(914) 762-4700

www.smalljourneys.com

Son Tours, Inc.

PO Box 1839, Duluth, GA 30096

(770) 813-4696

www.son-tours.com

Southwestern Travel

2451 Atrium Way, Nashville, TN 37214

(800) 222-4441

www.southwesterntravel.com

STEM Study Tours

Post Office Box 1310, Sneads Ferry, NC 28460

(984) 223-9866

www.stemstudytours.com

Steve Kay Productions

170 W. 73rd, Ste 9A-1, New York, NY 10023

(646) 872-3786

www.stevekayproductions.com

Straight A Tours & Travel

6526 Old Brick Rd., Ste 120, #508, Windermere, FL 34786

(800) 237-5440

www.straightatours.com

Student Adventures

PO Box 1203, Grand Blanc, MI 48480

(877) 873-7550

www.studentadventures.org

Student Horizons

PO Box 412, Spring Hill, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia

6173067-3649

www.student-horizons.com

Student Tours International

9835 Lake St., Pavilion, NY 14525

(585) 768-5345

www.stitours.com

Students Fare

24701 Swanson Rd., South Field, MI 48033

(248) 801-9320

www.studentsfare.com

Summit Tour & Travel

PO Box 682240, Orlando, FL 32868

(407) 290-6777

www.SummitTourTravel.com

Summit Travel and Tours, LLC

2250 Double Creek Dr, Ste 5732, Round Rock, TX 78664

(512) 656-6823

www.summittravelandtours.com

Super Holiday Tours

116 Gatlin Ave., Orlando, FL 32806

(407) 851-0060

www.superholiday.com

Superior Travel and Tour

411 Walnut St., #16919, Green Cove Springs, FL 32043

(888) 713-8078

www.superiortravelandtour.com

Taylor Tours

645 Main St., Ste 202, Tell City, IN 47586

(812) 547-2923

www.TravelTaylorTours.com

TK Tours, Inc.

805 Abacos Ct., Greer, SC 29650

(800) 352-1644

www.tktoursinc.com

Tour Resources Consultants

12460 W. 62nd Terr., Ste B2, Shawnee, KS 66216

(913) 538-5524

www.tourresource.com

Tour Time

27 Grand Dr., Orewa, Auckland 931, New Zealand

64 9-4268037

www.tourtime.co.nz

Tour-Rific of Texas, Inc.

13810 Champion Forest Dr., Ste 200, Houston, TX 77069

(281) 587-9555

www.tour-rific.com

Travel With Barb / www.travelwithbarb.com Contact: Barb Mock, barb@travelwithbarb.com / Address: 11711 M Circle, Omaha, NE 68137 / Phone: (402) 614-9793 / Fax: (402) 614-9743 We are passionate about creating memorable educational and performance travel experiences combined with incredible value and outstanding service.

Unique Travels & Tours, Inc.

PO Box 516, 912 W Ave A, Hooks, TX 75561

(903) 280-7161

www.uniquetravels.com

Vamonos Tours

PO Box 7842, Wilmington, DE 19803

(888)366-6121

www.vamonostours.com

Viajes A Plus, Inc.

PO Box 361443, San Juan, PR 936, Puerto Rico

(787) 722-7587

www.viajesaplus.com

Visions in Education

3000 Green Mountain Dr., Ste 107-340, Branson, MO 65616

(417) 231-4892

www.visionsineducation.com

Voyages Objectif Terre

1200 Blvd. Roland-Therrien, Longueuil, QC J4J 4L6, Canada

(450) 679-2227

www.objectif-terre.ca

Westbridge Travel, LLC / www.westbridgetravel.com Contact: Tim Branson, Managing Partner, tim@westbridgetravel.com / Address: 2687 Greenville Hwy, 490, Flat Rock, NC 28731 / Phone: (888) 368-7477 With more than 50 years of combined experience in group travel and in the classroom, we fully understand the challenges associated with planning a trip for your students.

We focus on the details so you can stay focused on the #1 priority: your group.

6

Westcoast Connection

154 E. Boston Post Rd., Mamaroneck, NY 10543

(914) 835-0699

www.westcoastconnection.com

Wolfe Adventures & Tours LLC

163 High St., Newburyport, MA 01950

(978) 255-1645

www.wolfetours.com

World Projects International Music Productions

110 East D St., Ste K, Benicia, CA 94510

(707) 556-5885

www.world-projects.net

WorldStrides

218 W Water St., Ste 400, Charlotteville, VA 22902

(800) 999-7676

www.worldstrides.com

WorldStrides - Adventures America

124 Washington Ave., Ste A, Point Richmond, CA 94801

(510) 234-3144

www.adventuresamerica.com

WorldStrides - Explorica

145 Tremont St., 6th Fl., Boston, MA 02111

(617) 210-6155

www.explorica.com

WorldStrides - Explorica Canada

3280 Bloor St. W, Ste 901, Toronto, ON M8X 2X3, Canada

(888) 378-8845

www.explorica.ca

WorldStrides - Higher Ed Custom Programs

218 W Water St., Ste 400, Charlotteville, VA 22902

(800) 999-7676

www.worldstrides.com/higher-ed-custom

WorldStrides - Oxbridge Academic Programs

218 W Water St., Ste 400, Charlotteville, VA 22902

(800) 999-7676

www.worldstrides.com/oxbridge

WorldStrides - USA Student Travel

5080 Robert J. Mathews Pkwy., El Dorado Hills, CA 95762

(604) 666-2150

www.usastudenttravel.com

WorldStrides Performing Arts

218 W Water St., Ste 400, Charlotteville, VA 22902

(434) 982-8610

www.worldstrides.com/performing-arts

WorldStrides Sports

218 W Water St., Ste 400, Charlotteville, VA 22902

(800) 258-0084

www.worldstrides.com/sports

Young Transportation & Tours

843 Riverside Dr., Asheville, NC 28804

(828) 258-0084

www.youngtransportation.com

EBG | SUPPLIERS

SY TA's Educators' Buyers Guide / 2024 / Members as of September 2023

UNITED STATES ALABAMA Alabama Civil Rights Tourism Association

www.civilrightstourism.org

Alabama Tourism Department

www.alabama.travel

Greater Birmingham Convention & Visitors Bureau

www.birminghamal.org

Huntsville/Madison County Convention & Visitors Bureau

www.huntsville.org

Learning Campus at Gulf State Park

www.learningcampusgsp.com

US Space and Rocket Center, Home of Space Camp

www.spacecamp.com

USS ALABAMA Battleship Memorial Park

www.ussalabama.com

Yedla Hotel Management Company

www.yedlahotels.com

ALASKA Premier Alaska Tours, Inc.

www.premieralaskatours.com

Visit Anchorage

www.anchorage.net

ARIZONA Sound Education Programs / www.soundep.com Contact: executive@soundep.com / Address: 7255 E. Hampton Ave.Ste 127,Mesa,AZ. 85209 / Phone: (800) 626-8590 Sound Education Programs provide truly meaningful - world-class concert and event production within the sphere, a perfectly orchestrated group travel experience.

Travel Safety Solutions, LLC

www.travelsafetysolutions.com

CALIFORNIA Anaheim Desert Palms Hotel & Suites

www.desertpalmshotel.com

Apple American Group

www.appleamerican.com

Avalon Transportation

www.avalonbus.com

California Academy of Sciences

www.calacademy.org

California’s Great America

www.bit.ly/syta-cga

Carreras Tours, LLC

www.carrerastours.com

Catalina Express

www.catalinaexpress.com

Clarion Hotel Anaheim Resort

www.clarionanaheim.com

Clementine Hotel & Suites Anaheim

www.clementinehotel.com

Courtyard Anaheim Resort/Convention Center

www.marriott.com/LAXAD

Dance the Magic!

www.dancethemagic.com

Disney Imagination Campus at Disneyland Resort

www.disneycampus.com

DoubleTree by Hilton Buena Park

www.hibuenapark.com

Doubletree Los Angeles Norwalk

www.losangelesnorwalk.doubletree.com

Embassy Suites Hotel Los Angeles Downey

www.losangelesdowney.embassysuites.com

Embassy Suites Santa Clara/Silicon Valley

www.santaclarasiliconvalley.embassysuites.com

Forum Music Festivals / Forum Educational Travel

www.forummusicfestivals.com

Grammy Museum

www.grammymuseum.org

H & L Charter Company, Inc.

www.hlcharter.com

Hampton Inn and Suites San Diego Airport Liberty Station

www.hilton.com/en/hotels/sanlbhx-hampton-suites-san-diego-airport-liberty-station

Holiday Inn & Suites - Anaheim

www.hianaheim.com/

Homewood Suites Anaheim Resort-Convention Center

www.hilton.com/en/hotels/anadlhw-homewood-suites-anaheim-resort-convention-center/?WT.mc_id=

Homewood Suites by Hilton-Anaheim Main Gate

www.homewoodsuitesanaheim.com

Hotel Zephyr Fisherman’s Wharf

www.hotelzephyrsf.com

Hyatt House/Hyatt Place at Anaheim Resort-Convention Center

www.hyatthouseanaheim.com

J. Paul Getty Museum

www.getty.edu

Knott’s Berry Farm

www.bit.ly/syta-kbf

Legends Attractions

www.legends.net/en-US/global-attractions

Legends Attractions - SoFi Stadium Tours

www.sofistadium.com/stadium-tours

Lux Bus America Co.

www.luxbusamerica.com

Miyako Hotel Los Angeles

www.miyakola.com

Nap York San Francisco

www.napyork.com

Pacific Coachways Charter Services, Inc.

www.pacificcoachways.com

Paramount Pictures Studio

www.paramountstudiotour.com

Red Line Tours

www.redlinetours.com

Royal Coach Tours

www.royal-coach.com

San Diego Padres & Petco Park Tours

www.padres.com

San Diego Zoo & San Diego Zoo Safari Park

www.sandiegozoowildlifealliance.org

SeaWorld San Diego

seaworld.com/san-diego/

Segerstrom Center for the Arts

www.scfta.org

Sonesta Anaheim Resort

www.sonesta.com/us/california/anaheim/sonesta-anaheim-resort-area 7

EBG | SUPPLIERS CALIFORNIA (continued...)

The Original Farmers Market

www.farmersmarketla.com

The Tech Interactive

www.thetech.com

Transportation Charter Services, Inc.

www.tcsbus.com

Travel Santa Ana / www.travelsantaana.com Contact: Maria Gonzalez, Content & Community Engagement Manager / Phone: (714) 242-3402 In the Center of Orange County, Santa Ana is a hub for museums of science and history, parks, attractions, and opportunities for fun and education.

Universal Studios Hollywood

www.universalyouthprograms.com

USS Midway Museum

www.midway.org

Visit Anaheim

www.anaheimoc.org

Visit Concord, CA

www.visitconcordca.com

Visit Sacramento

www.visitsacramento.com

Visit Santa Clarita

www.visitsantaclarita.com

Visit Vallejo

www.visitvallejo.com

Warner Bros. Studio Tour Hollywood

www.wbstudiotour.com

WeTravel Inc.

www.wetravel.com

COLORADO Choirs of America

www.vocalmusic.org

Denver Police Activities League, Inc.

www.ddayleadershipacademy.com

Golden Corral Corp. Group Sales Office

www.goldencorral.net

History Colorado

www.historycolorado.org

The Broadmoor Manitou and Pikes Peak Cog Railway

www.cograilway.com

Tour Colorado

www.tourcolorado.org

CONNECTICUT C & F Travel Insured International, Inc.

www.travelinsured.com

The Adventure Parks of Outdoor Ventures

www.myadventurepark.com

DELAWARE SSN Hotels

www.ssnhotels.com

Vamonos Puerto Rico

www.vamonostours.com

DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA ARTECHOUSE DC

www.artechouse.com

Courtyard by Marriott Washington DC / US Capitol

www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/wasus-courtyard-washington-dc-us-capitol

Destination DC

www.washington.org

Ford’s Theatre

www.fords.org/

Guide Service of Washington, Inc.

www.dctourguides.com

Holiday Inn Washington Capitol - National Mall

www.hicapitoldc.com

Jimmy John’s

www.jimmyjohns.com

Museum of the Bible

www.museumofthebible.org

National Geographic Museum

www.natgeomuseum.org

National Museum of African American History and Culture

www.facebook.com/NMAAHC

Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum

www.airandspace.si.edu

The International Spy Museum

www.spymuseum.org

The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts

www.kennedy-center.org/groupsales

FLORIDA

8

AllFly

www.bacarai.com

Andretti Indoor Karting & Games Restaurant & Entertainment Complex (FL, TX, GA)

www.andrettikarting.com

Animado Events

www.animadoevents.com

Apperone

www.goapperone.com

Attractions4us & Miami Boat Cruise

www.attractions4us.com

Band Room

www.bandroomorlando.com

Best Western Cocoa Beach Hotel & Suites

www.bestwestern.com

Best Western Orlando Gateway Hotel

www.bworlando.com

Boggy Creek Airboat Adventures

www.bcairboats.com

BookMyGroup

www.bookmygroup.com

Boomers Parks

www.boomersparks.com

Busch Gardens Tampa Bay

www.buschgardenstampabay.com

Coco Key Resort and Water Park Orlando

www.cocokeyorlando.com

Comfort Suites Lake Buena Vista

www.choicehotels.com/flf62

SY TA's Educators' Buyers Guide / 2024 / Members as of September 2023

Comfort Suites Maingate East

www.comfortsuitesfl.com

Courtyard by Marriott Orlando Lake Buena Vista at Vista Centre

www.marriott.com/mcobn

Daytona Beach Area Convention & Visitors Bureau

www.daytonabeach.com

Disney Imagination Campus at Walt Disney World Resort

www.disneyyouthprograms.com

Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts

www.drphillipscenter.org

Dusk to Dawn Chaperones

www.dusktodawnchaperones.com

Earl Enterprises Restaurant Brands

www.earlenterprise.com

Empire Coach Line, Inc.

www.empirecoachline.com

ESCOT Bus Lines

www.escotbuslines.com

Florida Film Academy LLC

www.flfilmacademy.com

Fun Spot America Florida and Georgia

www.Fun-Spot.com

GoPegasus

www.gopegasus.com

Group Travel Odyssey

www.grouptravelodyssey.com

GroupCollect

www.groupcollect.com

Guy Harvey Resort St. Augustine Beach

www.guyharveyresortstaugustinebeach.com

Hard Rock Cafe

www.hardrock.com

Holiday Inn Express & Suites South Lake Buena Vista

www.hieorlando.com

Holiday Inn Orlando Celebration

www.hicelebration.com

Holiday Inn Resort Lake Buena Vista

www.hiresortlbv.com

Holiday Inn ST. Petersburg N /Clear Water

www.theclearwaterhotel.com/index.php

Island H2O Live! Waterpark

www.islandH2OWaterpark.com

Jasmin Hospitality

www.choicehotels.com/FLC02

Jimmy Buffett’s Margaritaville at Universal CityWalk Orlando

www.margaritavilleorlando.com

Marriott Village Orlando

www.marriottvillage.com

MCA Transportation

www.mcatransportation.com

Mears Transportation Group

www.mearstransportation.com

Merlin Entertainments

www.merlinentertainments.biz

Music USA Festivals

www.musicusafestivals.org

NASA Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex

www.kennedyspacecenter.com

Old Town Kissimmee

www.myoldtownusa.com

Orlando Magic

www.orlandomagic.com

Pirates Dinner Adventure

www.piratesdinneradventure.com

Receptively Yours

www.receptivelyyours.com

Rentyl Resorts

www.margaritavilleresortorlando.com

Residence Inn by Marriott Orlando Lake Buena Vista

www.marriott.com/mcorl

Rock the Boat

www.rocktheboat-cruises.com

Ron Jon Surf Shop

www.ronjonsurfshop.com

Rosen Hotels and Resorts, Inc.

www.rosenhotels.com

SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment

www.seaworldorlando.com

Sleuths Mystery Dinner Shows

www.sleuths.com

Space Trek

www.spacetrek.com

SpringHill Suites & TownePlace Suite Orlando at FLAMINGO CROSSINGS Town Center

www.marriott.com/mcofm

Springhill Suites Orlando Lake Buena Vista

www.marriott.com/en-us/hotels/mcolx-springhill-suites-orlando-lake-buena-vista-in-the-marriott-village/overview

St. Augustine/Ponte Vedra VCB

www.FloridasHistoricCoast.com

Super Holiday Tours

www.superholiday.com

Superblue

www.superblue.com

The Barrymore Hotel Tampa Riverwalk

www.barrymorehotel.com

Universal Orlando Resort

www.universalorlandoyouth.com

Universal Orlando Resort Hotels

www.universalorlando.com/web/en/us/places-to-stay/universals-cabana-bay-beach-resort

Visit Orlando

www.orlandotravelacademy.com

Whisper

www.whisper-system.net

GEORGIA Atlanta Convention and Visitors Bureau

www.discoveratlanta.com

Discover DeKalb Convention & Visitors Bureau

www.atlantasdekalb.com

Explore Gwinnett

www.exploregwinnett.org

Georgia Aquarium

www.georgiaaquarium.org

Hilton Atlanta Northeast

www.atlantanortheast.hilton.com

IHG InterContinental Hotels Group

www.ihg.com

Legends Attractions - Chick-fil-A College Football Hall of Fame

www.cfbhall.com

Legends Attractions - Illuminarium Atlanta

www.illuminarium.com

The Fox Theatre Atlanta

www.foxtheatre.org

Visit Sandy Springs

www.visitsandysprings.com

Visit Savannah

www.visitsavannah.com 9

EBG | SUPPLIERS GEORGIA (continued...)

World of Coca-Cola

www.worldofcoca-cola.com

HAWAII Hawaii State Tours

www.hawaiistatetours.com

Polynesian Adventure Activities

www.polyad.com

ILLINOIS 360 CHICAGO Observation Deck

www.360chicago.com

American Writers Museum

www.americanwritersmuseum.org

Aries Charter Transportation, Inc.

www.ariescharter.com

Big Bus Tours

www.bigbustours.com

Broadway In Chicago Group Sales

www.broadwayinchicago.com

Chicago Architecture Center

www.architecture.org

Chicago Crime Tours and Experiences

www.chicagocrimetours.com

Chicago Southland Convention & Visitors Bureau

www.tourchicagosouthland.com

Chicago’s Field Museum of Natural History

www.fieldmuseum.org

Choose Chicago

www.choosechicago.com

City Cruises

www.cityexperiences.com

ComedySportz Theater

www.cszchicago.com

Drury Lane Theatre

www.drurylanetheatre.com

Freehand Chicago Hotel

www.freehandchicago.com

Hilton Chicago Northbrook

www.chicagonorthbrook.hilton.com

Macerich Shopping Centers & Fashion Outlets

www.macerichtourism.com

Pinstripes

www.pinstripes.com

Shedd Aquarium

www.sheddaquarium.org

Skydeck Chicago

www.theskydeck.com

University Center

www.chicagosummerhousing.com

Visit Springfield, IL

www.visitspringfieldillinois.com

INDIANA Harrison County Convention & Visitors Bureau

www.thisisindiana.org

SoIN Tourism

www.goSoIN.com

KENTUCKY Louisville Tourism

www.gotolouisville.com

meetNKY Northern Kentucky CVB

www.meetnky.com

LOUISIANA Hotard Coaches, Inc.

www.hotard.com

Lafayette Travel

www.lafayettetravel.com/groups

Lewis Coaches, Inc.

www.lewiscoach.com

Louisiana Northshore

www.louisiananorthshore.com

Louisiana Office of Tourism

www.louisianatravel.com

Louisiana Travel Association

www.louisianatravelassociation.org

New Orleans & Company

www.neworleans.com

New Orleans Pelicans and Saints

www.pelicans.com/groups

New Orleans Steamboat

www.steamboatnatchez.com

River Parishes Tourist Commission

www.lariverparishes.com

The National World War II Museum, Inc.

www.nationalww2museum.org

Visit Jefferson Parish / www.visitjef fersonparish.com Contact: Angela Matherne Vice President of Sales, Chief Sales Of ficer, angela@visitjef fersonparish.com Address: 1221 Elmwood Park Boulevard, Suite 411,New Orleans, LA 70123 / Direct: (504) 733-1084 / Office: (504) 731-7083 Jefferson Parish is the ideal destination for student groups to explore Louisiana’s culture and history. We offer educational experiences filled with adventure!

MAINE Giri Hotel Management

www.girihotels.com

NorthEast Charter & Tour Co., Inc.

www.northeastchartertour.com

MARYLAND

10

Annapolis Tours & Cruises by Watermark

www.watermarkjourney.com

Baltimore Symphony Orchestra

www.bsomusic.org

Cambria Hotels

www.choicehotels.com/cambria

SY TA's Educators' Buyers Guide / 2024 / Members as of September 2023

Experience Prince George’s

www.visitprincegeorgescounty.com

Historic Ships in Baltimore

www.historicships.org

Marriott International

www.marriott.com

Marriott International - Mid Atlantic

www.marriott.com

Maryland Tourism / www.visitmaryland.org/groups Contact: Rich Gilbert, Travel Trade Sales Manager, rgilbert@visitmaryland.org or rich.gilbert@maryland.gov / Address: 401 East Pratt St, 14th Floor, Baltimore, MD 21202 / Phone: (410) 767-6288 / Fax: (410) 333-6643 Maryland offers a world of student travel experiences, close to Washington, D.C. From educational excursions, historical sites to performing venues, there is something for everyone.

National Aquarium, Baltimore

www.aqua.org

Ocean City MD Convention & Visitors Bureau

www.ococean.com

Orange Moon Student Safety Services

www.orangemoonsss.com

Student Watchers

www.studentwatchers.com

The Magic Duel Comedy Show

www.themagicduel.com

The Maryland Zoo in Baltimore

www.marylandzoo.org

Toby’s Dinner Theatre of Columbia

www.tobysdinnertheatre.com

United States Naval Academy Visitors Center

www.navalacademytourism.com

Visit Baltimore

www.baltimore.org

Visit Frederick, MD

www.visitfrederick.org

Visit Hagerstown

www.visithagerstown.com

Visit Montgomery County

www.visitmontgomery.com

MASSACHUSETTS Boston Duck Tours

www.bostonducktours.com

Boston Red Sox

www.redsox.com/tours

Boston Symphony Orchestra & Boston Pops

www.bso.org

Boston Tea Party Ships & Museum

www.bostonteapartyships.com

Comfort Inn Boston

www.comfortinnbostonhotel.com

Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriott

www.fairfield.marriott.com

Freedom Trail Foundation

www.thefreedomtrail.org

Great Wolf Lodge / New England

www.greatwolf.com/newengland

Greater Boston Convention & Visitors Bureau

www.bostonusa.com

John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum

www.jfklibrary.org

Museum of Science, Boston

www.mos.org

New England Aquarium

www.neaq.org

Plimoth Patuxet Museums

www.plimoth.org

Salem Witch Museum

www.salemwitchmuseum.com

Studio Allston Hotel

www.hotelstuddioallston.com

Till Financial

www.tillfinancial.io

MICHIGAN CampDoc

www.campdoc.com

Michigan’s Adventure

www.bit.ly/syta-ma

MINNESOTA AFC Travel

www.afctravel.com

Enjoy Eagan

www.eaganmn.com

Fly My Group | Headquarters

www.flymygroup.com

Mall of America

www.mallofamerica.com

Valleyfair

www.bit.ly/syta-vf

Youth Travel Planner

youthtravelplanner.com

MISSISSIPPI Coastal Mississippi

www.coastalmississippi.com

Visit Mississippi

www.visitmississippi.org

MISSOURI Beyond The Lens! Branson

www.beyondthelens.com

Branson Convention & Visitors Bureau / www.explorebranson.com Contact: Michelle Clagett, Director of Leisure Group Sales, mclagett@bransoncvb.com / Address: 4100 Gretna Rd., Branson, MO 65616 / Phone: (417) 334-4084 ext. 309 Branson is a destination for youth groups of all ages. Best known for live entertainment we also offer outdoor adventure including Dogwood Canyon, Track Family Fun Parks and Silver Dollar City.

Branson IMAX/Branson Restaurants

www.bransonimax.com

Branson On Stage Live!

www.bransononstagelive.com

Dolly Parton’s Stampede Branson

www.dpstampede.com 11

EBG | SUPPLIERS MISSOURI (continued...)

Drury Hotels, LLC

www.druryhotels.com

Explore St. Louis

www.explorestlouis.com

Gateway Arch and Riverboats

www.gatewayarch.com

Grand Oaks Hotel

www.grandoakshotel.net

Hughes Brothers Theatre

www.hughesbrotherstheatre.com

Johnny Morris Foundation Conservation Attractions

www.visitzarks.org

King’s Castle Theatre

www.kingscastletheatre.com

MCH Strategic Data

www.mchdata.com

Myer Hotels

www.myerhospitality.com

Saint Louis Science Center

www.slsc.org

Silver Dollar City / Showboat Branson Belle

www.silverdollarcity.com

St. Louis Ballpark Village

www.stlballparkvillage.com

St. Louis Symphony Orchestra

www.slso.org/

The Track Family Fun Parks

www.bransontracks.com

Titanic Museum Attraction

www.titanicbranson.com

Trip Mate

www.tripmate.com

Westgate Resorts

www.westgatedestinations.com

Worlds of Fun/Oceans of Fun

www.bit.ly/syta-wof

NEBRASKA Travelex Insurance Services

www.travelexinsurance.com

NEVADA Cirque du Soleil - Touring Shows Division

www.cirquedusoleil.com

NEW HAMPSHIRE Air Planning, LLC

www.airplanning.com

NEW JERSEY Academy Express, LLC

www.academybus.com

Adventure Aquarium

www.AdventureAquarium.com

American Dream

www.americandream.com

Broadway Imagined

www.broadwayimagined.com

Days Hotel North Bergen

www.wyndhamhotels.com/days-inn/north-bergen-new-jersey/days-inn-north-bergen-nyc-area/overview?CID=LC:DI::GGL:RIO:National:53534&iata=00093796

Elizabeth Destination Marketing Organization

www.goelizabethnj.com

Greater Newark CVB

www.newarkhappening.com

Group Dining Destinations

www.groupdiningdestinations.com

Hampton Inn & Suites Teaneck Glenpointe

www.hilton.com/en/hotels/ewrtehx-hampton-suites-teaneck-glenpointe/?SEO_id=GMB-AMER-HX-EWRTEHX&y_source=1_OTkwNjUwNC03MTUtbG9jYXRpb24ud2Vic2l0ZQ%3D%3D

Harmony Suites

www.harmonysuites.com

Hilton Newark Airport

www.newarkairport.hilton.com

Hotel Partners Hudson County Office of Cultural & Heritage Affairs/Tourism Development

www.visithudson.org

Liberty Science Center

www.lsc.org

Performing Arts Consultants Music Festivals

www.usafest.org

Starr Bus Charter & Tours

www.starrtours.com

Statue Cruises

www.statuecruises.com

Tour Team Travel

www.tourteamtravel.com

TravelAdvocates

www.traveladvocates.com

Travmark

www.travmark.com

NEW YORK 9/11 Memorial & Museum

www.911memorial.org

Alicart Restaurant Group - Carmine’s & Virgil’s

www.alicart.com

American Museum of Natural History

www.amnh.org

Aon Travel Practice

www.aontravpro.com

Applebee’s NYC

www.applemetrorestaurants.com

Beyond Times Square

www.btsq.com

Blue Man Group

www.blueman.com

Broadway Inbound / www.broadwayinbound.com Contact: groups@broadwayinbound.com / Address: 520 8th Ave., 11th Fl | New York, NY 10018 / Phone: (866) 302-0995 No trip to NYC is complete without seeing a Broadway show! Broadway Inbound helps travel pros, tour operators, group buyers, and educators ensure that everyone is able to see a show, at prices that won’t break the bank. Broadway Inbound’s easy booking system pulls tickets straight from the box office, and if you need help, their team is the most knowledgeable in the business.

12

SY TA's Educators' Buyers Guide / 2024 / Members as of September 2023

Broadway Plus

www.broadwayplus.com

Carnegie Hall / www.carnegiehall.org Contact: groupsales@carnegiehall.org / Address: 881 7th Avenue New York, NY 10019 / Phone: (212) 903-9705 Carnegie Hall offers world-class music on three iconic stages, bringing the transformative power of exceptional music to the widest possible audience.

Cathedral of St. John the Divine

www.stjohndivine.org

Center Stage Broadway Sales Circle Line Sightseeing Cruises

www.circleline.com

Destination Niagara USA / www.niagarafallsusa.com Contact: Holly Avino, Travel Trade Sales Manager, havino@niagarafallsusa.com / Phone: (716) 282-8992 x330 Soak in the wonder and awe that is Niagara Falls, along with an abundance of outdoor adventure, history, art and culture, and more.

Disney Theatrical / www.disneytheatricalsales.com Contact: DTG.Group.Sales@Disney.com / Address: 214 W 42nd St, New York, NY 10036 / Phone: (800) 439-9000 Book direct with Disney to experience THE LION KING and ALADDIN on Broadway with your group of 14 or more!

Empire State Building Observatory

www.esbnyc.com

Food On Foot Events, Tastings & Tours

www.foodonfoottours.com

Grayline NY Sightseeing - GO Airlink

www.newyorksightseeing.com

Group Photos, Inc.

www.groupphotos.com

Group Sales Box Office at Broadway.com

www.broadway.com/groups

Hampton Jitney Transportation

www.hamptonjitney.com

Harry Potter and the Cursed Child

www.harrypottertheplay.com

Havana Central Times Square

www.havanacentral.com

Hersha Hospitality Management NY

www.hhmhospitality.com

Hilton Worldwide

www.hilton.com

Hudson Yards

www.edgenyc.com

Inside Out Tours

www.insideouttours.com

Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum Complex

www.intrepidmuseum.org

Israel Ministry of Tourism

www.israel.travel/

Legends Attractions - One World Observatory

www.oneworldobservatory.com

Luna Park in Coney Island

www.lunaparknyc.com

Margaritaville Resort Times Square

www.margaritaville.com

Marriott Hotels North East Region

www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/nycmq-new-york-marriott-marquis

Millennium Hotel Broadway Times Square

www.millenniumhotels.com/en/new-york/millennium-hotel-broadway-times-square

Museum of Modern Art

www.moma.org

New York City Tourism and Conventions

www.nycgo.com

New York Philharmonic

www.nyphil.org

New York Yankees

www.yankees.com/nyc

Niagara Power Vista-New York Power Authority

www.nypa.gov/niagarapowervista

On & Off Broadway, Inc.

www.oobnyc.com

On Location Tours, Inc.

www.onlocationtours.com

Park Central Hotel

www.parkcentralny.com

Playland Park

www.playland.com

Pod Times Square Hotel

www.thepodhotel.com

Reposite

www.reposite.io

Rockefeller Center

www.rockefellercenter.com/

Roundabout Theatre Company

www.roundabouttheatre.org

ROW nyc

www.rownyc.com

Shear Madness

www.shearmadness.com

Sloomoo Institute

www.sloomooinstitute.com

Spread Love Tours

www.spreadlovetours.com

SPYSCAPE

www.spyscape.com/nyc/schools

SUMMIT One Vanderbilt

www.summitov.com

The Metropolitan Museum of Art

www.metmuseum.org

The Metropolitan Opera

www.metopera.org

The Museum of Broadway

www.themuseumofbroadway.com

The National Comedy Center

www.comedycenter.org

The Ride Experience

www.experiencetheride.com

TopView Sightseeing

www.topviewnyc.com

Visit Buffalo Niagara

www.visitbuffaloniagara.com

Visit Wales

www.traveltrade.visitwales.com

VisitBritain

www.visitbritain.org

VISITFLANDERS

www.visitflanders.com 13

EBG | SUPPLIERS NEW YORK (continued...)

Whitney Museum of American Art

www.whitney.org

Wicked

www.wickedthemusical.com

Wyndham New Yorker Hotel

www.newyorkerhotel.com

YardHouse Restaurants

www.yardhouse.com/locations/ny/new-york/new-york-city-times-square/8389

YOTEL New York

www.yotel.com

NORTH CAROLINA Billy Graham Library

www.billygrahamlibrary.org

Biltmore

www.biltmore.com

Carowinds

www.bit.ly/syta-ca

Cedar Fair Entertainment Company

www.cedarfairyouthprograms.com

NASCAR Hall of Fame

www.nascarhall.com/groups

Outer Banks Visitors Bureau

www.outerbanks.org

PhotoVision, Inc. / www.grouptravelvideos.com Contact: Dave Martinson, dave@grouptravelvideos.com / Address: 8300 Fairview Rd., Mint Hill, NC 28227 / Phone: (704) 846-7870 x205 What’s more important than group safety? Perhaps the memories! Our must-have app gives you both. Group geo-locators, messaging, documents and private photo sharing. And everyone gets a keepsake video!

OHIO Barons Bus, Inc.

www.baronsbus.com

Cedar Point Amusement Park

www.bit.ly/syta-cp

Destination Cleveland

www.thisiscleveland.com

Kings Island

www.visitkingsisland.com/groups/student-and-youth

Ohio Has IT!

www.ohiohasit.com

Shores & Islands Ohio

www.shoresandislands.com/groups

The Cleveland Orchestra

www.clevelandorchestra.com

TourTools by DataVast Technologies

www.tourtools.com/

PENNSYLVANIA Best Western Hotel Gettysburg

www.gettysburgbestwestern.com

Carlisle Sports Emporium

www.carlislesportsemporium.com

Courtyard by Marriott Gettysburg

www.marriott.com/gettysburg

CSz Philadelphia

www.comedysportzphilly.com

Days Inn by Wyndham Hershey

www.daysinnhershey.com

Destination Gettysburg / www.destinationgettysburg.com Address: 1560 Fairfield Rd., Gettysburg PA 17325 / Phone: (717) 338-3062 From interactive museums to civilian stories, unique battlefield tours, agricultural experiences, and group-friendly dining options Gettysburg is an ideal location for your student groups.

Destination: Greater Pittsburgh

www.destinationgreaterpittsburgh.com

Discover Lancaster

www.discoverlancaster.com

Dobbin House Tavern

www.dobbinhouse.com

Dorney Park & Wildwater Kingdom

www.bit.ly/syta-dp

Festivals of Music/Music in the Parks

www.epntravel.com

Gettysburg National Military Park Museum & Visitor Center / www.gettysburgfoundation.org Contact: Guest Relations, reservations@gettysburgfoundation.org / Address: 1195 Baltimore Pike, Gettysburg, PA 17325 / Phone: (877) 874-2478 The official start to your Gettysburg visit. Share the lessons of Gettysburg with your students. Set the framework for your visit with the Film, Cyclorama & Museum Experience.

Visit legendary landmarks on a battlefield tour with a Licensed Battlefield Guide. Engage your students in battlefield stories through National Park Service programs.

14

Gettysburg Group Reservations

www.gettysburgbattlefieldtours.com

Hershey’s Chocolate World

www.hersheys.com/chocolateworld

Historic Philadelphia, Inc.

www.historicphiladelphia.org

Innovative Coach, LLC - PA, MD, NJ, DC

www.innovativecoaches.com

Klein Transportation

www.kleintransportation.com

Lackawanna County Visitors Bureau

www.visitnepa.org

Museum of the American Revolution

www.amrevmuseum.org

National Constitution Center

www.constitutioncenter.org

OExplora

www.oexplora.com

Palace Entertainment

www.palaceentertainment.com/contact-us

Penn Museum

www.penn.museum

Philadelphia CVB

www.DiscoverPHL.com

Quality Inn Gettysburg Battlefield

www.gettysburgqualityinn.com

Seminary Ridge Museum

www.seminaryridgemuseum.org

The Philadelphia Orchestra and Kimmel Center

www.kimmelculturalcampus.org

SY TA's Educators' Buyers Guide / 2024 / Members as of September 2023

Visit Hershey Harrisburg

www.visithersheyharrisburg.org

Willow Valley Hospitality

www.willowvalley.com

PUERTO RICO Discover Puerto Rico

www.discoverpuertorico.com

Go Puerto Rico Shuttle

www.puertoricoshuttle.com

RHODE ISLAND InsureMyTrip

www.insuremytrip.com/

SOUTH CAROLINA Alabama Theatre

www.alabama-theatre.com

Fort Sumter Tours

www.fortsumtertours.com

Greater Beaufort - Port Royal Convention & Visitors Bureau

www.beaufortsc.org

Low Country Hotels of Charleston

www.lowcountryhotels.com

Myrtle Beach Area Convention & Visitors Bureau

www.visitmyrtlebeach.com

Myrtle Beach Seaside Resorts

www.myrtlebeachseasideresorts.com

Patriots Point Naval and Maritime Museum

www.patriotspoint.org

Pirates Voyage Dinner & Show

www.piratesvoyage.com

Red Roof Inn Myrtle Beach-Market Common

www.myrtlebeach.redroof.com

TENNESSEE Anchor Transportation

www.anchortransportation.com

Andrew Jackson s Hermitage

www.thehermitage.com

Array

www.mountainofentertainmenttheater.com

Beyond the Lens! & FlyRide - Pigeon Forge

www.beyondthelens.com

Comfort Inn Downtown Memphis Hotel

www.comfortinndowntownmemphis.com

Country Music Hall of Fame & Museum

www.countrymusichalloffame.org

Discovery Park of America

www.discoveryparkofamerica.com

Dolly Parton’s Stampede Dinner Attraction Pigeon Forge

www.dpstampede.com/pigeon-forge/groups-information

Dollywood

www.dollywood.com

First Class Charter

www.firstclasscharter.net

Gatlinburg Convention & Visitors Bureau

www.gatlinburg.com

Graceland & Guest House at Graceland

www.graceland.com

Grand Ole Opry Entertainment Group

www.opry.com/groups

Hatfield & McCoy Dinner Feud Pigeon Forge

www.hatfieldmccoydinnerfeud.com

Memphis Tourism

www.memphistravel.com/student-and-youth-groups

Nashville Convention & Visitors Corporation

www.visitmusiccity.com

Oaktenn Hotel Management - Smoky Mountains

www.greatsmokiesgreatlodging.com

Ober Mountain

www.obergatlinburg.com

Old Town Trolley Tours of Nashville

www.trolleytours.com

Paula Deen’s Lumberjack Feud Show & Adventure Park

www.lumberjackfeud.com

Pigeon Forge Department of Tourism

www.mypigeonforge.com

Pigeon Forge Snow

www.pigeonforgesnow.com

Pirates Voyage Dinner & Show

www.piratesvoyage.com

Premier Transportation

www.gopremiertn.com

Sevierville Convention & Visitors Bureau

www.visitsevierville.com

SkyLand Ranch

www.skylandranch.com

SkyLift Park Gatlinburg

www.gatlinburgskylift.com

Smoky Mountain Resorts/TourSmokies.com

www.smokymountainresorts.com

Soaky Mountain Water Park

www.soakymountainwaterpark.com

Stax Museum of American Soul Music

www.staxmuseum.com

Tennessee Department of Tourist Development

www.tnvacation.com

Tennessee Performing Arts Center

www.tpac.org/

The Island in Pigeon Forge

www.islandinpigeonforge.com

The Park Vista a DoubleTree by Hilton

www.parkvista.com/

Tin Roof

www.tinroofbars.com

Titanic Museum Tennessee

www.titanicpigeonforge.com

TravL App

www.groupTravL.com

Visit Goodlettsville

www.visitgoodlettsville.com

TEXAS Aimbridge Hospitality

www.aimbridgehospitality.com

Arlington Texas CVB

www.arlington.org 15

EBG | SUPPLIERS TEX AS (continued...)

First Class Transportation

www.firstclasstours.net

Hilton Garden Inn Las Colinas

www.lascolinas.stayhgi.com

Medieval Times Entertainment, Inc.

www.medievaltimes.com

Reunion Tower Geo-Deck

www.reuniontower.com

Schlitterbahn Waterpark & Resort New Braunfels

www.bit.ly/syta-sch-nb

SeaWorld Texas

www.SeaWorldsanantonio.com

South Padre Island CVB

www.sopadre.com

Visit Dallas

www.visitdallas.com/students

Visit Houston

www.visithouston.com

UTAH Peek

www.enterprise.peek.com

VIRGINIA Allianz Partners

www.allianztravelinsurance.com

Arlington Convention & Visitors Service

www.stayarlington.com

Boxd

www.boxdmeals.com

Busch Gardens Williamsburg Water Country USA

www.buschgardens.com

Charlottesville Albemarle CVB

www.visitcharlottesville.or

Colonial Williamsburg / colonialwilliamsburg.org/grouptours Contact: groupsales@cwf.org / Address: PO Box 1776, Williamsburg, VA 23187-1776 / Phone: (800) 228-8878 Single and multi-day tickets, self-guided or premium guided tours. Group rates available at official Colonial Williamsburg hotels.

Doyle’s Outpost

www.doylesoutpost.com

Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriott Williamsburg

www.marriott.com

George Washington’s Mount Vernon

www.mountvernon.org

Great Wolf Lodge Williamsburg

www.GreatWolf.com/Williamsburg

Hilton Springfield

www.springfieldva.hilton.com

Holiday Inn and Suites North Beach

www.vboceanfrontnorth.com

Jamestown Settlement and American Revolution Museum at Yorktown / www.jyfmuseums.org Contact: group.reservations@jyf.virginia.gov / Address: PO Box 1607 Williamsburg, VA 23187 / Phone: (888) 868-7593 Jamestown Settlement and American Revolution Museum at Yorktown. Explore America's beginning through museum gallery exhibits and living history depicting 17th- and 18th-century Virginia. Open daily year-round.

Kings Dominion

www.bit.ly/syta-kd

Luray Caverns

www.luraycaverns.com

Mid Atlantic Receptive Services

www.takeafuntrip.com

National Museum of the Marine Corps

www.usmcmuseum.com

National Museum of the US Army

www.thenmusa.org

Newport News Tourism

www.newport-news.org

Primo Family Restaurant

www.primofamilyrestaurant.com

Richmond Region Tourism

www.visitrichmondva.com

Simon Property Group

www.simon.com

The Drug Enforcement Administration Museum

www.museum.dea.gov

US Ghost Adventures and Junket

www.usghostadventures.com

Virginia Arts Festival / www.vafest.org Contact: Katie Stanley, Group Sales Manager, groupsales@vafest.org / Address: 440 Bank Street, Norfolk, VA 23510 / Phone: (757) 282-2819 The largest performing arts organization in Coastal Virginia, presenting great performers from around the world and Virginia International Tattoo.

Student ticket discounts and performance opportunities. Full 2024 lineup at www.vafest.org Virginia Beach Convention & Visitors Bureau

www.vbfun.com

Virginia Tourism Corporation

www.virginia.org

Visit Alexandria

www.visitalexva.com

Visit Fairfax

www.fxva.com

Visit Loudoun

www.visitloudoun.org

Visit Norfolk

www.visitnorfolk.com

Visit Prince William, Virginia

www.visitpwc.com/

Visit Williamsburg

www.visitwilliamsburg.com

WorldStrides

www.worldstrides.com

WISCONSIN

16

Destination Madison

www.visitmadison.com

Wisconsin Dells Visitor & Convention Bureau

www.wisdells.com

SY TA's Educators' Buyers Guide / 2024 / Members as of September 2023

CANADA ALBERTA The Lake Louise Ski Resort & Summer Gondola

www.skilouise.com

MANITOBA Assiniboine Park Conservancy

www.assiniboinepark.ca

Canadian Museum for Human Rights

www.humanrights.ca/

Holiday Inn Winnipeg South

www.winnipegsouthholidayinn.com

O Tours Receptive Services

www.otours.net/

Manitoba Museum

www.manitobamuseum.ca

Parks Canada

www.parkscanada.gc.ca/traveltrade

Royal Aviation Museum of Western Canada

www.royalaviationmuseum.com

Royal Canadian Mint

www.mint.ca

Tourism Winnipeg

www.tourismwinnipeg.com

Travel Manitoba

www.travelmanitoba.com

ONTARIO Canada’s Wonderland

www.bit.ly/syta-cw

Canadian Museum of Nature

www.nature.ca

Chelsea Hotel, Toronto

www.chelseatoronto.com/en

Choice Hotels Canada

www.choicehotels.com

CN Tower

www.cntower.ca

Destination Toronto

www.destinationtoronto.com

FunHaven

www.funhaven.com

Grouper Booking Tools

www.grouperbookingtools.com

IMAX Grand Canyon and Niagara Adventure Theater

www.destinationcinema.com

Little Canada

www.little-canada.ca

Maple Leaf Place

www.mapleleafplace.ca

Mirvish Productions

www.mirvish.com

Niagara City Cruises

www.niagaracruises.com

Niagara Falls Tourism

www.niagarafallstourism.com

Niagara Skywheel

www.cliftonhill.com

Ontario Science Centre

www.ontariosciencecentre.ca

Ottawa Tourism

www.ottawatourism.ca

Royal Ontario Museum

www.rom.on.ca

Silver Hotel Group

www.silverhotelgroup.com

St-Albert Cheese Factory

www.stalbertcheese.com

Viel Marketing International

www.vielmarketing.com

Visit Thunder Bay

www.visitthunderbay.com

Wyndham Garden, Niagara Falls

www.fallsviewgroup.com/

QUEBEC Autocar Excellence / Excellence Charter

www.excellencecharter.com

Hotel de Glace/ice hotel & Valcartier Resort

www.valcartier.com

National Battlefields Park Plains of Abraham

www.theplainsofabraham.ca

INTERNATIONAL AUSTRALIA Educational Adventures

www.educationaladventures.com.au

Great Tour Experiences / www.greattours.vip Contact: Charmaine Edwards, Greattourexperiences@outlook.com / Phone: +61 02 4733 0638 / Mobile: +61 0455 040 707 We offer itineraries - Schools Youth, College, - Music / Performing Arts, Earth and Environmental Science, Geography, and Summer Camp Adventure. We also work with special interest Adults tours in Australia and New Zealand.

COSTA RICA Costa Rica Travel Excellence / www.travelexcellence.com Contact: mercadeo@te.cr / Address: Local G, 13B, Oficentro Plaza Aeropuerto, Rio Segundo, Alajuela, Costa Rica 12468-1000 / Phone: (506) 2523 9100 SYTA member for nearly 20 years with remarkable achievements in sustainable tourism and quality management. Costa Rica's leader in receptive services for educational and performing groups.

Green World Adventures - Costa Rica

www.greenworldadventures.com

ECUADOR Pure! Travel Group

www.pure-travelgroup.com

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EBG | SUPPLIERS ETHIOPIA Kibran Tours

www.kibrantours.com

FRANCE Voyages Services Plus

www.vsp-incoming.com

GERMANY Appina Travel

www.appina-travel.com

OIK - Organization for International Contacts gGmbH

www.oik.org

ICELAND GJ Travel - Iceland & Greenland

www.gjtravel.is

Iceland Travel

www.icelandtravel.is

IRELAND BEM Ireland

www.bemireland.com

ISRAEL IsraelExperts

www.israelexpertstours.com

Vered HaSharon Travel & Tours

www.veredgo.com

NETHERLANDS Wens Travel

www.wenstravel.com

NEW ZEALAND Tour Time / www.tourtime.co.nz Contact: Brent Imrie, brent@tourtime.co.nz / brent@tourtime.com.au / Phone: +64 9 426 8037 Family-owned Financially Bonded and licensed New Zealand, Australia and South Pacific receptive white label group tour operator. Specialising in Educational, STEM, Music and Sports tours for high school, college and adult groups.

Travel Time South Pacific

www.TTNZ.co.nz

SPAIN LAP Educational Tours Spain Is Music

www.spainismusic.com

THAILAND The Green Lion

www.thegreenlion.net

UNITED KINGDOM Happy Tours

www.happytours.eu

Live Travel and Tours

www.livetravelandtours.com

Pathfinders

www.pathfinders.co.uk

Sovereign Tourism

www.sovereigntourism.com

Vosaio Travel Ltd

www.vosaio.com/home

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SY TA's Educators' Buyers Guide / 2024 / Members as of September 2023

A SPECIAL THANK YOU

to the 2023 SYTA Youth Foundation Donors

SY TA IS PROUD TO RECOGNIZE THESE ORGANIZATIONS FOR ACHIEVING THEIR CERTIFICATION.

VOYAGER | GroupCollect TRAILBLAZER | Kaleidoscope Adventures | WorldStrides PATHFINDER | C&F Travel Insured International | Fly My Group | Music USA Festivals ADVENTURER | AFC Travel | Broadway Inbound | Discover Puerto Rico | The Empire State Building Observatory | Trip Mate, Inc. | Universal Orlando Youth Programs

DISCOVERER | AON Travel Practice | Boston Attractions Group | Boston Duck Tours | CCIS, Inc. Disney On Broadway | Disney Imagination Campus – Disneyland | Disney Imagination Campus – Walt Disney World In Honor of Robin Parker | In Honor of Marvin Gerber | International Motorcoach Group | Music Travel Consultants New England Aquarium | Polynesian Adventure Tours | Receptively Yours | Super Holiday Tours | The Track Family Fun Parks | Transportation Charter Services (TCS) | Travel Women International Golf Society (TWIGS) Travelin’ Coupons EXPLORER | AdvantEdge Tours | Branson Convention & Visitors Bureau | Dance the Magic!

Danny Lewandowski & Kevin Facklam | Destination Niagara | Educational Tours, Inc. (Holt, MI) Group Travel Network | Grueninger Music Tours | Heart of America | H & L Charter Company, Inc. | Leah Chandler New York City Tourism + Conventions | Nowak Tours | PhotoVision, Inc. | Titanic Museum Attraction WINGMAN | AdvantEdge Tours | American Travel Consulting | Allison French | Amy Duffhues Anthony Stacy | Barb Mock | Bill Caldwell | Bruce Rickert | Bryan Cole | Carreras Tours, LLC | Carylann Assante Cathleen Johnson | Cindy Brown | Dana Romanello | Debi Barr | Debra Borgwardt | Donna Adam | Eric Marshall Heather Davis | Amie Shuler | Jagger Shuler | Jane Tougouma | John Percy | Jon Kevin Gossett & Alex Urdaneta Justin Shuler | Karen Pitcherello | Kasie Smith | Kathryn Fischer | Keith Snode | Keith Stiff | Kelly Dean Kevin Herlihy | Lucas Ennis | Marcie Ellison Outerbridge | Mark Harting | Michael Grueninger | Nick Romeo Norman Rein | Pamela Sullivan | Renee Wilson | Ripley Hunter | Robin Parker | Ryan Morris | Tami Rogers Teresa Crews | Teresa Vlasic | Tom Merrill | Tom Vigna ACORN SOCIETY

|

Alliance Member Services | American Classic Tours & Music Festivals Bob Rogers Travel | Broadway Inbound | C&F Travel Insured International | Carylann Assante | Ethan Screnock EXP Trips | Group Travel Network | In Memory of Othmar Grueninger | International Tour Management Institute (ITMI) | John Bissell | Nations Classroom | Neal Waldman | Ripley Hunter | St. Louis Ballpark Village Travel with Barb | Travelin’ Coupons

CHARTER MEMBERS | Academic Travel Services | American Tour & Travel | Boston Duck Tours Broadway Inbound | Choice Hotels International | Disney Imagination Campus – Walt Disney World Earl Grossman | EF Explore America | Ellison Travel & Tours | Gerber Tours, Inc. | Group Photos, Inc. Kaleidoscope Adventures | Laser Quest Corporation | Mears Transportation | Michael Palmer | Neal Waldman New Horizons Tour & Travel, Inc. | Ripley Hunter | School Voyageurs | Sunsational Receptive Tours Super Holiday Tours | The Air Travel Group | The Leaders Forum | Tony Saccaro, Jr. | Travel Adventures, Inc. Wyndham Hotel Group *Donations received as of July 16, 2023 19

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NORTHERN AMERICA | MASSACHUSET TS

BY ALLISON K AY BANNISTER

CELEBRATE CULTURE AND COMMUNITY

MA SSACHUSET T S:

A SMALL STATE WITH BIG INFLUENCE

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t

The famous Boston Tea Party and the start of the American Revolutionary War. The Salem Witch Trials. The landing of the Mayf lower. The first Thanksgiving.

Massachusetts brings to mind all of these noteworthy events, and yet, it offers so much more than lessons in colonial and Indigenous history. It’s also the birthplace of the telephone and many other inventions, as well as an impressive number of “firsts.” And, it’s home to Harvard and MIT. More and more, tour operators are sending student groups to The Bay State for its blend of STEAM education and entertaining, enlightening activities.

Let’s start with Massachusetts’ capital, Boston, where there are innumerable opportunities to explore. First up is the Innovation Trail, which follows the arc of major breakthroughs not just in science, technology, and medicine, but also significant societal shifts. Expert-guided and self-guided tours are available, as are custom-guided tours led by Cambridge Historical Tours. The Museum of Science is an optional stop on the tour, though it may be better scheduled separately given its size and scope. It’s one of the world’s largest and oldest science museums, and it also houses the largest Tesla Coil in

Photos © View Boston

the United States. The live “Lightning!” presentation is not to be missed, and the planetarium shows are a great nighttime activity for students.

The MIT Museum is another popular stop on the Trail that warrants a longer stay. Recently relocated to a larger space, it offers a variety of installations and exhibits, plus tours and hands-on workshops in their Learning Labs and Maker Hub. For students interested in music and performing arts, there’s the Boch Center and the Boston Symphony Orchestra (BSO) at Symphony Hall.

At the Boch Center’s Wang and Shubert Theatres, students can enjoy a range of entertainment, from Broadway Touring shows to concerts to dance performances, many of which offer student pricing. Also within the Wang Theatre is the Folk Americana Roots Hall of Fame. In addition, the Boch Center provides workshops and they have a robust tour program that goes beyond the basics to include improv and team building games, as well as STEM topics.

At the BSO, students can attend a classical performance or a seasonal Boston Pops concert, with discounted tickets and a waived ticket fee for groups of 15-plus for most shows—with some exceptions. There’s also the “Backstage Pass” package that includes a talk, Q&A, and tour, plus high school open rehearsals and Youth and Family Concerts, some of which are sensory friendly. Organizers can contact the group sales team for assistance with dining, parking, and other concierge services.

Animal lovers will appreciate a trip to the New England Aquarium, which is home to a bevy of marine life, from penguins to sea lions to turtles and more. Animal encounters, a four-story giant ocean tank, and shark and ray touch tank are just some of what’s available. Add on a 3D show at the Simons Theatre or book a whale watch excursion, too.

The aquarium has discounted ticket pricing for groups of 10 or more.

Ecoventure and Whale Watch cruises are booked separately through Boston Harbor City Cruises.

Zoo New England is another hit with students, whether it’s Boston’s Franklin Park Zoo or Stoneham’s Stone Zoo. Both are certified by the Association of Zoos & Aquariums (AZA) Accreditation Commission.

If visiting the Franklin Park Zoo in late summer to mid fall, look for Boston Lights: A Lantern Experience.

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NORTHERN AMERICA | MASSACHUSET TS

For a taste of American Revolution history, take a tour on the Freedom Trail, led by 18th-century costumed guides. This multi-stop attraction is a compilation of significant buildings, sights, and landmarks, including Boston Common, the Boston Massacre site, Faneiul Hall, the USS Constitution/USS Constitution Museum, and Bunker Hill. Themed tours of note are “Revolutionary Women” and “African-American Patriots®.”

Finally, there’s View Boston, though some would say this attraction is the perfect first stop on arrival to Boston. Day or night, ascend to the top of the Prudential Center and walk out on the observation deck where visitors can take in incredible panoramas of the cityscape. It’s considered a must-do, and photo opportunities abound.

There’s more, of course. Other considerations for a student trip itinerary include: Boston Duck Tours, Boston Tea Party Ships and Museum, the Harvard Museum of Natural History, the JFK Presidential Museum, Fenway Park, the Lego Discovery Center and Assembly Row, and campus Tours of Harvard and MIT. For more ideas and planning resources, contact the team at Meet Boston.

Students would be missing out if they stayed in Boston for their entire trip, though. Consider taking a trip about an hour north to Salem, which is known for its major draw, the Salem Witch Museum. It features two presentations, and both are recommended for the full experience. The first tells the stories of the 1692 witch trials and the events surrounding them, through immersive stage sets, lighting, and narration. The second, called “Witches: Evolving Perceptions,” delves into the phenomenon of witches, witchcraft, and witch hunts throughout history and in Europe.

Groups of 25 or more are advised to book their tickets in advance through group sales. The site is motorcoach friendly and is also the cornerstone of a dozen-plus attractions within a one-mile area. These include The House of the Seven Gables, the inspiration for Nathaniel Hawthorne’s novel of the same name; Jonathan Corwin House, known as The Witch House; and the Witch Dungeon Museum, where visitors can see live reenactments and take a tour through a replica dungeon.

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Photos © View Boston

There’s also much to see in Plymouth, just an hour or so south of Boston. Of particular interest to student groups are the Plimoth Patuxet Museums. With several different indoor and outdoor attractions in one large complex, the museums provide a view into the lives of the Colonial English and the Wampanoag People upon whose land the Pilgrims settled.

The offering consists of the Mayf lower II, a f loating classroom and full-scale reproduction of the ship the Pilgrims sailed to Plymouth in 1620; Plimoth Patuxet, a recreation of the 17th-century English village the Pilgrims built on Plymouth Harbor; the Historic Patuxet Homesite, where students can learn about the Indigenous heritage of the area and the Native peoples who have lived there for more than 12,000 years; and the Plimoth Grist Mill, a working grain mill that’s a replica of the one constructed and used by the Plymouth Colony.

Nearby is also the Craft Center, where students can learn about 17th-century crafts and herbal remedies, and see a pottery demonstration.

Student groups are encouraged to continue their education with a themed meal, with “Eat Like a Pilgrim” being a favorite.

The museum can serve as a performance venue for musical groups, as well, and also provides customization options, such as guided tours, immersive workshops, presentations, and service learning.

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I N T E R N AT I O N A L | B R I T I S H C O L U M B I A

Capilano Bridge.

Cour tesy Photo

b

BRITISH COLUMBIA'S

ENDLESS NATURE AND INDIGENOUS LEGACY

British Columbia, located on the west coast of Canada, offers an unparalleled destination for student travelers seeking adventure, natural beauty, and diverse cultural experiences. This stunning province boasts a captivating blend of towering mountains, lush forests, pristine lakes, and vibrant urban centers.

Cultural diversity thrives in British Columbia, with cities like Vancouver and Victoria offering a rich tapestry of international cuisines, arts and festivals. Whether students are interested in exploring Indigenous cultures, indulging in sustainable gastronomy, or embarking on eco-friendly adventures, British Columbia has it all.

We begin in Vancouver, a bustling seaport, the third largest city in Canada and one of the most diverse cities in the country. Water and mountains abound around this beautiful destination not far from the U.S. border. You could start with a virtual reality ride across: FlyOver Canada. Using advanced technology, you’ll experience thrilling, authentic footage of real locations along with wind, mist and scents as you sit, feet dangling in the air.

Explore downtown further with Granville Island, an island in the middle of the city. It’s a magical urban oasis filled with waterfront restaurants, theaters, galleries,

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BY JOSH VEAL

FlyOver Canada. Cour tesy Photo

Grouse Mountain Sk yride. Photo © Destination Vancouver/Devin Mank y

studios and more. Take time to walk around the city and see the waterfront, along with landmarks like the Bill Reid Gallery of Northwest Coast Art, Christ Church Cathedral, Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Chinese Garden, Gastown and Granville Street.

Performance groups should check in with the University of British Columbia for a guided tour of the Faculty of Music, one of the oldest and largest music schools in the country, also offering music workshops to visiting students.

Fall in love with the diversity of life at the Beaty Biodiversity Museum, with more than 500 exhibits to explore, including fossils, dinosaur trackways and the skeleton of a blue whale, the largest creature to ever live on earth. You can navigate the beautiful suspended walkways in the botanical garden, and participate in an educational workshop.

Don’t miss Vancouver’s most famous landmark, the Capilano Suspension Bridge, a marvel of engineering surrounded by 300-year-old rainforest. Beyond crossing the bridge, you can also walk through a rainforest canopy with Treetops Adventure, experience an adrenalinepumping walk above the canyon with Cliffwalk, and more.

There’s no better view of the city than the one at Grouse Mountain, “The Peak of Vancouver.” This is an absolute must-visit, one of the only truly four-season attractions around, featuring a wildlife refuge, a big selection of dining options, thrilling outdoor adventure and more. Take the Skyride for breathtaking views of towering Douglas firs, sparkling Pacific Ocean, Gulf Islands, snowy peaks and downtown Vancouver. You can also participate in a workshop here, like Sustainability in Motion, which gives a very up-close look at BC’s largest energy-producing wind turbine, including a glass elevator ride to the top.

You can head north to Whistler, known for its ski resort, chalet-style pedestrian village full of shops, and Indigenous history. Learn about the traditions of the ancient Salish people through bold art and beautiful cultural artifacts at Squamish Lil’wat Cultural Centre, the heart of Whistler’s authentic Indigenous experience. Connect with Cultural Ambassadors as they share a traditional drum song, an inspiring short film, and take guests on a guided tour of the First Nations Museum sharing stories from two distinct Nations, the Sḵwx̱ wú7mesh and the Lil̓ wat7úl. Experience distinctive carved house posts, canoes, spindle whorls, weaving, regalia, bold artwork, and artifacts throughout the museum and galleries—and more!

Then it’s off, across the Strait of Georgia and past the Squamish Lil'wat Cultural Centre.

Photo © Blake Jorgensen

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I N T E R N AT I O N A L | B R I T I S H C O L U M B I A

Vic toria Marina. Photo © Destination BC/Reuben Krabbe

San Juan Islands to Victoria, the capital city of British Columbia, which sits on the southern end of Vancouver Island. You can take the ferry from Tsawwassen (just south of Vancouver) to get there, adding an extra layer of adventure to the trip.

Start with a visit to Craigdarroch Castle, built by Scottish immigrant and coal baron Robert Dunsmuir during the reign of Queen Victoria, giving visitors a glimpse of privileged life in the 1890s. The Castle weaves a fascinating tale of an intriguing family – their achievements, their relationships and even their quirks.

We strongly recommend visiting the Royal BC Museum, founded in 1886. This world-class museum houses artefacts, documents, and specimens of British Columbia’s natural and human history. From coastal forests to the depths of the north Pacific, immerse yourself in tales of where we’ve been and where we are going.

Next door to the museum is Thunderbird Park, home to a number of totem poles and other First Nations monuments. Originally an inauthentic experience when constructed in 1941, the situation was rectified in 1952 when Kwakwaka’wakw master carver Mungo Martin was hired as the chief carver. It’s now a unique experience giving a direct look into authentic First Nations culture and history.

Since Victoria is the capital, you’ll want to visit the Parliament Buildings, home to the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia, where elected representatives meet to shape the future of the province by debating and passing the laws that govern British Columbia. And since Victoria is also known as the City of Gardens, make sure to check out the internationally renowned Butchart Gardens. This National Historic Site began with an exhausted limestone quarry that was transformed into the now picturesque Sunken Garden. Today the garden showcases 55 acres of themed garden displays, including a Japanese Garden, Italian Garden and Rose Garden.

Thunderbird Park. Cour tesy Photo

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Downtown Vancouver. Photo © Destination BC/ Thomas Hill

Royal BC Museum. Photo © Destination BC/ Tanya Goehring

THE LEADING SOURCE FOR EDUCATORS WHO PLAN STUDENT TRAVEL teachtravel.org

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T R I P B E H AV I O R

ADAPT & INNOVATE

d

During the summer, I took a three-week European trip.

Two friends traveled with me for most of the trip, and along the way, we had to modify and innovate when we faced challenges. These obstacles pushed us out of our comfort zone but made us more resilient and inventive, skills we want our students to learn.

We planned to visit Neuschwanstein Castle in Germany.

The night before our scheduled trip to see the castle, we went online to purchase tickets. Imagine my surprise when I realized that tour tickets were sold out for the next two months. Oh no! My friend Debbie really wanted to visit this historical palace. As a world traveler and her tour guide, I wanted to find a comparable experience.

Since we had a Eurail Pass, we had lots of options for a day trip. I suggested that we visit Nuremberg, Germany, home of the Nuremberg Trials.

Little did I know that Debbie taught this lesson to her sixth graders. We modified and took the initiative to make a new plan; and the next day, we took a train to Nuremberg. Visiting the courtroom in the Nuremberg Palace of Justice and Nuremberg Memorial Museum where the historical trials took place was a memorable moment.

We spent the remainder of the day exploring the imperial castle, cathedrals, historical sites, and shopping in the walled Old Town of Nuremberg. When we boarded the train back to Munich, Debbie commented, “I’m not sure

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what I missed at the Neuschwanstein Castle, but I am so glad that we had to adapt and came to Nuremberg, where world history took place. I loved my Nuremberg experiences.”

The following week, I was planning to head to Slovenia, but the country experienced unprecedented f looding and I was advised by the Smart Travelers Program, the Slovenia hostel and Eurail to not travel there for safety reasons. The problem was that I had purchased a one-way plane ticket from Ljubljana, Slovenia to Tbilisi, Georgia and another one-way f light from Tbilisi, Georgia back to Vienna.

The airline was not willing to refund my money, so I had to readjust and invent a new plan. On a whim, I took a train to Budapest to stay for three days (the same amount of time I would have spent in Slovenia). My time spent exploring Budapest was fantastic. I met awesome travelers at the hostel and in the community, saw historical sights, took a boat ride on the Danube River, ate chimney cakes and relaxed. Because I did not have a planned schedule, I immersed myself into the destination and experienced the food, art, people, and music of Budapest.

Sometimes, as educators and tour leaders, we get caught up in the schedules and details and do not allow our student groups to experience immersive travel. We need to put our students at the center of all travel experiences.

BY JULIE BECK According to Sven-Olof Lindblad of Lindblad Expeditions, “We must allow travelers to explore at their own pace and forge a deeper relationship with our world alongside a like-minded community of passionate explorers.”

Michael McLaughlin, a writer for Youth Travel, examined a similar topic in his article, “Adapt & Innovate.” He highlighted the impacts of student travel post the pandemic. He stated, “Teachers, tour leaders and travel companies must embrace innovation and incorporate real-world and hands-on experiences. We must adapt and prioritize the needs of students so we can ignite a lifelong love of learning and travel for a new generation of globally minded individuals.”

Both Lindblad and McLaughlin emphasized the importance of providing students options and free time to explore their own interests. We must also engage student travel groups in unique experiences outside of the usual historic sights and tourist attractions.

One example is to let students take a cooking class. A high school group that I led had an opportunity to make apple strudel in Austria and homemade noodles in Italy.

The finished products didn’t exactly look the same, but they tasted good, and the students were proud of their accomplishment.

Another unique experience is to take students to a religious ceremony. In Russia, my college students learned that Russian Orthodox Churches do not have benches and you must stand for the entire service that sometimes lasts for two hours or more. The ladies were required to cover their heads with scarves and wear a skirt. This practical experience exposed them to cultural customs and gave them a different perspective on religion.

In Greece, the students participated in a community service project. In appreciation for their hard work, the community threw a party for the students. They prepared and served food, played traditional Greek music, taught us how to do some Greek dances and presented the students with certificates of appreciation. Partnering with a local agency to do a service project or share skills allows them to look at things through a different lens.

As educators, we must continue to offer travel opportunities for our students and encourage them to explore and immerse themselves. The real-world and hands-on experiences you provide will allow them to forge deeper relationships with those they meet along the way and those they are traveling with.

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EXPERIENCES

BY JOSH VEAL

WHAT DO YOU FEEL LIKE YOUR GROUP GAINED FROM THE MASTERCLASS? The masterclass was very beneficial to our group. Our clinician, Dr. Mark Laycock, was very knowledgeable about the orchestra’s musical repertoire and was able to add additional advice and education to build on what they had already prepared.

When hosting a masterclass for young, impressionable music students the day before a performance, it’s so important not to overwhelm them or hinder their confidence. In the past, we’ve experienced clinicians who have tried to make major changes in our tempos or musical interpretation, but our orchestra was very grateful for the balance and positive insight that this particular masterclass provided.

f

A MA S TERCL A SS IN C ARNEGIE HALL

Formed just eight years ago under the direction of Aimee Knight, the Foothill Christian Legacy Youth Orchestra has already been to Carnegie Hall twice.

The most recent visit was earlier this year, at the 2023 New York Invitational Music Festival, with the help of Super Holiday Tours. This wonderful relationship began with the first NYC trip in 2019—the youth orchestra’s first trip outside of California—and extended to an eventually cancelled 2020 trip to San Francisco, and then a 2022 trip to Orlando.

The trip included a city tour with activities ranging from ice skating to observation decks, the World Trade Center memorial and more! They also had the chance to see Wicked on Broadway, and enjoy two group dinner experiences together. But biggest of all, the youth orchestra performed in the NY Invitational Music Festival, received the highest award (Gold) possible after a performance on Carnegie Hall’s main stage, and went through an incredible masterclass.

We asked Knight to tell us a bit more about the trip, and what it all meant to her students.

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WHAT’S IT LIKE TO PERFORM AT CARNEGIE HALL? Taking the stage at Carnegie Hall is an experience like no other. From the moment we enter the building and have dressing rooms labeled with “talent” or “artist” and our names, to lining up backstage and seeing the behind-thescenes process of the highly efficient Carnegie Hall staff, every part of the experience is memorable. You can hear a pin drop on the stage because of the incredible acoustics in the hall.

Many of our older students had a better understanding and appreciation of the depth and history of talent that has performed on that stage in comparison to some of the younger students, but every single one of them got a taste of what it’s like to be treated like a professional musical artist rather than just a music student. I think many of our students are more likely to pursue careers in music because of that experience.

WHAT WAS A HIGHLIGHT OF THE TRIP BEYOND THE MASTERCLASS? Eating dinner with all the students and parents at Gayle’s Broadway Rose; the performing waiters inspired our students to realize there are so many different opportunities in music.

ANY ADVICE FOR OTHER EDUCATORS INTERESTED IN TRAVEL? As music educators, we are giving our students a oncein-a-lifetime travel experience that they would not receive if it weren’t for us. Remember those special moments; planning tours is a lot of work, typically for no extra pay, but it’s worth it.

AD INDE X

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C4

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New Jersey Division of Travel & Tourism w w w.visitnj.org

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Salem Witch Museum w w w.salemwitchmuseum.com

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Sound Education Programs w w w.soundEP.com

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Tourism Council of Frederick County w w w.visitfrederick.org Visit Mobile w w w.mobile.org

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STUDENTS SPEAK

SLOWING DOWN

r

Restless. Something about me is perpetually restless. As cruel as it sounds, I’ve learned to distance myself from loved ones, for I viewed them as obstacles to my eventual escape from monotony. But because I ran so fast – through two new schools and houses in one year – I ran right into self-isolation-induced depression. Still, I kept my pace. Like a magician, serendipity never reveals its secrets. Amidst my mental health crisis, I discovered that my new school was hosting a study opportunity in Greece. I was immediately infatuated with the prospect. Greece was an opportunity to “fix” my life by doing the very thing that got me into that very mess: running. But I couldn’t go if I couldn’t pay for the trip, so I worked.

This is where I learned how coercive desire can be, causing one to tolerate exhausting battles and ignore appalling treatment. Customers regarded me with the respect one might give a brick wall. My hands formed blisters that metamorphosed into calluses.

However, the most humiliating moment was when I was forced to clean smeared feces off the bathroom wall. I remember one hand clamping my shirt over my nose while the other gripped the end of a mop directing the head haphazardly. Yet I endured, for if I could only go to Greece, life would be better. After many strenuous months of taxing work, I finally had enough money. Greece exceeded my expectations.

My eyes swell when I remember how the Athenian baristas giggled when I mispronounced ef haristo, or “thank you”. How I gripped my friend’s hand, running through the rainy, nocturnal streets of Nafplio. How my tour guide whispered her farewell: “Goodbye, my dear.” But especially how, upon entering a bookshop in Olympia, the owner saw right through me – what he saw, I don’t know. He led me to a poetry book, f lipped to a poem, and slid the spine between my palms. “The City” by Constantine Cavafy. I read it and I saw myself. The man took the book back and f lipped

BY HANNAH GOODWIN Hannah Goodwin, 18, is in the 12th grade at Bellaire Senior High School in Bellaire, Texas

to a new poem. “Ithaka”, also by Cavafy. I read it. He retrieved the book and turned to another. I read it; we went on like this. “How long can I let my mind molder in this place?” “The City” evokes the desire to leave one’s hometown, the apparent source of all problems.

Cavafy frankly retorts that discontent cannot be run from; to find happiness, one must change their damning mindset. Meanwhile, “Ithaka” alludes to the homecoming of Odysseus: “As you set out for Ithaka/ hope that the voyage is a long one...” Cavafy advises the hero not to think fondly of Ithaka, for the journey homeward will award him priceless physical treasures and moral growth. Enamored by the contrasting sentiments, I made them my own. I will no longer run; I will adventure. I will continue to embark on odysseys, to grow the characteristics required to comfortably face my travels: independence, worldliness, confidence. And if traveling elicits the instinct that will eventually lead me home, so be it.

“Keep Ithaka always on your mind… But do not hurry the journey at all.”

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