Travelbound International - School Trips for International Schools

WORLDWIDE EDUCATIONAL TRAVEL

Educational learning experiences for

INTERNATIONAL SCHOOLS

LEARN TO TRAVEL, TRAVEL TO LEARN The experience of travelling is a lesson in itself. Through engaging with new and varied learning environments students can enhance their own understanding and comprehension of themes carried through from class-based activities. Working with Party Leaders from international schools around the world, we believe our tailor-made school trips can provide the stimulus and inspiration for students to develop into lifelong learners.

Our educational tours not only support your school’s learning agenda but allow you the space to remember how special a school tour abroad is in the development of your students. Ignite the passion for future learning through discovery on a Travelbound educational tour.

2

CONTENTS WELCOME TO TRAVELBOUND The support we provide Learning outside the classroom Explore Europe with your school London

4 6 7 8-9 10

HOW CAN A SCHOOL TRIP TO LONDON SUPPORT MY PERFORMING ARTS STUDENTS?

11

UK Cities Condover Hall, Shropshire Paris Normandy South of France The Somme and Ypres Rome Bay of Naples Florence Venice Greece

12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22

3 REASONS WHY YOU SHOULD TAKE STUDENTS ON RESIDENTIAL TRIPS

23

Barcelona

24

GOOD GAUDI! WHY BARCELONA IS THE LEADING ART TRIP DESTINATION

25

Andalucia Madrid Berlin Munich Krakow & Prague Vienna & Salzburg Switzerland Iceland Explore the USA with your school New York

26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34-35 36

HOW TO MAXIMISE YOUR GROUP’S NEW YORK EXPERIENCE

37

Washington, DC & Philadelphia Florida West Coast USA

38 39 40

THE RISE OF STEM FOCUS ON SCHOOL TRIPS ABROAD

41

Explore worldwide destinations with your school China Japan Russia Costa Rica & Borneo Vietnam Singapore & Thailand Ski Trips

42-43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50-51 3

WELCOME TO TRAVELBOUND Supporting schools, colleges and universities for over 30 years, Travelbound continues to provide tailor-made educational tours that enable students to engage with new learning outside the classroom. We understand the importance varied learning environments can have on reinforcing learning from school and how they can re-motivate young learners.

Leading the way in educational group travel, we take the pressure away from the planning and booking of your tour. Our team of school travel specialists are on hand to help you every step of the way giving you the space to remember how special a school tour abroad is in the development of your students.

We understand there is a focus on students to develop holistically over the course of their educational tour abroad with not only attention placed on improving the comprehension of subject knowledge but also key interpersonal skills emerging through new interactions with places and people.

WHY TRAVELBOUND? 1 OVER 30 YEARS’ EXPERIENCE

2 TAILOR-MADE TOURS to SUIT your BUDGET and requirements

in school travel

4

DEDICATED ACCOUNT MANAGER AND TOUR COORDINATOR

7

3 SPECIALISTS in International School Travel

5 HASSLE-FREE and transparent booking process

6

24-HOUR PHONE SUPPORT while your school group are away

ABTA, ATOL, LOTC AND STF ACCREDITED 216

5

ABTA No.V378X

4

5

THE SUPPORT WE PROVIDE Made up of travel experts, the Travelbound team have years of experience in providing groups with educational tours to destinations around the world. Our trusted and reliable team are available every step of the way with support provided before, during, and after your trip.

Designing the school trip around the needs of your students, our team are dedicated to understanding your desired learning outcomes and how we can best accommodate these requirements through a bespoke Travelbound tour.

We provide you with support to ensure you have a successful and stressfree tour experience including personalised posters and presentations to promote your tour, help with risk assessments and a 24-hour support link to aid you while overseas. A range of accommodation are available, including youth hostels, 2-star and 3-star hotel options. Your transport is also covered with direct or indirect flights or you may decide to book your own, while transport in your destination can combine both coaches and public transport. Working with Party Leaders to identify learning

6

outcomes against the curriculum and your school’s goals, excursions are hand-picked and can be customised with full day and half day guides available. With a no excess insurance policy for international schools, meet and greets plus completely bespoke packages, the Travelbound commitment to experiential learning stands out amongst other school travel operators in providing an exceptional service.

Our team of school travel specialists range from Account Managers who will support you in building your school trip against your budget to our operations team and Tour Co-ordinators who work tirelessly to find the right transport links to piece together your final package. Travelbound works to bring all elements of your tour together into one package and liaise closely with our local contacts to develop the perfect trip for your students. With numerous benefits to choosing Travelbound, inspiration is made that much easier when it comes to planning your school’s next educational tour.

LEARNING OUTSIDE THE CLASSROOM It has been well documented that every young person should experience the world beyond the classroom as an essential part of learning and personal development regardless of their age, ability or circumstances. We believe these experiences form an essential element of personal development that supports students in becoming lifelong learners.

Young people of all ages benefit from practical experiences where they can see, hear, touch and explore the world around them. The classroom environment doesn’t always provide students with enough of these opportunities where learners can experience challenges and adventure.

By assisting teachers in planning the learning experience effectively, we are able to table a variety of options that follow the needs of your school group and fit within our stringent safety management process to manage risk effectively. uilding an ethos in line with the LOtC, our educational tours promote B personal, social and health education by: • Allowing young people to face new challenges and overcome fears • Developing effective communication skills • Adapting to new situations and environments

Continually seeking to break down the barriers to learning, we have designed our educational tours to provide students with a stimulating environment that encourages enquiry and promotes further study.

• Solving problems and taking responsibility

As an accredited Learning Outside the Classroom (LOtC) Quality Badge holder, Travelbound are recognised for our ongoing process to sustain high-quality beyond the walls of the classroom. Educational tours and the memories gained from them help motivate students, reduce poor behaviour and truancy, while helping schools raise attainment and meet the needs of the students through varied learning experiences.

• Increasing self-esteem and confidence

• Encouraging self-discipline and self-control • Promoting effective teamwork • Gaining independence

7

Europe provides school groups with a vast choice of options to extend students’ learning. Europe allows you to transport your students to varied learning environments that will motivate and re-engage learners. Diverse in landscapes and languages, Europe allows students to experience a broad range of cultures each holding onto unique traditions that have stood the test of time.

A story featuring twists and turns in every chapter, Europe tells a tale of success and struggles.

The stories of war are described on the beaches of France, in the streets of Berlin and in the concentration camps outside Krakow, while art adored the world over hang in the museums and galleries of Paris, Florence and Barcelona. Religion is explored in the Vatican City as are the Greek gods on a tour of Athens, Delphi, Pylos and Tolon. Young geographers will be encouraged to explore the flora and fauna of the dramatic terrain of Iceland and the Bay of Naples, while language students will be able to engage in unscripted conversations with native speakers across a mix of local markets within France, Germany and Spain.

While the school trip abroad may be a giant leap for some students, Europe presents an array of options that will support students and teachers through their curriculum learning and personal development goals. Interacting with peers and teachers outside the classroom will see students grow and flourish as characters come to life and students build the strength to adapt to situations without the cushion of parents and guardians. With so much to explore with your students, Europe allows schools to work collaboratively across subjects to deliver educational experiences that meet cross-curricular outcomes and sets students on a path of lifelong learning.

8

Thanks for the outstanding service. Both coaches were prompt, comfortable and the drivers were helpful and professional. The hotel was very comfortable and clean and it was not far from the tube station which made travelling to and from the centre easy.

The students were elated by ‘Mamma Mia’, shopping in Oxford Street, Theatre Workshop, the walking tour, and London itself.

SCHOOL FROM JORDAN TRAVELLING ON A DRAMA TRIP TO LONDON

9

LONDON Quintessential England can be summed up with a trip to the UK capital as history and culture becomes easily accessible through intrinsically British institutions.

Rich in history, London offers students an insight into the nation’s past with nods to both gothic and contemporary architecture at every turn. Expect to see London’s instantly recognisable landmarks, including the Tower of London, Westminster’s parliament buildings and Buckingham Palace, on a tour that signposts significant points in time in one of the world’s most visited cities. Explore art, literary greats and theatre in a city bursting with innovation and diversity. Staying in the city doesn’t mean students miss out on England’s greener landscapes with the beautiful Hampton Court Palace and Kew Gardens a short hop from the centre.

SUBJECTS

10

PERFORMING ARTS

ENGLISH LITERATURE

HISTORY

STEM (SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING, MATHS)

BUSINESS STUDIES

ART

Theatre is an immersive experience, a conversation with the audience, and freedom to express the intricacies of the most complex characters. Taking the stage can be challenging but hugely empowering. Giving your students the opportunity to get beneath the skin of the performing arts, a school trip to London will allow your group to go behind the scenes, interacting with actors who have seen the lights of the West End and gain a greater perspective of life on stage.

London is iconic both in terms of sights and experiences it offers. History quite literally fills the streets with Westminster and London’s South Bank Gallery depicting the capital’s famous skyline. From the London Eye to the Houses of Parliament and up The Mall to Buckingham Palace, your school will be treated to the landmarks and memorials that have characterised British culture. Take a deeper look at British culture and you’ll soon learn theatre has produced some of Britain’s greatest exports with the West End easily rivalling the bright lights of Broadway.

History buffs may be drawn to the medieval market town of Stratford-upon-Avon and the birthplace of literary great William Shakespeare. The Royal Shakespeare Theatre and neighbouring Swan Theatre on the banks of the River Avon attract fans of both classic and modern theatre productions with plays ranging from Shakespeare’s The Merchant of Venice to Roald Dahl’s Matilda delighting audiences. However, it is important students don’t miss out on the bigger picture that surround a performing arts career. What is it like to train with a theatre company? What goes into a theatre production? What are the challenges actors face? There are numerous questions your students will be burning to ask and no better place to have them answered than London’s West End. WORKSHOPS TO MOTIVATE AND INSPIRE One of the most exciting activities to enjoy on your educational experience in London are

theatre workshops. Available in a range of forms, students will be trained by professional actors as they are taken through entertaining and informative exercises. The theatre workshops are varied and highly interactive experiences that not only support students’ understanding of a West End performance they may see on their school trip but aid confidence building and ensemble work.

Students can also take part in Disney theatrical workshops for the productions Aladdin and The Lion King which provide students with the opportunity to perform scenes, songs and dances from the productions. Trained Disney Teaching Artists lead students on an incredible journey from the West End rehearsal studio to the wondrous worlds of Agrabah and Pride Rock. Combine the workshop with tickets to the Disney production and students will be able to link lyrics and choreography as they piece together the professional journey of actors performing in award-winning musicals.

GO BEHIND THE SCENES In amongst your cohort there may be students wishing to pursue another area of performing arts. Backstage workshops enable your students to go behind the scenes to learn about the business end of theatre productions.

Workshops can be chosen to meet the needs of the students with themes based on lighting, sound, set and costume design, stage management and stage make-up all available.

These practical experiences led by theatre professionals are invaluable in providing an insight rarely gained elsewhere.

Go one step further and enter the world of Harry Potter at Warner Bros. Studios. Students can take a tour of the studios located in the northern suburbs of Watford and learn about the intricate processes behind the production of one of the most famous series of fantasy novels. From the work carried out by illustrators to computer-generated imagery, set design and the characters themselves, the tour covers every aspect of the Harry Potter films.

Walk down Diagon Alley, taste Butterbeer and capture a photo in Harry’s flying Ford Anglia with authentic stage props from the films providing a truly unique experience.

ICONIC VENUES TO EXPLORE Students may be dreaming of performing in some of the world’s grandest venues, which don’t come more spectacular than the Royal Albert Hall. The historic entertainment venue is rich in stories and secrets waiting to be rediscovered by your students. Explore the stunning auditorium, gallery and even the Queen’s private suites.

The National Theatre is also a must-see with its three theatres offering modern plays, musicals and plenty of Shakespeare. A backstage tour is available that allows students to delve behind the scenes of London’s busiest theatre complex. Learn about the meticulous planning and fast-paced fun involved in staging a play and the dedicated characters who make the production come to life. Students will also have a chance to see several theatrerelated exhibitions which provide additional perspectives on the history of one of the United Kingdom’s three most prominent publicly funded theatres.

THE MAGIC OF THE WEST END No trip to London will be complete without taking in the spectacle of a West End show.

From the much-loved musical of Wicked to the edge of your seat performances of Aladdin, students will have a chance to see everything they have learned come to life on stage. Whether it is in one of London’s famous theatre houses or the incredible replica of Shakespeare’s Globe, students can take in some of the biggest names in British theatre.

Providing a well-rounded performing arts experience in London, students will leave with a greater understanding of life behind the red drapes of the stage, experience workshops led

by West End actors and be inspired to pursue their own journey to the West End. 11

UK CITIES WITH TRAVELBOUND INTERNATIONAL STRATFORD UPON AVON Shakespeare’s Houses Cruise on the River Avon Royal Shakespeare Company Workshop Royal Shakespeare Company Theatre Show Warwick Castle Cadbury World

OXFORD & CAMBRIDGE Guided walking tour of Colleges Bodleian Library Oxford Ashmolean Museum Oxford Punting in Cambridge entre of Computing History C Cambridge Kings College Cambridge

MANCHESTER Old Trafford Stadium Tour Science and Industry Museum Walking Tour Imperial War Museum North Manchester Art Gallery Alton Towers Theme Park

EDINBURGH Edinburgh Castle amera Obscura and World C of Illusions The Edinburgh Dungeons National Museum of Scotland Dynamic Earth Royal Yacht Britannia 12

CONDOVER HALL, SHROPSHIRE TOP TIP Mix and match a stay at Condover Hall with other UK cities.

The Grade II-listed mansion house at Condover Hall is the focal point of the outdoor adventure centre filled with a range of exciting and interactive activities.

Seek something different from your educational experience abroad with an activity trip to the Shropshire countryside. Situated just 18 minutes from Shrewsbury’s city centre, Condover Hall features everything from high-aerial trek apparatus and archery range to its own recreational lake for kayaking and canoeing, eco-lake for environmental studies and indoor laser and tunnelling activities. The extensive grounds and multi-purpose outdoor courts, sports hall and swimming pool offer your students the space to engage with a multitude of activities all in one location. See your students step out of their comfort zones as they take the leap of faith, abseil the centre’s tower and develop skills working individually and cooperatively in teams.

ITINERARY

HIGHLIGHTS

Day 1 Outbound journey Intro tour Sensory Trail Conquest

Day 2 Zip Wire

Orienteering Aerial Trek Wet and Wacky Campfire

ABSEILING

KAYAKING

RAFT BUILDING

AERIAL HIGH TREK

CLIMBING

ARCHERY

Day 3 Abseiling

Laser Maze/Grid of Stones Gladiator Wall Body Zorbing Run Around Quiz

Day 4 Kayaking

Fencing Team Challenge Disco

Day 5 Archery

Presentation Return home

Works best as a 3 - 5 Day stay.

13

PARIS Paris offers an array of cultural and historical excursions that will leave your students with life-long memories and a broader learning experience.

Witness Paris from Montparnasse Tower for breathtaking panoramic views of the Eiffel Tower or take your students to a local French market where they can embrace the local language, building confidence and valuable skills from engaging in real life situations with native speakers. One of Europe’s most beautiful and important capital cities, students from all subject areas can absorb history, architecture, fashion and irresistible cuisine only available in Paris.

SUBJECTS

14

LANGUAGES

ART

CULTURE

STEM (SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING, MATHS)

PERFORMING ARTS

FOOD TECHNOLOGY

Thank you for a great stay! Beautiful location, fantastic activities and great staff!

School from Dubai travelling to the Château du Molay

NORMANDY - CHÂTEAU DU MOLAY The Château du Molay sits just 25 minutes southwest of Bayeux and is Travelbound’s very own accommodation in the heart of Normandy.

Providing an extensive range of activities and excursions, Normandy allows students to dive into the history, language and culture of the region. Our vibrant on-site team welcomes school groups to the historic region of Normandy and provides the perfect base to explore the area. Extensive grounds and recently updated facilities allow for groups to enjoy activities, including archery, swimming, survival activities as well as frogs’ legs and snail tasting, plus a host of options for the evenings. Providing Party Leaders with a chance for downtime, the château team can also lead activities at the château and engage learners in a choice of team-building tasks.

ON-SITE FACILITIES

NORMANDY HIGHLIGHTS

Outdoor heated swimming pool (seasonal) Large restaurant Retro games room Classrooms

FRENCH MARKET ASSIGNMENT

GOATS’ CHEESE FARM

LES SABLES D’ASNELLES BISCUIT FACTORY

MFL CHALLENGE TRAILS

BAYEUX TAPESTRY

MEMORIAL DE CAEN MUSEUM

Projector & film screen Full size football/rugby pitch All-weather sports court Archery range Blind trail Survival area Initiative exercise area Wildlife pond reserve 15

SOUTH OF FRANCE

TOP TIP

Nice may be the unofficial capital of the Côte d’Azur but there’s no question over the many learning opportunities the city and surrounding region presents school groups.

Why not combine French and Spanish language students in a tour to Barcelona and the South of France.

A wide variety of local markets present students with a chance to engage in unrehearsed conversations with native speakers supporting them in improving their delivery and comprehension of the French language. Soak up the opulence of one of Nice’s oldest cinemas at the Rialto where students can benefit from French-subtitles and visit Parfumerie Fragonard in Grasse to learn about production.

While there is a certain grandeur surrounding Nice and the old town, it is a trip around the corner to Monaco that will certainly raise students’ aspirations with its international glitterati making Monte Carlo a world-famous symbol of luxury.

HIGHLIGHTS

ITINERARY Day 1 Outbound journey Guided walking tour of Nice

Day 2 French Language lesson Guided tour of Confiserie Florian

FRENCH LANGUAGE LESSONS

NICE OLD TOWN

Day 3 Guided Bike tour Molinard Parfumeur – Fragrance workshop and guided tour

Day 4 Monaco day trip Day 5 Depart

CINEMA LE RIALTO

MONACO

This itinerary is based on an MFL tour. Get in touch to see what other subjects the South of France caters for.

t: 0044 1273 244664 e: internationalschools@travelbound.com 16

PARFUMERIE FRAGONARD, GRASSE

FRENCH LANGUAGE TRAIL

w: travelbound.com

TOP TIP Fly into Paris or Brussels and spend a couple of nights in the city.

THE SOMME/YPRES There are some experiences that simply cannot be replicated by a textbook and a visit to the cemeteries and battlefields of WWI is certainly one of them.

A battlefields tour to Ypres and Somme allows students to really start to understand the events of the Great War. Explore the In Flanders Fields Museum and schools will be able to discover wartime life as seen from the perspectives of not only soldiers, but nurses, children, refugees amongst others. From wandering through Yorkshire trench and dugout to gain a sense of the surroundings facing foot soldiers to exploring the 1916 Museum to learn more about the relics from the war, students will develop a clearer perspective of the effects of war on soldiers and civilians.

ITINERARY

SOMME HIGHLIGHTS

YPRES HIGHLIGHTS

Day 1 Arrival into Paris airport Coach to Ypres

Day 2 In Flanders Field Museum Essex Farm, Hooge Crater, Hill 60, Hill 62 and Sanctuary Wood, Menin Gate Ceremony

BEAUMONT HAMEL

MENIN GATE AND LAST POST CEREMONY

THIEPVAL MEMORIAL

FLANDERS FIELD MUSEUM

LOCHNAGAR CRATER

TYNE COT CEMETERY

Day 3 Langemark and Tyne Cot British Cemetery Canadian Memorial at Vimy Ridge and Tunnels of Arras

Day 4 Deville Wood and Lochnager Crater, Thiepval Memorial

Day 5 1916 Museum in Albert Depart for Paris airport

t: 0044 1273 244664 e: internationalschools@travelbound.com w: travelbound.com

17

ROME Home to what was the beating heart of the mighty Roman Empire, Rome offers a treasure trove of ancient buildings and archaeological sites, including the imposing structure of the Colosseum where students can learn about the role of gladiatorial events in society.

Coupled with galleries and some fascinating examples of Renaissance and Baroque architecture, Rome gives students the opportunity to explore the places they’ve learnt about in the classroom, gifting them an improved understanding of societal and technological changes prominent throughout ancient Roman history. With such an abundance of some of the most significant archaeological sites in Europe, Rome provides the perfect base to inspire your classics students and give them an out-of-class learning experience they won’t forget.

SUBJECT HIGHLIGHTS CLASSICS Colosseum Palatine Hill Roman Forum The Vatican The Pantheon Ostia Antica

ART Gallery of Modern Art Museum of Contemporary Art Galleria Borghese MAXXI - National Museum of the 21st Century Arts Capitoline Museums Art Lesson

CROSS-CURRICULAR Time Elevator Gladiator School Pizza Making Travelbound Rome Quest Hop on Hop off bus tour Language Lessons

18

BAY OF NAPLES Give your students a unique insight into Roman daily life with an unmissable trip to the Bay of Naples.

Hosting some of the finest dramatic scenery in Italy, your students will be able to experience a vast and varied range of cross-curricular subjects across Italy’s south-western coast. Hosting several world-famous archaeological sites, students can also gain a first-hand exploration of the ruined cities of Pompeii and Herculaneum, strengthening their understanding of Roman history and giving them a fascinating opportunity to explore Vesuvius. With incredible local cuisine, unique culture and spectacular views, the Bay of Naples provides an outdoor learning experience that shouldn’t be missed.

HIGHLIGHTS

POMPEII

HERCULANEUM

NAPLES ARCHAEOLOGICAL MUSEUM

MOUNT VESUVIUS

CAPRI

PIZZA MAKING CLASS

19

FLORENCE

TOP TIP

Florence rolls everything you could want from a school trip into one compact city. Listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, art and architecture strikes you at every turn.

Open your students’ eyes to masterpieces from Botticelli and Michelangelo in the famous Uffizi Gallery as they trace the development of art in Western Europe from the 13th to the 18th centuries.

Give your group the chance to capture the artistic light along the River Arno as they look out to the Ponte Vecchio lined with jewellery shops. In the city that has brought us some of fashion’s biggest names like Gucci, it’s of little surprise there is a natural elegance to the city of Florence.

Be immersed in Italian culture as food, faith and history comes together to tell stories of the Renaissance.

HIGHLIGHTS

Florence isn’t just a center of art, why not ask us for a history, language, music or design and fashion tour!

ITINERARY Day 1 Arrive Rome, walking tour Day 2 Colosseum and The Vatican Day 3 Gladiator School. Transfer to Florence

UFFIZI GALLERY

GALLERIA DELL’ACCADEMIA

Day 4 Walking tour, Galleria Dell’Accademia, Pizza making

Day 5 Day trip to Pisa Day 6 Depart for Rome airport

BOBOLI GARDENS

PONTE VECCHIO

t: 0044 1273 244664 e: internationalschools@travelbound.com 20

IL DUOMO DI FIRENZE

LEANING TOWER OF PISA

w: travelbound.com

VENICE Like with many Italian cities, Venice is a favourite with art lovers. The twist comes when you consider the city is built on a lagoon and instead of roads you’ll see waterways.

Stand at the Palazzo Ducale and be greeted by the Grand Canal that sits as one of Venice’s most notable landmarks. Pivot 180 degrees and you’ll face another of the city’s standout locations – the Basilica San Marco. Meander through the narrow streets and canals as your students explore the churches and galleries that signpost the importance of faith and art in Italian culture. Trace ancient spice routes, explore the city’s seafood and take on a Venetian mask making workshop before the all-important group photo in St Mark’s Square.

HIGHLIGHTS

ST MARK’S SQUARE

DOGE’S PALACE

GRAND CANAL

VENETIAN MASK MAKING

MURANO ISLAND GLASS MAKING

BURANO ISLAND

21

GREECE

TOP TIP

Bring the world of ancient Greece to life on a school trip to the Greek islands - giving your classics students the perfect opportunity to explore a plethora of archaeological sites and ancient monuments.

With tours stretching from Athens, Delphi and Tolon to Olympia, Pylos and Crete, Greece provides your students with a wealth of ancient sites that will motivate and inspire your students for years to come; experience Delphi, the centre of the Ancient Greek universe or get lost in the statues and ruined temples of Olympia. With such an array of outstanding and historic key classic sites, students will be able to gain a greater understanding of Greek and Mycenaean civilisations, gaining a first-hand experience of what they’ve learnt in the classroom.

HIGHLIGHTS

Add a workshop for students to get stuck into. Choose from: Cooking, dance or drama.

ITINERARY Day 1 Outbound journey Day 2 Half day tour of Athens Sightseeing – The Acropolis, Parthenon, and Acropolis Museum

ACROPOLIS AND MUSEUM

ARCHAEOLOGICAL MUSEUM ATHENS

Day 3 National Archaeological Museum Depart for Delphi via Ossios Loukas

Day 4 Depart for Olympia via the Rio Andirio Bridge Day 5 Depart for Pylos via Nestor’s Palace Day 6 Depart for Tolon via the ruined cities of Sparta

CAPE SOUNION

NESTOR’S PALACE

and Mystra

Day 7 Nauplion Mycenae Theatre of Epidavros Sanctuary of Asklepios

Day 8 Return home 22

EPIDAVROS

ANCIENT CORINTH

With experience of leading a variety of school trips abroad for students, Kate Broadribb shares her experiences of organising an educational tour as a teacher at Wildern School.

If you’ve led an educational trip abroad or even accompanied one you will know the hours of your life that go into organising it. The time you spend completing risk assessments, chasing forms from students, and finalising every aspect of your itinerary can seem endless.

However, in my years of teaching, the one thing above everything students always remember is the experience of exploring somewhere new with their peers. There’s a saying that ‘travel is the only thing you buy that makes you richer’ and I know first-hand how trips can enrich students’ experiences and overall personal development.

Herein lays our motivation as educators to provide students with an educational tour: to provide learning experiences that will positively contribute to their personal development, educational understanding, and wider outlook on the world around them.

Each holding their own merit, here are my top 3 reasons why you should take your students on a residential trip abroad: 1) THE TRAVEL BUZZ New technologies may bring places into our classrooms and living rooms at the click of a button, but they will never replace the human emotion felt when you actually get to visit a place yourself. It is easy to get carried away by the students’ enthusiasm, their excited observations, and dash around the top to find the best view.

A web browser street view is an amazing piece of technology, however, it does not bring the smells, atmosphere, nor buzz of a

place. Enthusiasm for learning can transfer from a teacher to their students within the boundaries of the classroom, but it is the more impactful wave of inspiration that comes from coming into contact with a setting that is historically, culturally, or geographically important that provides children with the impetus to engage and discover.

2) ‘TRIP OF A LIFETIME’ This phrase was used by my first group of students I led to explain their feelings and reflections of the educational tour. I was enthused to hear how many had embarked on the visit as they didn’t think it was someplace they would go with their families or even later on in life. That is to say, if they didn’t go in an organised school tour they may never visit such a contrasting place and get to experience this once in a lifetime trip.

To experience an ancient civilisation and walk amongst the ruins of a Greek city, or even explore the trenches of Ypres, provides students with an insight not otherwise recreated by a textbook.

Where school life is designed to shape young individuals, a travel experience abroad during their time in education can be a memory that lasts long into adulthood.

3) APPRECIATION OF DIFFERENT ENVIRONMENTS AND CULTURES It is actually hard to put yourself in someone else’s shoes and really consider what their life is like. Yet in geography and other aspects of the curriculum we ask our students to understand and empathise with different people in different environments all the time.

I believe nothing can compare to when a student gets to see and speak to people in the actual context of their community. Gathering first-hand accounts, providing students with an original source, and allowing them to engage with the surroundings are invaluable to their development through the subject and understanding of specific topics. It not only makes it real, but it creates an actual dialogue, something authentic that social media chats can’t replicate.

At the end of the day, I lead residential trips abroad because I see a change in a student’s perspective. Many ex-students from trips have gone to study, travel, and are now working abroad.

DON’T BREAK THE BANK! Finally, it’s essential to offer a range of trips to suit all budgets from local studies to overseas adventures. Tailoring your tour to meet the requirements of the students and to maximise their time in a new learning environment not only allows for schools, FE colleges, and universities to tick the curriculum boxes, but ensures students leave having developed holistically and created memories to last a lifetime. A trip abroad does not have to break the bank to have a lasting impact on a student.

t: 0044 1273 244664 e: internationalschools@travelbound.com w: travelbound.com 23

BARCELONA Barcelona has everything from its bustling centre at Plaça de Catalunya to the seaside neighbourhood of Barceloneta offering up art, language and cultural immersion opportunities.

Every visit to Barcelona deserves the grand unveiling of the skyline from the summit of Montjuic Hill to take in the grand scale of the city against the backdrop of the Montserrat mountains. From wandering along Las Ramblas to entering the mind of Pablo Picasso at the Picasso Museum, art back at school will never be the same as a school trip to Barcelona acts as a kickstarter to creativity and inspiration.

HIGHLIGHTS

24

GAUDI – SAGRADA FAMILIA, PARC GUELL, CASA BATTLO, CASA MILA (LA PERDRERA)

GAUDI WORKSHOP

PICASSO MUSEUM

NOU CAMP STADIUM

MONTSERRAT

PAELLA LESSON

Some may argue it is in the name – Barça: The Passion. The reality is that the passion extends beyond the name of this city and into the artistic flair that adorns every building and street, every gallery and park. Today, we can use a range of software and platforms to try and build what we vision in our minds. When you visit Barcelona, you step into a world where these varied and alternative structures exist and visions have been realised. Ergo the Catalan Modernism of Gaudi exists and the surrealism of Miró is that bit more real as you take in these noteworthy sites.

Barcelona has always been a ‘go-to’ destination. Teachers realise the potential a school trip to Barcelona has in exploring the arts, history, business and geography but it is the within this focus on art, design, architecture and photography where Barcelona seems to be a logical choice for Party Leaders. We can play scenarios over and over again in our head – our dreamland, our utopia. The moment you touch down in the capital of Catalonia students can step into this dreamland where no longer it is Alice in Wonderland or Aladdin and his Wonderful Lamp but you in Wonderland and you and his Wonderful Lamp. The point being, as you walk down La Rambla or walk round the corner to find Casa Milá the artistic angle that was once an artist’s own mental image is a walking dreamland that aims to inspire and ultimately exist.

Every visit to Barcelona deserves the grand unveiling of the skyline before your eyes. A trip up to the summit of Montjuic Hill allows you to take in the grand scale of the city against the backdrop of the mountains that

border the city as though a line of defence for Catalan Nationalism. More striking as the mellow evening light heightens the terracotta glow of the buildings below, the view from Montjuic prepares a group for the wonders that are to come on their school trip to Barcelona. Alternatively, Montjuic Hill is an ideal area to start off your tour should the group arrive late the previous evening. Within the area there is plenty to see such as the National Art Museum of Catalonia which is housed within the Palau Nacional. Located by the steps of Montjuic, the museum has a range of collections that include examples of Romanesque, Gothic and Renaissance Art. While it will be hard to pull your students away from the numerous areas and archives that form part of the MNAC network it is important not to skip out of the other nearby worthwhile sights of the gardens and Olympic Stadium.

Without the creative eye, some can forget the artistry placed on buildings that do not house particular examples of art. The Fundacio Joan Miró is one building where creativity is not in doubt. Inside the white walls of the museum Miró’s aims for the foundation become clear: to promote contemporary art and the experimentation of this form.

Travel to other side of the city and Park Güell basks in the Catalan sun as Gaudi’s mosaics and sculptures inject a cacophony of colour.

‘El Drac’, the multi-coloured salamander is an intriguing figure facing down the steps of the park. The detail along the main terrace and time spent creating the mosaic highlights to students the dedication needed to become a great artist.

It is also hard to ignore the Picasso Museum in the La Ribera district. Picasso’s work speaks for itself in its many forms and languages and the museum itself is home to one of the most extensive collections including some of his first major works. What is significant about this stop is the story told between Picasso and the city of Barcelona.

School trips to Barcelona are not completed without visiting one world famous, historically important, work of art that dominates the skyline of Barcelona. Namely Gaudi’s unfinished ‘Gift to God’, his magnum opus - the Sagrada Familia. It is not merely the scale that lends itself to being labelled ‘impressive’, but the time and detail spent on this structure. Simply walking around the Sagrada you bear witness to the different areas that blossom from the structure, which if they were to stand alone would resemble a work of art themselves.

Like the shape of Camp Nou, this cauldron can represent the hotpot of art found in the City of Barcelona. A chocolate box of assortments, Barcelona houses a number of key artists that have managed to imprint themselves on this Catalan star. Art back at school will never be the same as a school trip to Barcelona acts as the starter gun to creativity and inspiration as it was to athletes of the 92’ Summer Olympics.

t: 0044 1273 244664 e: internationalschools@travelbound.com w: travelbound.com 25

ANDALUCIA Andalucia rolls everything you could want from a school trip into one. The rich cultural traditions and warm climate of Andalucia makes it a popular destination amongst schools seeking a vibrant learning environment for their language students.

The Andalusian countryside and natural landscapes provide students with an insight into the region’s makeup outside of the big cities. Students will certainly be provided with a different perspective with the cities of Seville, Granada and Cordoba creating an equally dramatic landscape. Capitalise on the opportunities to engage with native speakers as students perfect their pronunciation and confidence through real-time interactions at local markets. Expect flamenco nights, unique architecture and a flavour for the local cuisine as your school trip to Andalucia sets a benchmark for all future educational tours abroad.

HIGHLIGHTS

26

SPANISH LANGUAGE LESSONS

TAPAS EVENING

GRANADA

SEVILLE

CORDOBA

FLAMENCO SHOW

MADRID Regarded as one of Europe’s cultural capitals, Madrid is sure to enthuse your students with its art, culture, food and language.

Madrid’s educational options are endless. Explore the vast number of museums and opera houses with your art students, captivate your history group with a visit to some of the Spanish civil war monuments, or practise their Spanish in a natural setting with native speakers. This vibrant city is perfect for adventuring into a new environment with your students, providing them with an out-of-class experience that’s bound to evoke excitement and broaden the mind.

MODERN FOREIGN LANGUAGES Spanish Language lessons Palacio Real Las Ventas Bullring Plaza Mayor Flamenco Show El Rastro Flea Market

ART Museo del Prado Museo Thyssen-Bornemisza Museo Reina Sofia Museo Nacional de Artes Decoratives Sorolla Museum Royal Academy of Fine Arts of San Fernando

CROSS-CURRICULAR El Pais Newspaper Visit Bike Scavenger Hunt – Retiro Park Madrid Bernabéu Football Stadium Tour Shopping on the Gran Via Tapas Evening Flamenco Lesson

HISTORY Madrid Culture Trail Retiro Park San Lorenzo de El Escorial Toledo Segovia Walking Tour 27

BERLIN The German capital has been bombed, split and reunified and that is just in the 20th century.

Students have a chance to walk amongst the landmarks that tell the story of not only a city’s past, but a country that has modernised and strengthened to become a key voice on the global stage. Whether your focus is on World War II or the Cold War, Berlin presents an endless amount of resources that allows students to truly step into the past. Students can interact with native speakers to develop intonation and confidence while speaking German as they dip into culture of a city that still emits a gritty vibe beneath its image of big business and European politics.

CROSS-CURRICULAR TV Tower Olympic Stadium Ottobock Science Centre German Museum of Technology Language Lessons Reichstag

ART East Side Gallery Street Art Walking Tour & Workshop Bauhaus Archiv Museum New National Gallery Berlinische Galerie German Historical Museum

BUSINESS STUDIES Rundfunk Studios BMW Werk Tempelhof Airport Guided Tour Filmpark Babelsberg ARD Hauptstadt Studio Museum of Communications

HISTORY Checkpoint Charlie DDR Museum Topography of Terror Stasi Museum Sachsenhausen Concentration Camp Jewish Museum 28

MUNICH With a dramatic history for students to uncover, the capital of Bavaria presents a relaxed cosmopolitan city that provides the perfect base to explore a wide range of art, culture, business and modern history.

Students can gain an improved understanding of Munich’s pre-war and wartime history and reflect on atrocities committed during World War II - a visit to the Jewish Museum or the Dachau Concentration Camp give a real insight into the life of political prisoners during the war. Munich gives students an out-of-class experience that caters to history, art, business and crosscurricular subjects and lets your students embrace new culture, language opportunities and personal development.

HIGHLIGHTS

BMW MUSEUM AND TOUR

DEUTCHES MUSEUM

©Nuremberg Municipal Museums

DACHAU FORMER CONCENTRATION CAMP

NUREMBERG TRIALS & COURTROOM 600

RESIDENZ MUNICH

NEUSCHWANSTEIN CASTLE

29

KRAKOW Krakow is a city that tells a story that remains weaved in amongst the streets and landmarks of Poland’s second largest city.

Poland presents school groups with a culture that embraces its long-standing traditions seen in both social settings and cuisine. Students will be able to gain a deeper insight into the impact of World War II on communities that reached beyond the borders of Krakow. While the concentration camp of Auschwitz provides a harrowing reminder of the Holocaust, students will understand the importance of the sites in reminding the world the importance of different ethnicities living side by side.

HIGHLIGHTS Kazimierz – Jewish Quarter Schindler’s Factory – Museum Auschwitz-Birkenau Concentration Camp Wieliczka Salt Mine Nowa Huta Rynek Underground Museum

PRAGUE Prague’s beauty has been compared to that of Paris. Where Paris has the Louvre, the Czech capital has a směs (mixture) of Gothic, Baroque and Art Nouveau architecture at every turn.

Meander through the cobbled streets of Prague and it would be easy to forget the city is hive of business activity with big name brands, including the Czech Republic’s second largest brewery Staropramen, operating from the capital. Students can trace the city’s development through Prague’s array of poignant historical monuments, museums and galleries. Visit the Jewish Quarter to develop a greater understanding of communities in Prague during World War II or head for the Museum of Communism to understand more about life in Czechoslovakia under the Communist regime.

HIGHLIGHTS Prague Castle Jewish Quarter Boat tour on the River Vltava Museum of Communism Terezin Lidice Memorial 30

VIENNA A visit to the Austrian capital provides a great insight into the history of some of the world’s greatest musicians, including Strauss, Haydn, Brahms, Beethoven and Mahler.

Students will notice Vienna is doused in grandeur which dates back to the Habsburg monarchy. A visit to the Imperial Palace will provide an insight into the tradition and daily life of the monarchy. In addition to the museums filled with masterpieces, Vienna is an ideal location for your music students. Performances can be arranged in a number of indoor and outdoor locations, including Schönbrunn Palace, providing your students with a great opportunity to perform in front of audiences during their time in Austria. If you are opening your trip up to other subject areas, psychology students will appreciate a visit to the Sigmund Freud Museum which covers Freud’s life story and founding of psychoanalysis.

HIGHLIGHTS Schönbrunn Palace Haus der Musik Music Performance Venues Narrenturm (Fools Tower) Prater Park Sigmund Freud Museum

SALZBURG Famous for the Sound of Music, the city of Salzburg will see your music students soak in the fruits of musical traditions that run all year long.

With a rich musical history, your students will embark on a journey that takes in Mozart’s home and the legacy he left on the city. Your music group can also perform in local venues, including St Peter’s Abbey, Mirabell Gardens and St Gilgen’s bandstand. Don’t miss out a visit to the Baroque Jewel – Salzburg Cathedral – which can be enjoyed with the aid of an audio guide. It is also possible to perform to an audience at the cathedral where Mozart was baptised.

A favourite with school groups is a trip to the Hallein Salt Mines which remain the oldest in the world and allows students to follow the ancient miners’ tunnels on the mine railway and visit the Celtic Village.

HIGHLIGHTS Mozart’s House Hellbrun Palace Sound of Music Tour Music Performance Venues Salzburg Cathedral Hallein Salt Mines

31

SWITZERLAND

TOP TIP

Switzerland is an endless journey of discovery with an opportunity for students to explore significant breakthroughs in science and technology.

Popular tour extensions can include Lucerne, Zurich and Basel to name just a few.

While your first thoughts of Switzerland may be drawn to the great outdoors, Olympic-level skiers, cheese and a multi-linguistic population, undeniably one of the country’s most popular excursions remains the CERN particle physics research laboratory. Visit the History of Science Museum and the Red Cross Museum before exploring the city of Geneva and – the Pearl of Lake Geneva – Evian. Discover the art of being a Swiss chocolatier, witness the production of cheese and learn about the work of the UN on a highly engaging educational tour to Switzerland.

HIGHLIGHTS

ITINERARY Day 1 Arrive Geneva Guided tour of Geneva

Day 2 CERN visit (organised by school) International Red Cross and Red

CERN

LAKE GENEVA

Crescent Museum

Day 3 Geneva Science Museum UN Headquarters Tour

Day 4 Natural History Museum Depart

THE PALAIS DES NATIONS

MONTREUX TOWN

t: 0044 1273 244664 e: internationalschools@travelbound.com ©MICR photo Alain Germond

32

CHOCOLATE FACTORY

RED CROSS MUSEUM

w: travelbound.com

ICELAND One of the world’s leading nations for sustainable energy, Iceland is as remarkable as its reputation has built over recent years.

Awash with waterfalls, students will not only be taken aback by the picturesque nature of them but by the learning that can be garnered from studying them. The ‘Golden Falls’ of Gullfoss will see students learn about the site and the effect of sediments carried causing a brown tint in the glacial water. With an opportunity to visit the hydroelectric power station at Hjálparfoss, the Greenhouse Village of Hveragerdi, and the largest geothermal power station in the world at Hellisheiði, school groups will be forgiven to think Iceland was born for geographers.

ITINERARY Day 1 Outbound journey Blue Lagoon

Day 2 Hellisheið Power Plant, Þingvellir National Park and the Almannagja fault Kerið crater, Gulfoss waterfalls and Geysir area

Day 3 Seljalandsfoss and Skógafoss waterfalls Sólheimajökull Glacier and Vik beaches

Day 4 Hekla Centre Thjórsárdalur Valley Hjálparfoss waterfall, Hveragerdi Greenhouse village and Hellisheiði Geothermal Power Plant

Day 5 Return home This itinerary is based on a Geography tour. Get in touch to see what other subjects Iceland caters for.

33

‘The Land of Opportunity’ certainly lives up to its name when planning an educational trip to the USA. From the metropolis life of cities like New York and Chicago to the vast open spaces stretching from LA’s San Gabriel Mountains to Las Vegas, you can be sure to tick the box for varied learning experiences.

If the world is the oyster, the USA is the pearl with student groups having the luxury to either hone in on one subject specialism or enjoy a cross-curricular cacophony of experiences. Explore media in the heart of New York and explore Broadway for some of the world’s greatest stage productions. Take performing arts to a new level on the USA’s West Coast as students discover the significant role of Hollywood in the development of showbusiness. Venture to the Deep South to explore jazz in New Orleans and follow the Civil Rights Trail in Alabama to understand the struggle and protests for racial equality which led to voting rights and the end of segregation for African-Americans. Add in to the mix a multi-centre East Coast experience following the rise of democracy from Boston to Philadelphia and Washington, DC and students will soon build a comprehensive picture of the USA culture and its place as a superpower.

Visiting the USA presents an incredible opportunity for students to widen their learning experiences. Developing upon learning started in school, students can take the wonder of learning geography to the sailing stones of Death Valley, broaden their understanding of big business on New York’s Wall Street and be blown away by new technology in San Francisco. Highly interactive experiences allow for your students to engage with new learning away from the boundaries of school. See your students leap from their shells with the confidence gained from working with peers and facing the challenges of new and varied environments.

34 8

After 2 trips I have been extremely happy with the choices of excursions, accommodation and the assistance in the run up and during the trip.

INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL TRAVELLING FROM QATAR TO NEW YORK

35 9

NEW YORK It may be ‘the city that never sleeps’ but with so much to see it will be important your students get their rest!

Packed full of history, New York is awash with notable landmarks, significant events, superstars, and scandals. Capture the beauty of the Big Apple from the top of the Empire State Building before heading down to the site of ground Zero for an in-depth look at the impact of 9/11 on the city. New York is proud of its culture and strength it emanates from a melting pot of cultures. Take a boat cruise to the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island and learn about immigration through the gateway of New York. Tap into the development of New York communities over time with tours of Harlem and Brooklyn before taking a seat at one of New York’s famous sporting arenas.

HIGHLIGHTS

36

TIMES SQUARE

BROADWAY SHOWS

CENTRAL PARK

STATUE OF LIBERTY

EMPIRE STATE BUILDING

BROOKLYN BRIDGE

New York City is divided into five boroughs (Bronx, Manhattan, Queens, Brooklyn, Staten Island) which themselves are split into neighbourhoods. The big advantage about this layout is that you can decide which part of the city you want to explore and build an itinerary from there. Manhattan has over 40 neighbourhoods, each of them with unique attributes for your students to discover.

Whether you decide to take them to Harlem, the Upper East Side, Central Park, Hell’s Kitchen, Soho, Tribeca, or Chinatown – to name a few – you will be able to easily walk around and appreciate everything New York has to offer.

With the help of your Tour Co-ordinator, Party Leaders can organise a day around a specific area as well as a specific subject. Harlem without a doubt will appeal to music students.

Take them on a tour of the capital of AfricanAmerican culture and experience the soulful sounds of gospel music. Students with an interest in finance and business studies will be excited to wander round the streets of the Financial District and find themselves on the notorious Wall Street. Art students have the opportunity to go on a fascinating street art tour in various districts of the city including Lower Manhattan and Brooklyn. Anyone who has ever watched a movie filmed in New York, will be excited to visit the Theatre District, walk past famous Broadway venues and up to the one and only Times Square.

New York is made of wide streets and long avenues with big pavements which makes it easier to walk around with a group.

Manhattan’s famous grid layout is also a massive bonus. Once your students get their heads around it, they will be able to direct themselves with confidence in this skyscraper jungle.

VISITING NEW YORK BY SUBWAY Your students will get the chance to ride one of the world’s oldest public transit systems.

Opened for business in 1904, the New York City Subway is a landmark in itself and you must experience it. With 236 miles of routes and 472 stations in operation, it is a quick and convenient way to move around all the different boroughs.

Using the subway is a good option if you wish to save time and visit different neighbourhoods in the same day. It can also give everyone a break if walking gets a bit much or the forecast is not on the sunny side.

The lines are divided by colours and numbers which makes the NYC subway map an easy one to work out. There are a number of free apps available to help navigate the subway and even pick the correct exits!

Your Tour Co-ordinator can pre-order the tickets and send them over to your hotel before the start of your trip. That way you can arrive in New York and get going straight away, everyone armed with their MetroCards.

No need to worry about buying tickets on arrival and finding out what option to choose, leave the hard work to us.

Most of groups enjoy travelling with Statue Cruise which starts from Battery Park and goes all the way to Ellis Island, where students will be inspired by the history and stories of the immigrants entering America between 1954 and 1992.

A boat cruise is a nice option to avoid crowds and make the most of the hop-on hop-off services, allowing you and your students to explore the city at your own pace.

Cater your educational experience in New York to your chosen subject themes.

Our top hands-on experiences for schools visiting New York: • Broadway workshops provide a deep insight into dance, musical theatre and stage management. (Performing arts) • The Wall Street Insider Tour offers a unique look at the hub of New York’s financial district. (Business studies) • Travelbound International can also organise performance venues for your choir or orchestra throughout New York. (Music) • Be inspired by the varied cuisine of the Big Apple with cookery lessons with a New York twist. (Food technology)

CRUISING NEW YORK BY BOAT Another option to visit the Big Apple and appreciate the scale of the city is to go on a boat cruise. Students can sit back and relax whilst seeing over 100 landmarks and taking amazing pictures from a new perspective. Our Tour Co-ordinator can advise on which cruise suits your group best, whether you wish to see a maximum of landmarks in one go or to take a trip to Ellis Island via one of the world’s most iconic structure and living symbol of freedom, the Statue of Liberty.

t: 0044 1273 244664 e: internationalschools@travelbound.com w: travelbound.com 37

WASHINGTON, DC Washington, DC presents schools with an all-encompassing journey into America’s national treasures.

Explore American history and culture through a range of multimedia and interactive exhibitions in Washington, DC as students develop together as lifelong learners on a school trip to remember. History is packed into a concentrated area of the city meaning Party Leaders can rest at ease over getting their students from A to B and maximise their students time in the capital. Be blown away by the museums of the Smithsonian Institution, walk the steps of the Lincoln Memorial to where Martin Luther King Jr gave his ‘I have a dream’ speech, and head for the White House Visitor Center for an incredible insight into Washington, DC’s most iconic landmark.

HIGHLIGHTS The White House Lincoln Memorial National Air and Space Museum Smithsonian Museums International Spy Museum Arlington Cemetery

PHILADELPHIA ‘Philly’ intertwines the best of a big city with small-town charm making the city a perfect stop for schools visiting the USA’s East Coast.

Trace the stories of the Constitution and American Revolution as students have the opportunity to visit iconic landmarks like Independence Hall. See the Liberty bell and learn about this symbol of freedom.

Take a look at Philadelphia’s artistic edge with a visit to the Rodin Museum. A favourite with student groups (and locals alike) is time at the Reading Terminal Market; a brilliant lunch stop where your group can tuck into the famous Philly cheesesteak. Don’t forget to capture your students posing like Rocky on the steps of the Philadelphia Museum of Art!

HIGHLIGHTS Philadelphia City Hall Museum of Art Independence Hall The Liberty Bell and Centre Gettysburg Civil War Battlefield Sites Reading Terminal Market 38

A successful, thoroughly enjoyable and well organised trip.

School from Hong Kong who travelled to the USA

FLORIDA Open your students’ minds to new learning in an array of wildly different learning environments.

Florida has everything from the dreamworld with Disney’s Magic Kingdom park to the out of this world as student can explore the Kennedy Space Center. Whatever your subject focus is, Travelbound can tailor highly interactive workshops that brings a new meaning to a ‘behind the scenes’ experience. Explore marine science at Epcot, zoology at Disney’s Animal Kingdom, or learn about motion physics as students gain an insight into the world of Disney attraction engineers.

Take in a unique ride on Florida’s airboats as you get a little closer to the wildlife of the 4,200-acre untouched nature preserve, which includes bald eagles, boars and alligators.

ITINERARY

HIGHLIGHTS

Day 1 Arrive Orlando Day 2 Wet’n’Wild Day 3 Disney’s Magic Kingdom Day 4 Epcot Centre Day 5 Kennedy Space Centre

KENNEDY SPACE CENTRE

UNIVERSAL STUDIOS

EPCOT

DISNEYLAND PARKS

WORKSHOPS IN THEME PARKS

WILD FLORIDA AIRBOAT

Day 6 Universal Studios Day 7 Free time and departure

t: 0044 1273 244664 e: internationalschools@travelbound.com w: travelbound.com

39

WEST COAST USA The United States’ West Coast has long had an urban allure with landmark cities, including San Francisco, Los Angeles and Las Vegas, providing insights into tourism, business and entertainment.

Provide your students with a cross-curricular experience that deepens their insight of the United States. Create aspiring geographers through the study of the sailing stones in Death Valley or stimulate enquiry into some of history’s infamous inmates at Alcatraz on your next school trip to the USA. From San Francisco where even the most outlandish ideas become strokes of genius bought into by a global audience to the glitz, glamour and show business life lessons of Los Angeles, students can gain valuable insights into some of the United States’ greatest exports.

HIGHLIGHTS

40

SAN FRANCISCO CITY TOUR

ALCATRAZ

YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK

THE GRAND CANYON

LOS ANGELES CITY TOUR

LOS ANGELES THEME PARKS

More schools have actively adopted the idea of improving students’ skills in the disciplines of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM). We take a look at how this can translate to a STEM learning experience in San Francisco and what students and teachers can gain from the educational trip abroad.

At Travelbound, we understand STEM requires an interdisciplinary approach to learning and teaching. Our educational tours are created with the curriculum in mind but tailored to meet the learning opportunities you’re seeking for your students.

TIME, FOCUS AND ENERGY INTO STEM Implementing STEM initiatives in school can be seen through numerous channels, but have you considered how a school trip abroad can be used? One of the key areas of encouraging students to pursue the areas covered under STEM is to understand the influencing factors on students in secondary and further education. Are there ways to tap into engagement levels for STEM subjects through a school trip abroad? One of the findings from Subject Choice in STEM: Factors Influencing Young People (aged 14–19) in Education (2010) concluded that schools devoting ‘a greater proportion of teaching time to mathematics in Year 10 tended to have significantly higher take-up for mathematics at A-level.’ This was found in contrast to additional teaching time allocated for science.

The greatest influence on pursuing subjects is, arguably unsurprisingly, students’ own views. Students want to enjoy what they study and know certain STEM subjects will be useful in the future. Making the subjects engaging and relatable to practical situations is key and is achievable.

SCIENCE IN SAN FRANCISCO One of the many destinations available for school trips with a STEM focus is San Francisco. Since the Obama years, the USA have had directives around the mantra ‘educate to innovate’. This has seen developments not only within the U.S. education system to improve the quality of teaching, but the quality of resources to reinforce learning.

San Francisco has a reputation for some of the world’s biggest and noteworthy technology being born from outlandish ideas that have found a market. Silicon Valley, located in the southern San Francisco Bay Area, boasts the familiar names of Apple, Facebook and Google.

The area is surrounding by famous institutions, including Stanford University, the Computer History Museum, NASA’s Ames Research Center and the Tech Museum of Innovation.

Museums may hold a stigma around endless information being displayed in an old-school walkaround format, but the Bay Area has had its reputation of shaking things up reflected in a series of excursions that certainly seek to engage and motivate learners.

Interactive experiences lead the way in educating students about the innovation that surrounds us and what the future holds. The ‘glass ball’ exhibits not only allow students to be excited about what is to come, but question what is possible. The Intel Musuem in Santa Clara is the perfect example of supporting students’ study of technology and the many products to have been born from the evolution of computers. The museum attaches importance to the difference Intel has made in the way the world lives immediately placing its developing technologies in practical situations.

It may be a given that a school trip abroad can re-motivate young learners and see students develop a range of personal skills. However, the learning environment they are provided with not only acts to stimulate enquiry and interest but support teachers with useful tools to tap into learning and subject comprehension.

Standout excursions to support your STEM experience in San Francisco: • The Tech Museum of Innovation • Intel Museum • California Academy of Sciences • NASA Ames Visitor Center • Exploratorium • Computer History Museum • Silicon Valley Guided Tour

t: 0044 1273 244664 e: internationalschools@travelbound.com w: travelbound.com

41

With more schools looking to our range of worldwide options catered to specific development goals, now is the time to discover how you can reshape the experiences open to your students outside the classroom. Provide your students with an opportunity to explore unforgettable destinations through a tailor-made learning experience.

Redefine outdoor learning experiences with an educational tour that places students in a wholly new environment. See your students immerse themselves in the traditions of different cultures and take part in practical activities that cannot be replicated in the classroom. Take an active role in conservation programmes in Costa Rica that are important to the local communities and wildlife, venture to the ancient temples of Cambodia or the panda breeding centre in Chengdu. The experiences your students will face will be as varied as the cultures themselves with everything from discovering UNESCO World heritage Sites to learning age-old traditions like calligraphy and taking part in traditional tea ceremonies in China.

Create a multi-centre tour for your students that tie neighbouring destinations together. Maximise your time in South East Asia with visits to Vietnam and Cambodia or personalise your tour with time in Thailand. Our Travelbound team have the experience and expertise to help you navigate around a wide range of destinations and achieve your desired learning outcomes.

42 8

I was impressed with the Tour Coordinator from start to finish. All of the information was provided both in a clear and expedient fashion. The trip ran extremely smoothly with such a diverse and interesting itinerary. We had no problems with our flights, the hotels or any of the meals.

The food was exceptional with not one complaint for the whole trip!

International school from Austria travelling to Vietnam

43 9

CHINA An ancient civilisation and a continually developing modern economy, China presents school groups with a chance to uncover the legacy of past dynasties and the political and economic role of this vast country in the modern world.

Tailor your tour to China to cover your chosen subject focus and tap into experiences that will support history, religious studies, business studies, citizenship and art. Choose from a wide range of destinations that allows for your students to explore some of China’s most iconic landmarks, including the Forbidden City, The Great Wall of China, The Summer Palace, and The Terracotta Army. Extend your stay with visits to Shanghai allowing your students to explore the highly technological Financial District and to Chengdu where students can learn about the work carried out to protect pandas.

HIGHLIGHTS

44

BEIJING

XIAN

CHENGDU

SHANGHAI

HONG KONG

MOUNT TAI & QUFU

This was our first visit to Japan and it was a magnificent experience.

Our students enjoyed the trip so much and there were too many highllights to mention.

School from Qatar, travelling to Japan.

JAPAN You may think Japan is at the height of technological advancement – and you’d be correct – but this does not mean traditions aren’t still embedded in culture today.

It is this mutually accepted relationship between the modern and ancient traditions that makes Japan a standout destination for your students. Tokyo itself is seen as, and is, the bustling centre with the familiar image of the Shibuya Crossing etched in the perceptions of many. Students can learn about animation in the Manga Museum and developing technologies but can equally take in the art of sushi making following a visit to the Toyosu fish market or take a steam boat to the peaceful UNESCO World Heritage Site of Miyajima Island. Extending your stay in Japan is made easier with the highly efficient bullet train having links to other cities on the archipelago.

ITINERARY

HIGHLIGHTS

Day 1 Arrive in Tokyo Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building

Day 2 Sushi Making Lesson Sensoji Temple Asakusa area Shibuya Crossing

Day 3 Sumo district, Sumo Museum and EdoTokyo Museum

TOKYO

HIROSHIMA PEACE PARK

MIYAJIMA ISLAND

FUSHIMI-INARI SHRINE KYOTO

CALLIGRAPHY LESSON

SUSHI COOKERY LESSON

Depart for Kyoto

Day 4 International Manga Museum, Calligraphy Lesson

Day 5 The Golden Pavilion Gion area of Kyoto Free time

Day 6 Depart for Hiroshima Island of Miyajima

Day 7 Peace Memorial Park and Museum Bullet train to Tokyo

Day 8 Free time Depart Tokyo airport

45

RUSSIA

TOP TIP

A visit to Moscow and St Petersburg offers students the opportunity to explore national treasures and glittering examples of art and architecture.

Gain a deeper understanding of Russian history and the nation’s economic and political role in the modern world. Head for Red Square where students can see Lenin’s tomb before moving onto the outstanding former royal citadel, the Kremlin. Standing as the largest museum in Russia, The Hermitage houses the largest collection of paintings in the world, along with sculptures and classical antiquities. The building itself is a standout example of the grandeur placed on Russia’s architecture from the former monarchy. Take in Russia’s key cities that reveals the life and language of modern Russia as well as its rich history.

HIGHLIGHTS

All our Russia tours include a daily guide to help you navigate the cities and to maximise your learning objectives.

ITINERARY Day 1 Arrive Moscow Guided tour of Moscow

Day 2 Full day city tour of Moscow, including Red Square, grounds of Kremlin and Cathedral

WALKING TOUR OF MOSCOW

MOSCOW STATE CIRCUS

Day 3 Tour of Moscow Metro system Church of Saint Saviour Overnight train to St Petersburg

Day 4 St Petersburg city tour, including Nevsky Prospekt, Yeliseev’s and the Church of the Spilled Blood

MOSCOW METRO

THE HERMITAGE ST PETERSBURG

Day 5 State Hermitage Museum Peter and Paul Fortress Russian Folklore evening

Day 5 Depart St Petersburg

46

CATHEDRAL FORTRESS OF PETER AND PAUL ST PETERSBURG

PUSHKIN (CATHERINE’S PALACE)

COSTA RICA One of the most biologically wealthy nations in the world, Costa Rica is great for geography and biology students seeking to dive into the issues surrounding sustainable tourism and wildlife conservation.

Embrace new practical experiences that cannot be replicated in the classroom as students participate in a turtle volunteer project and discover more about the turtles’ natural habitat and helping with this important conservation work. Explore the eco-system of the coral reef and the biodiversity of the rain forest or take a trek on a volcano in the Arenal national park and bathe in geothermally heated water. Expand your students’ experiences with recreational activities that can include a zip wire through the forest canopy, kayaking on Lake Arenal and snorkelling on the coral reef.

HIGHLIGHTS San Jose Turtle Conservation Project Arenal Volcano and Baldi Hot Springs Cahuita National Park Pacuare Nature Reserve Poas Observatory of Volcanology and Seismology

BORNEO Students can experience a variety of landscapes including the oldest rain forest in the world, sandy beaches, rubber plantations, controversial palm oil plantations and paddy fields.

Visit the East Malaysian state of Sarawak located on the worlds’ third largest island. Learn about sustainability and the struggle to secure the future of the rainforest with the threat of deforestation caused by logging and palm oil. There is an opportunity to understand more about how Borneo has embraced ecotourism ideas and learn about the islands history during World War II when it was occupied by the Japanese Army. There is incredible biodiversity with the highlight being a visit to an orangutan sanctuary to see the conservation work which is taking place. Turn your cross-curricular experience into a multi-centre tour with stops at the powerhouse Asian cities of Kuala Lumpur or Singapore.

HIGHLIGHTS Kuching Heritage Tour Sarawak Cultural Village Wildlife Cruise Orangutan Program Bako National Park Mari Mari Cultural Village 47

VIETNAM Bursting with colour, life and ancient culture, Vietnam is one of the most captivating and easily navigable of the Southeast Asian countries.

With modern historical events still felt in the country, history students will find that they are moved and affected by what they see and learn during their school trip. The cultural influence of Chinese and French occupation can still be identified in Vietnam and itineraries can include significant sites of the Vietnam War such as the infamous Cu Chi Tunnels. Ancient culture can also be discovered with visits to the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Hoi An and Hue. Students can also explore geographical features, including the spectacular coastline, the iconic limestone pillars of Halong Bay and the fertile plains of the Mekong Delta. There is also the perfect opportunity to see the contrast of rural life with life in the large cities.

HIGHLIGHTS

48

HA LONG BAY

HUE CITADEL

CU CHI TUNNELS

HO CHI MINH COMPLEX

HOI AN

MEKONG DELTA

SINGAPORE Learn the story of how this former fishing village became a global financial centre and one of the most important cities in South East Asia.

Explore Singapore’s history and colonial past and the rich culture of its diverse ethnic groups.

Students will have the chance to see Buddhist Taoist Temples, Mosques, China Town and Little India. Your educational experience in Singapore will allow your group to understand how the modern city has developed under strict planning controls and regulations to be considered the cleanest and safest city in South East Asia. See the innovative architecture and urban projects to provide drinking water and green space in a high rise densely populated modern city with the gardens by the Bay making for a great case study.

HIGHLIGHTS City tour of Singapore Sentosa Island Universal Studios Bumboat Cruise Night Safari Zoo Gardens by the Bay

THAILAND A visit to Thailand will allow your students to engage in an eye-opening experience that taps into history, food and sacred spaces.

There is a hive of activity in Thailand’s cities, but the real joy comes from exploring some of the country’s distinguished temples. Learn about Thailand’s devotion to religion, religious festivals and coloured traditions. Explore environments your students may not otherwise visit, including island beaches that are better defined as ‘a paradise’. In addition to gaining an understanding of the impact and importance of tourism on Thailand’s economy, a trip to Thailand allows for your young learners to develop confidence in travel skills, communication and independence that are becoming increasingly noted by further educational establishments.

HIGHLIGHTS Bangkok Temples Tour Thonburi Canal Tour Mangrove Plantation Project Ayutthaya Ancient City Elephant Nature Park Nong Khao Village 49

SKIING Our ski tours branch has been operating school ski experiences for over 30 years and prides itself on having the most experienced sales team within the school ski industry.

Securing availability in some of the finest resorts throughout France, Italy Austria, Andorra and North America, we’re in the best position to create the perfect ski trip you and your students deserve. You also have access to our exclusive Clubhotels in the French Alps offering students the chance to ski in some of the world’s most prestigious resorts whilst maintaining exceptional value for money.

The health and safety of our customers is of paramount importance and we regularly inspect the accommodation, transport and excursion suppliers we work with. As well as following our own stringent service levels, we are proud to have been awarded full accreditation for the LOtC Quality Badge scheme, are a full member of the School travel Forum and are fully bonded by ABTA and ATOL. This means we can also offer the highest level of financial protection to all our Party Leaders and provide the reassurance and peace of mind you should expect from the leaders in school ski.

SELECTED RESORTS. More available online: Skibound.co.uk

50

LES MENUIRES - FRANCE

ALPE D’HUEZ - FRANCE

OBERLUNGAU - AUSTRIA

SAUZE D’OULX - ITALY

BIG WHITE - CANADA

WINTER PARK - USA

WHAT’S INCLUDED? 7 nights full board accommodation Overseas transfers SkiBound representative 6 days ski equipment and lift passes 6 days of 5 hours ski tuition Full evening entertainment package Full comprehensive Insurance with no excess 51

t: 0044 1273 244664 e: internationalschools@travelbound.com w: travelbound.com 216

5

ABTA No.V378X The Foreign & Commonwealth Office and the NHS has up-to-date advice on staying safe and healthy abroad.

For more on security, local laws, plus passport and visa information, see www.travelaware.campaign.gov.uk

ABTA No.V378X

Keep informed of current travel health news by visiting www.fitfortravel.nhs.uk For all the latest travel information about your holiday, please visit us at www.travelbound.co.uk/travel-aware The advice can change so check regularly for updates.