Youth Travel Planner 2023 - 9

cultural experiences for students, focusing
on local food, cultural customs, and interacting
with local people, " Assante says.
Consider a cooking class, attending a religious
service, or partnering with a local organization
on a need their community identifies.
These kinds of experiences add a practical
dimension to travel and allow groups to make
connections to diverse perspectives.
Group leaders can also find an ally in a
destination's convention and visitors bureaus.
" They usually have insight on what
is happening locally-especially access to
smaller, more diverse providers of experiences, "
Assante says.
The Rise of STEAM
Thematically, trips connected to STEAM (science,
technology, engineering, art, and math)
are on the rise compared to a decade ago
when tours connected to biology or chemistry
ranked toward the bottom of curricularbased
trips. " We are seeing venues offering
more STEAM-related resources, " Assante
says. " By building a program that includes
activities that will appeal to a range of interests
or partnering with another school that
shares similar curricular goals, group leaders
can meet enrollment goals and maximize
affordability for families. "
EF Tours developed a portfolio of dynamic
itineraries to help groups explore STEAM
topics in a hands-on way. The company's
Japan-based tour Robotics, Engineering, and
the Future of Cities includes visits to science
museums and research labs. A highlight
of the trip is time in Odaiba, a collection of
human-made islands that serves as a futuristic
residential and business district. Students
experience an earthquake simulation and
think through surviving different natural
disasters as they explore climate change. The
Toshiba Science Museum in Kawasaki introduces
students to Toshiba's latest technologies
through science-based games.
" Panama boasts a rich blend of experiences
that make it a perfect destination for
educational travel, " Bickelman adds. The
Panama Canal is an engineering wonder,
and what better way to see it in action than
from the deck of a boat. Students also participate
in an interactive workshop focused
on the importance of wetlands conservation
and immediately see relevancy by taking
part in a beach cleanup and a reforestation
activity. And, of course, adventure enthusiasts
can enjoy the opportunity to surf,
zip line, and whitewater raft all in one trip.
Performance Showcases
Travel opportunities connected to the arts
remain consistent-as they should be! Traveling
as part of a performance showcase
exposes student performers to different
environments and challenges them to adapt
to new situations, teaching techniques, and
approaches. Preparation for such a journey
includes more than just logistical considerations;
students learn a repertoire of challenging
arrangements to be performed at
various different venues.
Embedding workshops, master classes,
and rehearsals into the tour itinerary can
contribute to skill enhancement and technical
improvements to one's craft. Performers
can learn new techniques, receive feedback,
and refine their craft, ultimately improving
their artistic abilities. These opportunities let
student groups experience different cultures,
traditions, and artistic perspectives.
Japanese Aerospace
Exploration Agency
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9
PHOTO EF TOURS
http://www.grouptourmagazine.com
Youth Travel Planner 2023

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