US Custom Programs: 6 Benefits of Domestic Travel for Students
For many of us here at EdOdyssey, our lifelong love of travel and deep curiosity about the wider world was sparked by our first adventures a little closer to home.
Domestic travel is rich with opportunity, which is why, alongside our international programs, we also offer custom programs for student travel within the US.
The US has many rich ecosystems, landscapes, cities, and cultures spread across the 50 states to explore! Did you know that, in the US alone, there are 423 National Parks and 2,474 State Parks open to the public? Or that the US is the only country with all five major climate zones?
6 Benefits of Domestic Travel
We thrive on building programs for your students in places as far-flung as Chile and Japan, but we also find tapping into our local knowledge and connections across the US just as exciting as we work to build the perfect itinerary to suit your academic objectives within our own borders.
Why travel with your students domestically?
There are many reasons!
Here are six of them:
1. EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES. Leave the classroom walls behind, and students can deepen their understanding of academic subjects in real-world situations.
A few quick location examples….
American history in Boston or Philadelphia
Politics in Washington DC
Science and Tech in Silicon Valley or Cape Canaveral
Environmental science and ecology in Yellowstone National Park or Everglades National Park
Art in New York City or Santa Fe
Music in Nashville or New Orleans
Marine biology in Monterey Bay or Florida Keys
Civil rights in Atlanta or Birmingham
2. CULTURE. In our “melting pot” country, students will meet people on their travels who come from different ethnic, religious, cultural, and racial backgrounds. They will encounter people along the way who come from, or have heritage from, many different countries across the globe. Students from one area of the US will find themselves having a completely different cultural experience in another state. This may even include exposure to different languages, especially when closer to the borders with Canada or Mexico.
3. MUSEUMS. According to the Institute of Museum and Library Services, there are more than 35,000 museums across the US! No matter your subject, there is likely a museum that matches.
A few that stand out?
The open-air Plimoth Patuxet Museums in Plymouth, Massachusetts has a full-scale reproduction of the Mayflower.
The Wild Center in the Adirondacks was named the best science museum and is home to 900 live animals, and plenty of trails, and they even schedule naturalist-led walks.
The Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History in Washington DC explores everything from microscopic bugs to the nearly incomprehensively large dinosaurs.
Seattle’s Museum of Pop Culture is housed in a building that looks like a smashed electric guitar.
The eclectic Neon Museum in Las Vegas is a hidden gem where you’ll find 800 rescued signs and a “Neon Boneyard” for something a little different.
4. PERSONAL GROWTH. Students who travel, whether domestically or internationally, tend to gain or expand on some key skills in the area of personal growth: independence, confidence, problem-solving skills, adaptability, flexibility, communication skills, and the opportunity to bond with their peers and develop strong, lasting friendships.
5. ECONOMIC BENEFITS. There are economic benefits to traveling within the US. You’ll be supporting local economies and communities, for example. These trips can also be more cost-effective and, therefore, accessible to a wider group of students. Plus, you don’t have to worry about certain things that you would internationally, such as exchange rates or different tipping customs, for example.
6. LESS STRESS. When you travel closer to home, parents (of younger students, especially!) may feel more comfortable about the trip. There’s a sense of familiarity for the parents, the students, and for you too. The trips can be shorter as there is usually less travel time involved, and no one has to worry about passports, different healthcare systems, or navigating foreign public transportation.
Creating a US Custom Program with EdOdyssey
Speaking of “less stress,” whether you’re traveling with us domestically or internationally, our aim is to take as much off your plate as possible. We plan lodging, transportation, activities, meals, and more, and you’ll have a EdOdyssey Educator on board as a guide and to help ensure everything runs smoothly.
Our domestic custom programs typically last anywhere from one week to one month, are executed year-round, and can cater to a group of middle school students, high school students, or college and university students.
