Here at the Current we’re all about travel. Whether for business or pleasure, we’ll be there to help. As most seasoned travellers know, every trip is a learning experience, but some more so than others. We’ll take a look at the 5 best educational trips so you can help your class, kids, or just yourself learn more about the world.
1. London
This is an especially fulfilling visit for any young Canadian student. In London, you can discover not just the history of the heart of the United Kingdom, but also of the vast British Empire that stretched to every corner of the globe. You’ll learn a lot about where Canadian government and culture comes from, the foundation of the English language, and more – all while getting to experience a culture that’s both familiar and foreign in equal measure.
One of the main selling points here are the museums. The National Gallery, the British Museum, the Science Museum, the Natural History Museum – all free. Take your class or kids to London, and you’ll be able to offer front row seats to some of the most renowned museums in the world without paying a cent (or pence)!
Check out our Travel Guide for a more detailed look at what London, and the rest of England has in store.
2. Eastern United States
It may not be the most exotic voyage, but a trip to the US has a lot to offer any inquisitive mind. If you don’t want to stray too far from Ontario, but want to immerse your students or children in American history and politics, you can have it all as you travel down the East Coast.
Discover the cradle of the Revolution in Boston, visit the Smithsonian or take a White House tour in Washington D.C., or stop by the Historic Triangle in Virginia to travel back to colonial times. It’s cheaper and easier than going overseas, and you can bet that understanding what makes our southern neighbour tick will come in handy down the road!
See what secrets the Eastern US holds with our Travel Guide.
3. Central America
For a completely different experience, a trip to one of the many diverse Central American or Caribbean countries can be an eye-opening experience. A lot of schools or nonprofits run trips for high school aged students to countries such as Nicaragua to assist locals with development projects.
By helping to build a school, a well, or simply interacting with the local populace – a student can fully immerse themselves in a different culture, all while helping to make a positive impact. As worthwhile as museums and lectures are, there’s nothing quite like getting practical experience. I know we highlighted Central America here, but there are opportunities like this all over the globe.
4. Italy
It was a tough choice between Italy and Greece. Both countries feature remnants of some of the greatest civilizations in history, with both having a huge impact on Western culture. In our opinion, Italy just shades it due to the sheer amount of Roman sites and relics that remain, plus the even more recent history of the Renaissance.
Classes are constantly visiting Rome – a city where you can wander off the main street into the Roman Forum, back on to the main street, then right into the Coliseum. If ancient history isn’t your thing, take your charges to the galleries and Renaissance landmarks of Florence, let them explore one of the world’s great cities in Venice, and the list goes on. In Italy, you can travel between centuries like nowhere else and by the end you’ll have a much more complete picture of the last 2000 years of human history.
5. Galápagos
This may not be the easiest excursion to plan, but if you can get a small dedicated group out to these islands far off the coast of Ecuador they’ll come back home singing the praises of Charles Darwin for years to come. With some of the most unique and diverse wildlife in the world, you’ll quickly see how this small chain in the middle of the Pacific was able to change the way we think about living species.
Much of the area is protected, but you’ll always be able to find registered guides that take you to the approved areas. Rest assured, just because you might not be able to walk wherever you so choose, you’ll be sure to get your fill of natural wonder. If there was ever a way to get kids interested in biology and science in general – this once in a lifetime trip is it!
So there you have it, our 5 best educational trips. Did we miss anything? Let us know and be sure to follow the Current for more great travel destinations!
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