One of the most rewarding sights on expedition is witnessing the spark of curiosity in a young traveler, whether they’re locking eyes with a sea lion while snorkeling or standing at the edge of a boisterous penguin colony. These one-of-a-kind moments are especially meaningful when complemented with the learning opportunities in our exclusive National Geographic Explorers-in-Training program.
Offered aboard select destinations from Alaska to Antarctica, this hands-on program helps kids and teens foster a passion for exploration and the natural world as they engage in immersive activities that are both educational and fun.
“All of the activities have been thought through very deeply,” shares Tanish Peelgrane, a National Geographic certified field educator who helps facilitate the program when she’s aboard ship. “They promote exploration, they’re very open-ended and they really take into account learner-centered teaching methods, which makes them really cool,” she says.
From being part of a plankton tow in Baja California to building an ice cream sundae glacier in Alaska, each day brings new opportunities depending on the destination and the broader expedition experiences planned.
Kids are free to participate whenever they feel like it and to follow their interests, whether that’s photography, geology, navigation or wildlife. “It’s never required for them to join, but it’s a really wonderful way to enhance the experiences you’re having as a family in these remarkable parts of the world,” says Peelgrane.
Read on to discover some of the ways your young adventurers can connect more deeply with these wild and wonderful destinations.
