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About Our Trips

Explore. Engage. Create.

We invite the next generation of explorers to get out in the field and follow in the footsteps of National Geographic photographers, writers, and scientists. You might kayak into a remote fjord along Alaska's dramatic coast, study the behavior of giant tortoises in the Galápagos, hike across volcanic landscapes in Hawaii, or settle into a village in Tanzania and help out with a community project. It takes just a little digging to find that there is wonder—big and small—all around the world. Come discover it with us.

Eligibility

Students completing 9th through 12th grades are eligible to participate in National Geographic Student Expeditions.

Our Long History in Exploration

National Geographic has been exploring the planet since 1888, and our network of experts and contacts across the globe is vast and deep. We tap into these resources to create unique and exciting travel opportunities for students.

In Australia, for example, you'll listen to an Aboriginal guide tell ancient Dreamtime stories and sail along the Great Barrier Reef. You'll get to know Maasai elders in Tanzania and traditional Andean weavers in Peru. Conduct research with wildlife biologists in Monterey Bay and Costa Rica, and join geologists to measure glacial movement in Alaska and geothermal activity in Hawaii.

To make these innovative trips possible, we have partnered with Putney Student Travel—a highly respected student travel organization that has offered quality student expeditions for more than 50 years. Putney is a leader in its field, delivering innovative, safe, and fun expeditions all around the world.

A Blend of Education and Adventure

In addition to our National Geographic On Assignment projects, enjoy outdoor activities like hiking, snorkeling, rafting, or horseback riding. Get immersed in the local community, playing sports with children, interacting with fishermen, or visiting the homes of artisans and farmers. Our itineraries allow us the flexibility to take advantage of spontaneous events while still providing full and structured days.

National Geographic On Assignment Projects

On each of our expeditions, you'll have an opportunity to choose one of the On Assignment projects offered on the trip. Throughout the expedition, you'll break into teams to pursue your On Assignment project. With the guidance of trip leaders and our National Geographic expert, you'll get involved in a series of hands-on projects to guide your exploration. Dig deeper into a country's landscape and culture to develop your own story through writing, photography, or hands-on field activities. As you explore ancient temples in the Greek Isles, snorkel with penguins in the Galápagos, or ride camels across the desert in India, you'll experience your surroundings through the personalized lens of your project.

Click here to see our On Assignment projects and the destinations in which they're offered.

Our Dynamic Travel Groups

STUDENTS. Traveling with your peers naturally breeds a sense of common purpose and teamwork. You'll develop strong bonds through working in teams on On Assignment projects. Plus, seeing a place through the eyes of your friends brings a whole new dimension to your experience. Our expeditions range between 16 and 28 students, and our On Campus programs can accommodate as many as 50 students.

TRIP LEADERS. To lead our trips, we've selected dynamic college graduates who are pursuing careers in fields from photo journalism to environmental science and geography. They are energetic, creative, responsible, knowledgeable, and fun. They know the destination well and seek to share their love of travel with high school students. Our student-to-trip-leader ratio is usually between six and eight to one and never more than nine.

NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC EXPERTS. On each trip, a National Geographic photographer, writer, researcher, or explorer will join us for a portion of the trip. Our experts are leaders in their field who will enrich the trip with their stories and their insight.

Our Accommodations

The accommodations we use are well located and comfortable. On most programs, we stay in small, family-run inns and hostels; student centers; university housing; or research stations. Sometimes our accommodations are part of the adventure. For instance, we'll settle into safari camps in Tanzania, a working hacienda in Ecuador, or a villager's farmhouse inn near the Great Wall of China.

Community Involvement

We believe that participating in community-service projects is a great way to become more engaged with the place you're exploring while making a useful contribution. On many of our programs, you will have an opportunity to give back to the community by participating for a few hours or as much as several days in a service project. Depending on the location and the community's needs, this could involve helping with small-scale construction, tutoring students in English, cleaning up a park, or helping out at an orphanage. At the end of the expedition, if you have participated in community service work, you will receive a certificate stating the number of hours you have logged. Below are estimated community service hours for each trip. Please note that these are estimates and cannot be guaranteed, and hours may vary depending on the options the student chooses. You will need to check with your school to determine if community service hours on our expeditions will qualify toward your school's community service requirement.

2010 Community Service Hours*

*There is not a community service component on our programs to Australia, Rome & Greece, Spain, Iceland, Hawaii, Bar Harbor, Alaska, or Tuscany.

Our Sustainable Travel Philosophy

As an organization that seeks to inspire others to care about the planet, National Geographic is committed to sustaining the character and integrity of each place we visit—its environment, culture, heritage, and the well-being of its residents. In providing authentic travel experiences for students, we strive to protect the sites we visit, support local economies in our choice of accommodations and services, and increase students' understanding and appreciation of other peoples and customs through meaningful friendships and cultural exchange.

Our Scholarship Program

The National Geographic Student Expeditions Scholarship Program provides financial support for students seeking educational summer experiences who could otherwise not afford them. Diverse student groups enhance group dynamics and learning opportunities for all involved.

Click here for more information about our scholarship program. If you are interested in making a contribution, please contact us via or phone at 1-877-877-8759.

National Geographic On Campus: Ten Days of Exploration and Adventure

There's nothing like a spectacular setting to inspire your creativity and spark your desire to explore. On a National Geographic On Campus program, you'll settle into one of five compelling places—Monterey Bay, California; Hawaii; Bar Harbor, Maine; Costa Rica; or Tuscany, Italy—and spend ten days taking part in hands-on field activities, engaging workshops, and active excursions. In the company of a diverse group of instructors and National Geographic experts, delve into the layers of local history and culture, get to know its natural wonders and personalities, and explore the region in-depth through your On Assignment interest.

PURSUE YOUR PASSION: ON ASSIGNMENT PROJECTS
You'll choose an On Assignment focus and work alongside fellow students, instructors, and National Geographic experts who share your passion for the field. On the final day, gather to share your project and findings with your new friends. Click here for more information about our individual On Assignment projects and where they are offered.

BROADEN YOUR PERSPECTIVE: ENRICHMENT WORKSHOPS
You'll have an opportunity to attend an array of hands-on workshops that complement your On Assignment project or satisfy your curiosity. Learn about giant redwood conservation in Monterey, the production of olive oil in Tuscany, or the geology of sea caves in Maine. Each workshop is led by a National Geographic expert, a local specialist, or a team of dynamic leaders.

GET OUT AND EXPLORE: ACTIVE EXCURSIONS
We'll set out into the field on active excursions throughout the program. Hike to black-lava beaches in Hawaii, swing through the canopy of Costa Rica's cloud forest on a zip line, or board a research boat to look for humpback whales off the coast of Maine.

LEARN FROM THE EXPERTS
National Geographic experts will join you during the course of the program to lead workshops and excursions, give presentations about their work, and inspire interesting discussions. Whether you go on a photo shoot alongside a National Geographic photographer or conduct field research with a biologist whose findings have been reported in our magazines, you'll gain valuable insights from our experts.

See full descriptions of our On Campus programs: Monterey Bay, California, Bar Harbor, Maine, Hawaii, Costa Rica, and Tuscany, Italy.

Transportation To and From Expeditions

All international expeditions and our Hawaii and Alaska programs begin and end at a meeting point at a U.S. airport — generally New York (JFK), Newark, Miami, Houston, or Los Angeles. We have arranged for group flights and special group airfare for these expeditions. We have also arranged for an escort to accompany students on all group flights. Airfare is not included in the cost of the tuition (except as noted in the program descriptions) and should be booked through our office. All participants must join these escorted group flights unless we receive written authorization from a parent for alternate transportation plans to the starting point or from the ending point of the expedition. For the Monterey Bay and Bar Harbor programs, students arriving and departing by plane will be met by a trip leader at the arrival/departure airport. On all programs, parents are responsible for making arrangements for participants to arrive at and return from the U.S. departure/return meeting points.

Preparing For Your Expedition

In the months leading up to your adventure, we will send you materials to help you prepare for your trip, including National Geographic books, magazines, maps, or DVDs, as well as a complimentary one-year subscription to a National Geographic magazine of your choice. Not only will these provide background information about your destination, they'll also get you thinking about the kind of On Assignment project you'd like to pursue.

Expeditions for School Groups

If you are a high school teacher or other high school staff and are interested in offering a special departure of a National Geographic Student Expedition for your school, contact us at 877-877-8759 or for more information.

OTHER NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC TRAVEL PROGRAMS