To ensure that our educators and students have the richest experience possible, we strive to include unique accommodations on each adventure. We may arrange for stays in hotels (minimum three stars), dormitories, a jungle lodge, an educational facility, a research center, or even an overnight aquarium experience. Some trips also include outdoor adventure accommodations, such as camping near Incan ruins or snow caving in New Zealand. On occasion, we also use night trains or overnight ferry services to maximize the time students spend in various destinations. Usual accommodations are three or four students per room, with one student per bed. Educators on the program share a room with a fellow traveling educator. Teachers may earn rewards to have a single room.

Discovery Student Adventure trips are open to students in grades 5 through 12. Minimum age to travel is 10 years old.

Most daily activities call for comfortable yet presentable clothing. Bear in mind this type of clothing is also easier and lighter to pack and dries easily overnight if it becomes wet or requires laundering. A more detailed, recommended packing list will be provided closer to travel.

Teachers can apply online. Please see the section titled Getting Started under the teacher section for more information.

All materials are available online after you register/apply. You will have access to downloadable fliers, letters to families, PowerPoint presentations, fundraising information, and information meeting agendas to help you enroll students. You will have access to an adventure specialist, who can answer questions that may not be addressed online. In addition, classroom lesson plans and videos that can be used in your own classroom are available. Please take a look at the Getting Started section of this website under the Teacher area for a snapshot of the type of support you will receive in enrolling, preparing and traveling students.

Currently our application process requires that our teachers be an active or retired K–12 teacher. Please contact us if you work extensively with students and feel that you can meet the requirements outlined on this website.

Since most teachers enroll their own groups, there are limited spaces for teachers who wish to be assigned to an existing group. Once you apply (and have been accepted into the program) you will be placed on a waiting list. As the need for a teacher arises, you will be contacted, and your trip destination and dates will be assigned to you. Please note that the best way to ensure your travel this year is to enroll your own group of students.

Students will earn 10 service learning hours for participation in service activities. Activities vary by program and destination. Please see the detailed itineraries for more information.

Discovery Education provides related materials before the trip to engage and prepare the students that will be traveling with you as well as provide you opportunities to integrate your travel into the classroom. Videos, lesson plans, community blogs, pre-trip student assignments, and webinars are available. In addition, extensive lesson plans, related videos and post trip student assignments are available to all teachers traveling with us.

Students taking a trip will be provided with various videos and activities throughout the months leading up to the trip. Students who opt to earn high school credit will be assigned pre-trip activities that the teacher leading the trip will assess. In addition, various discussions and lesson plans are integrated into the actual trip. Each student must complete a post-trip assignment to earn high school credit. Assignments are provided by Discovery Student Adventures and managed by the teacher. They will be posted on both the teacher’s and student’s personal landing pages.

Yes. Airfare will vary based upon the departure date and city. At the time of enrollment, students will see the adventure cost (or land travel and activities), international airfare from the departure city, and optional insurance coverage. These figures combined give families the all-inclusive trip cost.

A teacher’s entire trip cost, including airfare, is covered by Discovery Student Adventures when they enroll at least five students.

It is our goal to provide the most direct flights available and allow students and teachers to fly together.

As a teacher you have the option of allowing some students to book their own flights, but please note that these students will be subject to a $150 travel deviation fee and will not be covered by the group travel insurance plan until the group convenes in the destination.

Fundraising can be a rewarding part of a student’s Discovery Student Adventure experience. We encourage students to be creative when planning their fundraising campaign. Please visit the fundraising section of our website to find ideas and tips. After enrollment, students gain access to our complete fundraising website, which features step-by-step guidance through the fundraising process, downloadable worksheets, proven ideas, and other resources.

A U.S. citizen needs a valid U.S. passport, with at least six months validity after the date of re-entry. A non-U.S. citizen needs a valid passport from the country of which they are a citizen (with the recommended six months validity after the date of re-entry) and a valid U.S. visa, Permanent Resident (Green) Card, or U.S. issued re-entry permit.

All students and teachers are covered by a basic group insurance plan that helps offset costs if a major injury is incurred during travel. This insurance is included in the trip cost and helps cover the cost of emergency evacuations and hospitalization. This coverage is primarily during travel. More insurance options are available to increase your coverage.

Please refer to section under the Teacher section titled Eligibility / Requirements.

Teachers may travel with as small a group as they like, but a teacher’s travel is only free after five or more students have enrolled. Teachers are eligible to earn rewards for every additional traveling student after the first five.

Teachers who enroll fewer than five students may still travel and are responsible to pay for the portion of the program fee equivalent to the student shortfall. For example, if a teacher enrolls four students, he or she would pay 1/5 of the program fee to retain their selected date and destination.

Students enroll for travel by completing an online application. They can complete this application either on your personal landing page or through the invitation tool provided to you upon acceptance.

The trip cost includes three meals per day. Meals begin on the overseas flight and terminate upon arrival in the United States.

Yes, we can work with you in regards to dietary needs. Please note that anyone with a peanut allergy cannot travel to China due to the way food is cooked and prepared.

You should have the ability to participate in most activities listed in the itinerary, including but not limited to walking 3 to 5 miles a day over uneven terrain and in various weather conditions, swimming/snorkeling, and climbing with support.

Discovery Student Adventures are all-inclusive. The stated cost of each adventure includes three meals per day with soft drinks, transportation during the trip, all accommodations and activities, basic insurance coverage, and all educational materials for the high school academic credit. International airfare is also included, although this cost varies depending on your group’s departure city. Once your travel date has been assigned, you may request an air quote departing from the city of your choice.

Supplemental insurance coverage will also be a part of your students’ cost at enrollment, but families may choose to decline the coverage after enrollment.

Deposit is required at the time of application. To ensure that your date and air quote is held for each student you enroll, it is important for each student to get his or her deposit in as timely as possible.

Pricing for each destination is available on this website in that destination’s description under “At a Glance.” The international airfare is priced from a designated gateway city—once your travel date has been assigned, you may request an air quote departing from the city of your choice.

Each travel group is determined by age group (middle and high school) and has an average of 35–40 students and 4–8 teachers.

Each group will have a travel manager who will handle all operational aspects of the program. In addition, we utilize a variety in-country experts for specific activities.

The safety of our travelers is our number one priority. World Adventures Unlimited, a subsidiary of Ambassadors Group Inc. works with Discovery Education to implement and operate Discovery Student Adventures. Ambassadors Group is a leader when it comes to travel preparedness, taking a 360-degree approach from selection and training of teachers, to pre-travel preparation for students. For nearly 50 years, Ambassadors Group has provided educational travel and has built an expertise in responding to any incident that may arise. Destinations are carefully chosen, relying on the advice of global travel experts. In addition, Ambassadors Group maintains a 24-hour response team at their program office to respond to any situations that may arise during travel.

World Adventures Unlimited Inc. a subsidiary of Ambassadors Group Inc. implements and operates our trips. Ambassadors Group has nearly 50 years' experience operating international student travel programs, traveling more than 400,000 students to more than 49 countries across seven continents.