Global travel is part of the DNA of our international school. "Experience the world" is our school's tagline, and we have an extensive global travel program that allows our students to do just that, through international exchanges in 5th and 8th grades and service, culture, and language trips throughout our Middle and High Schools. Like many schools, we link our travel program to classroom curricula wherever we can and hold orientation sessions for students and parents before departure in order to deepen the the experience for our students. We want global travel to be a rich learning experience, not just a vacation with classmates. Some of our trip leaders hold a series of meetings before a trip leaves, while others gather the group to discuss their learning after they return. Many ask for written reflections from students, and others hold meetings with students and parents after a trip. Our students consistently speak of our global travel program as one of the most important aspects of their education at our school.
We are always looking for other opportunities to prepare our students for and to help them reflect on their travel experiences, and I'm curious about the ways that other schools prepare students for travel abroad and follow up when they return. In your school, what are the ways that you help students get ready for the experience of global travel? How do you follow up with your student travelers when they come home?