Nations Classroom Blog

The great outdoors, wide-open spaces, and experiential learning. School trips to America's National Parks offer more than you can imagine for teachers and students alike. 

But, if you can't visit the National Parks with your students this year you can still visit virtually! Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks offer fantastic curriculum and virtual tours for housebound adventurers. 

On this day in 1890, Dwight D. Eisenhower was born in in Texas. 130 years later, his newly constructed memorial opened in Washington, D.C. 

The Dwight D. Eisenhower Memorial opened to the public on September 17, 2020. Student groups will be welcome to explore the small memorial park to discover more about the 34th President of the United States.

When you first begin planning a school trip, you are fired up about inspiring kids and changing lives. You have an exciting itinerary, an incredible tour operator, and your administration is on board! Nothing can possibly go wrong.

But then you notice no one is registering for the trip. Maybe five or ten students are signed up, but you're miles away from your goal. What happened? How can you get more of your students to sign up for this once-in-a-lifetime experience?

Gaining momentum on your first school trip can be difficult, but here are five proven ways to get students and parents excited enough to sign-up today!

Get ready museum lovers, Washington D.C.'s newest museum, Planet Word, is scheduled to open October 22nd inside the historic Franklin School.

With a mission to "inspire and renew a love of words, language, and reading," Planet Word is a museum dedicated to promoting a love of language - no matter the form.

Whether you spend an hour or an entire afternoon, here's what you should excite you about this museum!

Boasting some of the most unbelievable views in America, the Grand Canyon offers hands-on STEM educational programs, rich cultural experiences, and adventures for all ages. 

But other than observing grand views, what else can student groups do during a visit to the world's largest canyon? 

Here are 5 of our favorite things to do while visiting the Grand Canyon!

If there is one thing this pandemic has taught us, it is that teachers are incredible, innovative, and have superpowers. How else can we explain the amount of work they're able to get done during one 24 hour period?

So once a teacher is finally able to plan a school trip and get it approved, is it any surprise that their number one concern is how they'll find time to share the information with parents?

If you choose to work with a Student Travel Consultant like NationsClassroom, your first step to reaching parents is by hosting a parent meeting.

When students visit Colonial Virginia, they will have the opportunity to engage with America's history in a tangible way. Williamsburg, Yorktown, and Jamestown offer hands-on learning experiences centered on history, science, engineering, and technology. Next time you're on the Historic East Coast, make a trip to Colonial Virginia to experience the cultural exchanges, strained relations, and significant battles that altered history. 

If you don't have the chance to visit in person, your students can still immerse themselves in colonial history by using the free teacher resources on the History Is Fun website.

Over the past few weeks, one of our team members has been teaching us about the greatest outdoor adventure spots in the United States - otherwise known as the National Parks. There are hundreds of National Parks across the United States, and each one shows students that adventure is available everywhere, even in America’s backyard. 

“Every National Park is so unique and each offers distinct natural wonders to explore and enhance curriculum. I often find that people are surprised when they discover the vast number of options available in the Parks. In addition to STEM-based programs in Geology, Paleontology, Biology, Ecology, and so many more, teachers can also include programs on local history - particularly Native American history and culture - in many of the Parks.” Jennifer Court, Tour Guide for 12 years

Here are 16 Awe-Inspiring Programs to Add-On to Your National Parks Trip.

For many high school students, the college road trip is a rite of passage. Like learning to drive, researching and visiting colleges is a huge step towards adulthood. It's inspiring to tour the halls of a university and imagine yourself as a student there.

Even though the traditional Washington, D.C. trip is associated with 8th grade, our nation's capital can serve as a great launching point for a college road trip for older students. 

Here's an example of a simple four-day trip to historic Virginia that includes visits to universities in the surrounding areas.

Our Founder, Jay Bloxsom, likes to say that we aren't moving towards a "New Normal," we're working towards a "New Better." As we return to inspiring students through travel, there are two big questions that parents and educators are asking about travel.

One, how will we travel safely?

Two, how can I be sure that I am receiving the best refund/payment protection plan that will be honored?