Q & A for The Tour Marm

ASK THE TOUR MARM!

This is designed to be a forum and information source for the planning of your own student travel programs. All questions and contributions concerning venues, educational programs, museums, logistics, curricula, and teaching plans will be appreciated.

Please note: This is not intended for tour operators and any mention or advertising of tour companies or travel agencies is forbidden. Additionally, anonymous postings will not be included.

Journeys versus Guided Tours!

Educational Travel Programs Should be Journeys,

Not Guided Tours!

Too often I hear the word 'tour' or 'trip' when teachers call to organize an educational travel program and that's the problem; School travel programs are being approached as sightseeing tours and I'm constantly asked to put in all the usual tour stuff. Most teachers never ask about educational content!

Ok, it's rather easy in Washington, DC, Philadelphia, New York, and Boston to put in all sorts of 'educational' sights and shuttle the students hither and fro, but what are they actually learning or experiencing? Of course they'll have fun, take lots of photos, and have a, 'been, there, seen that, done it, and I bought the tee shirt' attitude, rather than retain the significance of the sites, the memory of some hands-on experience. or an inspiriational story. Most of these students can't remember enough about the sites to label their photos properly!

There are so many marvelous places, hands-on discoveries, and educational opportunities available to challenge and engage students. Most tour operators and travel agencies are not aware of these opportunites or simply refuse to include them in the 'package'! It therefore becomes the organizer's responsibility to be knowledgeable enough to request that these sites and hands-on opportunities be added to the program.

I approach my teachers with one very important question: What do you want to accomplish with this educational travel program? Is it a reflection of your teaching plan and curriculum, or is it simply an end-of-term trip?

If it is indeed an educational journey, we discuss alignment to curriculum and/or state standards as well as inclusion of some personal preferences and wish lists. In addition, I also ask which concepts have been difficult for the students to grasp and how this ETP could be of service to illustrate them. In addition, is this ETP to be cross-curricular?

During these discussions, I offer several alternative sites, venues, and educational opportunities that can serve their purposes and illuminate their respective curricula. Some of them are quite surprising and many of my groups are not spending time in the traditional venues! Instead of a generic sightseeing excursion, a custom-designed program responsive to the needs of the teacher is developed.

However, we musn't lose sight of the 'fun' factor.

A well-run and designed ETP containing hands-on discoveries and first person experiences makes history and science come alive. Students who are engaged and challenged are happy. Students who are given fun tasks during the ETP requiring teambuilding are happy and less likely to make the 'wrong choices' during the program.

The argument against alternative venues, sights, and programs I hear most often from organizers is that the students might never have the chance to return and so we must get in as much as possible. My answer: Less is more. Quality is better than quantity. If the ETP is inspiring and there are programs and experiences offered that can not be accessed by the general public, the students will get more out of it and will eventually want to return. And at that point, they can do all the usual tour stuff!

What's your opinion?

The Tour Marm

Introduction, Mission, & Rules of Engagement

Welcome to the Educational Student Travel Forum!

I wish to be of service to educators because I think this forum is needed...

I am an independent professional curriculum-based student travel program itinerary designer, consultant, and guide. My base of operations is from a home office aerie in Alexandria, Virginia, three miles from the Pentagon and five miles from the White House.

Mission:

Twenty-five years in the field representing several national student tour operators convinced me that the current state of the extended historic fieldtrip in the United States needed to be rethought and redesigned.

Currently, student tours in the United States have been reduced to perfunctory sightseeing excursions rather than journeys of discovery and enlightenment.

The costs of airfare, buses, hotels, and decent meals etc. have become exorbitant (and almost prohibitive) and several of tour operators, in order to protect their profit margins, have substantially sacrificed the quality and educational content of their 'tours'. The prices are rising and the value is declining.

Since the programs are becoming so expensive, why not get the most value from the experience? Why not plan your own program and use the tour operators and travel agents for transportation, hotel, and logistical arrangements?

Student tour operators and travel agents aren't necessary for the initial planning process because teachers who are well informed and creative can design and customize their own curriculum and standards-based travel programs better than the legions of company sales people that offer only generic packages, or travel agents that plan from a guide book or 'tried-and-true' basic itineraries.

Together, let's explore new destinations, hidden venues, logistics, on-site educational opportunities, curricula, teaching plans, as well as challenges, problems, and pitfalls to help make your U.S. educational travel programs more meaningful and fun!

Please join me to explore and learn about the wonderful world of student travel; your comments, observations, suggestions, and experiences are welcomed!


The Rules of Engagement for this Forum:

This site is for educators and not a commercial site or marketing tool for tour operators or travel agents. Direct or indirect reference to, or mention of, student tour operators or travel agents will not be permitted or tolerated. (Even The Tour Mistress will not divulge the name of her company!)

Any ill-mannered or uncivilized remarks should be eschewed and will be promptly deleted. Naturally, that also includes foul language and trolls.

Please avoid shorthand; it's not cute, it's annoying.

And yes, I do conduct educational programs in the field during the height of the season, so my posts may be sporadic this spring; but go ahead, talk amongst yourselves...as long as you follow the rules.

The Tour Marm