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  1. Home
  2. Teachers and Group Leaders
  3. How it works

How we put “education first” on every tour

Travel-based learning is an opportunity for educators to bring your students on a group-based tour organized by EF Explore America and led by local experts. With over 60 years as the global leader in educational travel, we know that empowering a student’s personal journey is just as important as handling the details of their physical trip. We also value the same educational outcomes as your school, and are proud to be accredited by America’s most respected organizations.

Student and teacher visiting the White House on tour

The opportunity

Travel-based learning equips students with key skills they need for their futures

Today's students face a world that's changing faster than ever. Many will have jobs that don't even exist yet, solving challenges we haven't imagined. Success won't come from memorizing facts and figures—it will come from knowing how to think critically, communicate effectively, collaborate through complexity, and lead with empathy. The future belongs to students who can do more than simply know. It belongs to those who can adapt, connect, and create.

93%

of executives deem "soft skills" just as critical as technical skills

The Wall Street Journal

85%

of today's second graders will work in jobs that don't exist yet

The Washington Post

the EF difference

Every EF tour is intentionally designed with hands-on learning that builds essential future readiness skills

Our proven method, developed over 60 years, enhances what students are taught in the classroom with immersive learning that helps students develop the future readiness skills essential for their success—in college, the career world, and adult life.

Student on tour in Boston, MA visiting MIT
The EF Method
New perspectives

EF takes students safely out of their comfort zones to experience the world firsthand.

  • Cultural awareness

    Cultural understanding

    Open-mindedness

  • Adaptability

    Curiosity

    Growth mindset

Personal Development

Experiencing new places and cultures transforms how students think and feel, which leads to more self-discovery.

  • Self-awareness

    Individual impact

    Resilience

  • Agency

    Confidence

Feel a difference

Students gain social and culture awareness that helps them better understand themselves and the world.

  • Communication

    Active listening

    Authentic connection

  • Collaboration

    Empathy

    Flexibility


We design tours to fit every teacher’s educational goals and needs

See all tour collections
Students at Boston Museum of Science

STEM Tours

Bring STEM principles to life beyond the classroom

View the collection
Students and teacher in Washington, D.C.

Social Studies & History Tours

Walk through powerful moments in U.S. history

View the collection
Students at Radio City Music Hall

Popular Tours

Our most popular educational class trips

View the collection

Let’s find the right tour for you.

We’ll pair you with an EF travel expert who will match you with the perfect tour.

GL karen

“Educational travel isn’t optional, it’s integral to developing future-ready graduates.”

Dr. Karen Cheser
ED.D. Superintendent from Durango, CO

What learning looks like for students before, during, and after an EF tour

When EF is your partner, educational travel is about way more than the days you’re away. You and your students embark on a learning journey that begins the moment you sign up, and it continues long after you return home.

BEFORE YOU GO

Prepare for the journey ahead

There’s so much excitement in the preparation for the adventure ahead, especially for students who will be away from home for the first time.

  • Budget spending money with the help of Till Financial

  • Figure out what to pack

  • Study up on the places you’ll visit

  • Start an academic course to earn credit

during your tour

Immerse yourself in every moment

Every EF tour is enhanced with a curriculum of immersive learning designed to help travelers develop essential skills that will better prepare them for their futures.

Students on Charles River duck tour in Boston, MA

Traveling and living with peers

Students work together to build interpersonal skills like flexibility, adaptability, and compromise.

Student with headphones looking up

Immersion in new environments

Dive into destinations culturally, intellectually, and emotionally.

Tour Director speakign with group

Professionally guided travel

Discuss and reflect on your discoveries with the insightful context your Tour Director and local guides provide.

Tour Director leading student group in Washington, D.C.

Learning from subject experts

Gain intercultural knowledge and skills from local experts in their fields.

travelers visiting the Statue of Liberty

Team-based activities

Promote student communication and collaboration with engaging group exercises.

Students participating in Boston Robotics workshop

Hands-on experiences

Multi-sensory learning at its best. See, hear, small, taste, and feel what a new place can teach you.

Student on tour in Boston

Independent exploration

Build confidence, independence, and problem-solving skills by making individual discoveries.

AFTER YOU RETURN

Reflect and continue growing

Students are encouraged to take time to reflect on their growth. Some examples of impact are immediately obvious, while others may take months, or even years, to surface. Travelers can continue to build on what they’ve learned, making an impact on their communities and the world around them.


Powerful partnerships

Our world-renowned partners help bring education to life for students, like the Smithsonian's National Museum of American History, FIRST Robotics, the Honor Flight Network, the United Nations Association of the United States of America, and more.

Learn more
first logo
honor flight network logo
united nations association of us logo
washington's mount vernon logo
spyher logo
the met museum logo
mass robotics logo
nobel prize museum logo
turnstile tours logo
freedom forum logo

Enhance any EF tour with academic credit

EF is an accredited, globally recognized educational organization, so you can easily offer your students additional opportunities for academic enrichment on any tour experience.

  • College credit

    In partnership with Southern New Hampshire University, EF offers students the opportunity to earn three college credits at a fraction of the usual cost through an exclusive online course.

  • High school credit

    Students can complete optional coursework before, during, and after their EF tour to deepen their learning experience and earn elective credit.

  • EF | Nobel Prize Museum Global Citizen Certificate

    By completing a multimedia project that addresses a tour-related prompt, students can earn a certificate to use on their resume, LinkedIn, and more.

Learn more
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Two students studying on tour
Two students studying on tour
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Let’s work together to find the right educational tour for you and your students.

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