Silver Spring, Md. (Sept. 16, 2009) – In March 2009, Discovery Education announced the launch of Discovery Student Adventures. Offering educators and students immersive, educational and inspirational trips, this summer 10 educators and 36 students participated in three Discovery Student Adventures pilot trips to Australia, China and South Africa.
In the summer of 2010, Discovery Education will offer adventure-based international trips for students in grades 5-12 and accompanying teachers to eight destinations: the Arctic, Australia, China, Costa Rica, Ecuador and the Galapagos Islands, Italy and Greece, New Zealand and Fiji, and South Africa.
Teachers are invited to experience the 2010 Discovery Student Adventures trips by guiding and chaperoning a group of students throughout one of the eight destinations. These teachers will be active participants in all activities, gaining a unique experience they can take back to their classrooms. Discovery Student Adventures is highly selective and rigorous in choosing its teachers. In addition, educators leading a group are eligible to earn Continuing Education Credits for their participation.
Carol Ann McGuire, an educator at New Village Academy, in Calabasas, Ca., traveled this summer to Australia with Discovery Student Adventures. She explained, "I have always loved international learning. I run an international education project which works with students on all seven continents. Traveling with students made my passion for international learning much deeper. Taking students out of their comfort zones and into a world of learning and discovery is invaluable as it broadens their horizons and opens their minds to new ideas and ways of learning."
Jason Cochrane, a science teacher at Cedar Rapids Community School District’s JFK High School in Iowa traveled to South Africa with Discovery Student Adventures. "We did a wide array of activities on the trip. Some of which I teach directly about, while others were first-hand learning experiences for me," Cochrane said. "My experience at the Sterkfontein caves was neat as I will be able to tell and show students my experience there with hominid fossils, and I may even be able to set-up a Skype chat with the paleoanthropologist we had the opportunity to speak with on our trip."
Discovery Student Adventures employs a unique mix of academics and adventure. In the months prior to the trip, teachers are offered a variety of educational resources, including lesson plans and videos related to each destination, to use in their classroom and to engage students traveling with them.
"I will use my journey, and the itineraries of the other adventures, to spark interest in future trips with students so that they can see some of the things we discuss in class along with a variety of other scientific, cultural and historical activities," Cochrane said.
According to Dale Fulton, Senior Vice President of Curriculum Development, Discovery Education, and a former associate superintendent in the Montgomery County, Md., public school system, international travel can be transformative for teachers. "Educators who experience new cultures through international travel return to their classrooms with a wider scope of experience that they can share with their students," explained Fulton. "I would recommend all educators take advantage of opportunities like Discovery Student Adventures.""
Discovery Education is working with World Adventures Unlimited, Inc., a subsidiary of Ambassadors Group, Inc. (NASDAQ: EPAX) to implement and operate these trips. Considered one of the world’s most recognized and respected educational travel providers, Ambassadors Group has traveled more than 400,000 students, teachers and adults to 49 countries on all seven continents for more than 40 years.
For more information on becoming a Discovery Student Adventures chaperone or guide, visit: www.discoverystudentadventures.com.
For more information about Discovery Education, visit www.discoveryeducation.com or call 800-323-9084.
About Discovery Education
Discovery Communications (NASDAQ: DISCA, DISCB, DISCK) revolutionized television with Discovery Channel and is now transforming classrooms through Discovery Education. Powered by the number one nonfiction media company in the world, Discovery Education combines scientifically proven, standards-based digital media and a dynamic user community in order to empower teachers to improve student achievement. Already, more than half of all U.S. schools access Discovery Education digital services. Explore the future of education at
About Ambassadors Group
Ambassadors Group, Inc. (NASDAQ: EPAX) is a socially conscious, education company located in Spokane, Washington. Ambassadors Group is the parent company of People to People Ambassador Programs, new subsidiary World Adventures Unlimited, Inc., and BookRags, an educational research website. The company also oversees the Washington School of World Studies, an accredited travel study and distance learning school. Learn more at www.ambassadorsgroup.com.
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