2023 National Geographic Student Travel

SUMMER 2023 HIGH SCHOOL PROGRAMS

Go On Assignment with National Geographic

Get out into the field this summer and engage with the world through the lens of an On Assignment project. Each National Geographic Student Travel program offers a choice of one or two areas of focus, such as photography, climate and geology, technology, or wildlife conservation. With the guidance and insights of trip leaders and a National Geographic Explorer, learn through hands-on activities and excursions, deepen your understanding of our world, and return home ready to pursue bold ideas, engage others, and inspire action.

Why Choose National Geographic Student Travel?

Inspire Your Inner Explorer

A certain spirit motivates National Geographic Explorers around the world—and you feel it when you travel with us. You’ll be out in the field with our Explorers, who are fueled by curiosity and a desire to understand our planet and its people, and who are committed to making the world a better place.

Explore Your Passion

Throughout your program, you’ll delve deeper into your surroundings through the lens of one or more topics— photography, wildlife conservation, marine biology, and more. As you explore, you’ll create a tangible project that you can take back home to your community, such as a photography portfolio or a study on local wildlife, allowing you to share your passion with others.

Engage Authentically & Sustainably

We are committed to sustaining the natural integrity and cultural heritage of each place we visit. We support local economies in our choice of accommodations and services, increase students’ appreciation for local communities through meaningful exchange, and invest in offset projects for the carbon emissions associated with activities and travel in our destinations.

Build Lasting Relationships

One of the highlights of your program is sure to be your traveling companions—students from across the globe who are also enthusiastic about exploring. And you’ll find role models in your National Geographic Explorers and trip leaders, who are photographers, writers, scientists, and educators pursuing careers that help to make the world a better place.

Inspire Change

Whichever On Assignment theme you choose, you’ll join a growing community of individuals who are curious about the world around them and committed to preserving it. You’ll leave your program with a roadmap, ready to pursue bold ideas, engage others, and inspire action.

Make a Difference

When you travel with us, you support the National Geographic Society’s Explorers who use science, exploration, education, and storytelling to illuminate and protect the wonder of our world. Every year, the Society awards hundreds of grants to scientists, educators, innovators, and storytellers around the world. They change how we understand our planet—and help to protect it for future generations.

Types of Programs

Exploration

Get out into the field and go on expedition around the globe, all through the lens of an On Assignment theme, such as photography, climate and geology, or wildlife conservation. Learn through handson activities and excursions, and pursue an On Assignment project with guidance from your trip leaders and a National Geographic Explorer.

University Workshops

From your base at MIT, delve into issues impacting the future of our world, and examine solutions offered by engineering, technology, AI, and robotics. Participate in hands-on workshops, meet National Geographic Explorers to hear about their innovative work, and develop a project to address an issue you’ve encountered.

Photography & Film Workshops

Become a better photographer, filmmaker, editor, and storyteller, learning important skills and applying them in some of the world’s most photogenic places. A National Geographic Explorer or photographer joins the group for the entire duration of the workshop, helping students master their cameras, create engaging images, and become better editors of their own work. Students organize, curate, and install a pop-up gallery show featuring their original images and a screening of films they produced. Find the right program for you at natgeostudenttravel.org/programs

”On these programs, I repeatedly witness students maturing and gaining skills in self-reliance, collaboration, science, and critical thinking. In short, I watch students become leaders.”

—Dr. M Jackson, National Geographic Explorer

EXPLORE PROGRAM THEMES

Anthropology, Culture, & Tradition

Understand the links between the ancient and present worlds, communities, and traditions, encountering traces of past civilizations and experiencing vibrant traditions that exist today.

Climate & Geology

Examine Earth processes, witness dramatic geological forces at work, and discuss the science of global climate change with local researchers.

Innovation, Technology, & Robotics

Get a firsthand look at new technologies that are being created to address challenges facing the world today.

Marine & Tropical Biology

Delve into underwater ecosystems and better understand how the health of our oceans, seas, and shorelines impacts all life on Earth.

Photography

Set out on shoots to improve your photography or film skills, leveraging storytelling to illuminate the places you encounter.

Wildlife Conservation

Discover local wildlife and their habitats, and learn about biologists’ innovative efforts to protect and better understand them.

SUMMER 2023

Join Us This Summer

Experience what it’s like to be on assignment for National Geographic. Our summer programs for high school students immerse you in destinations around the globe, engaging with the world as a thoughtful explorer. You will return home informed and inspired to be a changemaker in your community.

EXPLORATION

Baja & the Gulf of California

Marine & Tropical Biology, Photography

July 14–25, July 27–Aug. 7

EXPLORATION

Canadian Arctic

Photography, Wildlife Conservation

July 18–28, Aug. 6–16

Scan to view full program descriptions and itineraries

EXPLORATION

Namibia

Photography, Wildlife Conservation

June 22–July 13

EXPLORATION

Norway

Anthropology, Photography

June 26–July 12, July 12–28

EXPLORATION

Ecuador & the Galápagos

Photography, Wildlife Conservation

June 28–July 13, July 3–18

UNIVERSITY WORKSHOP

Engineering & Robotics on the MIT Campus

Innovation, Technology, & Robotics

July 7–16, July 21–30

EXPLORATION

Iceland

Climate & Geology, Photography

June 25–July 8, June 30–July 13

EXPLORATION

Thailand

Anthropology, Photography

July 1–21, July 15–Aug. 4

PHOTO WORKSHOP

Tokyo

Photography & Film Workshop

July 23–Aug. 3

PHOTO WORKSHOP

Yellowstone

Photography Workshop

June 28–July 6, July 9–17

National Geographic Explorers

National Geographic Explorers have been inspiring people for more than 130 years. They’ve pursued their dreams, become leaders in their fields, collaborated with local communities, and are excited to share their stories and knowledge with the next generation of Explorers through our student travel programs. As you explore together, they’ll share their insights and experiences, and inspire you with their passion for the work they do and the places you’ll travel.

A National Geographic Explorer joins each of our programs.

National Geographic Explorers are exceptional individuals in their fields who receive funding and support from the National Geographic Society to illuminate and protect our world through their work in science, exploration, education, and storytelling.

Meet more Explorers at natgeostudenttravel.org/explorers

Buglass Marine Ecologist

Ingi Mehus Storytelling Facilitator

Dr. M Jackson Geographer & Glaciologist

Salomé

Drew Rush Photographer

Program Leaders

Heading up each program is a team of talented, dynamic trip leaders with extensive experience in the field—and who love working with students. Our leaders have considerable professional experience related to the program theme, language proficiency, and time spent in the program destination.

Meet our leaders at natgeostudenttravel.org/leaders

2023 Programs

Thank you to the following photographers whose work is featured in this booklet: Cameron Zegers, Christian Murillo, Edith Sløk, Erica Frisk, Erika Skogg, Julia Schachinger, Lauren Fritz, Leah Fink, Niki Büttner, and Simone Levine

Putney Student Travel operates student programs under license from the National Geographic Society. The name of "National Geographic" and the Yellow Border are trademarks of the National Geographic Society and Putney Student Travel is an authorized user.