Student travel is an opportunity unlike any other for youth to broaden their worldview. No matter if students are leaving their hometown for the very first time or have been on the road before, there’s always something new to learn and a different perspective to ponder.
But how do you prepare students to be receptive to these types of experiences and perspectives? Though it can seem daunting, there are a variety of approaches and steps you could take. Use these tips to ensure students are ready to be open-minded and get the most out of their experience!
Offer optimism.
The last couple years have been tough. Emphasize how much of a privilege travel is and remind students how fun new experiences can be! Understand some students may have anxiety about stepping outside their comfort zones, but acknowledge those feelings are normal and that they aren’t alone.
Prepare them beforehand.
Identify what being open-minded looks like with your students. Sharing experiences from other trips will give students a baseline for what to expect, so they’re not shocked when met with something new. Whether it’s encountering new foods, meeting people with different life experiences than them or exploring diverse communities, students are more likely to be open-minded when given the tools to prepare themselves.
Encourage establishing new relationships with classmates.
Traveling together can be a powerful way to forge new relationships that don’t necessarily happen within the halls of your school. Allow students to spend time with their close friends, but ensure they spend time with other students they may not be as close with, whether it’s who they sit with on the bus or share a room with at the hotel.
Unplug.
Stress the importance of living in the moment. Though they can be a useful travel tool, you can’t absorb the world around you and be open to new experiences if your nose is buried in a phone! Consider setting designated times for students to use their phones throughout the trip. That way, you’ll know they’re not missing a single thing.
Courtesy of ETI.
