What does it mean that a Smithsonian Student Travel tour is accredited?
All Smithsonian Student Travel travel tours are accredited by 6 organizations: CITA, MSACES, WASC, NCACASI, NCPSA, and SACS. This means that all of our educational tours have been recognized for their quality and educational value, meeting the same rigorous standards as the best schools across the U.S. and around the world.
How can I earn professional development credits by leading a tour?
It's easy to earn continuing education units. All you have to do is pay $200 or
redeem 75 Global Points for the course and complete assignments before, during, and after the tour. We recommend that you seek approval from your school administration before your tour. Ask your tour consultant for more details about earning professional development credit on your educational tour.
How do my students earn credit for their educational tour?
Students may complete our high school elective course with assignments before, during and after your tour. To encourage participation, the $100 tuition fee has been waived through 2009. Your students need to pass the course with a letter grade you assign. We recommend that you seek approval from your school administration before the tour.
How can I prepare my students for our class trip?
Log in to your Group Leader Site to access our Educator Resource Center, where you'll find lesson plans, activities and online exhibits that focus on your destination. You may also recommend books, movies, and website links on the Tour Participant Site via a group leader message or email your group. We are also continually posting new lesson plans and classroom materials on our Facebook fan page (find us as Smithsonian Student Travel) and Twitter account (find us as EFSmithsonian). Many teachers also assign journal projects during the trip that help students What resources does Smithsonian Student Travel provide to complement my tour?
Lesson plans, online exhibits, museum orientations and more are all available on our Educator Resource Center. You can search according to your grade level and your destination and topics of interest. Use these resources before you go on tour to ensure the experience is as educational as possible. In addition, we provide you with question cards to use with your students at museums and other sites on tour. Each student also receives a travel journal.
Learn more about our educational resources.