Meet Explorica

Explorica, a leading provider of domestic and international educational tours, has been a member of the WorldStrides family for years. Teachers, students, and parents love Explorica’s commitment to flexibility and comprehensive support.

Beginning in fall 2027, Explorica’s trusted approach will be combined with the depth of resources, safety, infrastructure, and educational expertise of WorldStrides, providing a more seamless experience for all of our travellers.

We’ve been integrating our industry-leading resources into Explorica programs since they first joined WorldStrides in 2016. That means, really, not much is changing! Returning travellers will still have the same team, support systems, and high-quality level of service that you’ve always had. You’ll also continue to benefit from professional development for teachers, academic credit for students, and enjoy an even greater global network of support!

What happens next?

In the coming months, we’ll keep you updated about what to expect as you travel with WorldStrides. All tours that are currently booked will carry on as planned.

FAQs

Q: What are the benefits?

Plenty!
– New for 2027, TourFlex makes customisation even easier so you can tailor your activities, meals, and hotels to fit your goals and budget.

– As an accredited institution, WorldStrides can award academic credit to students in grades 6-12 who complete coursework that is specially designed by our Academics Team to accompany their travel program. Thanks to our partnership with George Mason University, we’re also able to award college credit to students in grades 9-12.

– LEAP^® (Learning through Exploration and Active Participation), our trademarked approach to immersive learning, is embedded in each itinerary, boosting the education impact of our programs.

– 24/7 emergency support from our WorldAssist Team, plus round-the-clock access to medical care for all travelling participants through Doctors on Call, our exclusive relationship with The George Washington University Medical Faculty Associates.

Q: I have a tour booked for fall 2026 with WorldStrides or Explorica. Will anything change?

No. All tours already booked will proceed as planned.

Q: Can I still work with my WorldStrides or Explorica contact(s)?

Yes! Your existing contact is a great person to ask for more information about this transition.

Q: How do I browse and book tours for fall 2027 or beyond? 

Click here to explore available tours and start planning.

The post Introducing the Explorica Experience appeared first on WorldStrides Canada.

Smartphones are a constant presence in students’ lives, including during school trips. When used intentionally, they can enhance learning, support engagement, and deepen understanding on educational travel programs. Rather than viewing phones as distractions, educators can use them as instructional tools that support experiential learning before, during, and after travel.

Student travel programs with WorldStrides Canada and Explorica offer immersive environments where technology can be used purposefully to connect classroom learning with real-world experiences.

Photo Challenges and Selfie Assignments on School Trips

Photography-based activities are an effective way to encourage observation and reflection during student travel programs. Educators can assign photo challenges that ask students to document specific themes, such as cultural traditions, historical landmarks, or architectural styles.

Selfie assignments can also be instructional when paired with reflection prompts. For example, students might photograph themselves at a significant site and explain its historical or cultural importance. These activities promote critical thinking while helping students engage more meaningfully with their surroundings.

From an educational travel perspective, photo-based learning supports visual literacy, personal connection to place, and student ownership of learning.

Scavenger Hunts Using Smartphones

Scavenger hunts are a popular and highly engaging activity on school trips. Smartphones allow educators to design interactive scavenger hunts that use GPS, cameras, and note-taking apps to guide exploration.

Students can work in small groups to locate landmarks, interpret historical details, or identify cultural elements within a destination. This approach encourages collaboration, problem solving, and active participation, all while reinforcing curriculum connections.

For student travel programs, scavenger hunts help transform cities, museums, and cultural sites into hands-on learning environments.

Digital Journaling and Blogging for Educational Travel

Reflection is a core component of experiential learning, and smartphones make it easy for students to capture insights in real time. Digital journaling apps or shared blogs allow students to document daily experiences through written reflections, photos, and short videos.

Throughout a student travel program, these digital journals help students connect what they are seeing and doing to classroom learning goals. After returning home, journal entries can be used for assignments, presentations, or assessment, extending the educational value of the trip.

Responsible Social Media Sharing on Student Travel Programs

Social media can be a positive learning tool when clear guidelines are in place. Educators may choose to create a shared hashtag or private group where students can post photos and reflections from their school trip.

This approach helps build community, keeps families informed, and allows students to practise responsible digital citizenship. Expectations around privacy, respectful content, and appropriate posting should be established before departure.

Educator Tips for Using Smartphones Effectively on School Trips

To ensure smartphones enhance learning rather than distract from it, structure and expectations are essential.

Before the trip

• Introduce students to any apps or platforms they will use.
• Review digital safety, privacy, and respectful technology use.
• Outline when phones are permitted and when they should be put away.

During the trip

• Use smartphones for guided activities tied to learning objectives.
• Encourage group work to keep students engaged and accountable.
• Reinforce respect for local people, customs, and cultural sites.

After the trip

• Use photos, journals, and research gathered during travel for reflection activities.
• Assign presentations or digital portfolios to connect travel experiences to curriculum outcomes.

Enhancing Student Travel Programs Through Purposeful Technology

When used with intention, smartphones can strengthen engagement, reflection, and learning on educational travel programs. By providing structure and clear learning goals, educators can turn everyday technology into a meaningful extension of the classroom.

Student travel programs through WorldStrides Canada offer rich opportunities to combine experiential learning with responsible, guided technology use, helping students build global awareness, critical thinking skills, and lasting connections to the world beyond school.

The post From Selfies to Scavenger Hunts: Using Smartphones as Instructional Tools on a Student Travel Program appeared first on WorldStrides Canada.

Get ready to make some dough from your camera roll.

Our annual photo and video contest is back, which means you could win big. Take the Travel Recap Challenge by sending us your best videos and pics from your WorldStrides Canada tour. If you went on a program with us between September 1, 2025 and June 30, 2026, you’re eligible to enter.* This year, short-form video will get a priority lane to the front, but photos are still fair game.

<<English entries>>

<<French entries>>

Each month from February to June, our judging panel will select up to three winners from our contest categories to receive a $50 e-gift card. Monthly categories include short POV videos, Destination highlights, and shots of learning in action. Plus, entries that go the extra mile—edited travel reels, storytelling videos—will be eligible for one of our five Grand Prizes: a $150 e-gift card. That’s 21 winners total!

Make sure to follow along on Instagram and Facebook to see all of our winners and some honourable mentions. You can read more about entry requirements here. Good luck!

*Students, Program Leaders, and chaperones—anyone who has or will travel with WorldStrides Canada (meaning, Brightspark, Éducatours, Explorica, Jumpstreet and our Sports and Performance divisions) between September 1,2025, and June 30, 2036, is eligible to enter.

The post Capture. Share. Win. The WorldStrides Travel Recap Challenge appeared first on WorldStrides Canada.

Black History Month is an opportunity to pause, reflect, and deepen our understanding of the people and movements that helped shape a more just society. While individual leaders often take center stage, the Civil Rights Movement was powered by collective action. Students, community members, and organizers working together created change that continues to impact our world today.

For educators, this month is also a chance to help students connect history to real places, real people, and real choices.

Change Happens When People Work Together

The Civil Rights Movement succeeded because it was built on collaboration and persistence. Organizations such as the NAACP, SNCC, and CORE provided structure, training, and support for thousands of individuals who were willing to stand up for equality.

Students played a critical role. Through sit-ins, marches, and voter registration drives, young people proved that leadership is not defined by age. Their actions remind today’s students that their voices matter and that progress often begins when people come together around a shared purpose.

Leadership Rooted in Community

Leaders like Martin Luther King Jr., Ella Baker, and John Lewis are remembered not only for their words, but for how they empowered others. Ella Baker believed in developing leaders at the grassroots level. John Lewis began his activism as a student and carried those values throughout his life.

Their stories show that meaningful leadership is not about standing alone. It is about listening, organizing, and lifting others up.

Experiencing History Where It Happened

Educational travel brings these lessons to life. Visiting civil rights landmarks allows students to step into the stories they learn about in the classroom and see history through a more personal lens.

In Atlanta, students can explore the Martin Luther King Jr. National Historical Park and learn about the city’s role in the movement. In Selma, crossing the Edmund Pettus Bridge creates a powerful connection to the fight for voting rights. In Washington, D.C., the National Museum of African American History and Culture offers space for reflection on the resilience, contributions, and experiences of Black Americans.

These experiences encourage deeper conversations and help students understand the lasting impact of collective action.

Why It Matters

Black History Month is not only about looking back. It is about helping students recognize their role in shaping the future. Learning about the Civil Rights Movement shows what is possible when people stand up for one another and work toward change together.

Through educational travel, students do not just learn history. They experience it, reflect on it, and carry those lessons forward.

The post Black History Month: Learning From the Power of Collective Action appeared first on WorldStrides Canada.

You all captured the moment, but these four captured the Grand Prize!

We want to thank everyone who submitted their entries—we have serious FOMO seeing all the fun you had this year! All our monthly winners have already been notified, so now it’s time to share who’s taking home the four $150 Grand Prize e-Gift cards! These winners each gave us a little extra, showing off not only their ability to frame a shot but also their storytelling and editing chops.

Congratulations to our Grand Prize winners:

Voyage New York 2025 Pointe-Lévy

Jonathan G. L., in New York City

The photo captures a moment of courage on the Brooklyn Bridge. This bridge, which allows pedestrians to walk above the cars thanks to a 2nd level, was frightening for Younes and Dominique. They ended up crossing it and overcame their fear.

The Greatest City in the World

Elliana S., in New York City

When I was in NYC I took over 700 photos and I truly couldn’t choose which ones to submit. New York was a life changing experience and I’m so thankful for my teachers and WorldStrides Canada for giving me this once in a lifetime experience that I will always remember.

In addition to these top four, we’d like to shout out the monthly winners from each of our contest categories:

Picture us Here

We asked you to put that iconic landmark in the background:

February winner: Allyson C., in Paris

March winner: Liane E., in London and Paris

April winner: Karey B., in Costa Rica

May winner: Naema B., in New York City

June winner: Tammy O., in France

Let us cook

We asked you to capture your group doing something fun:

March winner: Grace C., in Québec

April winner: Charles F., in Chicago

May winner: Doris R., in Greece

June winner: Nicole M., in Costa Rica

Best Teacher Ever

We asked you to snap a photo of the awesome teacher who made your class trip possible:

March winner: Matt K., in Montréal and Québec City

April winner: Jonathan G.L., in NYC

April winner: Matthew M., in Japan

May winner: Joshua M., in Iceland

June winner: Patrick S., in Boston

Last but not least, a special shout-out to our March Madness winners: Elena Y., Quinten F., Eva T., and Thomas B., as well as our Teacher Appreciation Week winners: Stephanie R., Abraham B., and Allana M.

Congratulations again to our winners, and thank you to everyone who joined in on the fun! But it’s not over just yet—the People’s Choice contest is about to begin over on our Instagram page, so follow us and play along by voting for your favourites!

The post 2025 Photo & Video Contest Grand Prize Winners! appeared first on WorldStrides Canada.

Ready to make a difference? Read on for 19 simple tips you can use to lower your carbon footprint on your next WorldStrides Canada tour or on your summer’s family trip.

Preparing for Your Trip

• Pack light to reduce the energy needed to get you to your destination.
• Bring reusable items like a water bottle and a thermos.
• Use digital tickets instead of paper ones.
• Book flights with lower emissions, something many booking sites now display.

At the Hotel

• Opt for sustainable accommodations that use eco-friendly practices.
• Use your own toiletries to reduce single-use plastic waste.
• Be mindful of water usage — take quick showers and shut off the water when brushing your teeth.
• Hang the Do Not Disturb sign on your hotel room door. Passing on daily housekeeping during a stay saves water and energy.
• Turn off the AC, heat, fan, and lights before leaving your hotel room.

While Out and About

• Travel via public transportation, and consider walking or biking where possible. You can also swap a bus tour for a bike or walking tour.
• Carry a reusable shopping bag for purchases.
• Dispose of waste in appropriate recycling or compost bins.
• When hiking, respect local customs, wildlife, and protected areas by staying on designated paths.
• Use reef-safe sunscreen when travelling to beach destinations to protect marine life.

During Mealtime

• Buy food at local markets to support the local economy and try something new.
• Sit down to eat instead of getting takeaway to reduce packaging waste.
• Refuse single-use items like extra napkins, cutlery, and straws.
• Opt for plant-based foods when possible. Plan a group vegetarian night!
• At buffets, take only what you can finish to avoid food waste. Your eyes are bigger than your stomach!

Offset the Rest

In addition to reducing what you can, another effective strategy is to offset what you can’t. Our Choose Earth initiative lets our travellers cancel out the carbon emissions from the travel portion of their trip. Even better: we cover 50% of the carbon offset costs related to transportation on all our trips. For groups travelling by motorcoach, it’s automatically included. For air travel, if you choose to offset your emissions at registration, we’ll cover half the cost. Together with our travellers, we’ve neutralized over 10,000 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions to date.

If you’re travelling on a friend or family trip, you can also offset your carbon through vetted providers like Carbonzero.

Earth Day, Every Day

Looking for more ways to create a greener future? Here are 52 Earth Day actions you can take to help secure a healthy planet, all year long.

We hope these tips inspire you to take action. Let’s celebrate Earth Day today and every day, because together we can make a big difference for the planet.

The post 19 Ways to Reduce Your Carbon Footprint While Travelling appeared first on WorldStrides Canada.

To help you bring the spirit of Francophonie Day into your classroom, we are excited to offer two amazing self-serve classroom posters that you can download and print out. These posters are available in both 8.5 x 11 and 13 x 19 formats, perfect for any classroom wall!

Poster 1: Québécois Expressions

Learn and share some unique French Québécois expressions with your students! This poster includes popular expressions along with their English translations. It’s a great tool for language learning and cultural appreciation.

Download your posters here:

• French Québécois Expressions Poster (8.5 x 11)
• French Québécois Expressions Poster (13 x 19)

Poster 2: French-Canadian “Poutine Classique“

Discover the delicious world of poutine, a classic Québec dish made of French fries, cheese curds, and gravy. This poster includes the recipe for a traditional poutine, along with variations on the classic dish. It’s a fun way to introduce your students to Québec cuisine and maybe even inspire a cooking activity!

Download your posters here:

• Poutine Classique Recipe Poster (8.5 x 11)
• Poutine Classique Recipe Poster (13 x 19)

Put your students’ French skills to the test

Ready to embark on an unforgettable educational journey? Celebrate Francophone culture with your classroom by exploring our educational tours to Québec and France. Immerse your students in the language, history, and traditions of these incredible destinations sure to leave your students with a taste of “reviens-y” (you’ll only want to come back again, and again and again)!

The post Celebrate Francophone Culture with Classroom Posters appeared first on WorldStrides Canada.

Date: March 5, 2025

Ever have that moment — a moment that makes you rethink what you know about the world — when you experience something for the first time? These perspective shifts can happen when you least expect it, but they’re practically guaranteed when you take an educational trip!

These unique learning opportunities take you out of your everyday and open the door for personal breakthroughs, giving you a chance to grow in new and transformative ways. And while it’s important to stay in the moment, taking a second to capture these experiences with your camera will help you relive them for years to come. 

Identify the Moments Worth Capturing

So, how will you know when it’s the right moment to snap a picture? Rather than staying glued to your phone and capturing everything, focus on those moments that feel particularly meaningful. Did you learn something new? Did the experience change how you think, act, or feel in the world around you?

From interactions with locals in a culture other than your own to navigating new places without the comfort of familiar guideposts, educational travel provides endless opportunities for revelation and reflection. Snap a photo or take a quick video when you’re particularly taken aback as a keepsake, and consider bringing a journal along to make note of how it felt in the moment so you can reflect on the experience once you’re back home.

Focus on Depth and Emotion

Now that you know when to pull out your camera, let’s talk about what makes a good photo (hint: good photos make for great Photo & Video Contest entries).

The best photos and videos are the ones that tell a story; they convey the curiosity, joy, and awe of the moment by capturing the emotion on people’s faces. They’re authentic and candid — shots of a group engaging with the local community or soaking in the significance of a masterpiece — and they include enough of the background in the frame to provide context.

Leverage Light and Angles to Enhance the Story

If you’re ready to really level-up your content, consider the lighting and angles of your shot. The golden hour is so-called for a reason — the warm, golden lighting during sunrise or sunset adds warmth and depth to any photo or video, without the need of any special equipment or filters.

Knowing your angles can also allow you to influence the emotional impact of a photo. Step in close to put the viewer in the moment, step back and use low angles to capture the grandiose nature of historical architecture, or convey the expanse of a rolling landscape with a wide shot.

Make the Most of Your Smartphone

With smartphones, you have even more tools at your disposal — but we’d caution against over-engineering every shot.

Do: Enable gridlines to help you align subjects and create balanced photos using the rule of thirds.

Do: Focus in on the details, tapping the screen to draw attention to small details like traditional food or clothing.

Don’t: Over-edit or heavily filter your photos; instead, make subtle adjustments to account for brightness, contrast, or saturation that make your photos feel more like they looked in real life.

But Most Importantly, Enjoy the Moment

Memories from your school trip will stay with you always, but more important than capturing the perfect shot is enjoying the experience while you’re in it. So don’t stress about getting the perfect pose — the real, authentic moments captured on camera will always be the ones you’ll cherish the most.

Already home with a full camera roll? Be sure to enter our 2025 Photo & Video contest, which is open through June 30, 2025. Read the full details here, and be sure to submit for your chance to win!

Did you recently return from your 2025 tour? Submit your best shots by June 30, 2025 for a chance to win!

The post How to Capture “Learning Through Adventure” Moments on Camera appeared first on WorldStrides Canada.

POV: You went on a WorldStrides Canada tour between September 1, 2024 and June 30, 2025, and you’re about to be our next contest winner.

It’s as simple as finding the best shots from your trip – those perfectly framed photos and impeccably captured videos – and uploading them to the links below.

Up to three Grand Prizes will be awarded at the end of the contest, and each Grand Prize winner will receive a $150 Amazon e-gift card. Plus, each month the contest runs (from February through June), we’ll select up to 3 monthly winners to receive a $50 Amazon e-gift card – that’s 15 monthly winners total!

Be sure to follow along on our Instagram and Facebook pages to keep up with the latest on the contest, and to see all of our selected winners. To learn more (or to submit your content!) visit the contest page for full rules.

You’ve got this – now show us your world!

The post It’s time! Our 2025 Photo & Video Contest is Open! appeared first on WorldStrides Canada.

Our expert team of Tour Consultants will be by your side every step of the way. They’ve successfully managed countless travel programs and are here to answer any questions you might have. From navigating the approval process to recruiting students and preparing for departure, our consultants provide personalized support to ensure your trip is a success. Their experience and dedication will help you feel confident and well-prepared throughout the entire process.

To help you navigate planning your first WorldStrides Canada program, we’ve highlighted our top three essential tips to ensure your first student trip goes off without a hitch.

1. Choose the Right Destination and Itinerary

Heading to a unique and out of the box destination can be thrilling, but we recommend you save those for after you’ve planned your first trip.

For first time Program Leaders, selecting a destination that is easily approvable is crucial for a smooth planning process. Your Tour Consultant can help by recommending destinations that typically meet school board regulations and government travel advisories. These destinations are vetted for safety and ease of approval, ensuring a hassle-free experience.

For your first trip, we highly recommend selecting a standard itinerary. Our standard itineraries have been tested and refined to offer the best experiences, including top landmarks and optimal timing. Custom itineraries can be more challenging to manage, so starting with a proven plan will help ensure success.

Not sure where you want to go? We have tons of school-board approved international destinations to consider!

2. Learn from Experienced Mentors

Whether you’re planning a history tour or a science expedition, having a mentor with relevant experience can make a significant difference. Our Teacher-to-Teacher (T2T) program is designed to build your confidence and provide expert advice from fellow teachers who have been in your shoes. By connecting with a mentor, you can gain valuable insights, practical tips, and support throughout the process.

So, what exactly makes mentorship a game-changer?

Personalized Guidance: Having a seasoned traveller by your side—someone who has successfully navigated the same challenges you may face—really can’t be beat. Our mentors offer advice based on their own travel experiences, helping you avoid common pitfalls and make informed decisions. They’ve been there, done that, and are eager to share their wisdom with you!

Confidence Building: Having someone who understands your journey can make all the difference. Mentors offer emotional support, helping you stay positive and motivated throughout the planning process. Their reassurance and practical tips— like effective communication with parents and smoothly handling unforeseen events—can transform your anxiety into excitement.

Problem-Solving: Every trip comes with its own set of challenges, from handling student behaviour to managing logistics. Mentors can provide advice for these challenges, drawing from their own experiences. Whether it’s dealing with a last-minute itinerary change or ensuring student safety, their practical advice can help you navigate any situation with ease.

3. Plan Ahead and Stay Organized

We understand it might feel like a lot of information, but we promise the sooner you get started, the easier your planning will be!

Start the process well in advance to ensure you have ample time to handle all the details. Create a checklist of tasks and deadlines to keep everything on track. Staying organized will help reduce stress and ensure nothing is overlooked.

By following these tips and leveraging the support of our T2T program, you’ll be well on your way to planning a successful and memorable student trip. Remember, you’re not alone in this journey—our community of experienced peer mentors and knowledgeable Tour Consultants are here to help you every step of the way!

Interested in learning more about our T2T program, or requesting a match with one of our expert mentors? Visit our website, complete the information form and a member of our team will connect with you shortly.

We can’t wait for you to open up a world of learning for your students!

The post Essential Tips for Teachers Planning Their First Student Trip appeared first on WorldStrides Canada.

Which one would you like to try?

Austria – Linzer Cookies
Austria is known for its gorgeous desserts, and linzer cookies are no exception. Sandwich some jam between two pieces of shortbread, dust it with powdered sugar, and these beauties are set to stun.  

Canada – Rugelach
These little twists are a Hanukkah favourite in Canada and across much of the Jewish world. Denser than a croissant, rugelach is all about the fillings—walnuts, chocolate, apricot jam—we’re hungry just thinking about it.

Australia and New Zealand – Anzac Biscuits
Anzac biscuits have WWI to thank for their name. An acronym for Australian and New Zealand Army Corps, these rolled oat biscuits were a popular way to raise funds for the war effort. Coconut and golden syrup make these a must-have during the holidays and all year long.

Greece – Kourabiedes
Studded with almonds and brimming with flavour, kourabiedes are a Greek holiday must. Still, they can be messy due to their generous powdered sugar coating. Our hack? If you get sugar all over your shirt, just yell, “opa!”

Italy – Pizzelle
Yes, their name means “little pizza,” but these cookies are much closer to a waffle. By pressing the batter between two iron plates, pizzelle take on stunning seasonal patterns. Snowflakes are common, but many designs date back centuries.

South Africa – Soetkoekies
It’s fun to go big at the holidays, but it can also be good to pull back. Enter soetkoekies (literally “sweet cookies”), a distinctly crunchy treat you can whip up with pantry staples. With a strong but straightforward nutmeg and clove flavour, sometimes simple is perfect.

Norway – Krumkake
Similar to Italy’s Pizzelle, the Krumkake is another iron-made cookie, but this time it’s rolled. Think of it as a baby ice cream cone, the perfect vehicle for whipped cream and holiday cheer.

Switzerland – Leckerli
A Swiss staple for centuries, Leckerli combines crunchy nuts, warm spices, gingerbread, and candied citrus into a unique cookie-bar. While they’re mainly eaten in Switzerland, Germany, and France, we’re going to need these to go global, stat.

Middle East – Ma’amoul
As a holiday cookie, Ma’amoul checks all the boxes. A shortbread cookie with a decorative design and a date filling, this treat is traditionally served at Easter and Eid, but is also a favourite at Christmas. Mmmm, we may have a new favourite too.

Brazil – Rabanada
Ok, not a cookie, but how could we not shout out Brazilian Christmas French toast? Deep fried in oil and filled with custard, these Christmas staples are crunchy on the outside, soft on the inside. Though they sound like the perfect wake up treat, Brazilians typically save them for dessert.

There you have it, 10 new holiday cookies to taste or even try making. Wherever you’re celebrating, we wish you a sweet holiday season.

The post Around the World in 10 Holiday Cookies appeared first on WorldStrides Canada.

Date: November 22, 2024

With a strong commitment to honouring Canadian history, Worldstrides Canada is excited to host a special event in May 2025, celebrating the 80th anniversary of Victory in Europe and the Liberation of the Netherlands. For the event in the Netherlands, over a thousand Canadian students will receive an official commemorative tour sweater, complete with an embroidered patch, created by the winner of this year’s logo design contest.

While many students throughout Canada embraced the challenge–showcasing incredible creativity–the winning design was submitted by Sammy M. Along with the artwork itself, he shared the inspiration behind his winning design, explaining, “I was inspired by the ‘V for Victory’ symbol as it was created during World War II and became a trendy emblem of freedom, peace, defiance, and hope for [the] final victory. [It] was endorsed by Sir Winston Churchill, who was often seen making a hand gesture [forming the letter V]. [The] symbol is universally recognized, transcending language barriers, [and] stands out in contrast to the red and white colour scheme.”

He went on to describe what the different colour choices throughout the design stand for, “I chose navy blue for its connotations of success, stability, reliability and calmness, and the navy [symbol] is embedded within the maple leaf to represent Canada’s involvement in World War II, promoting the nation’s pride in its achievements and contributions towards victory. Red and white are the colours of the Canadian flag, however, [both] have additional connotations. Red symbolizes courage, sacrifice, and remembrance, while white symbolizes peace, prosperity and new beginnings.”

Sammy’s thoughtful approach extended to other design elements as well, each carefully chosen to honour this important anniversary. “The text being presented in both English and French is to share a piece of Canada’s culture,” he said. “The indication of the years ‘1945’ and ‘2025’ highlight the 80 years of peace that the sacrifices of brave soldiers have secured, serving as a tribute to their legacy.”

Like Sammy, we are eagerly looking forward to commemorating the 80th anniversary of the Liberation of the Netherlands this spring! We can’t wait to see Canadian students honouring this historic occasion by proudly wearing our sweaters featuring his meaningful design.

Congratulations, Sammy!

The post Meet the Designer Behind Our New Victory in Europe Commemorative Sweater Patch appeared first on WorldStrides Canada.

From the eerie sightings at Loch Ness to the ancient forests of Sherwood, these stories can add a thrilling twist to your classroom—and might even inspire some creative costumes this Halloween season!

Loch Ness Monster – Scotland

The legend of the Loch Ness Monster, affectionately known as Nessie, dates back to 565 AD when an Irish monk named Saint Columba reportedly encountered a “water beast” in the River Ness. Over the centuries, countless sightings have been reported, the most famous being the 1934 “Surgeon’s Photograph,” which was later revealed as a hoax. While scientific evidence of Nessie’s existence is lacking, the legend continues to draw tourists to Loch Ness, hoping to catch a glimpse of the elusive creature.

Activity Idea: Have students research famous hoaxes and sightings of the Loch Ness Monster. As a class or in groups, challenge them to use scientific evidence to support or debunk each theory.

Want to catch a glimpse of Nessie yourself? Head to Scotland with your class on your next big adventure. You’ll also take a guided ghost tour of Edinburgh—be prepared to hear chilling tales of the ghouls and ghosts that haunt the city! For more folklore, don’t miss our optional excursion to a folklore show in St. Andrews, where you’ll learn about kelpies, banshees, and selkies.

Yeti – Himalayas

The Yeti, also known as the Abominable Snowman, is a mysterious creature deeply rooted in the folklore of the Himalayan regions of Nepal and Tibet. Described as a large, ape-like being that roams the snow-covered peaks, the Yeti is believed by the Sherpa people to be the guardian of the mountains. Sightings of giant footprints and eerie howls echoing through the mountains have kept the legend alive, with the first Western account of the Yeti coming from British explorer Charles Howard-Bury in 1921.

Activity Idea: Add some Halloween fun to your geography lessons by organizing a “Yeti Expedition.” Students can research real-life expeditions that sought the Yeti and map out why they succeeded or failed, considering factors like climate and geography.

Fascinated by the Yeti and the mystique of the world’s highest and most remote places? Consider a trip to Nepal, where they’ll experience local culture and hear firsthand about the Yeti legends during guided treks and visits to Sherpa villages.

Robin Hood – England

Robin Hood, one of England’s most iconic folk heroes, is a legendary outlaw known for his daring escapades and sense of justice. Set in the forests of Nottinghamshire, Robin Hood is said to have lived in Sherwood Forest with his band of Merry Men, outwitting the corrupt Sheriff of Nottingham and redistributing wealth by “robbing from the rich to give to the poor.” His legend fuels debates about whether he was a real person or simply a symbol of resistance against oppressive rulers.

Activity Idea: Watch a Robin Hood movie with your class and discuss themes like fairness, loyalty, and rebellion against injustice.

Sherwood Forest, a real place in England, is still a draw for visitors eager to walk in Robin Hood’s footsteps. You and your class can explore Nottingham Castle and Medieval life, making it an unforgettable experience. Browse our programs or customize your perfect adventure!

Bigfoot – North America

In the dense forests of North America, the legend of Bigfoot (or Sasquatch, as it’s known in Indigenous tribes of the Pacific Northwest) looms large. Said to be a towering, ape-like creature that roams the vast wildernesses of the United States and Canada, Bigfoot has been the subject of numerous sightings, strange footprints, and unexplainable phenomena. Despite many expeditions, no concrete evidence has ever been found, keeping Bigfoot firmly in the realm of mythology and Indigenous storytelling—for now!

Activity Idea: Encourage students to research Indigenous stories of the Sasquatch and discuss the significance of these creatures as well as how they vary from community to community.

Interested in exploring the wilderness where Bigfoot might roam? Join us for a guided tour through the Pacific Northwest, featuring hikes through the very forests said to be home to Sasquatch.

The Hunchback of Notre Dame – France

In France, the story of the Hunchback of Notre Dame tells of a tragic figure of Parisian folklore. Quasimodo, the deformed bell-ringer of the Notre Dame Cathedral, is a character immortalized by Victor Hugo in his 1831 novel. Hidden away in the towers of the cathedral due to his monstrous appearance, Quasimodo is seen as both terrifying and pitiable. His unrequited love for Esmeralda, a kind-hearted gypsy, and his struggles against societal cruelty embody the theme of beauty versus monstrosity.

Activity Idea: Introduce students to the Gothic architectural history of Notre Dame, and why it makes the perfect setting for this character and beloved tale. Alternatively, discuss the symbolism behind the Hunchback as a tragic hero in literature—one who is both feared and misunderstood.

Experience the story firsthand by visiting the Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris and exploring its rich history, including some of France’s most momentous occasions such as the coronation of Napoleon.

The Phantom of the Opera – France

The Phantom of the Opera is a chilling figure who inhabited the eerie grandeur of the Paris Opera House. Known as the Phantom, this character is a disfigured musical genius who haunts the labyrinthine catacombs beneath the opera house, manipulating its performers and managers through fear and illusion. Legend tells of a man named Erik, cursed with a terrifying face, who fled society’s cruelty and found solace in the dark, hidden passages of the opera, where he composed hauntingly beautiful music. His ghostly presence, rumored to move through the walls and halls unseen, instilled fear and awe in those who dared cross his path.

Activity Idea: Have your students read the original novel by Gaston Leroux (alternatively, you can watch the film as a class). Facilitate a discussion afterwards, exploring the stories many themes such as romance and tragedy, fact and fiction, obsession and revenge, beauty and acceptance.

Immerse your students in the world of the Phantom by visiting the Paris Opera House—explore its opulent architecture and learn about its connection to the legendary story. While you’re there, don’t miss the chance to attend a live performance! An amazing opportunity for performance groups, check out all our performing arts programs here.

Medusa – Greece

In Greek mythology, Medusa is one of the most fearsome figures, a Gorgon whose gaze could turn anyone to stone. Once a beautiful maiden, Medusa was transformed into a monstrous creature with snakes for hair by the goddess Athena as punishment for desecrating her temple. Medusa’s tragic story, along with her terrifying power, has made her a symbol of both beauty and danger in ancient Greek lore. Her legend is best known through the tale of the hero Perseus, who, with the help of the gods, beheaded her and used her head as a weapon. Medusa’s remains one of mythology’s most iconic and haunting figures, symbolizing the duality of attraction and destruction.

Activity Idea: Get your students to create their own mythological creature inspired by Greek mythology. They can illustrate it and write a short backstory explaining its powers, features, and origins.

Head to Greece to immerse you and your students in Greek mythology—there’s an endless number of fascinating figures and stories to be uncovered!

Leprechauns – Ireland

In Irish folklore, leprechauns are small, magical beings often associated with mischief and hidden treasure. These solitary fairies are said to guard pots of gold at the end of rainbows, but they are known for their trickery and cleverness in avoiding capture. Leprechauns are often depicted as cobblers, wearing traditional Irish clothing and living in the countryside, where they can be heard hammering away at shoes. Their presence in Irish culture speaks to the blend of magic, humour, and the love of storytelling that defines much of the nation’s rich folklore

Activity Idea: Channel the mischievous energy of a leprechaun by hiding “pots of gold” (think candy or small prizes) around the classroom. Students must work together to decode clues connected to Irish culture, history, and geography—from famous landmarks like the Cliffs of Moher to the myth of leprechauns guarding their treasure.

Interested in heading to the land of whimsy and mischief? Check out our Ireland programs!

Whether through costume creation, storytelling, or cultural research, this Halloween season is the perfect time to bring these global legends into the classroom. Let these mythical figures and legendary creatures inspire your students to explore the world, one legend at a time. Happy Halloween and happy exploring!

The post Folklore to Frighten and Fascinate appeared first on WorldStrides Canada.

Our annual photo contest is our favourite time of year here at WorldStrides Canada. We love seeing all the amazing photos & videos taken by all of you on tour and feeling like we’re experiencing all those life changing moments with you!

This year, we received nearly 3,000 entries! Choosing the following 16 Grand Prize winners out of hundreds of incredible photos and videos was no simple task. With the help of our staff judging panel, we are proud to announce the winning submissions of the 2024 WorldStrides Canada Photo & Video Contest!

GRAND PRIZE WINNERS

CATEGORY: BEST PHOTO

“Trip to Greece” by: Carole J. in Greece

“Acknowledgement“ by: Navin S. in Vimy Ridge, France

“Feeding the birds on Mount Pilatus!” by: Mack A. in Mount Pilatus, Switzerland

“Europe Trip!” by: McKenna B. in Vimy Ridge, France

“Home Away from Home” by: Molly G. in Italy

“School Trip 2024″ by: Lynne V. in Ripley’s Aquarium, Toronto

“Nietzsche Tour” by: Marc-Antoine D. in Rome, Italy

“NYC 2024″ by: Ava M. in New York City

CATEGORY: BEST VIDEOS

By: Khayyam M. in New York City

“Winter wonderland in Québec and Montréal” by: Mikolaj W. in Montréal

By: Lilyanna C. in Niagara Falls

By: Lukas W. in Québec

“Europe Adventure 2024!” by: Lauren H. in Paris, France

“Costa Rica Vibes” by: Jennifer W. in Costa Rica

“Sledding in Québec City” by: Natasha Y. in Québec City

“Beautiful Places in Canada” by: Maye V. in Canada

In addition to our 16 Grand Prize winners, over the six months of the contest, we selected winners from the best submissions of each month. Honourable mentions to:

Congratulations to all our winners and thank you to everyone who submitted for making it another successful WorldStrides Canada photo contest! We can’t wait to see where you all travel to next year!

If you’d like to see all the winners chosen from this year’s photo contest, follow us on Instagram.

The post Announcing the 2024 WorldStrides Canada Photo & Video Contest Winners! appeared first on WorldStrides Canada.

Meet Keith Hoare, a WorldStrides Canada Program Leader and the mastermind behind Thistletown High School’s international trips. As head of the school’s culinary department, Keith helps students learn about hospitality management, culinary arts, and culture through cooking. In 2011, he initiated fundraising opportunities with the school’s 10th grade students to be able to take them abroad on their own enriching educational adventures. He was inspired while working as a private chef on a prior school trip to Turks & Caicos, where he experienced firsthand the profound effects of international travel on education and personal development. He sought to make this powerful connection possible for more of his students, which sparked the need to remove costs as a barrier to travelling.

Fundraising in new and creative ways became essential in getting these trips off the ground. Read on as Keith shares inspiration, challenges, and triumphs of fundraising for these transformative experiences.

“When I started at Thistletown, I soon realized that many of the students didn’t have a lot of disposable income. I asked faculty if the school planned any trips, and the answer was that majority of our students (and their families) could not afford it, so it was not really an option. If we were going to make trips happen, we would have to fundraise approximately 75% of the cost on behalf of the students.

Students in affluent schools often have the opportunity to attend what can be life-changing and rich educational experiences through travel. I feel it is important that students from all walks of life should have that opportunity.”

Cooking up a plan to raise funds

To turn dreams of global exploration into reality, Keith embraced fundraising as the vehicle for financial support with optimism and drive. Recognizing the economic diversity among students, fundraising became crucial to ensuring that all students had the opportunity to participate. Active student involvement has become the heartbeat of these initiatives in which students cook, cater events, participate in food festivals, and even jar their own line of preserves. The allure of travelling to Italy, Spain, or France motivates students, making fundraising efforts a collective endeavour.

“Student participation in all the fundraising activities is essential. It’s a two-year process to raise the necessary funds, so students must buy-in and commit for the long haul. Students are cooking their way to whatever international destination is next on our list!”

One standout success in Thistletown’s fundraising journey was the creation of the Chef’s Harvest Party—an annual festival that showcases the culinary talents of the school and the city while raising money for student travel. Evolving from 10 guest chefs and 200 guests in 2017 to 28 guest chefs and over 450 guests at the 6^th annual festival this past fall, this event has become a cornerstone in the community.

Keith has not only ignited a passion for culinary exploration but has also created a blueprint for educators to turn dreams into educational realities. These journeys are not just about visiting foreign destinations. They’re about shaping the future and instilling a lifelong love for learning, no matter what it takes to make it happen.

“Over the years, we’ve participated in many different food festivals and events, such as Mac & Cheese Fest, Toronto Delicious Food Show, Toronto Underground Market, and Toronto Garlic Fest. The logistics to make these events work and to ensure profitability was always a big challenge, but very rewarding. After 6 years on the food fest circuit, we decided to host our own Chef’s Harvest Party at the school. This has grown into an amazing food event hosting some of the best chefs in the city.”

Reaching goals with resonating impact

The influence these events have on students reaches beyond the culinary realm. Keith emphasizes the educational experience encompassing entrepreneurial skills, customer service, event planning, leadership, and team building. These skills become invaluable tools that shape students’ futures and instill confidence that no goal is too big. The spirit of personal growth that’s embedded in the philosophy behind each WorldStrides Canada trip is beautifully emphasized with these community fundraising efforts well before the program begins.

“Signing on board for one of my trips is a whole educational experience in itself; students are learning entrepreneurial skills, customer service, event planning, leadership, team building skills, and so much more. The skills they pick up working catering events and food festivals will serve them well in whatever career they end up in.”

In times when students crave challenge and growth, these educational trips have a profound, lasting impact. The experiences gained abroad foster independence, resilience, and new perspectives, which are especially crucial in a post-pandemic world.

“Now more than ever, students need to be challenged and pushed in directions that will help them gain independence. Our students lost so much throughout the pandemic and so much growth has been stunted. The whole experience has had such a big impact on the students, and everyone comes to different revelations about what is important to them and what they want to do with their lives. Their plans always include more travel!”

A trip down memory lane brings Keith to the heartwarming moments on these programs. On his groups inaugural trip to Italy, unprompted, students expressed their gratitude daily through heartfelt toasts. The realization of their dream journey was a testament to perseverance and dedication.

“During every meal on the very first trip, a different student stood up and gave a heartfelt, unprompted toast. Students decided that every day, they wanted to express how much the whole experience meant to them and that they couldn’t believe we had actually made it to Italy. It was a dream come true for them, especially since many people questioned if we could raise the required funds to get to our destination.”

Takeaways for successful fundraising

For educators who are inspired to undertake similar initiatives, Keith offers advice rooted in resilience. From car washes and garage sales to letter writing to alumni, the key is innovation and perseverance. Teachers should leverage their students personal strengths and their own networks when thinking about how to bring people together for a common goal. An important key aspect is keeping the flame of creativity alive in fundraising efforts and ensuring that student involvement, critical thinking, and team effort is at the heart of the whole process.

“I think there are lots of opportunities to create entrepreneurial projects that can help fund trips. Teachers need to tap into their strengths and take advantage of their personal networks to get the ball rolling. Before I started teaching, I had a catering business and being the Culinary Instructor at the school lends itself to lots of food-based projects. Some fundraisers were obviously more successful than others, but the key is to keep trying new ideas and getting the students involved in the work.”

Keith has not only ignited a passion for culinary exploration but has also created a blueprint for educators to turn dreams into educational realities. These journeys are not just about visiting foreign destinations. They’re about shaping the future and instilling a lifelong love for learning, no matter what it takes to make it happen.

Keith and his students continue not only cooking their way to creative fundraising for their school trips but using their culinary skills to serve their community. Read about how 100 Thistletown students came together and volunteered their time to prepare over five thousand meals for 11 food banks and shelters in the Toronto area in The Star and Toronto City News.

Start fundraising for your students

If you’re looking to leverage fundraising to help get your school trip off the ground, check out our fundraising resource booklet here. Ready to launch your fundraising event? Check out how to further maximize your promotional efforts using social media with our helpful guide here. You can also reach out to your WorldStrides Canada Tour Consultant—we have plenty of additional resources to help make your students’ dream trip a reality.

Happy fundraising!

Have a great fundraising story of your own? We’d love to hear about it! Email us at online@explorica.com.

The post The Recipe for Global Learning: A Teacher’s Fundraising Journey appeared first on WorldStrides Canada.

A how-to for a successful (and affordable) trip!
Our guide walks you through key steps, from setting a fundraising timeline to brainstorming creative ideas. This structured approach will ensure successful fundraising while fostering excitement about your upcoming adventure.

Get creative
While traditional fundraising activities have their place, this guide goes even further, showcasing innovative and tried-and-true approaches used by previous WorldStrides Canada groups. Imagine raising funds through talent shows or bake sales—the possibilities are endless! Plus, these activities can do more than just raise money; they can also build a strong group bond, even before your trip begins. Shared experiences, friendly competition, and maybe even a few baking mishaps can create lasting memories and inside jokes that will set the stage for an unforgettable travel experience.

Ready to take action?
Make fundraising a fun and engaging experience for everyone involved. Click here to download our guide and unlock a world of exciting fundraising opportunities!

The post Fundraising Fundamentals: Essential Tips and Ideas appeared first on WorldStrides Canada.

Wondering how to leverage social media for your upcoming WorldStrides Canada trip? Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered! This handy guide will help you navigate social media platforms by equipping you with the key strategies needed to help promote your trip, boost program participation, and drive engagement throughout your tour.

Focus on what makes each platform unique
Don’t try to be everywhere at once! Choose 1-2 platforms where your target audience is most active (for example, think parents for Facebook and students for Instagram and TikTok).

Craft a winning hashtag
Create a unique hashtag for your trip. This lets parents follow along and allows you to discover amazing student content to share! Promote it in your bios, use it consistently, and encourage others to do the same with a chance to get featured.

Get interactive!
Social media thrives on interaction. Ask questions, encourage comments, and respond promptly. A responsive page is more likely to attract participation—the more people engaged, the wider your reach. Also don’t underestimate the power of tagging! Whether it’s thanking a local business or featuring a student in a photo, tagging creates connections, expands your reach, and helps build a sense of community.

Ready to become a social media pro?  
Let’s get social! Click here to download our guide and transform your social media presence into a powerful trip promotion tool.

The post Your Guide to Social Media Success appeared first on WorldStrides Canada.

Love is in the air this Valentine’s Day! We’re here to share our love with our favourite landmarks around the world. Say “Happy Valentine’s Day” through the Eiffel Tower, Tower of Pisa, Liberty Bell, and more travel themed puns… what’s not to Louvre?

So download these punny little messages to send to your family, valentines, galentines, and other palentines. And if you’re really into puns… we put extended messages below for your enjoyment. Happy Valentine’s Day!

Eiffel Tower (Paris, France)

Eiffel for you after day one – after all, what’s not to Louvre? From the romantic cafés surrounding the Arc de Triomphe to the sweeping Champs-Élysées, the City of Lights truly lights up my life. One day, our paths will croissant again, and it will be très magnifique!

Liberty Bell (Philadelphia, USA)

I have to chime in – are you availa-bell? Our time apart wasn’t all it’s cracked up to be, so don’t break my heart… be mine!

Big Ben (London, England)

The chimes from your tower count the hours that pass, but don’t be alarmed – my love for you cannot be Thames-d. I’d swim across the English Channel just to see your face!

Arenal Volcano (Costa Rica)

I lava you like no other – you truly melt my heart! Together, we’ll have a blast living pura vida in the tropical rainforest of Costa Rica.

Leaning Tower of Pisa (Pisa, Italy)

Ciao, bella! The moment our eyes locked is when you stole a Pisa my heart, and there’s simply no denying that I’m falling for you. Lean on me through thick and thin, and together, we’ll conquer the world!

Happy Valentine’s Day from all of us at WorldStrides Canada!

The post Love is in the Air: Sending Love to Our Favourite Landmarks appeared first on WorldStrides Canada.

As hip hop evolves, it remains a dynamic force, responding to contemporary challenges and contributing to the ongoing fight for equality and justice. Incorporating hip hop into education around Black History Month provides an opportunity to explore the cultural richness, resilience, and artistic expressions within the Black community, fostering a deeper understanding of the interconnectedness of hip hop and Black history.

The Origins and Influences of Hip Hop

The origins of hip hop took root in the vibrant but economically distressed neighbourhoods of the South Bronx in the 1950s and 1960s. This period marked a tumultuous time for the community as they grappled with issues like poverty, racial segregation, and urban decay. Amid adversity, the South Bronx became a melting pot of cultures. African American, Caribbean, and Latinx communities converged, bringing a rich tapestry of traditions, languages, and musical influences.

This cultural fusion laid the groundwork for the birth of hip hop, as diverse communities sought creative outlets for expression. In this setting, block parties emerged as communal celebrations. DJs, like Kool Herc, began experimenting with turntables and mixers, extending the instrumental breaks of funk and soul records. These extended breaks became the foundation for MCs (Masters of Ceremonies) to showcase their rhythmic rhymes, marking the birth of hip hop’s DJing and MCing elements.

Simultaneously, the vibrant graffiti art scene in the South Bronx provided a visual language for self-expression. Artists used subway cars and city walls as canvases, turning an act of vandalism into a form of artistic rebellion. Graffiti, a significant element of hip hop culture, became a way to reclaim public spaces and communicate messages.

The streets of the South Bronx also witnessed the emergence of breaking (breakdancing). This new dance style began similarly to many dance styles—as a form of self-expression and liberation. Breakdancing took shape within communities experiencing both the strife and the desire to connect with others. With moves inspired by martial arts and athletic prowess, breaking provided a positive outlet for young people in the community, offering an alternative to the challenges they faced.

Classroom Activity Idea: Check out the timeline of hip hop from Carniage Hall here. To bring this historical context to life in the classroom, you can incorporate multimedia resources such as documentary clips, interviews with early hip hop pioneers, and visual representations of the South Bronx during this period. Students can engage in discussions about the social and economic challenges and explore the cultural fusion that occurred.

The Four Elements of Hip-Hop

1) MCing (Rapping): As hip hop emerged in the South Bronx, the art of MCing, or rapping, took centre stage. MCs were lyrical poets who narrated the realities of urban life, often improvising rhymes over the extended breaks created by DJs. This became a powerful means of storytelling, capturing the struggles, dreams, and aspirations of the community.

Classroom Activity Idea: Encourage students to explore the art of storytelling through rap. Provide historical context on early rap pioneers, such as Grandmaster Flash and The Furious Five or The Sugarhill Gang. Have students write their own rap verses, expressing their thoughts on personal experiences or social issues, connecting their creativity with the historical roots of MCing. Check out this step-by-step guide to writing a hip hop song from finding a theme and hook to writing strong lyrics.

2) DJing: DJing is a foundational element of hip hop culture. Early DJs, like Kool Herc, utilized two turntables and a mixer to extend instrumental breaks, creating a continuous beat for MCs to rhyme over. The DJ became a central figure in hip hop music, setting the stage for dance and lyrical expression.

Classroom Activity Idea: Introduce students to the basics of DJing by exploring the basic elements of musical beats, which involves a combination of rhythm, creativity and an understanding of musical elements. Provide opportunities for students to experiment with mixing beats, creating their own playlists, or even simulating a mini DJ battle in the classroom. Depending what you have available, you can use online platforms such as Soundtrap for Education, free mobile apps, or physical drum machines to bring this activity to life.

3) Breaking (Dance): Breaking, or breakdancing, emerged as a vibrant form of expression within the hip hop culture. Influenced by various dance styles, breaking became a physical manifestation of the beats and rhythms of hip hop music. It provided an outlet for creativity, self-expression, and community building. Did you know that breaking was added to the 2024 Summer Paris Olympics sports program?

Classroom Activity Idea: Add a little movement and creativity to your classroom by inviting students to explore the world of breaking. Introduce basic breaking moves, such as toprock, downrock, and freezes. Encourage them to choreograph short dance sequences individually or in groups, emphasizing the improvisational and creative aspects of breaking.

4) Graffiti Art: Graffiti art became an integral part of hip hop culture, serving as a visual form of expression in the urban landscape. Artists used vibrant colours, intricate lettering, and symbolic images to communicate messages, reclaim public spaces, and challenge societal norms.

Classroom Activity idea: Engage students in the world of graffiti art; ask them if they feel it’s art or vandalism and why. Explore the history of notable graffiti artists like Lady Pink or Dondi White. Provide a safe and creative space for students to design their own graffiti-inspired artwork, incorporating messages or symbols that hold personal or cultural significance.

The “Fifth Element”

The concept of the “fifth element” in hip hop, introduced by Afrika Bambaataa, extends beyond the traditional four elements of MCing, DJing, breaking, and graffiti art. Knowledge, as the fifth element, holds a pivotal role within hip hop culture, emphasizing a commitment to understanding the historical, cultural, and socio-political dimensions that shape the genre. It goes beyond the beats and rhymes, urging practitioners and enthusiasts to delve into their own identities, communities, and the broader context of hip hop’s emergence.

Knowledge in hip hop empowers individuals to seek education, engage in critical thinking, and become advocates for social justice. It encompasses the preservation of hip hop’s cultural legacy, emphasizing the importance of passing down knowledge to future generations. Moreover, knowledge extends globally, encouraging an awareness of not only local issues but also global challenges, fostering a sense of unity and interconnectedness within the hip hop community. The fifth element underscores the dynamic and evolving nature of hip hop, positioning it not only as a musical genre but as a cultural movement, deeply rooted in consciousness, continuous learning, and a commitment to positive growth.

Classroom Activity idea: Have students dissect their favourite hip hop songs and identify what the “fifth element” being presented is. What is the artist trying to say? What cultural or economic factors could be contributing to this message?

Evolution and Global Impact

While hip hop quickly gained traction in the United States, Canada had its own burgeoning hip hop scene. Early pioneers, like Maestro Fresh Wes, were instrumental in establishing a Canadian presence within the genre. Hip hop scenes flourished in cities across Canada, from Toronto to Vancouver, each contributing its own flavour and style to the Canadian hip hop mosaic. This period marked the formation of the foundation for a unique Canadian hip hop identity.

In the 21^st century, Canadian hip hop artists achieved mainstream success both domestically and internationally. Artists like Drake, The Weeknd, and Tory Lanez brought Canadian hip hop to the global stage, showcasing the country’s diverse talent and cultural influence. Canadian hip hop has also been a vehicle for addressing social and political issues within the country. Artists have used their platforms to speak out against racial inequality, discrimination, and other social injustices, contributing to broader conversations about Canadian identity and multiculturalism.

Learning Resource: Check out this short doc by CBC on the origins and evolution of Canadian hip hop. Learn about the evolution across the globe here.

Indigenous Hip Hop

The transition of hip hop into Canadian Indigenous communities gained notable momentum in the 1990s and early 2000s, paralleling the broader growth of hip hop globally. This period coincided with a surge in cultural movements, including a reclamation of identity and the acknowledgment of the historical and ongoing struggles faced by Indigenous communities. In contrast to Black hip hop, which often addresses the African American experience of systemic racism, police brutality, and socio-economic challenges specific to the Black community, Indigenous hip hop delves into themes such as cultural reclamation, sovereignty, land rights, and the impacts of historical trauma.

One key aspect of Indigenous hip hop lies in the fusion of traditional elements with contemporary expressions. Indigenous hip hop often integrates traditional storytelling, oral histories, and languages into the lyrics, providing a unique lens through which to explore Indigenous experiences. This blending of cultural elements distinguishes Indigenous hip hop from its counterparts, fostering a distinct narrative that reflects the complex intersection of tradition and modernity.

Hip Hop as Critical Pedagogy (HHCP)

Hip Hop as Critical Pedagogy is an educational approach that leverages the elements of hip hop culture—such as rap music, DJing, breaking, graffiti art, and knowledge of self—as tools for critical thinking, empowerment, and social justice. This framework recognizes the cultural relevance and authenticity of hip hop in engaging learners, particularly those from diverse and marginalized backgrounds.

You can read more about the potential of this teaching framework and how schools in Canada are incorporating it into the classroom here. A great example of this in action was the 1995 film Dangerous Minds based off a true story where a teacher used rap lyrics to initiate poetry lessons.

Hip hop has become a global language of solidarity, connecting movements for Black rights around the world. Artists collaborate across borders, sharing common struggles and experiences. This global connectivity amplifies the impact of the Black movement and fosters a sense of unity on a global scale. By learning from hip hop, today’s youth can gain valuable insights into resilience, self-expression, community building, and social responsibility, contributing to their personal growth and the betterment of society. We encourage you to bring some of these activities into your classroom this Black History Month and all year round. To learn even more about hip hop, check out some of the films on this Rolling Stones List. Interested in taking your students on a tour to the birthplace of hip hop? Head to New York City with WorldStrides and engage in activities like graffiti tours and breaking workshops, in which they’ll dive into the past and present expressions of Black culture through different mediums. Reach out to us for more information!

The post Black History and Hip Hop Culture appeared first on WorldStrides Canada.

The 2024 WorldStrides Canada Photo & Video Contest has begun! If you’re preparing to head out on tour and interested in nabbing one of our sixteen Grand Prizes (a $250 Amazon e-gift card) or a Monthly Prize (a $25 e-gift card to Tim Hortons or Amazon), we’ve put together our top tips for capturing those memorable moments.

Tip #1: Pick Your Moment(s)

While almost everything about travelling can be exciting, you can usually tell when those truly photo-perfect moments are about to arrive. If you’re about to explore a new cultural site with your group or dig into a delicious local dinner or take in a performance, take a moment to pull out your phone or camera! At the end of the day, you can’t go wrong with capturing photos and videos of you, your fellow participants, your Program Leader, and your Tour Director that showcase your destination’s unique landscape or culture.

Tip #2: Move in Close

A common photographer mistake is staying too far away from your subject. Don’t be afraid to get up close and personal! Your goal is to fill most of the picture with the subject you’re snapping. And while zoom can be a great feature, you usually get a much better, sharper photo if you physically move closer to your subject.

Tip #3: Play with Angles

Even when you’re trying to photograph a huge monument or picturesque landscape, challenge yourself to explore creative angles. Walk towards one corner of the monument and take a picture of the entire façade from there or kneel down to capture a portrait of someone with something taller in the background behind them. You can even try turning your phone upside down and propping it against something on the ground to elongate your photo of something tall. Most phone cameras also have 0.5x zoom as an option to really get the whole picture!  

Tip #4: Use Flash Outdoors

It may seem counterintuitive, but using flash on a bright day outside will even out any harsh shadows on subjects close to you. This is especially helpful when photographing people from a near-distance.

Tip #5: Find a Simple Background

If you can, see if you can photograph subjects against a relatively simple background. This makes the overall shot less busy, showcasing your subject even more. Also take the time to make sure there aren’t any goofy background elements like trees or poles poking out of people’s heads.

Tip #6: Use the Rule of Thirds

When you pull up the photo and video app on your phone, you probably see a grid of three horizontal and three vertical lines. Use these to help you apply the Rule of Thirds! Basically, move the main subject of your photo from the middle of your shot to one side, inside one of those vertical lines. This automatically gives your image more depth and liveliness. You might have to adjust the focus settings here, too, because cameras usually focus on whatever is in the centre.

Did you recently return from your 2024 tour? Submit your best shots by June 30, 2024 for a chance to win!

The post 6 Essential Steps to Taking the Best Travel Photos and Videos appeared first on WorldStrides Canada.

We want to see your best shots! As you enjoy your WorldStrides Canada tour, make sure to keep an eye out for those truly memorable moments. Then, just upload your very best photos and videos for a chance to win!

We’re awarding sixteen Grand Prize Winners with a $250 Amazon e-gift card—eight for Best Photo and eight for Best Video. In addition, we’re awarding eight monthly prize winners with a $25 Amazon or Tim Hortons e-gift card for the duration of the contest, January through June. That’s forty-eight winners total!

Make sure to follow along on our Instagram and Facebook pages to see all of our winners, and some honourable mentions. You can read more about entry requirements and our best photography tips here.

Bon voyage!

The post Announcing our 2024 Photo & Video Contest appeared first on WorldStrides Canada.

In my tenth-grade history class, I was required to memorize the front page of the local Monday newspaper for a quiz on Friday of that week. This was my (otherwise very engaging) history teacher’s attempt to meet the current events educational standard set by our province. At the time, this quiz was possibly my only exposure to the news. It kept me somewhat aware that there was a world beyond the walls of my high school, albeit a week behind. This is not true for students who occupy the classrooms of today. They are more informed, or misinformed, than even the most engaged student 10 years ago.

The digital natives in our classrooms have all the news they could ever want with the swipe of a finger and are even affecting what we define as news. This immediate access and interest in the news offers educators an opportunity to use current events to enrich their classroom curriculum. Researching, analyzing, and discussing current events fosters critical thinking and allows students to make real world connections, creating the authentic application that educators seek. As students work with news sources, they learn skills needed to vet these stories for legitimacy and bias. Differentiating fact from opinion is an almost organic component to this process.

Current events can also serve as a bridge from your content area to your travel program by fostering curiosity, framing the purpose of the program with guiding questions, and underscoring your academic purpose of the travel. Here are a few suggested activities to leverage current events in the classroom:

Student-led debates and discussions

Encourage students to find articles that focus on the curricular goals of their travel program. Are you going to Ottawa to learn more about how our government works? Have students explore what bills will be on the floor of the House of Commons or the Senate during their travel program. Students can research the bill, take sides, and debate!

Activity idea: check out the interactive game Bill on the Hill by the Parliament of Canada. You can play with your students or use to inspire and create your own classroom debate.

Project-based learning making hometown connections

Students (and teachers) always love a good project/problem-based learning activity. Have students find a current event that impacts their home community as well as their travel destination. While the issue may be similar, it probably impacts these two destinations in different ways. Ask students to craft solutions for how these problems can be addressed while taking the cultural needs of the respective communities into consideration. Students will then be equipped to explore how these issues have been addressed while on their travel program.

Change perspectives inside the classroom

In preparation for your travel program, encourage students to seek out current event articles from their travel destination. This will allow students to shift their perspective to gain insight into the culture and concerns of the community they will visit. This activity is great for any class that focuses on human cultures, such as a language course. You don’t have to stop at the written word. Inviting individuals from your community who have first-hand experiences in your travel destination will further expand student understanding. Perhaps, you know someone who served in your travel destination while they were in the military or a volunteer organization, or maybe you know someone who lived in the area. Invite them into your classroom to share their thoughts about the current events that your students have researched. This practice will provide the opportunity to learn something new and will allow your students to take the lead, simultaneously increasing their intercultural empathy.

Integrating current events into the classroom does not have to be stale or boring! Encouraging students to delve into the news allows teachers to leverage their students’ interests to drive curiosity in the classroom. By including current events in your classroom, you will provide students with the tools needed to assess the reliability and truthfulness of their source, develop their own opinions using facts, and inspire them to gain insight into different perspectives, encourage students to become the informed, engaged, and responsible citizens that you hope that they will become.

Check out these sites for additional resources and ideas:

• Government of Canada: Fact Checking for Online Disinformation
• Parliament of Canada: Parliament in the News Teacher Resources
• Library of Congress: Analyzing Newspaper Resource
• PBS NewsHour: Media Literacy Resources
• NewseumEd: Media Literacy Resources and Activities
• Education Word: “Twenty-Five Great Ideas for Teaching Current Events”
• We Are Teachers: Free Current Events Worksheets from The Week Junior

Article written by: Denise Gammon

Denise Gammon serves as a Curriculum and Academics Specialist for WorldStrides. She earned her M.A. and B.A. in History and holds a teaching endorsement for Secondary Social Sciences. She has worked in various classroom settings and as a cultural educator. Her passions include supporting diverse learners and student empowerment.

The post Keeping Current: Using the News to Engage Your Students appeared first on WorldStrides Canada.

International Mountain Day, celebrated annually on December 11, encourages us to get outside and hit the trails! Aside from the benefits of encountering beautiful views, and enjoying all the mountains have to offer, hiking has a lot of health and wellness benefits too! WorldStrides Executive Creative Director, Paul Kidd, shares how getting outdoors helps him.

“In the middle of life’s craziness, I always turn to nature and hiking. Those trails, amidst the daily grind, are my escape. I’m Paul, and you’ll find me seeking solace amidst the trees and wide-open spaces.

Hiking is my reset button. Each step feels like a little rebellion against the chaos of everyday life. The rustling leaves, flowing water, and bird sounds – they drown out the world’s noise, offering a breather.

Nature’s my therapist, no kidding. Creative thoughts flow, and all those worries? Poof, gone. It’s not just exercise; it’s a mental spa day under the open sky.

The people you meet on the trails makes it all the better! Joining hiking groups is like joining a club of kindred spirits. We trade stories about the trails, not about work stress. It’s a breath of fresh air, literally.

Physically, it’s a win-win. Fresh air does wonders for both body and mind, a sweet escape from the same old indoor routine.

Seasons change, but the trails stay, always a reliable friend. Whether it’s the burst of colours in spring or the quiet snow-covered paths in winter, nature’s got this timeless rhythm that keeps us all grounded.

Life does its thing, but those hikes leave a mark. Nature’s like a trusty sidekick, always there to lend strength and solace. So, as life unfolds, find comfort and renewal on those trails that’ll see you through life’s ups and downs.” – Paul Kidd, WorldStrides Executive Creative Director.

Enjoy these photos taken by Vanessa Faulkner, a Marketing Coordinator on our WorldStrides Canada team. Vanessa went on an incredible adventure to Nepal and Guatemala.

Happy International Mountain Day!

The post The Benefits of Hiking: International Mountain Day appeared first on WorldStrides Canada.

Shrouded in mystery and rich history, Ancient Egypt, the story of King Tutankhamun, or King Tut for short, and the incredible discoveries in the realm of Egyptology are a fascinating journey back in time to this ancient civilization. King Tut’s story has captured the world’s imagination and significantly advanced our understanding of this time in history. His image, especially the legendary golden mask, has become an iconic symbol of ancient Egypt.

The Pharaohs: Ancient Egypt’s Reigning Rulers

Thriving along the Nile River in northeastern Africa for over three millennia, Ancient Egypt was ruled by a series of pharaohs, often organized into dynasties. The pharaoh was both a political and religious leader, considered divine and also responsible for maintaining “Ma’at”, the cosmic balance.

Did you know the Great Pyramid of Giza and others like it served as royal tombs for pharaohs? The monumental architecture of these tombs were constructed to provide a final resting place for the deceased rulers and to ensure their safe passage into the afterlife, a central belief in ancient Egyptian religion. The tombs were filled with a wide range of items, including food, trinkets, tools, jewels, and other various possessions which the deceased would need to continue their existence after death. Serving as symbols of the pharaoh’s power and divinity, the tombs also contained intricate burial chambers and passageways designed to facilitate the pharaohs’ journey to the afterlife.

Classroom Activity Idea: Take your students on a journey through time with a virtual tour of Ancient Egypt on the PBS NOVA website. Afterwards, create a timeline on your classroom wall, spanning the early dynasties to the New Kingdom, and have students add key events, figures, and developments in ancient Egypt, including King Tut’s reign. Then, discuss how the discovery of King Tut’s tomb, along with other burials, transformed the field of Egyptology and archaeological practices.

Tut’s Reign

Tutankhamun, originally named Tutankhaten, but later changed it to reflect a return to the old gods and religious traditions, was one of the youngest rulers in ancient Egyptian history. Often referred to as the “Boy King”, he ascended to the throne at the early age of nine and only ruled for 10 years during the 18th dynasty of ancient Egypt around 1332-1323 BC.

His rise to the throne is believed to have been the result of political and familial factors, as his father, Akhenaten, had introduced a monotheistic religion centered on the worship of the sun god Aten, which was not well-received by the traditional religious establishment.

King Tut is believed to have initiated various building projects such as temples and shrines during his reign, but these were relatively modest compared to the grand monuments constructed by other pharaohs. Due to the brevity of his reign and his relatively minor role in Egyptian history, King Tut was not widely known until the discovery of his tomb.

Classroom Activity idea: Create a fun and interactive lesson by assigning your students’ roles as different members of ancient Egyptian society. Have them act out scenarios to understand the social structure and daily life of the time. Here you can find a breakdown of the complex social structure of the Egyptian hierarchy, from the pharaohs and nobles to the scribes and craftsmen.

A Mysterious Death

Shrouded in mystery, King Tut’s early death around the age of 18 or 19 remains one of the enduring mysteries of ancient Egyptian history and remains a subject of debate among scholars. Some theories suggest he died of an infection or injury, while others propose that political intrigue or power struggles might have led to his assassination. There’s also been theories about his death based off evidence of bone abnormalities and the presence of broken bones in his mummy, but those could be disputed as occurring postmortem rather than during his life or incurred at time of death. 

The Discovery

Contrary to popular belief, King Tut’s reign was relatively unremarkable until the momentous discovery of his nearly intact tomb in the Valley of the Kings by British archaeologist Howard Carter in 1922. Inside the 3,000-year-old tomb was an astonishing treasure trove of artifacts and funerary goods, completely untouched—the tomb hadn’t been looted and destroyed as many others had! 

The discovery of King Tut’s tomb was a pivotal moment in Egyptology, sparking a wave of Egyptomania and renewed interest in ancient Egyptian history and archaeology. One of the most iconic artifacts in the world actually comes from King Tut’s tomb, a golden funerary mask—it was placed over his mummy to protect and guide him in the afterlife. The mask is a beautifully constructed masterpiece of ancient Egyptian artistry, made of solid gold and adorned with precious gemstones and intricate detailing.

And that’s not all, the tomb contained over 5,000 artifacts, including jewelry, furniture, clothing, and even food. These items provided insights into the daily life and afterlife beliefs of the ancient Egyptians. The tomb contained not only treasures, but also a wealth of information about the funerary practices, religious beliefs, and artistry of ancient Egypt.

You can watch the full National Geographic episode following Egyptologists as they unearth discoveries in Egypt’s Valley of the Kings.

Classroom Activity idea: The Metropolitan Museum of Art has a complete resource guide for educators The Art of Ancient Egypt. On page 139, you’ll find plenty of classroom activities and discussion ideas to learn more about this fascinating culture and its artifacts.

Curse of the Pharaohs: Fact or Fiction?

The “Curse of the Pharaohs” is a legendary, and often sensationalized, belief that a curse would befall anyone who disturbed the tombs of ancient Egyptian pharaohs. The legend was popularized by the media after the discovery and opening of King Tutankhamun’s tomb. Several people involved in the tomb’s discovery and excavation faced mysterious deaths or misfortune fueling the superstition. 

King Tutankhamun’s legacy has helped Egypt grow into a world-renowned destination, with millions of visitors coming to see his tomb—along with other ancient Egyptian wonders like the pyramids, temples, and the Sphinx. Visiting these awe-inspiring spectacles offer insights into ancient civilizations, their social structures, and geographical significance.

Interested in taking a journey with your students to experience this ancient civilization firsthand? Take a trip back in time with them on our Best of Egypt Student Tour. Cruise along the famous Nile River, stand in the shadows of the great Sphinx and wondrous Pyramids at Giza, and no trip is complete of course without a visit to the ancient Egyptian tombs.

Plus, learn about other iconic ancient civilizations. Experience and immerse yourself in the rich history of ancient Rome and Greece with the Italy & Greece and Athens & the Aegean Student Tours. Discover the ancient wonders of China’s Ming Dynasty on the Beijing, Hangzhou & Shanghai Student Tour. And, explore the Lost City of the Incas to learn about Peru’s Inca Empire on the Peru Incan Adventure Student Tour. Discover all this and more with our one-of-a-kind travel programs.

The post Unlocking the Mysteries of King Tut and Ancient Egypt appeared first on WorldStrides Canada.

We’re thrilled to unveil the winners of the much anticipated 2023 WorldStrides Canada Student Photo and Video contest! After weeks of sifting through a myriad of awe-inspiring snapshots from talented shutterbugs across the nation, we finally selected the two best photo and video champions who managed to capture the essence of wanderlust through their photo and video submissions.

Selecting the winning photographs and videos was no easy task. Our team of expert judges had the challenging job of assessing each submission based on various criteria, including composition, creativity, technical proficiency, and the ability to convey a meaningful story. The process involved countless cups of coffee, lively debates, and meticulous evaluation.

And the Winners are…

For the photography category, we proudly announce the winners of the 2023 Photo Contest are Davyn M and Mandie LM. Congratulations!

For the videography category, we proudly announce the winners of the 2023 contest are Avrya C and Niki J. Congratulations!

Continue scrolling to see all the winning submissions!

Best Scenic Shot |Davyn M., taken in Casablanca, Morocco

About his trip, Davyn says “This picture was taken at 7:45 [PM] on April 14th at the Hassan II mosque in Casablanca, Morocco. I love this picture because the sun was setting as we were taking pictures giving an incredible landscape of the mosque itself and the beautiful bright sunset.”

Best Group Shot | Mandie LM., taken in Lorne, Australia

Mandie’s class enjoyed a surfing day at one of the world’s most famous locations for surfing!

Best Group Video | Niki J, taken in Ottawa, Canada

Niki and her classmates shot this awesome video while touring around Ottawa during their “3 day curriculum based overnight field trip.”

Best Reaction Video | Avrya C, taken in Montreal, Canada

Avrya and her classmates enjoying a day at the Bio Dome in Montreal!

We extend our heartfelt congratulations to our winners for capturing the essence of wanderlust and inspiring us through their lenses. To all the participants, thank you for sharing your incredible talent and reminding us of the power of photography in telling stories that transcend borders.

Stay tuned for more captivating contests and opportunities to let your creativity shine! Until then, keep exploring, keep clicking, and keep cherishing those moments that make life truly extraordinary.

Happy travels and happy snapping!

The post Announcing our 2023 WorldStrides Canada Student Photo and Video Contest Winners! appeared first on WorldStrides Canada.

In 2020, the Global Education Monitoring Report published findings about education and inclusion around the world and the results were eye-opening. For instance, did you know that 23 European countries do not include sexual orientation or gender identity in their curricula? Or that one out of every three teachers across 43 upper-middle and high-income countries reported not adjusting their teaching to reflect their students’ cultural diversity?

We think our students deserve better. That’s why we’ve compiled this list of tips for creating a truly inclusive learning environment.

First things first, know the difference between equity and equality.

An equal classroom is one in which all students are treated the same, regardless of ability, background, identity, and learning style. While this may sound good in theory, classrooms and lessons that ignore student diversity often end up benefiting one type of student while placing another at a disadvantage.

An equitable classroom is one that ensures equitable access to classroom materials, pedagogical approaches, and resources. This might mean scaffolding lessons for students at different learning levels, changing your method of instruction as needed, and ensuring that classroom resources are positioned to meet students at every level. Pro tip: Plan to use a variety of instructional styles and materials in your lessons like videos, worksheets, and hands-on activities in order to differentiate your instruction and reach all of your students.

Remember that actions always speak louder than words.

The best way to teach your students how to value diversity and inclusion is to model it for them! A culturally responsive teaching approach is one that incorporates books, resources, and lessons from diverse perspectives and authors and highlights the contributions of underrepresented groups throughout history. Creating a diverse classroom can be as simple as asking students about their “school break” rather than their “Christmas holiday,” creating spaces for students to share about their cultures, backgrounds, and favourite traditions through a student forum or the creation of new clubs, or taking your students on school trips to explore other cultures in exciting new destinations.

Activity highlight: Global Pen Pals

Creating a pen pal program with students in another country is a great way to foster global citizenship and broaden your students’ worldviews. Learn more about how to start your pen pal program and how to find pen pal partners.

Work with administration to implement school-wide changes.

Creating a classroom that celebrates equity and inclusion is an important first step in teaching your students the value of diversity. Schools can help foster an equitable environment by appointing a DEI leader. This person, with the help of a working group or council, can build a roadmap towards an inclusive and equitable environment for all. There are several schools in Canada, the US, and the UK that have already appointed a DEI leader and can provide some inspiration for taking the leap at your own school! Read more about the leaders at the Branksome school in Ontario, the Beaconsfield school in the UK, and at the Bethlehem school in New York!  

Schools should also ensure that all students have access to after-school programs, extra-curriculars, and educational travel opportunities. We support schools in creating equitable access to educational travel and programming through the WorldStrides Financial Assistance Program. The FAP provides additional financial assistance to travellers who have undergone financial hardship, identify as a member of an underrepresented group, or possess a disability. You can learn more about our commitment to incorporating DEI into everything that we do here.

Like this post? Make sure to check out some of our other posts on the importance of creating an inclusive classroom all year round and strategies for minimizing gender biases in your classroom.

The post How to Create a DEI-Informed Classroom appeared first on WorldStrides Canada.

Amidst all the excitement and glitter of Pride Month, WorldStrides knows that many people, including students and school staff, still face discrimination on a daily basis in their communities and at school. We invite you to reflect with us as we consider how best to encourage inclusivity and uplift diversity all year round and how best to educate our students on participating in Pride events in a thoughtful and respectful manner.

Why do we celebrate Pride Month?

We celebrate Pride Month in June to honour the 1969 Stonewall Uprising. On June 28, 1969, police in New York City raided the Stonewall Inn, a gay bar in Greenwich Village, and patrons and allies decided to fight back. The uprising lasted for six full days of protest and violent clashes between the police and 2SLGBTQI+ people and is widely considered to be a turning point in the queer liberation movement across the world. Many similar uprisings took place across Canada following Stonewall. One of the most notable early protests in Canada took place on August 28, 1971 when a rally gathered in front of Parliament Hill demanding equal rights for 2SLGBTQI+ people. You can read more about this, and countless other, important movements in Canadian history on this timeline of queer history in Canada.

The very first Pride marches were held one year after the uprising to continue the fight for equal rights. The first gay rights protests in Canada were held in Toronto and Vancouver in the late summer of 1971. Today, Pride parades commemorate these marches and draw hundreds of thousands of attendees and participants from around the world. For a more complete look into the history of Pride in Canada, check out this Canadian Encyclopedia article. You can also discover all the Pride events taking place near you on the Government of Canada’s website.

How to celebrate Pride Month in school

The simple act of displaying a Pride flag or wearing a Pride button can send a strong message of inclusivity and support for the 2SLGBTQI+ community. Despite the growing international movement for recognition and protection, many queer people suffer from feelings of isolation or ostracization. Consider raising the flag at your school to show solidarity and demonstrate commitment to fostering safe and welcoming places for all 2SLGBTQI+ students and staff.

The Waterloo Region District School Board has some great parent resources and FAQs to help guide the conversation with parents and students for Pride celebrations at school. You can also check out the Toronto Catholic District School Board’s recognition of Pride Month or the past Ottawa-Carleton DSB Pride celebrations for some additional inspiration.

How to be Proud All Year Round

Tips for inclusivity in the classroom:

• Familiarize yourself with the proper vocabulary to describe and include a wide variety of gender identities and sexual orientations. Acronyms like 2SLGBTQI+ are ever evolving and may or may not relate to how someone identifies themselves. The use of acronyms in the Pride movement has its roots in the acronym GLB, standing for gay, lesbian, and bisexual, that began gaining popularity with queer activists in the 1990s. This list of some of the most frequent terms and identities is a great place to start becoming familiar with the terms and acronyms of today, and this video by Savvy Ally Action offers a clear overview of acronyms and definitions.
• De-gender your language to normalize diverse experiences and identities. Instead of saying “boys and girls,” you can use gender-neutral terms like students, team, or friends. Instead of saying “mom and dad,” you can say parents, guardians, family, or folks. Instead of separating students by gender, establish groups using birth month, favourite food, pets at home, sock colour, you name it!
• Introduce pronouns into the classroom—and know what to do when mistakes are made. You can find a guide on using pronouns as an educator here. We also have a blog post on strategies that can minimize gender bias in your classroom and on tour that you can read here.
• Normalize 2SLGBTQI+ people and families. Present stories that encompass different family arrangements, like those featuring households with a single parent or two dads. Display images in the classroom with a diverse representation of people and families.
• Build 2SLGBTQI+ spaces at your school by supporting the development of a GSA (Gay-Straight Alliance). LGBT YouthLine has created a great step-by-step framework for beginning and running one.

Inclusivity on tour

It is important for us to advocate for the inclusion and equity of all people. In our programs, we take an individualistic approach to addressing the needs and concerns of our participants. We are committed to providing a safe experience for our participants and provide appropriate accommodations to allow for equal participation in our programs. Please refer to our official WorldStrides policy on Gender Idenity and Expression for more information on our standards and procedures that promote the inclusiveness of all students.

Whether you’re a member of the 2SLGBTQI+ community or an ally, we wish you a truly joyous Pride Month!

The post Celebrating Pride, Being an Ally, and Creating Inclusive Classrooms All Year Round appeared first on WorldStrides Canada.

1. Shoot | Grab your camera or phone and capture clear, hi-res photos of your experiences on tour—no filters or effects, please.
2. Upload | When you get home, upload your best shots to worldstrides.ca/photo-contest by August 15, 2023, for a chance to win.
3. Win! | Four lucky winners—two photo and two video submissions—will each get to choose between a Canon Ivy CLIQ 2 Instant Camera Printer and an Amazon Gift Card, both valued at $250.

Follow our social media to see if your submission gets featured as a grand prize winner or an honourable mention.

We’d love to follow along with your adventures, too! Be sure to tag us (@WorldStridesCA, @ExploricaCanada, @BrightsparkCanada) and your friends in your photos while on tour, including the contest hashtag #WSCAPhotoContest.

Please note that if your social media accounts are private, we won’t be able to see your posts. For that reason, only photos officially submitted on our contest page will be considered to win.

We wish you the best of luck and can’t wait to see the world from your point of view.

Bon voyage, and happy snapping!

*Terms and conditions apply.

The post Announcing our 2023 Student Photo Contest appeared first on WorldStrides Canada.

IWD has been around for over a century, with the first gathering in 1911 mobilizing over a million people. In 1975, recognized as International Women’s Year, the United Nations designated the annual holiday in March. This year’s International Women’s Day theme is #EmbraceEquity.

On IWD, we commemorate the key moments that have defined women’s rights in Canada, from the Married Women’s Property Act to the creation of a Pay Equity Commission and everything in between. We encourage you to use these fun, interactive activities to help your students engage with women’s history and other IWD topics!

Activity 1: Wear Purple!

Purple is the official colour of International Women’s Day. Encourage your students to wear purple on March 8 or, for a more hands-on activity, organize a purple tie-dye party to get everyone involved.

Purple is historically associated with efforts to achieve gender equality. It was first used alongside green and white as the colours of the Women’s Social and Political Union, the organization that led Britain’s 20^th-century women’s suffrage movement. In the 1960s and 1970s, feminists revived the colour to represent the women’s liberation movement as a tribute to the suffragettes.

Dressing in support is a great option if time isn’t on your side—even a small action like this can have a huge impact. You can also download these #EmbraceEquity Selfie Cards to be worn by your students or posted around the school!

Activity 2: Hold a “Pink Tea”

Replicate a famous “Pink Tea” and learn about prominent Canadian suffragists the Famous Five. Pink Teas played a crucial role in the victory of the Persons Case, a constitutional ruling that established the right of women to be appointed to the Senate.

When the Famous Five campaigned for women’s right to vote and run for elected office, opponents often disrupted their meetings. But men didn’t attend traditionally women-only tea parties, so the group started calling their political meetings Pink Teas.

The Famous 5 Foundation has all the resources you need to have your own Pink Tea with your class. Check out their guide on how to host one, listen to a six-minute 360-degree audio experience that transports your students back in time, and test their knowledge with a short quiz.

Want your students to experience this history firsthand? Consider taking them on one of our Ottawa tours to see the Famous Five historic monument depicting the most famous tea party in Canadian history!

Activity 3: Screen a Women-Centric Documentary or Biopic

Showing a film can be useful for students in so many ways: deepening their understanding, making learning fun, and improving their memory performance, for starters. With educator facilitation, movies can bring IWD themes to life for students. Even screen your film over a class lunch or a pizza party—bonus points for ordering from a women-owned and -operated business!

Here are a few of our favourite woman-centred films to choose from:

1. The Color Purple – This 1985 adaptation of Alice Walker’s famous novel portrays the role of women in a patriarchal society and the struggle to overcome these injustices through the complex character of Celie.
2. Hidden Figures – This film starring Taraji P. Henson, Octavia Spencer, and Janelle Monae tells the inspiring story of a trio of Black female NASA scientists who helped launch the first American astronaut into space.
3. The Breadwinner – Based on the young adult novel by Deborah Ellis, this animated feature film follows an 11-year-old girl forced to pretend she’s a boy after her father is imprisoned under the Taliban regime. It was an official Toronto International Film Festival 2017 selection and a 2018 Oscar nominee.
4. Suffragette – In this 2015 British historical drama film directed by Sarah Gavron, a woman’s life changes when she joins the U.K.’s 1912 suffragette movement, providing an eye-opening look at the historic social movement.
5. On the Basis of Sex – Ruth Bader Ginsburg, the second woman to serve on the U.S. Supreme Court, is the subject of this 2018 American biographical legal drama. The movie focuses on RBG’s lifelong commitment to changing the status quo and securing equal rights.

Consider asking students to write a movie review after the screening or reflect on one of the memorable scenes and why it stood out. What did it make them think about? How did it make them feel? As you pre-screen the movie, you may want to make note of some key scenes where you’ll pause for discussion.

Activity 4: Invite Changemakers to Speak

Invite special guests and host a Q&A with a group of change-making women! An assembly is a great way to get the whole school involved and make IWD feel that much more important—however, a class workshop is also a great alternative. Consider inviting women from male-dominated industries, like tech or construction.

Depending on the age of your students, they may be able to prepare their own questions, or staff members can step in to help. Get started with these tips. You can also search for a registered IWD speaker here.

Activity 5: Learn Through Games

Do you know what percent of women make up the workforce in Canada? Or how many countries worldwide don’t allow women access to higher education? Trivia or multiple-choice polls are great ways for your students to engage with women’s history and rights. Here are two great resources to gather statistics and facts:

• World Economic Forum Global Gender Gap Report 2022
• McKinsey & Company Women in the Workplace 2022 Report

Or create a bingo game or crossword search designed around influential women in science, literature, and history. Your students could also play Name the Dame to identify who said which quote or accomplished which feat.

To reflect on the day’s events, students can write letters to their future selves: How will they use what they learned today to inspire future action? What action would they like to see made in 10 years?

You’ll find even more activities on the Government of Canada website. Historica Canada also has a Women in Canadian History Education Guide, including historical timelines, educational activities, worksheets, videos, and so much more.

International Women’s Day encourages us to honour women’s achievements, raise awareness about discrimination, and take action to drive gender parity. We invite you to join us in this year’s mission to #EmbraceEquity by celebrating this meaningful holiday in your classroom and beyond!

The post #EmbraceEquity this International Women’s Day [Classroom Resources] appeared first on WorldStrides Canada.

The word is out! Hamilton is coming to Toronto. Since its premiere on Broadway in 2015, the smash-hit biographical musical has taken the world by storm. Now is your chance to be in the room where it happens.

History comes to life in Hamilton, a staged retelling of the American Revolution and Alexander Hamilton’s role as a founding father. The audience follows Hamilton from the Caribbean to New York City where he serves as the right-hand man to George Washington during the Revolutionary War, marries into the illustrious Schuyler family, and feuds with Aaron Burr Thomas Jefferson, and John Adams. Will Hamilton’s vision for the future of America survive? Or will political in-fighting and exposed secrets interrupt his visionary plan for a new government?

Lin-Manuel Miranda, the Tony award-winning playwright, composer, and portrayer of Hamilton in the original Broadway production, composed a musical score that seamlessly blends contemporary hip-hop with odes to more traditional Broadway sounds first championed by the likes of Rodgers and Hammerstein and Sondheim. Hamilton, winner of the 2016 Pulitzer Prize for Drama, also made history by specifically calling for non-white actors to be cast in the roles of the Founding Fathers. Miranda described this choice as “a story about America then, told by America now.” Through and through, Hamilton’s legacy is one that both honors and subverts tradition.

All of the theatrical elements of Hamilton represent the reasons it is vital to celebrate the art of live performance. Theatre is meant to provoke reflection, inspire creation, and foster meaningful connections. Hamilton accomplishes all three with pointed choreography, impeccable set design, and revolutionary music. There’s no better chance for theatre students to get a firsthand look at the award-winning elements of the production—from the lighting to the choreography to the specially-designed rotating stage. History teachers will find tremendous value in harnessing the power of Hamilton to inspire their students. In Act II, Thomas Jefferson and Alexander Hamilton face off in a series of rap battles, Hamilton sings passionately about his belief in a new economic system, and King George III pops up sporadically throughout the whole show to mark England’s perspective of the entire Revolution. These interludes turn events that are usually dismissed as the duller parts of history, like Cabinet arguments and the establishment of a new economic order, into show-stopping moments. There is truly something for everyone at Hamilton. So, whether you’re a theatre buff looking to experience one of the most defining productions of a generation, a teacher hoping to add some extra passion to a history lesson, or just someone who appreciates the art of good storytelling, you won’t want to say no to this chance to see Hamilton with your group at the Princess of Wales Theatre between February 22—May 14, 2023.

Can’t make the show? Hamilton is only one of many live theatre performances coming to Toronto that you can see as part of your WorldStrides Canada tour programming. Planning a trip to New York? Add an outing to see a Broadway show! You can keep up the Hamilton theme with tickets to 1776—The Musical, a show about John Adams’ fight for the Declaration of Independence, or Six, a musical about Henry VIII’s wives. Or you can switch it up entirely with tickets to classic Broadway smashes like Chicago or Funny Girl. Hopping the pond to London? Plan to take in Les Miserables, the classic operetta about the French Revolution, or the latest retake on Shakespeare’s classic—& Juliet imagines a whole new life for one half of theatre’s most tragic duo.

Theatre brings learning to life. Become part of the story of the night and add a theatre show to your travel program today. Browse all our customizable programs or call 1-888-378-8845 to speak with one of our expert Tour Consultants.

The post Harnessing the Power of Theatre to Inspire Your Students appeared first on WorldStrides Canada.

“Getting to go on this tour through Italy turned us from teammates into brothers.” In 2019, superstar WorldStrides intern Andrew Chong and his teammates took part in a multi-city rugby tour that took them across Italy. Now, Andrew has written all about his game-changing experience abroad.

In the spring of 2019, my high school rugby teammates and I travelled from Ontario to three different cities in northern Italy. We played matches against local Italian teams, took part in trainings, and got to see many amazing sights along the way. I have always enjoyed travelling, but this rugby tour was my first international trip and my first trip without my family! Needless to say, it sparked a whole new appreciation and love for travelling.

The first few days of the tour in Rome were some of the most memorable moments of my life. We toured the Colosseum, Vatican City, and the Trevi Fountain, to name a few. In the Vatican, we climbed what felt like thousands of steps up a narrow staircase to get to the very, very top of the tallest tower. The view of the city was spectacular, and we stood as a team trying to take it all in. It was the most tranquil, beautiful view we’d ever seen.

The reason for this tour was to see how our rugby team would stack up against some of the top rugby clubs in Italy. As one of the best rugby teams in Ontario, we were excited to show off our skills. Once we got on the field with the local Italian teams, though, our pride quickly turned to respect. Not only were they better than us, but they played the same game entirely differently! They used different plays, had different ways of tossing the ball, and really great communication on the field. I was blown away.

After we played (and lost…rather badly) to the club in Rome, we got to train with them. I felt so welcomed by the players everywhere we went in Italy. They helped us gain entirely new skills and improve in areas that I thought we were experts at! For example, I learned a sure-fire trick for tackling (placaggio) from the team in Rome that brought my defensive skills to the next level. We even brought home certain Italian plays so other Canadian teams couldn’t guess our next moves! That gave us a huge leg up on the competition when we returned.

Travelling with my teammates for a week opened my eyes to what true teamwork and comradery can be. I was hesitant to go on the trip in the beginning, because I was a younger member of the team and wasn’t very close with the older boys. But I knew this trip would be amazing on the first night when we were all sitting and laughing together at dinner. Bonding with my teammates came naturally over the course of the trip, whether we were travelling on buses from city to city, listening to music, or trying new foods together. Being able to play sports and travel with one another boosted the strength of our friendships and turned us into a better team. Being able to travel for sports was monumental for me, both as an athlete and someone who understands the importance of exploring other cultures. The experience helped me grow as a person, as a rugger, and as a teammate. I got to hone my skills as I explored breathtaking cities. I highly recommend everyone travels abroad and especially, if possible, with their teammates. Andiamo!]

Andrew’s story highlights what we love most about our travel sports programs. Teamwork, personal development, and life-long memories are at the core of every program we offer. Learn more about all of our sports travel offerings to start planning your trip today.

Ready to get planning? You can reach out to our Senior Account Manager Scott Munro, at: Scott.Munro@worldstrides.ca.

The post A rugger abroad: pasta, pallovale, and Pisa appeared first on WorldStrides Canada.

At WorldStrides, we recognize that sustainability starts with us—that’s why we’ve partnered with Carbonzero, a Canadian-based supplier of greenhouse gas measurement and carbon offsetting solutions, to provide our participants with carbon neutral travel experiences. To celebrate the launch of our new Choose Earth initiative, we sat down with Dan Fraleigh, Chief Executive Officer of Carbonzero, to learn more about carbon reduction projects and the effects they have on both local communities and the greater environment.

Q: Tell us a little about yourself. When did you first get involved in environmental sustainability and the carbon market?

My passion for the environment started when I was very young, while attending overnight camp in northern Ontario. I fell in love with the natural environment and felt at home in the forest. Carbonzero was my entrance into environmental consulting and carbon markets, after previously starting my own green products and web development business.

I joined Carbonzero in 2008 and have played various roles in the business over the past 14 years. I currently head up our carbon offset project development, sourcing, and delivery team. Working in environmental sustainability, I’ve been delighted with helping our clients on their carbon neutrality journeys. I’m regularly inspired knowing that I’m helping [create] positive change for the future of the planet and my children.

Q: What elements do you think create a high-quality carbon offset project?

The quality of a carbon offset refers to the level of confidence one has in its use and effectiveness at reducing the effects of climate change. First, it must represent one metric tonne of additional, permanent, and unclaimed CO2 emission reductions or removals. Second, a quality offset credit should come from activities that do not significantly contribute to social or environmental harms.

There are a number of quality criteria that a carbon offset must adhere to when claiming greenhouse gas reductions or removals, including:

Q: Have you seen a shift in the voluntary carbon market since you started with Carbonzero?

There have been enormous shifts in carbon markets in general over the past ten years. When I started working in carbon, the market did not have as many sophisticated regulations and control levers as it does today. Carbon offsetting has [become] well-established as a strong financial mechanism toward the reduction, avoidance, and capture of greenhouse gas emissions.

Especially as we moved through COVID, many organizations began focusing on their own greenhouse gas emissions…Very clear reductions were identified across many organizations when it came to commuting, business travel, and general operations of workspaces. Now that the pandemic is coming to an end, many companies will remain working virtually as they realize the environmental and social benefits.

With the carbon markets trending upwards and more companies adopting ESG (environmental, social, and corporate governance) and other management and operational practices, we anticipate carbon markers and demand for carbon offsets to grow exponentially over the coming years.

Q: What’s one fact that really makes people think twice about their carbon footprint?

As of July 2021, the concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere reached the highest it has ever been in human history at 416 parts per million. 11% of those emissions are a result of deforestation, equivalent to the emissions from all the passenger vehicles on the planet.

Q: What are the greatest achievements you’ve seen since you joined Carbonzero? Are there any projects that stand out that made a real and lasting impact on the carbon economy and provided socio-economic benefits to local communities?

We’re most proud of the in-house carbon offset project development that we’ve undertaken in Ontario over the past several years with our partners. These include the Ontario Biodiversity Afforestation Project, which was the largest afforestation project of its kind in Ontario developed for the sole purpose of sequestering greenhouse gas emissions, and our Niagara Escarpment Forest Carbon Project, which promotes and maintains the function and biodiversity of ecosystems along Ontario’s Niagara Escarpment (in partnership with the Escarpment Biosphere Conservancy).

Carbonzero is generally focused on developing nature-based projects that are forward-looking and provide us with the best opportunities to continue reducing emissions into the future.

Q: WorldStrides Canada has selected the San Antonio El Sitio Wind Power Project to receive our travellers’ carbon offsets. When was the project initially launched, and what benefits have you seen so far in energy efficiency and the community?

The San Antonio El Sitio Wind Power Project started operating in April 2015. The project supplies clean energy to the equivalent of 60,000 households in the Santa Elena Barillas region (since it is connected to the national grid, we cannot give an exact detail of where the energy ends up).

This was the first wind energy project in the region, so having a positive community perspective was very important. The project was socialized with its neighbours extensively to make sure that they understood the project and welcomed it.

San Antonio has a very strong commitment to the community and has now implemented 15 new recycling centres, with continued education on recycling and renewable energies. The income from the recycling centres is given back to the community. [The project] has also supported 12 schools with new infrastructure such as building areas, sports facilities, sanitation, and water services. There is also ongoing support to local police and firefighters.

The project gives back to the community on an ongoing basis depending on the most important needs. San Antonio welcomes local students and education programs to visit the site to further encourage renewable energy in the region.

Q: How can we understand the amount of new and clean energy created by this project compared to energy created by fossil fuels?

The project’s impacts annually contribute to the avoidance of approximately 81,000 tCO2e that would have otherwise been generated from fossil fuel-based electricity generation sources. This emissions avoidance is equivalent to the carbon footprint from the combustion of almost 675,000 full tanks of gasoline in a mid-sized SUV.

Q: Tell us a bit more about the logistics of a wind power project. Does it cause visual pollution? Were local communities involved in the decision-making process? Do the turbines cause serious harm to human health or disrupt habitats, particularly for birds and bats?

Since this was the first wind power project in the region, local communities didn’t really know what to expect. San Antonio reached out extensively to explain the process and make sure it would be accepted. Due to the location of the project, primarily in depleted agricultural fields, visual pollution is very limited.

At the moment, there have been no harmful negative effects of the project noticed in the community—most negative effects that have been documented for wind energy projects worldwide are related to the noise that increases in proximity to the project.

In addition, no endangered or high impact animal species have been identified in the area. There is ongoing monitoring of bird and bat migration and population. We’re recording any deaths in the zone, which have thus far been very limited and are not expected to create a broader impact.

Q: What’s next on the horizon for Carbonzero?

Carbonzero is always in search of new and exciting greenhouse gas reduction activities that we can develop into carbon offsets for our clients and the market. We are actively expanding our nature-based projects in Canada and will have new mitigation opportunities available in the coming year.

Q: Any final tips you would suggest for our travellers to further reduce their carbon footprint?

From packing light to choosing efficient transportation and reducing food waste, there are numerous opportunities for travellers and schools to reduce their carbon footprint. Mealtime options can be a consideration for a reduction in your greenhouse gas footprint by selecting plant-based and other non-meat items from the menu. Choosing to hang the Do Not Disturb sign on your hotel room is a simple action you can take to reduce emissions around energy use while helping with water conservation by avoiding unnecessary clothes and linen washing during your stay. Selecting accommodations that have sustainability programming (such as through Green Key) and emission reduction programs in place can help ensure an environmentally friendly stay.

About the Program

Although travel is incredibly important in understanding and learning about the world around us, the global tourism industry is responsible for nearly eight percent of global greenhouse gas emissions, according to the David Suzuki Foundation. WorldStrides’ Choose Earth program enables travellers to offset their carbon footprint and create life-changing moments for themselves and the generations to come.

When travellers purchase a carbon offset with WorldStrides Canada, we match the contribution and purchase the offsets on their behalf through our partnership with Carbonzero. Proceeds are directed to the San Antonio El Sitio Wind Power Project and are retired accordingly on the UNFCCC Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) Registry. The purchase of carbon offsets helps to fund the development and operation of emissions reduction projects which would not have otherwise been possible.

Learn more about our new initiative and see how to enrol at worldstrides.ca/carbonoffset.

The post Choose Earth: An Interview with Carbonzero CEO Dan Fraleigh appeared first on WorldStrides Canada.

Teaching music is, of course, about inspiring a love of music and an appreciation for a diverse art form. But it is also about helping students to look at things from different perspectives, to think about ideas as they have been constructed through someone else’s ear or someone else’s language. It inspires empathy, but it also helps students to find their own voices. Through performance, we can work with our students to grow their confidence. Through practice and rehearsals, we as educators can inspire discipline and persistence. We can teach students to become more observant of the world around them and, in many ways, stronger versions of themselves.

Throughout my 24 years teaching choir at Lafayette High School in Louisiana, I have learned that educational travel can have a similarly profound effect on students’ learning and development. Planning trips in partnership with WorldStrides has allowed us not only to share our talent with the world, but also to gain so much rich “real world” experience. Travel has allowed my students to perform in beautiful venues across the United States.

School trips help teach kids confidence, tolerance, time management, and autonomy. Through travel, students learn to set and respect boundaries, and they learn the importance of watching each other’s backs to keep each other safe in cities far from home. They learn the value of teamwork and effective collaboration. Having no choice but to spend hours together on a bus or an airplane builds bonds that cannot be forged in a traditional classroom. Proximity and necessity converge to help students connect with each other on a deeper level. Travel can turn a class of choir students into a family.

Students grow by watching other performers and by listening to the advice of the other teachers and musicians we meet along the way. Travel reinforces what I teach in the classroom. For example, they see how other people react to them when they are confident and articulate about their needs–and what happens if they stand by and fail to participate in the conversation.  When they see what they’re learning being replicated in some of the world’s most respected performance venues, they really get it. They return to the classroom armed with a clearer, more practical understanding of the material.

No matter the subject, all teachers understand the importance of helping students learn beyond the lessons contained in a textbook — or on a sheet of music. Good teaching is also about creating lasting and impactful learning experiences that can help students grow as people. I have found there are few better ways to instill these powerful lessons than through travel.

Interested in leading a trip for your students? To learn more about WorldStrides Performing Arts Programs, visit our website or download the brochure here.

Article written by Holly Grefe.

Holly is a choir teacher from Lafayette, Louisiana, and our 2019 WorldStrides Teacher of the Year! She has been teaching for over 24 years, and in that time has gone above and beyond for her students inside the classroom and out.

The post What Music and Travel Have in Common – And How They Both Change Students’ Lives appeared first on WorldStrides Canada.

We all have different interests, habits, and passions. We all come from different areas, we were born in different decades, and we have drastically different backgrounds. Teachers are educated, hard-working, critical observers, critical thinkers, and yet sometimes we don’t feel confident with popular culture. But in reality, you see and experience a massive amount of what is considered “popular” to your students every single day.

In our latest video resource, you will gain insights, learn new strategies, and develop a multitude of lesson enhancements to incorporate pop culture into your curriculum – no matter your content area.

Topic highlights include:

What is pop culture and its various definitions (03:21)

The 50-milliion user rule (07:38)

Trends in social media (12:16)

Pop culture to strengthen classroom culture (19:40)

Pop culture to encourage learning (22:23)

Pop culture to hone thinking skills (24:18)

Student work samples and pop culture examples (29:25)

Incorporating pop culture in a travel program (32:16)

Incorporating pop culture can allow you to teach lesson objectives more effectively and provide ample opportunities to make thoughtful and meaningful connections with your students. We’d love to hear some of your ideas! You can reach the Curriculum and Academics team at discoverycanada@worldstrides.com.

Written by Randi Chapman who serves as a Senior Curriculum and Academics Specialist for WorldStrides. She holds an M.T. in Secondary English Education and BS in journalism, with an emphasis on public relations. In addition to her entrepreneurial experience launching an independent business, Ms. Chapman brings eight years of public high school classroom teaching expertise. She works tirelessly to increase the accessibility of meaningful professional development and educational opportunities to educators and students around the world.

The post Incorporating Pop Culture in Your Classroom appeared first on WorldStrides Canada.

Are you looking forward to the Super Bowl LVI halftime show more than the game itself? If so, you’re not alone! Over the decades, this famous (and sometimes infamous) feature of the big game has become a cultural icon of its own. While the halftime show is now known for its spectacle—like Katy Perry’s record-breaking performance or the first-ever solo Canadian performer, 2021 headliner The Weeknd—it hasn’t always been that way.

Before it became a grand, televised event, the Super Bowl halftime show was designed for an in-person audience, usually including university marching band performances alongside entertainers like The Three Stooges. These exhibits were closer to what you might see at a college football game today, although they did include some extras. The halftime show for the first AFL-NFL World Championship (what’s now called the Super Bowl) featured jet packs, pigeons, and much more.

The change began incrementally a few years after the AFL-NFL merger in 1970. Ella Fitzgerald and Carol Channing were the first popular vocalists to perform at a Super Bowl, with Fitzgerald also the first African-American woman to do so—in addition to USAFA Cadet Chorale and U.S. Marine Corps Drill Team—in New Orleans. This 1972 presentation was dedicated to Louis Armstrong (and took place in his hometown) after he’d passed away the year before.

Halftime shows continued to evolve in waves over the next few years. In 1976, Up With People was the first non-marching-band group halftime performance as well as the first to install a sound system and theatrical lighting. They performed at the Super Bowl four more times, and their efforts really showcase the transition from an on-site event to a televised spectacle. Starting in 1991, globally recognized pop music acts like New Kids on the Block became the norm. In fact, in 1993, Michael Jackson’s halftime performance had more viewers than the game did!

If you’re curious about who else has represented Canada at the Super Bowl, the first time was in 1997 when The Blues Brothers [Dan Aykroyd (from Ottawa, Ontario), Jim Belushi, and John Goodman] performed, accompanied by their band (which was led by Canadian Paul Shaffer), James Brown, and ZZ Top. Then, in 2003, Shania Twain took centre stage in addition to No Doubt and Sting.

As one of the world’s most-watched sporting events on television, the Super Bowl draws millions of Canadian viewers annually! Wondering who’s performed throughout the years? Check out the rundown below.

A breakdown of Super Bowl halftime shows by year

1967: The Three Stooges, University of Arizona Symphonic Marching Band, Grambling State University Marching Band, Al Hirt, and Anaheim High School Drill Team and Flag Girls

1968: Grambling State University Marching Band

1969: “America Thanks” – Florida A&M University Band and Miami-area high school bands

1970: Marguerite Piazza, Doc Severinsen, Al Hirt, and Lionel Hampton Southern University Marching Band

1971: Southeast Missouri State Marching Band

1972: “Salute to Louis Armstrong” – Ella Fitzgerald, Carol Channing, Al Hirt, USAFA Cadet Chorale, and U.S. Marine Corps Drill Team

1973: “Happiness Is” – University of Michigan Marching Band, Woody Herman, and Andy Williams

1974: “A Musical America” – University of Texas Longhorn Band and Judy Mallett (Miss Texas 1973) on fiddle

1975: “Tribute to Duke Ellington” – Mercer Ellington and Grambling State University Marching Bands

1976: “200 Years and Just a Baby” Tribute to America’s Bicentennial – Up With People

1977: “It’s a Small World” – Los Angeles Unified All-City Band including spectators waving coloured placards on cue

1978: “From Paris to the Paris of America” – Tyler Apache Belles Drill Team, Apache Band Pete Fountain, and Al Hirt

1979: “Super Bowl XIII Carnival” Salute to the Caribbean – Ken Hamilton, various Caribbean bands including Grammacks of Dominica

1980: “A Salute to the Big Band Era” – Up With People, Grambling State University Marching Bands

1981: “A Mardi Gras Festival” – Southern University Marching Band and Helen O’Connell

1982: “A Salute to the 60s and Motown” – Up With People

1983: “KaleidoSUPERscope” – Los Angeles Super Drill Team

1984: “Super Bowl XVIII’s Salute to the Superstars of the Silver Screen” – the University of Florida and Florida State University Marching Bands

1985: “A World of Children’s Dreams” – Tops in Blue

1986: “Beat of the Future” – Up With People

1987: “Salute to Hollywood’s 100th Anniversary” – George Burns, Mickey Rooney, Grambling State University, and USC Marching Bands

1988: “Something Grand” featuring 88 grand pianos, the Rockettes, and Chubby Checker

1989: “Be Bop Bamboozled” featuring 3D effects with Elvis Presto and South Florida-area dancers

1990: “Salute to New Orleans” and 40th Anniversary of Peanuts’ characters, featuring trumpeter Pete Fountain, Doug Kershaw, and Irma Thomas

1991: “A Small World Salute to 25 Years of the Super Bowl” – New Kids on the Block

1992: “Winter Magic” including a salute to the winter Olympics featuring Gloria Estefan, Brian Boitano, and Dorothy Hamill

1993: “Heal the World” finale included audience card stunt

1994: “Rockin’ Country Sunday” – Clint Black, Tanya Tucker, Travis Tritt, and Wynonna and Naomi Judd

1995: “Indiana Jones and the Temple of the Forbidden Eye” – Tony Bennett, Patti LaBelle, Arturo Sandoval, and the Miami Sound Machine with stunts including fire and skydivers

1996: Celebrating 30 years of the Super Bowl – Diana Ross with special effects, pyrotechnics, and stadium card stunt

1997: “Blues Brothers Bash” – Dan Akroyd, John Goodman, and James Belushi featuring “The Godfather of Soul” James Brown and ZZ Top

1998: “A Tribute to Motown’s 40th Anniversary” – Boyz II Men, Smokey Robinson, Queen Latifah, Martha Reeves, and The Temptations

1999: “Celebration of Soul, Salsa, and Swing” – Stevie Wonder, Gloria Estefan, Big Bad Voodoo Daddy, and tap dancer Savion Glover

2000: “A Tapestry of Nations” – Phil Collins, Christina Aguilera, Enrique Iglesias, Toni Braxton, and an 80-person choir

2001: “The Kings of Rock and Pop” – Aerosmith, ‘N’Sync, Britney Spears, Mary J. Blige, and Nelly

2002: U2

2003: Shania Twain, No Doubt, and Sting

2004: Janet Jackson, Kid Rock, P. Diddy, Nelly, and Justin Timberlake

2005: Paul McCartney

2006: The Rolling Stones

2007: Prince and the Florida A&M marching band

2008: Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers

2009: Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band

2010: The Who

2011: The Black Eyed Peas, Usher, and Slash

2012: Madonna

2013: Beyonce

2014: Bruno Mars and the Red Hot Chili Peppers

2015: Katy Perry, Lenny Kravitz, and Missy Elliott

2016: Coldplay, Beyonce, and Bruno Mars

2017: Lady Gaga

2018: Justin Timberlake and the Tennessee Kids, University of Minnesota Marching Band

2019: Maroon 5, Travis Scott, Big Boi

2020: Shakira, Jennifer Lopez

2021: The Weeknd

2022: Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, Eminem, Mary J. Blige, Kendrick Lamar

Don’t forget to grab your favourite snacks and tune into CTV, RDS, or TSN on Sunday, February 13, 2022 (you can also livestream the big game on DAZN)—kickoff is planned for 6:30 p.m. Eastern Time, and halftime should begin around 8 p.m. This year marks the Super Bowl’s first halftime with an all hip-hop lineup, and we’re excited to see how the show turns out! If the idea of performing for crowds of fans excites you, be sure to check out our performing arts opportunities.

The post From Marching Bands to Big Glam: The Super Bowl Halftime Show appeared first on WorldStrides Canada.

As a student of the world, it is important to better understand your role in it. How do your actions impact travel? Why is it important to be an engaged citizen? When you take part in a travel program, you can start answering those questions. Your lifelong learning journey takes place in the classroom, in the world around you, and yes, even online. Right now, it is more important than ever that learning opportunities are interesting, flexible, and engaging. As a WorldStrides student, you have access to free, online coursework that meets those criteria!

“The thing I enjoyed the most in this course was talking about the environment and the culture from different locations because I found those were the topics that interested me the most. The coursework linked to those topics was the work I was most eager to complete and I had the most fun doing.”

If you are interested in examining global destinations and how they are impacted by the travel industry, then Travel and Tourism: A Geographic Perspective (CGG3O) may be the course for you. In this 1 credit course, you will study how tourism impacts the economy, the environment, and the culture of a destination, plus focus on emerging trends in an ever-changing landscape. This course offers plenty of opportunities to show off your creativity and interact with your classmates.

If you are looking to better understand Canadian and global governments and your role as both a Canadian and global citizen, then Civics and Citizenship (CHV2O) is a perfect fit. Students will investigate the foundations of Canadian government, analyse civic issues, and even participate in a civic action as a final project. With this 0.5 credit course, students will be well-prepared to be active citizens and stay involved in issues they deem important.

With so many online courses, what makes a WorldStrides course stand out?

• Mastery learning – Our teachers love what they do, and they want you to succeed in class! Detailed, personalized feedback is provided on every assignment submitted. Students may resubmit work that doesn’t meet assignment objectives the first time around. When this occurs, students can take their time to concentrate on new concepts, to better understand the material, and to improve their work.

• Chance to get ahead – Online courses are an excellent way to meet school and graduation requirements, while at the same time freeing up a student’s schedule at their home school. This may provide more schedule flexibility for additional courses in their areas of interest such as fine arts or the sciences.

• Work at an individualized pace –WorldStrides courses are asynchronous, but structured with midterm and final dates, meaning students can work at a pace that best suits them. We understand that students’ lives are busy with homework and extracurricular activities. Steady work is encouraged and ensures student success.

• Interesting topics – We encourage students to choose topics and research what appeals most to them. Many students have been able to study travel and tourism in parts of the world they never knew existed! Elise, a former student, agrees when she says, “The thing I enjoyed the most in this course was talking about the environment and the culture from different locations because I found those were the topics that interested me the most. The coursework linked to those topics was the work I was most eager to complete and I had the most fun doing.”

These no-cost opportunities are currently available for Ontario students.

In a dynamic world, we want our students to be prepared for enriching, enlightening, and even challenging experiences. Studying issues surrounding civics or travel will help them develop the critical skills needed to navigate their everyday lives.

If you are interested in learning more about these courses, visit the WorldStrides Academic Credit website.

Written by Randi Chapman who serves as a Senior Curriculum and Academics Specialist for WorldStrides. She holds an M.T. in Secondary English Education and BS in journalism, with an emphasis on public relations. In addition to her entrepreneurial experience launching an independent business, Ms. Chapman brings eight years of public high school classroom teaching expertise. She works tirelessly to increase the accessibility of meaningful professional development and educational opportunities to educators and students around the world.

The post Are you ready for a unique online learning experience? appeared first on WorldStrides Canada.

Crispy latkes laden with sour cream, sweet-smelling fruit pies spiced with cinnamon and nutmeg, roasted turkey paired with creamy mashed potatoes and tangy cranberry sauce, a bucket of Kentucky Fried Chicken…

The holidays are almost upon us, which means plenty of specialty dishes we can’t wait to sink our teeth into. (Yes, we meant to say KFC…read on to see why.) Though memorable meals often play an integral role for most special occasions, it’s especially true for the winter holidays.

These 12 holiday dishes from around the world are sure to whet your appetite.

Canada — Roast turkey dinner with all the trimmings

Of course, we have a lot of different holiday foods here in Canada that vary by region and even by family, but a classic turkey dinner is often what first comes to mind for the holidays.

France — Bûche de Noël

Directly translated as “log of Christmas,” the Bûche de Noël is France’s version of a Yule Log cake. The eye-catching cake roll is usually decorated with chocolate frosting mimicking tree bark and small meringue or marzipan pieces shaped into mushrooms.

Mexico — Tamales

Dating back to ancient Mesoamerican cultures, the tamale, masa, and meat filling wrapped in a corn husk, has long been eaten during celebrations. Now, it holds an extra special place for Mexican and Mexican-American families who often hold tamaladas (tamale-making parties) to churn out the delicious tamales en masse.

Japan — Kentucky Fried Chicken

Kentucky Fried Chicken has been a popular Christmas go-to in Japan ever since a very successful marketing campaign in the 1970s. During that time, a KFC franchise decided to run a special promotion during Christmas. Since there weren’t any strong Christmas traditions in Japan, the novelty caught on and became an instant tradition.

Italy — Feast of the Seven Fishes

Originally a southern Italian tradition, many Italian families prepare the Feast of the Seven Fishes for Christmas Eve dinner. Seven seafood dishes representing the number seven, the most repeated number in the Bible, are made for the massive meal.

Israel — Latkes

Freshly fried in plenty of oil, crispy potato latkes are eaten throughout Hanukkah. The holiday marks how a small amount of oil meant to light the menorah lasted a miraculous eight days during the rededication of the Holy Temple back in 164 BC. Now, latkes have become synonymous with Hanukkah as the oil-laden pancakes are a symbol of the oil miracle.

England — Mince pie

While we might think of pumpkin or pecan pie for the holidays, in England, mince pies take center stage as the pie of choice. The sweet treat supposedly dates back to the 1300s when knights returned from the Crusades with new spices. Nutmeg, cloves, and cinnamon are mixed with dried fruit, called “mincemeat,” and baked into a pie.

Philippines — Lechon

Though lechon, roast suckling pig, is popular in several parts of the world, it’s particularly important in the Philippines. Often thought of as one of the country’s national dishes, lechon also plays a role on holidays and especially around Christmas, when it’s enjoyed for dinner on Christmas Eve.

Poland — Red borscht

In Poland, a carefully prepared Christmas Eve feast called Wiglia begins as soon as the first star appears in the sky. The special meal traditionally includes 12 dishes, representing the 12 apostles, including barszcz, a beet soup also known as red borscht, as well as herring, carp, poppy seed cakes, and more.

Australia — Barbecued shrimp and pavlova

While winter and Christmas go hand-in-hand in the northern hemisphere, most Australians can’t fathom having a white Christmas. By the end of December, summer is in full swing, and Christmas dinners make use of the outside barbecue rather than roasting ovens. Barbecued shrimp is often on the menu, as is pavlova, crispy meringue topped with fresh berries and cream.

Spain — 12 grapes

Celebrate New Year’s Eve with Spaniards and they’ll make sure you have 12 grapes in your hand, ready to be scarfed down as the clock strikes midnight, for good luck in the coming year. Accounts differ on how this tradition came to be, but it’s as widespread as singing “Happy Birthday” for someone’s birthday…everyone does it!

China — Longevity noodles

During China’s Lunar New Year, people will make sure to have long noodles, or “longevity noodles,” at their feast for good luck. The longer the noodle, the longer the life! Whoever prepares the noodles makes sure not to cut or break them, while the person enjoying them will gain even more luck if they can eat them without biting through the long pieces.

Happy holidays from WorldStrides Canada team!

The post 12 Holiday Dishes from Around the World appeared first on WorldStrides Canada.

Canada is known around the world as the birthplace of hockey—it’s practically ingrained in our culture, and it’s considered the number one sport in the Great White North today. In fact, according to the International Ice Hockey Federation, there were a total of 607,951 registered ice hockey players in Canada during the 2019-2020 season!

Almost more important to Canadians than the Nobel Peace Prize (although 28 Nobel laureates hail from Canada), the National Hockey League’s Stanley Cup reigns supreme as the Holy Grail of trophies, a glistening prize that all players—both young and old—dream of raising above their heads on the ice.

The journey to the cup in Canada starts with amateur hockey, and nearly every youth player hopes to one day compete at the IIHF World Junior Championship. Since the tournament was first held in 1977, the Canadian national team has dominated with 18 gold medals wins and an impressive total of 33 medals overall.

But where did it all begin?

From Canada’s game to an international phenomenon

It’s unclear when and where hockey truly originated, but the sport is strongly connected to early stick-and-ball games like bandy and hurley. In fact, the word “hockey” comes from the French word “hoquet,” meaning shepherd’s crook, and the nickname “shinny” finds its roots in the game of shinty.

The first official, organized game of hockey took place in Montréal in 1875, and it wasn’t until twenty years later that Governor General Lord Stanley donated a trophy (the Stanley Cup) for the March 22, 1893 national championship.

What started on patches of outdoor ice with wooden posts for goals quickly expanded into a semi-professional, multi-country sport, spreading to Europe in 1885 and to the U.S. in 1893. The first Olympic hockey game occurred in 1920, where the Winnipeg Falcons took home the gold.

Hockey, a game once entirely dominated by Canadians, has grown tremendously over the past 50 years to become an international sport with top-notch players from around the globe. In 1970, over 96% of hockey players were Canadian—today, that number stands at about 43%. Players hailing from Sweden, Finland, and the Czech Republic have made their names known in the professional realm, and each country brings a different style of play to the ice.

Give your team the advantage with a WorldStrides Sports hockey tour

WorldStrides offers all-inclusive hockey tours to northern Europe that allow your team to experience these different styles and strategies—in addition to some pretty incredible sightseeing. All trips come with professional training in your destination, plus exhibition games that allow your players to build long-lasting friendships (and friendly rivalries) overseas. They’ll step outside of their comfort zones, enhance their skills, and find inspiration all while learning to understand the game with a fresh perspective.

Looking for a true one-of-a-kind experience that will build camaraderie among your team? Join us in December 2024 in Sweden, Norway, and Denmark to cheer on Canada at the 2024 IIHR World Junior Championship. Your team has the option of playing exhibition games against local teams or participating in your own tournament—they’ll suit up and represent Canada, then watch the Canadian Junior team go for gold at the World Championship. It’s truly the opportunity of a lifetime!

Want to know more about our hockey tours? Contact Scott Munro at scott.munro@worldstrides.com.

The post How Hockey Became Canada’s Sport appeared first on WorldStrides Canada.

Gender inequality in education that favours male students is well-researched and documented. Studies show that male students tend to garner more attention from educators. This can appear in the form of male students being called on with greater frequency, being recognized more often (for good and bad behaviour) despite female students who exhibit similar conduct, or in the form of representation in curricular materials. This disparity extends beyond our formative years and into the workplace, but a strong educator can make an impact that can have positive and lasting consequences – both in the classroom and during a travel program.

Recognizing our own biases

The first step to confronting gender bias is to consider your own implicit biases. A bias is a preference or aversion to a person or group of people, and those thoughts and feelings are “implicit” if we are either unaware of them or mistaken about their nature and the way those feelings play out as we navigate the world. “Implicit bias” describes the attitudes toward people or stereotyping that happens unconsciously. You may be acting on your gender biases or prejudices without even intending to. This TEDx Talk, Immaculate Perception discusses the way our brains process and affect biases. Although predominantly focused on ethnic and racial biases, the video is truly eye opening and can help to understand and recognize our own biases. Want to dig even deeper? Consider taking an Implicit Association Test. These tests were developed by researchers studying bias and there are tests for many categories, including gender.

Confronting bias

After examining your own perceptions of gender and acknowledging that gender bias may play a role in your teaching, you’ll want to confront the ways that you can combat or overcome that bias. The most important thing we can do is help students to understand that we value them for who they are, not the assumptions we may make about them based on their gender. This is particularly salient in the age of social media when students are learning that societal acceptance depends on their outward appearance. Learning about your students, and really listening, can go a long way toward understanding them beyond their gender and will help you to reduce assumptions and biases that are gender-based. Setting equal expectations for all students is paramount! If you’re looking to improve your own practices related to gender equality, this Edutopia article can help.

What to avoid

Another tip is to stay away from using gendered nicknames like “champ,” “buddy,” “sweetheart,” or “darling” that reinforce gender stereotypes. Use gender neutral pronouns when talking about professions that tend to be gendered – say police officer not policeman, mail carrier not mailman, construction workers not workmen. Ensure that group duties are distributed equally among your students; for example, don’t ask only male students to move and carry things and female students to do the cleanup. During a travel program, avoid grouping students along gender lines and pay attention to and disrupt groups that are self-segregated by gender. It is essential that genders are equally represented in examples, book suggestions, and highlights of famous people or historical events on tour. The Harvard Graduate School of Education hosts a Girls Equity and Empowerment Resource List which is a great place to learn about and find examples of female representation.

Accepting all gender identities

Another facet of gender equality is acceptance of gender identity. Educators need to be prepared to work with students who are non-gender conforming. First impressions are so important, and we need to be prepared with appropriate language to model and teach acceptance. Humans learn about identifying themselves into societally determined categories at a young age. Gender identity is one’s concept of how they perceive themselves as female, male, a blend of both, or neither female nor male. It refers to a personal experience of their gender and reflects their sense of where they fit at any point along the gender spectrum regardless of their sex assigned at birth.

One way to ensure you are meeting the needs of non-gender conforming students is to use terms like “folks,” “students,” “people,” or “friends” rather than relying on the commonly used greetings of “guys,” or “boys and girls” when addressing a group. Read this TED-Ed Blog and watch the embedded videos to learn more about non-binary children and the discomfort we might feel when faced with a student who does not identify as male or female. Inclusive language and use of the applicable pronouns are necessary. The Guide to Understanding Gender Identity Terms provides strategies that can be used to engage non-binary students in a respectful and accepting manner. There are many resources that discuss pronouns and their importance when addressing non-gender conforming individuals. The Human Rights Campaign and My Pronouns have good guides to help understand the use of proper terminology as well.

Your responsibility as an educator

Equality in education has a long way to go across the globe. When working with students in any setting, it is an educator’s responsibility to both teach and model acceptance and understanding. No student should be underestimated as a result of their gender or gender identity. Practicing educational equality with youth can make a big impact as our students grow into adulthood and move into the workplace.

Written by Carrie Weber who serves as a Senior Curriculum and Academics Specialist for WorldStrides. She holds an M. Ed. in Secondary Science Education and a BS in Physics. Ms. Weber earned a STEM Leadership certificate through the NASA Endeavor program and has recently completed coursework on anti-racist education. She taught middle and high school science in the traditional classroom for 14 years, is certified and licensed in several states, and holds multiple College Board AP certifications.

The post Strategies for Minimizing Gender Biases in Your Classroom and on Tour appeared first on WorldStrides Canada.

You’ve probably heard that “the future is female,” and this certainly includes sports. At the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo, women accounted for 49% of all athletes—making it the first gender-balanced Olympic games in history. Did we mention female athletes continue to outperform males, as well? In fact, in the first week of the Olympics, Canada took home 11 medals, and ALL were won by women. By the end of the games, three-quarters of all Canadian medals were earned by female athletes!

Canadian women own the podium

Let’s take a minute to celebrate some incredible Canadian female athletes and all of the hard work and endless dedication that went into making them world champions.

Penny Oleksiak, the most decorated Canadian in Olympic history
At just 21 years old, this rockstar swimmer won three medals at the Tokyo Olympics, adding to her four medals from the Rio Games in 2016.

Cindy Klassen, speed skating star
Six-time Olympic medallist Cindy Klassen surprised the world when she won five medals in one Olympic Games in 2002 and reached the podium in every event she entered in Turin.

Clara Hughes, ruler of the seasons
Another six-time medallist, Clara Hughes competed in both cycling and speed skating, making her the only Canadian athlete to win medals at both the Summer and Winter Olympic Games.

Check out the 40 Most Powerful Female Athletes of All Time for more inspiring stories of women in sport!

The never-ending gender bias

Despite all this, women and women’s teams are largely underfunded and underrepresented in sport, and female athletes often face gender-biased rules and double standards that don’t allow them to reach their fullest potential. For example:

• The Norwegian women’s handball team was fined for “improper clothing” because they wore shorts instead of bikini bottoms. (The men’s teams have always worn shorts.)
• In lacrosse, women wear skirts and goggles but men wear shorts and helmets. Men are also allowed full contact when playing, but women cannot be “intimidating or dangerous” during play.
• When Simone Biles withdrew from Olympic events due to mental health concerns, she faced backlash; when Serbian tennis player Novak Djokovic withdrew after losing three matches and throwing his racket, he was praised for prioritizing competition.

According to a BBC survey, 65% of women in sports have suffered sexism, but only 10% felt comfortable enough to report it.

How can we make a change?

Kick down barriers
Teachers and coaches can start to remove barriers for and support women by simply encouraging them to continue with sports or return to them. Sports help build courage, confidence, and leadership skills in girls and women, creating a diverse, inclusive, and equitable society for everyone. To learn more about the barriers that cause female athletes to drop out of sports as they grow older, see the Canadian Women & Sport Rally Report here.

Promote equality in sports media
Strong female role models will encourage the number of aspiring female athletes to grow. By increasing the number of women broadcasters, enhancing coverage of women’s competitions and practice, and improving the portal of women in sports media, UNESCO suggests we can begin to make a difference.

Build camaraderie within your team
Team bonding activities provide another means of building confidence and camaraderie in girls and women, such as taking a team trip. WorldStrides Sports programs can be the push many young female athletes need to continue pursuing their passions into the professional arena.

After the Canadian Women’s National Soccer Team took home the gold during this year’s Olympics, there’s little doubt they’ll qualify for the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup. Consider bringing your team to Australia and New Zealand to see the Cup unfold for a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that will show your female players what’s possible for their future! You’ll get to watch incredible female athletes compete in person, cheer on the Canadian team from the stands, and encourage your team to follow in their footsteps.

To learn more about trips to Australia and New Zealand for the 2023 Women’s World Cup, email Scott Monro at scott.munro@worldstrides.com.

The post Female Athletes Forge the Future appeared first on WorldStrides Canada.

You’re preparing for your performance, but your students – maybe even you! – are starting to feel the effects of stage fright! Simply put, stage fright is performance anxiety. Those with performance anxiety will often focus on the worst case scenarios, worry about failure, and engage in social comparison – even to one’s own high expectations or past performances.

Performance anxiety isn’t uncommon. Artists such as Adele, Mariah Carey, Pablo Casals, Arthur Rubinstein and even Taylor Swift have revealed their own experiences with stage fright. WorldStrides OnStage programs aims to provide you with all the tools you need for a successful festival.

Here are 8 tips for music teacher and directors to help their student musicians combat stage fright

Validate the experience of anxiety

Acknowledge that students may be anxious, but express to them that you know they can achieve their goals. Focus on the fact that you want to experience and enjoy this performance with them. Give them permission not to be in “critique mode” and encourage them to try to accept their feelings of anxiety.

Create an environment where it’s okay to make mistakes

Bolster students’ self-confidence by valuing each student’s contribution and discouraging the notion that mistakes define a student. Acknowledge the bravery students display in taking on a challenge. Reinforcing good moments and good approximations throughout the rehearsal process not only helps at the time, but also gives those who are anxiety-prone memories of positive things occurring within a musical context. The memories of success can remind them during a performance that they can do it

Focus on the experience of the present

Instead of allowing students to obsess about performance as something to be judged, refocus them on why they got into the arts to begin with. Why do they love music in general or parts of the music they’ve worked on? What meaning do they take from this music?

Additionally, do group breathing exercises prior to a performance. Breathing as a group encourages bonding, ensemble cohesion, and reduction of anxiety, but also encourages being in the moment.

Give your students an interactive pep-talk!

Before your performance, have each student name their favourite piece, a treasured moment from rehearsal, or a quick reason they enjoy music. Or, you can have them do something physical before performing! Whether it’s taking a walk, or a countdown shake-out, this helps students shake off their nerves and focus on their performance.

Encourage students to identify negative thoughts

Identifying when one is having a negative thought and responding with understanding can be helpful. For example, if your students are learning a new piece of music that they find difficult, encourage them to consider the idea it’s a challenge and that they are capable of conquering it. Reflect with them on previous success with difficult pieces.

Take away the power of the audience

Audience members attend performances to support the performers – they want the people they’ve come to see and hear to do well! Discuss with students that certainly, some audience members may have an expertise in the arts, but the majority is simply there to be supportive of the performers and the art.

Practice in as similar an environment as possible to the performance

Practicing walking on stage, visualizing the audience, and running songs in full all help to ground students in the reality of what a performance will be like. If you can, set-up a pre-festival concert. Invite adjudicators and run it similar to the festival format your students will experience. There is no actual competitive pressure and it’s a lower stakes performance, but your students will have a trial run.

Practice healthy self-care

Encourage students to engage in their favourite hobbies. This could be drawing, exercising, having dinner with friends – whatever they love to do in their spare time. Make sure performers get enough sleep, nutrition, and hydration ahead of their performance.

We hope these tips will be helpful in reducing performance anxiety at your next music performance! Learn more about our WorldStrides Onstage programs.

Acknowledgements:
Clinical psychologist and choral musician Dr. Latasha Nadasdi, currently a Post-Doctoral Fellow at the University of Michigan, was interviewed for this article.

Additional information was gathered from:
Esposito, J. Conquering Stage Fright. Anxiety and Depression Association of America. Retrieved from https://www.adaa.org/understanding-anxiety/social-anxiety-disorder/treatment/conquering-stage-fright.
Goldberg, J. (reviewer). (2015). Stage Fright (Performance Anxiety). WebMD. Retrieved from http://www.webmd.com/anxiety-panic/guide/stage-fright-performance-anxiety?page=1.
Lybi, M. (2005). Fighting Stage Fright. Psychology Today. Retrieved from https://www.psychologytoday.com/articles/200512/fighting-stage-fright.

The post Teachers tips to help music students combat stage fright appeared first on WorldStrides Canada.

How education has changed in the past year! The stresses that our schools continue to experience are felt by everyone – students, teachers, school staff, and parents are doing what they can to make the best of things. Teachers, like everyone else, were forced to move into the online space with no warning, training, or preparation. But for teachers, working remotely can be a real hurdle. They miss their students, they miss the regular interaction, and they miss the rejuvenating energy that comes from getting a simple hello or smile from a student in their classroom. In the absence of that, consider an impromptu gesture that will show your teacher how much you appreciate them. Online or hybrid learning shouldn’t keep you from recognizing and acknowledging your teacher’s efforts and hard work.

There are plenty of fun and meaningful ways to celebrate and appreciate teachers virtually.

The old classic – a handwritten note!

Who doesn’t love getting mail? I’ve saved every note that a student ever gave me. They are great to look through when you are feeling down or worried that you aren’t doing enough for your students. A teacher will always appreciate a handwritten note as a reminder that they are making an impact on the life of a student.

Does snail mail seem too old-fashioned? Looking for a more modern take on sending a card?

Consider creating a Kudo Board.

The free version allows for ten different posts that can include pictures, videos, and gifs in addition to text. It is easy to invite contributors to add to the board without having to register to share their message. More than ten students in a class? No problem – just send multiple Kudo Boards.

Everybody loves gift cards!

Take a look at this blog post about thoughtful gifts for teachers. Maybe the teacher has an Amazon wish list for their classroom? Teachers are always short on supplies and often pay out of pocket for what they need.

Want to really go all out?

Consider planning a drive-by parade or honk-a-thon to honour a special teacher.

First, devise a way to get your teacher in a particular location at a specific time (perhaps you can ask the principal to help). Next, recruit other students and parents to participate. Students can make signs, decorate cars, and honk the horns as they drive by.

You can still surprise your teacher without the grand effort a of parade.

Coordinate with other classmates to draw pictures and make signs that show their thanks and respect in some way.

Then, at a specified time during an online session, all students can reveal their creations at once. Undoubtedly your teacher will be delighted and surprised by the production. A similar idea involves preparing a special virtual background that all students can reveal on a given day. Students can design their own backgrounds to either demonstrate thanks or to celebrate the teacher’s likes and personal interests.

Do you have other great ideas for how to show teachers some love? We’d love to hear about them and how your teacher reacted!

Email the Curriculum and Academics team at discoverycanada@worldstrides.com to share your suggestions.

By: Carrie Weber

The post Teacher Appreciation: It can be more than just a week appeared first on WorldStrides Canada.

Wow, this year has been a challenge, hasn’t it? We are all facing unique personal struggles and are also concerned about our students’ well-being and individual learning plans. We want what’s best for our students and may be wracked with guilt when we can’t replicate the long-lost comforts of a traditional school year. We owe ourselves some grace. Students are doing amazing things right now, building skills they may have never used and learning how to master these skills by watching you use them daily. Remind your students that what they are learning now will support their future success throughout higher education, their careers, and in their personal relationships. We are building stronger students — it just looks a little different from what we had expected.

Flexibility

This skill helps our students adapt to a changing environment. This is tough, as it requires students to recognize and accept when they’ve made an error or there are better alternatives to solving a problem. Flexibility manifests itself in how we react to challenging circumstances and, while difficult to teach directly, is one a teacher can model daily. For example, we displayed flexibility last spring when forced into virtual learning and again, every time our classroom plans just don’t seem to work out. Our response may not always be perfect, but we adapt and do what was best for our students. If we can recognize when to adjust, look at the change constructively, and model this for our students, they will see that change can be positive.

Creativity

Students often think that creativity is illustrated through an artistic medium. In reality, creativity empowers students to see new solutions to existing problems. Students who excel at creative thinking will often see a problem as an opportunity. We can encourage this skill in our students (and ourselves) by removing the fear of wrong answers. Support brainstorming sessions and encourage students to develop their ideas. Creativity is a highly sought-after skill in the professional world. Innovation is the new buzzword, and its core comes from creativity.

Critical Thinking

This skill uses a review process to support those creative new ideas. Ask yourself: Will my idea work? How can I test it? What are some barriers or challenges I should expect? Teaching critical thinking can be encouraged by asking students to develop their own solutions before coming to you for an answer. This skill is essential when students work independently, whether in a classroom or virtually, and will benefit them at every stage of their development.

Time Management

This is a skill that fluctuates as we grow. School, careers, and family all demand time management strategies. While the situation may change, the core strategies remain the same. Time management encompasses prioritizing, organizing, and structuring our time. As adults, we can model time management by identifying what we are doing, sharing what works for us, and suggesting different options for strategies that students can employ. Here are a few strategies that have worked with my students:

• In the morning, plan out your day and identify what tasks are non-negotiable. Consider categorizing by “need to” and “want to.” White boards are a great way to visualize a schedule and allow students to cross off their tasks as they complete them.
• Schedule time in the day to get tasks done that fall outside of regular meetings or class times. Consider using a timer to keep yourself on track.
• Take breaks and enjoy them thoroughly. Play high-energy music at the start of a break to get moving or consider relaxing music if your day is stressful. Change your scenery and disconnect for a few moments. Breaks can be just five minutes to stretch or dance, a full lunch time without devices, or a nice conversation with a friend.
• Keep your eyes on the prize! Pick one thing you want to do and will enjoy when you are done with your day. Staying focused on that one item will keep you motivated.

Naturally, there are many other skills that our students are building right now. Check out this article on twenty-first century skills to read more. Encourage your students to continue making strong connections to their home environment, to their community, and to their own beliefs. This is how these valuable skills become habits and then differentiators in higher education, career development, and personal relationships.

By: Kiersten Teitelbaum

The post Essential Skills to Support Student Growth appeared first on WorldStrides Canada.

The flow of the school year brings a range of emotions. You’re excited, but maybe a little anxious, you’re energized, but careful to pace yourself, and you’re eager to work with your students, even if you wouldn’t turn down another day of rest. In the midst of a pandemic and great uncertainty, these emotions continue to run higher than ever. Incorporating wellness and balance strategies throughout the school year not only will reap immeasurable benefits for yourself, but also can impact those around you. Check out some of the wellness tips below to take care of yourself, both in and out of school, so that you can present your best self.

From adjusting your mindset, to halting on the doomscrolling, here are 5 wellness tips for teachers to implement during covid and practice mindfulness and balance in the classroom.

Put on your oxygen mask first

Remember that your students are looking to you more than ever right now. Incorporating wellness and mindfulness strategies in the classroom, even if it is over Zoom, and in your own life will strengthen you to meet whatever else the year sends your way.

By: Randi Chapman

Randi Chapman serves as a Curriculum and Academics Specialist for WorldStrides. She holds an M.T. in Secondary English Education and BS in journalism, with an emphasis on public relations. In addition to her entrepreneurial experience launching an independent business, Ms. Chapman brings eight years of high school classroom teaching expertise. She works tirelessly to increase the accessibility of meaningful professional development and educational opportunities to educators and students around the world.

The post 5 Teachers Tips to Practice Wellness during COVID appeared first on WorldStrides Canada.

The last year of my working life has been dominated by a single project – our new academic program called Real World Studies.

It was during one of those months early in 2020 that now all blend together when Kim Warner, Camps Global Marketing Manager, suggested we could send lesson plans to keep the students in our schools connected to our camps. Kim and I worked with Chris Hoare, a geography teacher, on getting the project up and running, and we became a tight team as the project grew and grew. Quickly it was clear that it was going well, far beyond a few lesson plans.

Working in the UK, Costa Rica, and Dubai respectively, we have used Design Thinking as a guide. Design Thinking is a working method that uses the established practices of designers in broader business or academic contexts. Empathetic investigation leading to understanding of an issue, collaborative working and prototyping leading to completion are the key components of this practice.

The idea of Real World Studies is, broadly, to use our camps, our projects and our on-the-ground staff in the education of students. Those students can’t travel, but we can bring the projects, issues, and solutions that our communities are working on into the classroom. By linking the materials to the UN Sustainable Development Goals and to curricula, we can support teachers in their classrooms and, we hope, we can enliven the learning of the students. They can have a chat with the very people in Kenya, Cambodia, or Peru who are living and breathing the topics that they are studying in their normal syllabus. To download these resources for free, click here.

We hope and believe that this is a support to teachers as opposed to something extra that they need to be managing. We have found that the structures of education in the UK, Canada, and the USA, for instance, are very, very different and how a teacher can use the resources that we are offering in each of those countries is therefore not the same at all. The materials need to strike a balance between being broadly applicable and being laser focused on curricula needs. Our ever-expanding band of teachers, working with Chris in their areas of specialty, has made sure that we respond to this issue correctly.

The first Connect with Camps digital meetings were between students in a school in Marlowe, to the west of London, and our Costa Rica crew. It was exactly what I thought it would be – a wonderful chat about our projects, their challenges and their successes, with interesting, engaged, and articulate students. Its ultimate achievement was helping those students sustain a sense of the globe while they were unable to leave their own houses.

Since then we have had dozens of calls with students from the UK, Canada, the USA, Mexico, and the UAE, each of which had its own character and objectives. For example, one group of students made mock-ups of chocolate marketing materials while looking at income generating schemes with low environmental impact with our Ecuadorian team. Many groups of students have dug deep into the issues on which our projects focus and sought to understand the ramifications of them in both national and international contexts; we have had students grappling with the details of goat deworming in Kenya and others discussing, with our staff in Cambodia, the very immediate concerns for water security in the face of a changing climate. In one memorable meeting, we had a bird noise making competition in a conservation-focused Zoom session, which was of course won by our Costa Rican staff. At the moment, we have some students involved in a sequence of meetings aimed at creating artistic responses to the issues around deforestation.

Some of the conversations have been in Spanish, which has sometimes been challenging for the participants; speaking and listening in a foreign language through digital media and with a mask on is just not simple. These Spanish interactions led perhaps the most extraordinary sessions: 9 hours of connection between students from a Mexican school and a community in Ecuador, in which the former were teaching the community members English and computing skills.

I think we can say that Real World Studies has already been successful. While we have not been able to have our groups in our communities, we have, through Real World Studies, been able to create virtual experiences for students and our communities and staff. It is not the same, but it is the best that COVID-19 allows.

As we move towards that great day when we will be able to fly again, to interact as human beings in each other’s presence, Real World Studies is taking on a slightly different personality: with the possibility of travel, it becomes a preparation for travel instead of, or as well as, a virtual expedition. We hope that it can be both of those things for many years to come.

To learn more about Camps International and to access our free resources click here.

By: Damian Scott-Masson

Damian is Camps International’s Vice-President for Latin America and is a former teacher. He is based in Costa Rica.

The post Real World Studies: Teaching Sustainable Development appeared first on WorldStrides Canada.

As we enter a full year of living through the COVID-19 pandemic, the question of when and how student travel will resume is on the minds of educators around the world. Will schools shut down travel clubs indefinitely? Is student travel really that important? Should it be allowed? Do the benefits outweigh the risks? Given these pressing questions, I thought I’d share a story from my very first educational tour to highlight the importance of travel experiences for our youth. 

My very first Explorica tour, Rome, Florence, and Venice, departed in July of 2008. This popular tour starts in Rome before heading to Assisi, Florence, Pisa, Venice, and Verona, finishing up in Milan. My colleague and I were piggybacking this tour with students from small-town Ohio. They were a very friendly group made up of some of the most popular kids at the school—we had the prom king and queen, the head of the cheerleading squad, the football team’s quarterback, and a few other “in-group” students. But there was one girl on the tour, we’ll call her Sally, who, as a member of the LGBTQ+ community, was shunned from the in-group. She was shy and quiet, and at different points throughout the trip, my colleague and I heard the others make insensitive and ignorant remarks behind her back. 

Toward the end of our trip we stayed in Lido de Jesolo, a quaint beach town outside of Venice that sits right on the Adriatic Sea. Most of our groups stop there while visiting Venice, as it’s very safe and the kids love having some beach time after busy travel days. On our last night in the area, the adults on the tour organized a dinner on one of the islands near Venice, giving the students a free night to stay at the hotel or walk around town. Not wanting the kids to be bored or get into trouble, my colleague and I offered to take them on a little excursion. 

We brought them to an all-ages karaoke lounge near the hotel, thinking it would be fun to have them sing some songs and have a safe night together in one spot. Sally was with us, and I imagined that as a shy and slightly alienated student, going to a karaoke lounge was her worst nightmare. As you’d expect of the popular students, they got up on stage and sang their hearts out, getting cheers and high-fives from their peers. It was confidence and popularity on full display. 

And then Sally got up to sing. I can’t remember what song she sang (or if she was a talented singer), but I remember feeling proud of her for getting up there and anxious about the reaction I expected from her classmates. To their credit (and my surprise), when Sally was finished, she was met with an eruption of applause and cheers and high-fives—well above the praise given to her classmates who sang before. Afterward, Sally went back to where she was sitting by herself in the corner.

As the next popular student got up to sing their song, I looked over at Sally. She was staring off, not really paying attention. Then she lowered her head and a huge smile slowly drew over her face. She was beaming with pride in herself. She had overcome a lot more than just stage fright in getting up there to sing. She had stood in front of her peers, the most popular kids at the school, the ones who judged her for who she is, and she showed them that she belonged, too.  This was the moment when the importance of educational travel really clicked for me.  

I know many kids in high school experience an onslaught of ridicule, bullying, and shame.  Clubs and cliques inevitably determine your worthiness and acceptance from others, and it’s a battle every single day that too many teens must face. But sitting in that karaoke lounge, halfway around the world, singing songs and cheering each other on, those kids from Ohio were simply a group of friends having the same incredible experience together. There was no in-group or out-group. The stresses of school life didn’t exist in that time and space—not for Sally, and not for the other kids, either. 

After our karaoke night, the group’s dynamic changed. They bonded and saw something in each other that connected them because of this shared experience. That’s the magic of travel: it forces you outside of your comfort zone, and it makes you mature and grow and become a more whole and accepting person. Sally experienced this with her peer group, which I’m confident would not have been possible if they had stayed within the walls of their high school. 

If you’re on the fence about travelling with students again when it is safe to do so, I hope you’ll draw some inspiration from Sally’s story. The experience is too important to miss—as we say at Explorica, the experience is everything.    

By: Kurt Wicklund

Kurt Wicklund is a Senior Account Manager from our Toronto office and has been working with WorldStrides since 2008.

The post The Importance of Educational Travel for Young Students appeared first on WorldStrides Canada.

Creating a positive classroom culture is more important now than ever before as many schools remain in virtual learning. Icebreakers are beneficial for both teachers and students in fostering community, helping everyone get to know each other better, and exposing students to new perspectives. While some of your usual icebreakers might translate well to an online space, here are a few activities that you can do virtually to connect with students and learn about their interests.

Virtual Background: Have students change their virtual background to an appropriate image of their choice. This is a great way to share a favourite photograph or learn about their favourite sports team!

Guess Who: Students submit three to four facts about themselves in advance and their classmates will try to guess who it is. To make this more visual, have students send you a photo with their facts and create slides to share so when revealing the answer, they can see the photo and name.

Common Ground: Using breakout rooms, put students in groups of four to five and ask them to find at least one thing they all have in common (besides being in the same class). Have each group share their commonality.

Show and Tell: Ask students to pick one object that is important to them and share it with their peers and explain why it is important to them. You can also divide students into smaller groups by breakout rooms if needed for time. Don’t we all love a little show and tell?

Where in the World: Have students choose one place they want to go on vacation and choose an image of it. Using breakout rooms, divide the students into smaller groups to share their location and why. To make this more challenging, have students come up with two to three clues and turn it into a guessing game!

Question of the Day: Start off the day with a question posed on a discussion board or class chat and have students write their response. Some fun questions to ask are:

• If you could be any character in a movie, who would it be?
• If you won the lottery, what is the first thing you’d do?
• If you could go on vacation with any famous person, who would it be and why?
• If you could win an Olympic gold medal in any sport, what would you choose?
• If you had a signature sandwich, what would it be?
• How would the world be different if animals could talk?
• What is the best gift you’ve ever given?

Interviews: Assign students a partner and provide three to five questions to use in a mini interview. Have students either record a video or present virtually to their classmates so they can learn more about each other.

60 Second Dance Party: We all know that sitting at our computers all day is hard, so a great way to get the energy back up is with a quick dance party! Ask students to submit appropriate songs in advance and when your class needs a boost, play one of the songs and everyone dances! You can share the student who choose the song or have students guess who the guest DJ for that dance break was!

Hopefully this list sparks some ideas for fun and engaging icebreakers. Getting to know your students might take a little bit of extra work this year, but finding ways to promote a positive classroom culture will make a lasting impact. What are some of your favourite icebreakers to do virtually?

By: Erin Koster Blair

Erin Koster Blair is on the Curriculum and Academics Team at WorldStrides. She holds a MA in History and a BA in History and American Studies. Her interests are in career exploration opportunities for students and social emotional learning. Prior to joining WorldStrides, she was a high school social studies teacher, and she has worked in museum education and at summer camps.

The post Getting Creative with Virtual Icebreakers appeared first on WorldStrides Canada.

What happens when we ask why, how, or where?

Curiosity is the desire to know more, and it gives us the ability to expand and strengthen our interests. We can become experts in whatever subject area we want. Our curiosity about everything from how a nation’s economy is impacted by multiple industries, to why citizens organize for a cause, to where the must-see attractions are in a foreign land leads us to embrace the lifelong learning opportunities that surround us. Ultimately, asking questions helps us to better understand perspectives that differ from our own experiences and build empathy.

Our curiosity about the world will be a driving force when we can travel again. Ontario students, you can see where your curiosity takes you while earning a free high school credit by enrolling in WorldStrides’ Travel and Tourism: A Geographic Perspective course. That is just one of the many benefits to this online learning opportunity!

You will think deeper about your travels.
Examining the concepts in this course not only will build your background knowledge about the tourism industry, but also it provides many opportunities to reflect on your own travel experiences with a new perspective. Consider this: What kind of footprint do tourists leave during their travels? What kind of traveller do you hope to become? This course will encourage you to ask deeper questions, engage in critical thinking, and discover more meaningful and longer-lasting impacts on your life that you can apply to your future travels.

This course has real world applications.
Travel opens your mind to new perspectives through experiences, introducing concepts you may not have realized were affecting you – economics, environmentalism, and even what travel looks like in a changing world. Throughout the course, you’ll study and explore various parts of the world. You’ll investigate opportunities that exist for tourism in your region of Ontario, the travel policies that are in place for global travel destinations, and how sustainable tourism can be implemented in a variety of places. Who knows, you may discover a new locale to add to your travel bucket list!

The course enhances your future travels!
The majority of coursework allows you to embark on a future trip with a thorough knowledge and understanding of how the tourism industry works. When you return, you’ll be able to reflect on your amazing, life-changing experience and make connections to the concepts you studied. Some of our recent students (and their parents) had agree!

“It really helped me kind of figure out what it means to travel ‘environmentally friendly,’ and help the economy in the local area I went to in Iceland. Anyone who takes this course is going to remember the lessons and remember how to travel friendly, where to visit, how to travel on a budget. Pay attention because it will be very helpful in the future if you’re planning on travelling for a semester or just going on vacation with friends or family.”  -Emily

“I wanted to have the most enriched experience possible when I went on this trip so that I would have a good educational time on the trip.” -Lily

“My two children just finished their first online course and it went extremely well. They travelled to Japan earlier this summer and had been working hard both prior to and after their travel adventure. The course was Travel and Tourism: A Geographic Perspective offered through WorldStrides. The course allowed them to enjoy their trip in a more meaningful way. As well, upon their return they enjoyed sharing their travel pictures as part of one of the course assignments. Overall the online course is laid out in a friendly, well thought out way. The children could watch their progress and had helpful monthly checkpoint meetings on the phone with awesome WorldStrides teachers. The course has inspired them to travel more and has opened their minds up to the fun of online learning. We would recommend this course and WorldStrides to anyone considering online learning!” -Dan

Interested in receiving more information? Complete this form and the WorldStrides Curriculum and Academics team will contact you with registration information! Registration is open until February 11, 2021.

Questions? Email us at discoverycanada@worldstrides.com.

By: Laurie Doyle and Randi Chapman

The post How Curiosity, Online Learning, and Travel Go Together appeared first on WorldStrides Canada.

Chances are good that you know what a friendly is, but what words would you use to define it?

A quick roundup of terms and interpretations yields a variety of words and language that paints broad strokes, and that’s ok. It’s an “exhibition.” A “demonstration.” A “preseason game” or “warm-up match.” If you said that a friendly is “a game where nothing is really on the line and your standing won’t be impacted whether you win or lose,” you wouldn’t be wrong.

But would you be right?

By definition, yes, but what about by interpretation?

This is what makes a friendly such an interesting topic, especially for us at WorldStrides Sports. There’s so much more to it than winning or losing, than counting or not counting. Indeed, friendlies are exhibitions and demonstrations, but they’re certainly more than an exhibition or a demonstration of the sport itself, right?

Friendlies carry a weight and standing outside of the table and beyond qualification requirements. Friendlies present a new opportunity for all involved – the club, the manager, the players, the supporters. It’s a chance to mix things up, a laboratory to experiment. Playing in a game designated as friendly might take some pressure off from earning a winning result, but that doesn’t remove the competitive feeling. Friendly or not, at almost every level, you want your side or the side your rooting for to win, even if it doesn’t “matter.”

What does matter then? Friendlies give teams a wonderful lens that enhances the spirit of the meeting. We see this all the time on our programs. There’s a certain buzz about playing outside of a usual league or schedule, away from the competition usually encountered. This special energy that teams bring to a friendly is…different. There’s something about a friendly that turns some of the focus directed at an opponent and shifts it to a more internal place, and we’d argue that this shift puts a unique spotlight on a team’s chemistry and camaraderie.

You could say that there’s less pressure to conquer an opponent and more freedom to test yourselves. You could say that there’s less pressure to stick to what works and more liberty to see what happens. You could give that defender a chance to play striker or give your keeper the chance to play on the field.

We certainly see this when our players travel abroad, and then some. Taking a friendly to the international level tests and enlightens our players in profound ways that stay with them forever.

Friendlies teach us what it means to be a host and a guest.
Friendlies challenge our assumptions to reveal deeper truths.
Friendlies build new bridges that connect people through experience.
Friendlies show us what is universal about a sport and what is unique about the players who play it.
Friendlies tell us that we grow outside of our comfort zones.

It turns out that friendlies count for a lot.

This past holiday season could use a “friendlies” interpretation. When we look back on 2020, through the lens of our sports and our roles in them, it’s easy see where things were disrupted, where things weren’t normal, where things were different. Does that mean they didn’t count? That they didn’t matter?

We were tested and challenged. We lived with being uncomfortable. We submitted to rules we didn’t write. We found joy where we could with what made us happy, and for many of us, that required a deep look within. We had to try new ways, we had to mix things up. We had to work together in a new environment, and determine what matters most.

As a result, and much like a friendly experience, we grew because of it – and that will last longer and feel deeper than any game that “counts” or “matters.”

Interested in leading a Sports trip for your students? Email your contact information to sports@worldstrides.ca and one of our expert personal Program Consultants will help you get started.

By: Andy Pillifant

The post What is a friendly? appeared first on WorldStrides Canada.

The start of a new year tends to be a time for reflection and pondering resolutions. Some may see the new year as a chance to put 2020 in the past, while others see it as a chance for a fresh start. Setting goals for 2021 may be particularly important as the turmoil of 2020 found a lot of us off track with our life goals and feeling unsettled about planning for the future.

Goal setting is known to be a powerful motivator toward getting what you want. Take time to consider what you want to accomplish in 2021. Are there things you have always wanted to do? Or things you want to stop putting off? Think broadly – your goals can focus on education, fitness, finances, your household or space, employment, recreation, hobbies, or almost anything. Once you have an idea in mind, ask yourself why the goal is important to you. Acknowledging its significance will help ensure you remain motivated and committed to achieving your goal.

If you always make New Year’s resolutions but never stick to them, maybe your goals are not realistic or you haven’t created a good plan. You have likely heard of SMART goals, which are considered the gold standard for successful goal setting. The acronym was coined by George T. Doran in 1981 as a corporate management strategy. Outlined below are his tenets of goal setting that are still widely used today in business planning, education, and personal endeavors.

• Specific – You don’t want your goals to be vague. Making them specific will help you focus and provide direction in designing a plan to achieve your goal. Define the goal for yourself and, if possible, break it down into sections when outlining your strategy. Ask yourself what you are trying to accomplish.
• Measurable – Goals need to be measurable to ensure that you can track and quantify your success in meeting the goal. Consider how to assess the achievement of your goal and determine what kind of performance metrics are applicable to your goal. If you have created steps or tasks, this allows you to keep track of progress and completion.
• Achievable – Don’t set yourself up for failure! Creating a goal that is too lofty or unachievable will not help you move forward into 2021 with confidence. Consider goals that have manageable timelines and are realistic given your other personal and professional responsibilities.  
• Relevant – Align your goals with all areas of your life and make sure they are relevant to your overall situation and outlook. Your commitment to reaching your goals is related to their pertinence in your life. If this is a personal goal, is everyone in your household on board? For professional goals, be sure to loop in your co-workers for support.
• Timely – Create a timeline to help focus on when you will meet your goal. Set up a schedule and create reminders for yourself on a calendar, send yourself emails, or even use post-it notes to help you stay organized and on track with deadlines.

Ready to start 2021 on the right path? Whether you always create goals heading into the new year or it is something you want to begin this year, we hope you are successful in planning for and meeting your goals. Happy goal setting and good luck!

By: WorldStrides Curriculum and Academics Team

The post Staying SMART: How to set goals for 2021 appeared first on WorldStrides Canada.