Lindblad Expeditions has developed a family product it is
calling the National Geographic Global Explorers Program that is led by
National Geographic-certified field educators.
The program has been developed in partnership with National
Geographic Education, a division of the National Geographic Society that
provides education and curriculum resources to parents, students and teachers.
(Lindblad has a long-term relationship with National Geographic that includes
shared resources and cross-branding.)
While Lindblad welcomes children on all its itineraries, the
Global Explorers Program takes that commitment a step further by incorporating
naturalists who have completed a new National Geographic Education curriculum
designed for educators who work outside the classroom, such as museum or zoo employees.
The Lindblad field educators were the first group to
complete the training, and they oversee kid-friendly educational activities
onboard select Lindblad sailings.
The program had a soft launch in June when Lindblad began
offering it on its Galapagos sailings on the 96-passenger National Geographic
Endeavour ll and the 48-passenger National Geographic Islander. Next year, it
will be offered on all of Lindblad's Alaska itineraries. The ultimate goal is
to roll it out across the Lindblad fleet.
Global Explorers is "an evolution of a long-term
commitment" to families, said Amy Berquist, Lindblad's director of
conservation and strategic initiatives.
Designed for all kids under the age of 18, the program kicks
off by providing participating children with field notebooks in which they can
keep track of their experiences throughout the trip. They have the
opportunity to engage in shore experiences such as "spot-it challenges,"
described as a wildlife-spotting activity similar to a scavenger hunt, as well
as naturalist-guided activities onboard.
Kids are encouraged to use maps, photography and even to
create a short film about their exploits. There are citizen science
projects such as helping to count sea turtles during nesting season.
The experience culminates in a storytelling challenge,
whereby they summarize their experiences through writing, photography,
music or another medium of their choosing.
Berquist said that initial feedback from families who took
part in the program this summer has been very positive.
She said that while kids can't get school credits for
participating in the program, parents and teachers might be more apt to view it
as a legitimate educational experience because of the certification process the
guides go through via National Geographic Education.
The launch of the program was timed to commemorate the 50th
anniversary of the first citizen explorer expedition to the Galapagos Islands
led by Lars-Eric Lindblad in 1967.
There is no additional charge for the program, and children
under the age of 18 travel for $500 less than the adult price for Lindblad
sailings.