The Traveling School

Health
We take the health of our group very seriously during our semesters.  We value this commitment in several ways:
Before the semester:

• There is a comprehensive medical section as part of the Enrollment Packet for each student, including: Physician’s physical exam; Travel Clinic and immunizations; and a comprehensive student health history, including personal, emotional, academic, and physical information.

During the semester:

• The group learns and applies precautions for overseas travel, including: food and water safety; appropriate physical activity and exercise; and cultural and regional health issues.
• All girls are enrolled in a PE & Nutrition class and get a comprehensive understanding of the issues necessary to keep and maintain good health, including regular exercise, healthy diet, and personal responsibility to health.

If someone gets sick:

• The most common ailments we face are upset stomachs and colds. If a student is ill, the teachers take her to a local doctor for medical care.
• Just like at home, the girls are expected to follow doctor’s orders and rest until feeling better.
• Additionally, our teachers have Wilderness First-Responder certifications to manage medical care in remote environments until they can get the girls to a licensed physician.

Safety
Our commitment to overseas travel involves a hand-in-hand commitment to safety. As a school, we actively manage the safety of our group in several ways:
Before the semester:

• The Traveling School works with local communities in all of our specialized regions. In working with these local communities, we have established strong networks and friendships.  The “people on the ground” are instrumental in helping us organize itineraries which keep us in rural, quiet areas.
• We have several alternate destinations if an area changes in terms of safety.

During the semester:

• We create approximately two-thirds of our itinerary before the semester, and we leave the other third to offer flexibility during the semester.  This enables our group to make last-minute changes and respond quickly if a situation changes while overseas.

Safety procedures:

• If a situation arises, political or geographical, our teachers are equipped and trained to mitigate the situation while overseas. 
• The group overseas travels with a wide array of safety equipment for emergency communication and risk mitigation.
• In addition to the good decision-making on the ground and the strong support of The Traveling School administrative office, the school works with Global Rescue to provide emergency medical support and security evacuation services.

 

"Our daughter came to us in September looking for a different experience than she was having in her high school. She wanted to travel around South America. She wanted to volunteer with local people there. We were very apprehensive about letting her go because of the unsettling world that we now live in, but when we found the Traveling School through her guidance counselor we decided to let her go. She had the most memorable 3 and half months of her life and grew so much as a young adult. The teachers were wonderful and always put the girls’ safety first. We even had the opportunity to go and visit her. She has met lifelong friends with both the other students and teachers.  I would encourage any other parent to look into letting their daughter experience what is truly a chance of a lifetime.” 

 

- Kathleen Mara, mother, New York