Educational Travel Programs

At the Center for Talented Youth, we recognize the importance of educational travel. Exploring new destinations, cultures, and ideas is a transformational experience. Your destination is not a location, but rather a new way of seeing things. As such, Family Academic Programs proudly offers educational travel programs to fully engage CTY families in authentic learning experiences. Although each adventure is unique, they all aim to introduce students and parents to the rich natural, cultural, and historical aspects of spectacular destinations spanning the globe. From an underground city in Turkey to the towering Grand Tetons, participants will build lasting memories and wonderful friendships as they expand their worldview!

Please note: Our Educational Travel Programs are recommended for students in grades 5 to 12. However, younger siblings and Talent Search participants in grades 2 - 4 may be permitted to attend after a parent or guardian speaks with Family Academic Programs staff about the pace and content of the programs. Please read Educational Travel Policies, Terms, and Conditions. Deposits are required to reserve your space.

Colorado Dinosaur Discovery -- Grand Junction, CO
Saturday, June 23 – Friday, June 29, 2012
Itinerary and registration form 
Discover the world of paleontology in one of the richest dinosaur domains in the country. What could be more thrilling than the chance to dig for dinosaur fossils deep in Colorado’s red-rock country? During this program, participants hike the “Trail through Time,” where dinosaur skeletal fragments have remained embedded for 145 million years and dig side-by-side with scientists in a quarry where incredible discoveries have been made. Based in the beautiful Grand Valley of the Colorado River – a region teeming with dinosaur fossils – this program, reserved especially for CTY families, will take us from prospecting to quarrying to laboratory preparation of fossils. The expert field staff tailor instruction for all age levels with emphasis on both fun and learning. Our expedition also includes a wonderful array of activities outside the dinosaur quarries. Enjoy a rafting trip on the spectacular Colorado River, hike in awe-inspiring Colorado National Monument, and ride horses through a secluded valley. This is an exciting opportunity for CTY families to create unforgettable summer memories, to establish friendships within the CTY community, and to enjoy an enriching educational process. It is recommended that children be at least 10 years old to attend this program. Prices include accommodations and most meals during the program. It does not include airfare or other transportation to and from Colorado at the start or end of the program. Detailed information will be available upon registration.
• Cost: $3,980 Adults / $3,350 Children 16 and under 

Bali and Beyond: A Family Adventure in Amazing Indonesia
Saturday July 14 – Friday July 27, 2012
Itinerary and registation form 
Please note: This program is approaching capacity. Please call our registrar office at 410-735-6115 prior to registering to confirm availability.
Experience the trip of a lifetime during this sweeping, enthralling adventure that explores Indonesia’s most wondrous islands. Join CTY for the ultimate way to experience Indonesia’s many distinct cultures, immense artistic riches, ancient monuments, and unsurpassed wildlife. Explore the Flores Sea on a comfortable, live-aboard masted schooner. Sail from isle to isle, dropping anchor in secluded coves to snorkel in crystal-clear waters. Stop at remote islands to search for wildlife, including the Komodo dragon, a throwback to the Jurassic Age.On the lovely island of Bali, surrender to the island’s tranquil ambiance. Discover traditional arts and instruments in villages that practice ancient methods of production. On Java, take in a classical dance performance; make your own puppet during an exciting hands-on workshop; explore bubbling volcanic craters; walk among terraced rice paddies; and wander through bustling night markets. Discover sacred Hindu and Buddhist temples, culminating in a visit to the world’s largest Buddhist monument. This spectacular excursion traverses the Wallace Line, a biogeographical divide separating the marsupial-dominated species native to the Australian continent versus the mammals of Asia. See the dramatic differences in flora and fauna noted by Darwin’s young contemporary, naturalist Alfred Russel Wallace. Through hands-on experience, the entire family will soak up concepts from geography to natural history to world religions in ways that no textbook could ever impart. Local guides provide insightful interpretation throughout the journey. Exquisite, culturally authentic accommodations complement a superb itinerary. Space on this trip is limited, so register soon. It is recommended that children be at least 10 years old to attend this program. This includes accommodations and most meals during the program. It does not include airfare or other transportation to and from Bali at the start or end of the program. Detailed information will be available upon registration.
• Cost: $5,595 Adults / $5,295 Children ages 16 and under

Ecological Studies in the Highlands of Scotland -- Aigas, Scotland
Saturday, July 21 – Saturday, July 28, 2012
Itinerary and registration form 
Please note: This program has reached capacity. Registration is now closed.
Experience Scotland with the renowned Aigas Field Centre. Set in the wild and rugged landscape of the Highlands, Aigas is located west of the North Sea and just a few miles north of famed Loch Ness. Its location enables easy access to many diverse marine environments, such as mudflats, estuaries, crofts, and peat bogs. Our program includes a blend of natural history and culture, focusing on the wonders of the natural marine world, with open-ended and child-led interpretive art projects. Through a variety of on-site presentations, hands-on activities, and engaging projects, families interact with a variety of marine life and explore diverse marine environments. What is learned at Aigas will literally come to life during daily trips to various coastal and inland marine locations, including rugged coastlines, pristine lochs, and sandy beaches. Weather permitting, we will enjoy a boat ride for a closer glimpse of seals, dolphins, puffins, guillemots, white-tailed sea eagles, and more. Whether observing a frolicking bottlenose dolphin, watching a summer sunset at 10 p.m, listening to melodic Scottish bagpipes, learning how to ceilidh dance, or enjoying local culinary delights, families will build memories to last a lifetime. It is recommended children be at least 8 years old to attend this program. This includes accommodations and most meals during the program. It does not include airfare or other transportation to and from Scotland at the start or end of the program. Detailed information will be available upon registration.
• Cost: $2,300 Adults / $1,500 Children 16 and under

Alaska Family Adventure
Friday, August 10 – Saturday, August 18, 2012
Itinerary and registration form
Please note: This program has approached capacity and registration is now closed. 
Big, bold, and wild, Alaska is one of the planet’s most exciting destinations for a family adventure. Join CTY aboard the Wilderness Adventurer, a small ship capable of nimble exploration, for an unforgettable voyage through the hidden bays and isolated waterways of the magical Inside Passage—a naturally protected waterway extending from Puget Sound to Skagway, Alaska—known for its snow-capped mountains, waterfalls, and glaciers. Gain a better understanding about the importance of carving to Alaskan culture, mixing with the locals and gazing up at the many restored totem poles that color Klawock village. Drop crab pots en route into prime fishing waters. Wind through the high forests on an old logging trail. Paddle the scenic, four-mile roundtrip around Devilfish Cove. Explore Frederick Sound on foot or kayak, keeping an eye out for eagles, sea birds and sea lions. Learn fascinating facts and behavioral theories about whales from the onboard naturalist. Glide through Walker Cove in the Misty Fjords National Monument, a haven for ducks, moose and river otters. And don’t miss El Capitan Cave, the largest known cave in North America. Stand on the ship’s deck in the late light of a summer’s evening as magnificent humpback whales breach off starboard and have your breath taken away by sculptural glacial views and snow-capped mountains. This Inside Passage cruise puts you front and center to the real Alaska, from the ethereal beauty of ancient forests to amazing wildlife encounters—all in the company of friendly educators who are passionate about this awe-inspiring “Great Land.” Space on this trip is very limited, so register early. It is recommended children be at least 8 years old to attend this program. A limited number of cabins are available at price below. However, cabin upgrades are available; contact CTY for more information. Prices include accommodations and most meals during the program. Prices do not include airfare or other transportation to and from Alaska at the start or end of the program. Detailed information will be available upon registration.
• Register March 16, 2012 or later: $7,190 Adults and Teens / $7,090 Children 12 and younger

To speak with someone about these trips or to register, call 410-735-6115, 8:30-5:00 EST, or e-mail ctyfam@jhu.edu

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