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A state-by-state guide to discovery

Every state in the Union has something special to offer student groups, and this year’s Student Travel Planning Guide covers every single one, plus the District of Columbia. We call our collection 50 States of Great. Looking for great places to take students? This 42-page section is a gold mine of ideas. Perhaps one or more will spark your imagination and lay the basis for your next big outing.

Even for students with little interest in history, America’s past comes alive when they visit museums, monuments, battleships and battlefields—and there certainly are plenty of choices across our land. The issues of civil rights and slavery spring to life at the Underground Railroad National Freedom Center in Cincinnati, Atlanta’s Martin Luther King Jr. National Historic Site and other places mentioned in 50 States of Great. Chapters in the lives of leaders like Harry Truman, Dwight Eisenhower and John F. Kennedy inspire students at presidential sites around the country.

Lessons in literature also captivate touring student groups. Peek into America’s literary past, for example, at the Mark Twain House and Museum in Hartford, Connecticut. Or engage your young travelers through hands-on exhibits at dynamic science museums like Sci-Port: Louisiana’s Science Center in Shreveport or COSI in Columbus, Ohio. Also in 50 States of Great, you’ll find dozens of outdoor places that combine learning and fun. You can take your group whale watching or lobstering in Maine, or shrimping on the Gulf Coast of Mississippi. They can see wild horses on Maryland’s Assateague Island or Western wildlife at Yellowstone Bear World in Rexburg, Idaho. Students can sleep among the critters courtesy of the Wild Nights program at Cheyenne Mountain Zoo in Colorado Springs. Or how about llama trekking in the mountains of Montana?

For pure escapism, schedule a day in amusement zones like Wildwood Beaches on the Jersey Shore or Cedar Point in Sandusky, Ohio. In 50 States of Great you’ll find theme parks and other attractions that provide ready-made audiences for school performance groups.

A project of this nature is no small endeavor. Overseen by staff writer Miles Dobis, a cadre of student interns this past summer scoured websites, travel literature and guidebooks in compiling information on student-friendly points of interest, both popular and obscure.

In addition to the destination information in 50 States of Great, feature articles in Student Travel Planning Guide also will help educators who plan group travel. Have you heard of digital scavenger hunts? They’re a great way to explore a city and have fun doing it. Read about this team-building activity and all the options out there. Also see “The Business of Show in Branson, Missouri,” which talks about a new student internship program at the Andy Williams Performing Arts Center. On a more serious note, “Travel Insurance and Crisis Response for Student Travel Groups” lays out the case for making sure your group is covered. Learn how to be prepared for illnesses, injuries and natural disasters. Student Travel Planning Guide has everything you need to plan a fun, educational and carefree student trip. Start brainstorming now!

Check Out the Guide’s Feature Articles Online

Pick Your State, Plan Your Adventure

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