National Geographic-Lindblad Expeditions has announced the rebranding of its youth engagement program from National Geographic Global Explorers to National Geographic Explorers-in-Training. The program, which originally launched in 2017 in partnership with National Geographic Education, has served thousands of young travelers since its inception.
The updated program continues to focus on immersive educational experiences that engage youth travelers in the science, culture and conservation aspects of expedition destinations. Activities are designed to foster exploration, conservation awareness and storytelling skills through hands-on learning opportunities onboard the company's vessels.
"We are committed to delivering exceptional enrichment to every guest at every age," said Natalya Leahy, CEO of Lindblad Expeditions. "We see more and more multigenerational families traveling with us every year, and our expanded National Geographic Explorers-in-Training program is designed to be an engaging educational experience for our young explorers. It is not your standard 'kids' club,' it is a highly acclaimed, age-appropriate expedition program for young travelers — and this new name better reflects its essence and our mission."
The program operates under the guidance of a Certified Field Educator with support from specialized staff including National Geographic Photography Experts, undersea specialists and naturalists. Participants receive region-specific field notebooks and engage in activities such as wildlife spotting games, storytelling challenges, onboard experiments and hands-on learning experiences. Upon completion, each participant receives a commemorative patch and certificate.
Activities vary by destination but may include learning to operate Zodiac boats, collecting plankton samples and maintaining wildlife observation logs. The program is available on select family-oriented itineraries across five regions: Alaska, Antarctica, Baja California, Iceland and the Galapagos. Specific experiences range from exploring the islands that inspired Darwin's theory of evolution in the Galapagos to kayaking along Alaska's coast in search of marine life, whale watching in Baja California and wildlife scavenger hunts in Antarctica.
The program targets the growing multigenerational travel market, with the company reporting increased family bookings in recent years. The rebranding reflects the company's commitment to positioning the youth program as a comprehensive educational expedition experience rather than traditional children's programming.
Editor’s Note: This article was generated by AI, based on a press release distributed by National Geographic-Lindblad Expeditions. It was fact-checked and reviewed by a TravelAge West editor.
