Educational travel experiences are a staple of a Stony Brook School education. Joshua Crane, Head of School, says: “The opportunity to see firsthand the places, people, and cultures we study in our classrooms enhances student learning significantly. Our trips also enhance student bonding through meaningful experiences together in far-away locations. We are grateful for the opportunity to offer such a rich learning experience that has a lifetime impact.”
In a world where the boundaries between cultures and countries are becoming a thing of the past, it is imperative that we educate our students in a manner that will allow them to compete and collaborate globally. Our mission of learning outside the classroom takes on new meaning in this context.
To that end, we have partnered with Education First (EF Tours) to provide travel opportunities designed to develop global competencies and, in turn, global citizens who venture beyond the borders of our community.
Student travel aligns with the instructional goals of strengthening our students’ abilities to investigate the world, recognize perspectives, communicate ideas, and take action. Whether your child has taken part in our programs or not, this opportunity is open to all who have a passion for developing those necessary skills for life beyond the classroom. As a teacher and community member, I have seen firsthand the positive and formational impact of educational travel on a student’s disposition, attitude, and passion for learning.
Jenny Stortz, Group Leader & Educational Travel Coordinator.
Experiential LearningHands-on activities and guided exploration deepen students’ knowledge of the world and themselves. |
Local InsightExpert local guides and Tour Directors share cultural and historical knowledge and provide a global perspective. |
Cultural ActivitiesStudents gain a greater understanding and appreciation for various cultures as they experience the language, cuisine, and people. |
Credit OpportunitiesEvery tour comes with the chance to connect to the classroom before, during, and after the tour - like our personalized learning guide, and high school and college credit options. |
| Preparing Students for Global Citizenship |
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| Your students’ safety is our number one priority. We would never send a traveler to a location we believe to be unsafe - and with our extensive global presence, our best-in-the-industry experience, and our close working relationships with the U.S and international authorities, that’s a statement we can back up with real insight. Whether it’s a worldwide pandemic, a sprained ankle, a missed flight, or confusing medical paperwork, we make sure every situation is taken care of. |
| Safety and Security |
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EFs global presence is truly unmatched. We have staff on the ground 365 days a year in over 50 countries. We don’t just work in those countries- we call them home. EF team members live in nearly every one of our tour destinations, meaning we have the local knowledge to help keep our groups safe. That presence allows us to be there to support you on the ground wherever and whenever you need us. |
| 24/7 Support |
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In the event that anything on tour goes wrong, EF staff is always available to help. Your Tour Director is your group’s constant companion and first point of contact in an emergency. Additionally, our fully trained support teams are on hand 24/7 to walk teachers through any issues and provide the resources necessary to get things back on track. Our Safety and Incident Response Team - comprised of industry experts, healthcare experts, and even former FBI personnel - is ready to spring into action 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. And when they aren’t directly helping EF travelers, they’re actively innovating on and shaping the new worldwide standards for cleanliness and safety. |
| Earn College Credit |
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EF makes it easy for students to turn their tour experience into high school credit, college credit, or to get a head start on their college essays - all while making their travel experience even more engaging. Students in grades 6-12 can earn.5 elective high school credits by successfully completing the final project as part of EF’s personalized Learning Guide. Tuition is free. Students in grades 9-12 can earn 3.0 undergraduate credits, along with the confidence that comes with taking a college course, by completing a series of assignments and a final research project with our partner, Southern New Hampshire University - all for just $215. Educators traveling on student tours may earn up to 45 free hours toward re-licensure OR 3 or 6 graduate-level credits ($285/$450) through Southern New Hampshire University. |
| Budgeting |
| Our recommended payment plan offers the ability to break the tour fee into smaller installments. With most tours planned well in advance, travelers can enroll for only $95, then pay over a long period of time - often up to 18 months or two years - with final payment due 30 days before departure. Families make payments directly to EF, with no payment going through the school. |
| Manual Payment Plan |
| If automatic payments do not work for you, you have the option to make manual payments. If you select this plan, you will receive invoices and make payments in less frequent installments. Travelers can enroll for $95. Then $500 is due 30 days after enrollment and 90 days after enrollment. The remaining balance is due 100 days prior to departure. |
| Fundraising and Scholarships |
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Each student has access to their own unique and customizable donation page. The easy-to-share page makes it simple for friends and family to contribute something that is automatically applied to the tour balance, with no fees whatsoever. |
| Global Citizen Scholarship Fund |
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EF Educational Tours provides $100,000 worth of scholarships to students across the country every year. Any student is able to apply for the Global Citizen Scholarship, which is awarded on both merit and need basis. |
Testimonials
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Travel Opportunities
2025
| Iceland (February Break) Iceland: Glaciers and Geysers |
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| Tour length: 7 days |
| Revel in the geothermal wonders of Iceland- Blue Lagoon hot springs, volcanic craters, and subarctic fauna. From the capital Reykjavik you will travel the popular Golden Circle and see Gullfoss waterfall and Geysir geothermal area. From there, continue on to the famous black-sand beaches of Vik and the Lva Centre in Hvolsvollur. |
| Panama (April) |
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Tour length: 6 days |
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Experience the best of Panama: a country where ancient ruins, wild jungles, and modern cityscapes come together to create a culture unlike any other.Get a taste for Panamanian life as you learn about the Panama Canal, canoe along Rio Chagres, and visit a local indigenous village. Throughout your journey, you’ll discover some of the plants and animals that add to Panama’s biodiversity. |
| Europe (June) Italy, Greece, and Italian and Greek islands |
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Tour length: 14 days |
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It’s no myth- Italy and Greece are home to some of the world’s most impressive archaeological sites, stunning scenery, and long-standing cultural traditions. During this tour, you’’ see the landmarks and landscapes of these Mediterranean countries firsthand. Explore the area’s ancient ruins, from the Colosseum and Pompeii to the Acropolis and Delphi, and wander through charming seaside towns along the Mediterranean coasts. |
2026
| Europe (February Break) Scotland and Ireland - Dublin, Belfast, Edinburgh |
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| Tour length: 8 days |
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These lands were once home to ancient Celtic and Gaelic tribes, today, their histories blend comfortably into the modern day. Step into the Middle Ages on Edinburgh’s Royal Mile and under the towering spire of St. Patrick’s Cathedral in Dublin. In Belfast, old conflicts have given way to an influx of restored 19th-century architecture and a thriving arts scene. |
| Asia (May) China - Beijing, Xi'an, Chengdu, Dujiangyan, Shanghai |
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Tour length: 12 days |
| Step into a world where old meets new and people meet pandas. This experiential voyage spans the best of China, from the hustle and bustle of Beijing to the tranquility of tai chi. Marvel at the Great Wall from the special vantage point, and stand in awe of the Terracotta Army in Xi’an - a sea of stone soldiers protecting their emperor in the afterlife. Ready for the things to get fluffy? Head to a panda research center in Chengdu to learn about its adorable occupants. |
2027
| Europe (February Break) England - London, Stratford-upon-Avon, Oxford |
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| Tour length: 9 days |
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The lights dim, and the voices hush. The curtain rises and you’re swept away by the performance on stage. London’s theater scene has something for every audience. Tragedies, comedies and musicals. Long-running favorites and groundbreaking debuts. You’ll explore theater’s roots at Shakespeare’s Globe and learn about its present and future during backstage tours and lectures. And, of course, London is a show in its own right. |
| Australia (May) Journey Down Under - New Zealand, Australia |
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Tour length: 12 days |
| From afar, New Zealand and Australia may seem similar. An up-close look reveals distinct cultures and personalities. Both descend from the same British colonial family tree, so you may struggle to tell the accents apart in the streets of Auckland and Sydney. But as you dig deeper into the Maori culture in Rotorua and Aboriginal roots along the Great Barrier Reef in Cairns, each country’s identity becomes clear. |
2028
| Europe (February Break) Germany - Frankfurt, Heidelberg, Nuremberg |
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| Tour length: 8 days |
| Journey along the Trai of Reformation and explore some of Germany’s oldest cities, and witness the rich history featuring kings and emperors and myth and legends. Tour the towering historic Worms Cathedral and observe a fine example of High Romanesque. Experience Heidelberg’s world-famous castle as well as Germany’s oldest university. Take a stroll around the old walled city of Rothenburg and explore the windy cobbled streets along to Herrngasse. In Nuremberg, examine the ruins at Alstadt and view the Justice Palace, Markplatz, Kaiserburg, Burgraves’ Castle, and St. Lawrence’s Church. Arrive in Lutherstadt Wittenberg, the capital of the Reformation. Explore the Augustinian Monastery, where Martin Luther lived as a monk, and read his first Mass. End this unique tour of Germany in Frankfurt, a cosmopolitan and bustling city on the Main River featuring a mixture of soaring skyscrapers, half-timbered houses, and a wealth of museums. |