Lindblad Expeditions-National Geographic has refreshed and widened its celebrated youth curriculum, renaming it National Geographic Explorers-in-Training. The hands-on program—developed with National Geographic Education in 2017—now spans five family-friendly regions and promises deeper immersion for the growing ranks of multigenerational travelers.
Key Points
- Why it matters: Expedition cruising is booming with families who want educational, age-appropriate activities at sea.
- New name replaces Global Explorers to reflect a broader, research-oriented mission.
- Certified field educators lead science labs, storytelling drills, and Zodiac driving lessons.
- Available on select itineraries in Alaska, Baja California, Galápagos, Iceland, and Antarctica.
Snapshot
The Explorers-in-Training curriculum treats kids and teens as budding naturalists rather than passive passengers. Each receives a region-specific field notebook to log wildlife sightings, plankton samples, and creative assignments. Workshops range from microscope plankton labs to video-story challenges guided by National Geographic photographers. At voyage’s end, participants earn a commemorative patch and certificate—keepsakes that underscore the brand’s conservation ethos. Parents and grandparents can join most sessions, making the program a bridge between generations while still giving young travelers space to explore independently.
Background
Launched aboard Galápagos sailings in 2017 and extended to Alaska the following year, the original Global Explorers initiative proved that educational content could thrive on small-ship expeditions. Lindblad data show multigenerational bookings rising annually, prompting leadership to refine the curriculum and adopt a name that highlights active exploration, conservation, and storytelling. The update also folds in National Geographic’s latest STEM resources, ensuring continuity with classroom learning back home. Certified field educators—veteran naturalists who complete National Geographic pedagogy training—remain the backbone of every session.
Latest Developments
Program Expands Across Five Regions
Starting this summer, families will find Explorers-in-Training on voyages from Baja California’s whale nurseries to Antarctica’s ice shelves. In Iceland, puffin monitoring joins the roster, while Alaska itineraries add wildlife-tracking hikes in Tongass National Forest. The Galápagos program retains signature snorkel safaris and citizen-science plankton tows, now enhanced with digital microscopes. Lindblad says the uniform framework lets kids compare ecosystems across voyages, building long-term environmental literacy.
Analysis
The rebrand positions Lindblad Expeditions-National Geographic to capture a lucrative slice of the Family Travel market without sacrificing its expedition DNA. By avoiding the trappings of a typical Cruise “kids club,” the line aligns with parents who value experiential education over arcade time. The certified-educator model is a differentiator; few competitors offer staff steeped in both pedagogy and field science. Extending the program to Antarctica and Iceland also fills seasonal gaps, ensuring year-round availability that matches school calendars. From an operational standpoint, shared curriculum materials and training streamline delivery across the fleet. For National Geographic, the initiative seeds brand loyalty early, fostering future travelers and conservation advocates. Given the surge in demand for meaningful, environmentally conscious vacations, Explorers-in-Training could become a template for family programming in the expedition sector.
Final Thoughts
Explorers-in-Training elevates the children’s Cruise experience from distraction to discovery, proving that a well-designed youth program can enrich every member of a family expedition. With expanded destinations, new science tools, and a sharper brand identity, Lindblad Expeditions-National Geographic appears ready to set the standard for educational adventure travel—one young explorer at a time, guided by the spirit of National Geographic Explorers-in-Training.