Darby J., Director of Educational Programming & Partnerships

Travel isn’t just about where students go. It’s about who they meet. Which is why Darby and the team here at EF Explore America are focused on forging and nurturing partnerships that strengthen the impact new experiences have on students. Each new partnership allows us to introduce interactive, unique programming that’s thought provoking, perspective building, and exciting for all our travelers.

All partners share our commitment to:

Educational impact

Each of our partners share our philosophy and passion for human connection, thoughtful technology, and modern education.
Hands-on experiences

By inviting students into new worlds and allowing them to engage in meaningful interactions, our partners open a world of possibilities.
Continued learning

Through teacher training, pretour prompts, and reflective follow-ups, our partners impact education well beyond the length of the tour.

United Nations Foundation

Our exclusive partnership with the United Nations Association of the USA has deeply impacted the tour experience. As part of the UN’s It’s a Better World Campaign, which focuses on climate change, poverty, and other sustainable development goals, students think deeply about how we treat the planet, how we treat each other, and how we can strive to improve both. The UN Foundation team and EF Explore America collaborate on itineraries to promote alignment with the 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda, develop EF-exclusive learning opportunities for teachers and students, and train Tour Directors on global humanitarian issues in order to equip and empower them to facilitate deep and engaging conversations with students on tour

View a sample itinerary

FIRST®

While visiting Boston, students have the opportunity to visit FIRST, a global robotics community committed to fostering young peoples’ interest in STEM, to participate in unique workshops created specifically for EF travelers. Through hands-on learning with actual robots, students see STEM principles come to life and understand how classrooms translate to the real world.

View a sample itinerary

9/11 Tribute Museum

Students experience the personal side of history through our partnership with the 9/11 Tribute Museum and their mission to bring people together with those who experienced it. As they’re led on a guided tour through the museum by survivors, first responders, or family members, they hear personal stories that inspire, connect, and honor the memories of everyone who was there that day.

Read

Rebuilding through personal stories

A retired firefighter explains why she’s shared her firsthand account of 9/11 almost 300 times

Visit

See the 9/11 Tribute Museum yourself

View a sample itinerary for a tour that visits the 9/11 Tribute Museum while in NYC

Honor Flight Network

The men and women who’ve served their country transform their history into personal connection for students traveling to Washington, D.C. Honor Flight Network is dedicated to transporting America’s veterans to the country’s capital to see the memorials for wars in which they fought. While visiting sites such as the World War II Memorial on the National Mall, students celebrate and applaud servicemen and women flown in from across the country. Then, as veterans take time for introductions and questions, students establish bonds with another generation and gain a new perspective on what they’ve learned in the classroom.