They’re beautiful, full of educational value, and powerfully refreshing. Our country’s national parks are ready-made for student travel.

They’re also economical. There are lots of exciting destinations around the country filled with theme parks, live performances, and innovative restaurants. But with these tours, every attraction requires more money. This can put the final bill far beyond a student group’s budget. Even after the Saturday car wash and bake sale. If the school is funding any of the trip at all, they may be less likely to pitch in for expensive attractions as well. National Parks don’t cost much more than the price of travel and a few sensible meals.

But the take-away is awesome. You’ll find you don’t have to spend extravagant money to induce awe and wonder. Nature has consistently done a pretty powerful job of this all by itself. Our national parks were chosen as such because somebody stood in awe and said, “We can’t let this get paved over for roller coasters.”

The impact is highly individualized. While man-made entertainment typically produces a similar reaction in all its participants (e.g., “That ride is thrilling,” “This restaurant is colorful.”), nature has a way of affecting its visitors personally. Some are moved toward faith, others to action, still others to a sense of quiet unmatched by the daily grind. Visiting national parks guarantees a unique and powerful response in almost every person. Nature and wildlife – they move people.

They inspire participation. National parks are also a great choice for student volunteering. Many have programs already in place for this. A two-day tour could easily include one half day of eco-friendly volunteerism. The most beautiful spots on earth are of course the most inspiring for taking care of the planet. Students not only feel encouraged to join global efforts for the environment, they participate in practical ways to do it.

Yosemite was one of the first wilderness areas to become a national park, and it is a beautiful choice for student travel destinations. The waterfalls are perhaps the most famous natural wonder in this area and reason enough to walk, hike, or bike the famous paths. But there is more to Yosemite than the falls.

For a comprehensive look at all it has to offer, bus tours might be the way to go – at least the first day. Students can get an overview of the many different aspects of this amazing area – the falls, the meadows, the deep valleys and giant, ancient sequoias. These are the reasons Yosemite will take your breath away.

To make the most of the educational opportunities in the park, choose a ranger-guided tour, rich with information about Yosemite and its history. “A shrine to human foresight,” the National Park Services declares, and the “strength of granite,” and “the persistence of life.” Yosemite can teach students all kinds of valuable, life-changing lessons. 

For an even richer experience, after a day of exploring, consider a few hours of volunteering. You won’t find a more wonderful work environment nor a place that more fully inspires the preservation of our beautiful earth.

Photo Credit: Rob Inh00d on Flickr