National Geographic-Lindblad Expedition announced the rebranding of its youth programme, National Geographic Global Explorers, to National Geographic Explorers-in-Training, emphasising immersive educational experiences for young travellers. To encourage participation, the organisation now offers a 50% discount for children and young adults under 22 on select 2025 Galápagos voyages, valid for bookings made by August 31, 2025.
Developed in collaboration with National Geographic Education, the programme was launched in 2017. Now, the updated version maintains its focus on educational experiences, engaging young travellers in science, culture, and conservation of the destinations they visit. The activities are led by a certified field educator, who receives support from expert staff such as National Geographic photography professionals, undersea experts, and naturalists. “I deeply believe that fostering positive interactions between youth and nature is the way to motivate future citizens in awareness and passion for stewardship,” said Kimberly Baldwin, Certified Field Educator and Naturalist in Alaska.
Activities are aimed at fostering exploration, awareness, and storytelling skills through hands-on learning. “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 travellers — and this new name better reflects its essence and our mission.”
Participants receive a region-specific field notebook to document their discoveries. At the end of the cruise, they are also given a commemorative patch and certificate to celebrate their accomplishments. The activities offered depend on the itinerary chosen. Some of them include collecting plankton samples and maintaining wildlife observation logs, among others.
Travellers can opt for their itinerary from five different regions: Alaska, Antarctica, Baja California, Iceland, and the Galápagos. For instance, those who choose to explore the Galápagos Islands will board the National Geographic Endeavour II and the National Geographic Gemini, and will have the opportunity to explore the islands that inspired Darwin’s theory of evolution. Specific activities include hiking on black-sand beaches and snorkelling with sea lions.
Moreover, on the Baja California: Among the Great Whales itinerary, adventurers will have the opportunity to search for dolphins, sea lions, and different species of whales. On the contrary, people on the Alaska Inside Passage line will be able to explore fjords, get close to glaciers, and kayak along the coast to look for marine life.
