Program Overview
The educational activities undertaken on Earth Explore programs allow students the unique opportunity to earn either high school or college level credit. This credit can be an impressive part of the student's permanent record.
Go to College Credit
Earth Explore is fully accredited by Araura College's Pacific Studies Outreach Center, and all academic content is reviewed by the Earth Explore Foundation. Our programs are based upon national curriculum standards, and reviewed for academic excellence. Parents can be sure that the hands-on educational experience offered by Earth Explore is second to none. The natural science and cultural curriculum of our adventures qualifies each for high school credit. This unique opportunity gives students the chance to apply their knowledge and experiences in a very tangible way. Fully funded by Earth Explore, each student need only do the work as described in the course outline, and be favorably evaluated by their Leader, to be eligible for credit.
Parents and eductors should check with their own district to determine how, and if, the district accepts credit earned on educational field study programs. Although credit earned on an Earth Explore program is fully valid Carnegie Credit and represents 90 hours of study, districts have full discretion in accepting, or not accepting the credit based upon their own district policies. If a district declines to accept field study credit, the student's Earth Explore credit transcript is still part of the student's official record. As an alternative, students who have completed the 7th grade at the time of travel can elect to earn college credit through their program, which is awarded through Eastern Washington University's Division for International and Educational Outreach.
Earth Explore's academic program is the equivalent of a high school semester course. In addition, students who participate successfully can earn service learning hours, which range up to 60 hours for completion of the program. Service learning hours are increasingly important as a required component of high school work, and are also recognized by colleges during the admissions process.
All of the student’s work is submitted for review following the conclusion of the program. Once the student has successfully completed the course assignments, a credit transcript is forwarded by the credit office, and can be added to the student’s official academic transcripts beginning in the 9th grade.
Earth Explore provides a structured academic curriculum, one that encourages students to examine their experiences, share what they have learned, and become familiar with the scientific process. The work begins in the fall and winter, when newly enrolling students begin their program Preparation Sessions.
The course requires, in general, satisfactory attendance at 4-6 pre-departure Preparation Sessions, online research and review of three web-sites that have curriculum-related content, field participation in all program activities, and field review of ten program activities that illustrate the program content and theme. To organize and complete their writing assignments, Earth Explore provides Activity Evaluation Sheets along with the program course outline (see pdfs).
Finally, each student’s participation must be favorably evaluated by one of his or her Leaders. Earth Explore provides Leaders with the forms required for this review at the conclusion of the program.
The academic credit earned during the Earth Explore program is valuable in many ways. As a stand-alone transcript in the student's permanent record, the work demonstrates that the student has successfully completed a course of directed field study, involving high school level work, while still in middle school. This is the case whether or not district policies allow credit earned on educational travel programs to be applied. While most of our participants are excellent students and do not require additional credits for high school, the credit becomes especially valuable upon reaching college, as many admissions offices view favorably field science hours earned at the primary and secondary levels. In addition, each Earth Explore program rewards the student up to 60 service learning hours, which have in recent years become an increasingly important component to required high school work.
Students participating in an Earth Explore Adventure, and who have completed the 7th grade or higher by the summer of travel, have the option of taking the program for one (1) college credit. The university level credit is available through Eastern Washington University's International Educational Outreach program. Complete current course descriptions are available on the EWU International Field Studies website. Course outlines can be downloaded in pdf format.
Educational options range from a comparison of the student's own culture to other cultures encountered through travel, to a study of a different culture through examination of its art and architecture. Other options in development may include the study of environmental science themes during travel.
College credit earned through EWU while participating in Earth Explore programs is treated as resident credit, and is fully transferable to colleges and universities nationwide. Answers to common question about the university credit option can be found here.
back to top |
