Parents and students are not only eager to get back out into the real world, they view seeing the world in 3D again as critical to making up for lost time in learning and education. Those are among the insights in a new survey by WorldStrides, the global leader in educational travel and experiential learning, and The Harris Poll. Among the highlights:


National Survey Finds a Growing Demand among Parents and Students for Experiential Learning and More Face-to-Face Interactions

• 79% believe immersive educational travel experiences are just as important, if not more important, now than prior to the pandemic
• 74% of parents with kids under 18 years of age think it's important for students and young adults to be able to participate in immersive educational travel
• 64% believe it's very/somewhat important that students be able to participate in immersive educational travel in the next year

"What's clear in the data is there is a pent-up demand for face-to-face learning," said John Gerzema, CEO of The Harris Poll. "Kids and parents are in agreement about this – it's time to get out from behind the screen."

Other insights include:

• Among parents with kids under 18 years of age, 81% think it is very/somewhat important for immersive educational travel experiences to be a part of a child's overall educational experience
• 87% of parents who live in urban areas said investing in immersive travel experiences should be a priority in a kid's education
• 80% of Millennials and 79% of Gen Zs believe that an immersive travel experience is a very/somewhat important part of a child's overall educational experience

"We've long known that learning doesn't only happen in the four walls of a classroom, and we're now also seeing that the two-dimensions of a screen aren't enough," said Bob Gogel, president and CEO of WorldStrides. "Parents and kids are asking for safe alternatives to classroom learning because it's an important part of growing up. Experiential learning improves mental health, fosters empathetic leadership, and builds the life skills needed for future success."