Why 2026 Will Be an Impactful Year for Experiential Learning at EdOdyssey
Spread across multiple time zones, our growing team celebrated the end of 2025 with a virtual holiday party before taking time to rest and reset, and to reflect with gratitude on our school and community partners who made 2025 so meaningful.
We also reflected on conversations with partners eager to help students broaden perspectives, build friendships, and find belonging in a world marked by rapid change, political uncertainty, and social disconnection. We know educational travel is a powerful way to support young people navigating these realities, and this shared commitment reinforces why the work ahead matters.
Now, we’re back—well into EdOdyssey’s 12th year—more motivated and excited than ever! We have big plans for 2026, and expect it to be our most impactful year yet.
PROGRAM GROWTH AND PORTFOLIO EXPANSION
In 2026, we’re nearly doubling the number of programs we run across three core pathways:
• Faculty-Led Short-Term Programs (middle school, high school, university)
• Semester Study Abroad, with the first cohort departing for Florence next month
• First-Year Experience (FYE) Programs
Students will travel to destinations including Japan, China, Italy, the UK, Spain, Costa Rica, and select US locations such as Chicago and New York.
Early development is already underway for 2027 programs, driven by strong institutional interest (start planning yours now!).
A GROWING COMMUNITY OF PARTNERS
We are grateful for the trust of university partners who share our belief that learning is most transformative when extended into environments where students observe a variety of lived experiences and engage directly and authentically with local communities.
Among the new collaborations we are excited about this year: Stanford University students will explore China with us; DePaul University will take students to Italy; and Kansas State University students are preparing to discover Costa Rica.
Our commitment to communities that host our students is foundational to these programs. These relationships enable perspectives and stories students would not otherwise access, fostering empathy, understanding, and connection.
RISING DEMAND FOR FIRST-YEAR EXPERIENCE (FYE) PROGRAMS
Interest in First-Year Experience programs continues to accelerate as colleges explore how experiential learning can support the transition into higher education. These dynamic programs leverage the power of place to build connection and belonging and play an important role in:
• friendship formation and community-building
• mental health and wellbeing
• student belonging and identity development
• retention and persistence
• academic and career exploration
• personal growth and confidence
We look forward to joining these conversations in February at the First-Year Experience Conference in Seattle.
WHERE YOU’LL FIND US THIS SPRING
In the coming months, you’ll find us at:
• First-Year Experience Conference — Seattle (February 16–18)
• SXSW EDU — Austin (March 9–12)
• The Forum — Nashville (March 11–13)
If you plan to attend, reach out!
LOOKING FORWARD
As we move through 2026, our focus is clear: deepen impact, support educators, and expand access to experiential learning that builds perspective, confidence, and connection.
If your institution is interested in developing a first-year experience, designing a custom program, or exploring semester study abroad, we would welcome the opportunity to connect.
