Boys & Girls Club Students Experience the Positive Impact of Travel on their Social and Educational Development
Thanks to the SYTA Youth Foundation in Partnership with SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment
March 24, 2017, Washington, D.C. – Twenty-six disadvantaged students and five chaperones from the Boys & Girls Club of Central New Mexico and the Pueblo of Pojoaque Boys & Girls Club participated in the 2017 SYTA Youth Foundation (SYF) Next Generation Program at SeaWorld San Diego.
Through the SYF Next Generation Program, the youth participated in interactive and innovative learning experiences. They worked hand-in-hand with the park’s animal caregivers and learned firsthand how to take care of animals. The students also learned about conservation programs and how their behavior and actions can impact wildlife and wild places.
It was three days that the students will never forget. The trip included a three-night experience at SeaWorld San Diego’s Resident Camp, with a paddle boarding excursion at Mission Bay Aquatic Center, followed by leadership and team building lessons.
The students that participated in the Next Gens adventure were selected based on their demonstrated desire and excitement to attend, as well as staff recommendations of who would benefit the most from the experience. One student who participated comes from a tough family situation. She has reported being scared at home because of domestic violence issues, alcoholism and law enforcement being called to her house. An opportunity to get out of their current circumstances or experience something new, is an opportunity that doesn’t often come their way.
The Next Generation Program is part of SYF’s mission to provide travel experiences for youth and students who would otherwise not have the resources to participate in those enriching and life-changing opportunities. SYF ensures young people have access to travel opportunities that would otherwise be unavailable due to family economic hardship, budget cuts in school systems or simply lack of access to or education about travel as a learning experience.
A special thank you to the SYTA Youth Foundation Partners who help cover all the costs that make this trip possible for the youth: Albuquerque Convention & Visitors Bureau, BookMyGroup, SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment, Transportation Charter Services, Linda McCue Productions, The Air Travel Group, Norm Hull & Associates and the SYTA Youth Foundation Wingmen.
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The SYTA Youth Foundation (SYF), the philanthropic division of the Student & Youth Travel Association (SYTA), provides access to travel opportunities for young people that would otherwise be unavailable due to family economic hardship, budget cuts in school systems or simply lack of access to or education about travel as a learning experience. The SYTA Youth Foundation is focused on changing young lives through travel. www.sytayouthfoundation.org
SYTA is the non-profit, professional trade association that promotes student and youth group travel. It seeks to foster integrity and professionalism among student and youth travel service providers. SYTA members play an important role in facilitating both domestic mobility and international incoming and outgoing mobility worldwide. As the voice of student and youth travel, SYTA represents the interests of leading U.S., Canadian and international travel agencies, tour operators, attractions, destinations, educators and suppliers. www.syta.org
