Business Details
Transformative Immersive Travel Experiences for Students and Educators
For over 30 years, Where There Be Dragons has pioneered intentional, immersive travel experiences that challenge conventional perspectives and foster global understanding. Our programs prioritize cultural immersion, responsible tourism, and personal growth through unfiltered engagement with local communities. We specialize in summer abroad programs, gap year semesters, and custom school initiatives designed for ages 15-22. Our approach emphasizes reciprocal relationships, sustainability, and educational depth, with a focus on non-mainstream destinations across Asia, Africa, Latin America, Europe, and North America.With a commitment to safety, ethical programming, and industry-leading staff expertise, we create transformative journeys that extend beyond tourism into meaningful cross-cultural exchange. Our Boulder, Colorado-based team combines decades of field experience with innovative programming to deliver life-changing travel experiences that align with educational objectives and personal development goals.
Services
Summer Abroad Programs
Gap Year Semesters
Custom School Programs
Educator Programming
Faculty Trainings
Global Speaker Series
Family Trips
Alumni Support
Employment Opportunities
Community Partnerships
Highlights and features
- We offer 30+ years of expertise in immersive educational travel programming
- Our programs prioritize reciprocal relationships with local communities
- We maintain industry-leading safety and risk management standards
- Our staff includes experienced educators and cultural specialists
- We focus on non-mainstream destinations for authentic cultural immersion
What people say
Life-changing experience
Authentic cultural immersion
Professional staff expertise
Meaningful community connections
Personal growth opportunities
Services
Summer Abroad Programs
Our summer abroad programs for ages 15-22 combine cultural immersion with personal growth. Participants engage in community-based learning, language development, and homestays across five continents. Each program emphasizes responsible tourism practices and cross-cultural understanding through sustained local engagement.
Gap Year Semesters
Gap year semesters provide immersive educational experiences lasting 2-6 months. Students develop global competencies through service learning, language acquisition, and cultural exchange. Programs include structured academic components and guided reflection to maximize personal and professional growth.
Custom School Programs
We design tailored international programs for schools and educational institutions. Our offerings include faculty development, curriculum integration, and student-focused travel experiences that align with institutional learning objectives and global education goals.
Educator Programming
Professional development opportunities for educators include cultural immersion experiences and pedagogical training. Our programs enhance global competency skills and provide practical tools for implementing cross-cultural learning in classroom settings.
Community Partnerships
We establish sustainable relationships with host communities through reciprocal partnerships. Our approach prioritizes local leadership, cultural preservation, and mutually beneficial collaboration that extends beyond typical tourism frameworks.
People
Rachael Carter
Executive Director
Rachael leads our organization with 15+ years of experience in international education. She focuses on strategic vision while maintaining our commitment to ethical travel practices and educational excellence.
Dr. Sarah Thompson
Director of Programs
Sarah oversees program development with a PhD in Cultural Anthropology. Her expertise ensures our offerings maintain academic rigor while providing authentic cross-cultural experiences for participants.
Questions
What age groups do your programs serve?
Our programs primarily serve ages 15-22, with additional options for educators and custom school groups across all age ranges.
How do you ensure traveler safety?
We maintain industry-leading risk management protocols, including staff training, emergency response systems, and continuous monitoring of program locations.
Are your programs educational or recreational?
Our programs combine structured educational components with cultural immersion, focusing on language learning, community engagement, and global citizenship development.
Do you offer financial assistance?
We provide need-based scholarships and work with families to explore funding options, including 529 plan utilization for eligible programs.
How do you support participants during programs?
Each group has experienced local and international staff, with 24/7 organizational support and regular communication check-ins throughout the program duration.
What makes your travel approach unique?
We prioritize long-term community relationships, sustainable practices, and deep cultural immersion over typical tourist experiences through our established global network.
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