How to travel with us, and how to pay for it

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5280 Explorers does not open trips to just anyone. We rely on nominations and recommendations from teachers and coaches, who know the character of the youth in our community. This way, the students know right away that this tour has been earned... they have already shown that they are hard-working, responsible, able to get along with others, and have integrity. For our travelers, leaving their "comfort zone" is a challenge they accept.  

  • We work primarily with middle school students from any school or district, and occasionally have high school students join as well.

  • After teacher nominations, we conduct a tour roll-out informational meeting for the upcoming tour. Parents are asked to RSVP to this meeting. There is NO COMMITMENT at this point; families will learn all about the tour, including cost, at this informational meeting. At the end of the meeting, enrollment opens.

  • For the last several years, our tour fills up in about 24 hours. There is a waiting list.

  • The informational meeting is usually in January.

  • After travelers are signed up, we hold meetings every other month beginning in early September so travelers can learn about our destination and get to know each other.

  • Before we depart, we have a final send-off picnic, and then... we fly!

Financial Aid and Fundraising

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  • 5280 Explorers is a non-profit corporation, and we are raising funds to help students achieve the goal of international travel. Beginning in 2020, we will be offering scholarships by application, and helping to subsidize our groups.
    *Want to help? Please contribute to our cause.

  • We also run the King Soopers gift card fundraiser, in which many students have raised up to half their travel cost through everyday family purchasing at the Kroger family of businesses.

  • We supply families with ideas and techniques for their own fundraising.