Industry-leading Safety Innovation, When It’s Needed Most

For over 35 years, Envision has been known for its high standards of student accountability and for prioritizing the health and safety of all participants. Our parent company WorldStrides has been known as an industry-leader in health and safety in educational travel for more than 50 years. COVID-19 is surely unprecedented but Envision by WorldStrides has been tackling “unprecedented” for decades. Our experienced team is leading the way and constantly evolving to meet new requirements for health and safety–which are imperative in this environment.

Things continue to change, so some of the protocols detailed below may change, as well. They will likely differ slightly for each specific program and city because we are committed to getting it right.

A Team Approach to Our New Normal

WorldStrides assembled a cross-functional team we call our Back to Travel Task Force in early spring of 2020, and we have been working to prepare all our programs to run in 2021 ever since.

This Task Force leverages decades of experience across our company to assess the safety of the destinations where we operate programs, stay abreast of openings/closings, understand new protocols and regulations from our partners, and create trainings and detailed safety plans to manage the risks associated with COVID-19.

The Back to Travel Task Force is led by WorldStrides’ Chief Experience, Health and Safety Officer Terri Morgoglione, and internally supervised by our General Manager, Amanda Freitag Thomas, Director of Program Operations, Tashya Perera, and Program Managers Odis Scales and Anthony Varlese. The Task Force is informed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), American Camp Association (ACA), and World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines, as well as guidance from the WorldStrides' Medical Director.

We are also closely monitoring the evolving standards of the education community and the travel industry and will continue to update our plans as new information on COVID-19 comes to light.

Safety Briefing

Envision by WorldStrides will host a pre-program webinar approximately 30 days out from your program start date, to review the program experience and requirements. We will share any updates through email and documents on your myenvisionexperience.com page as available. Staff will also review health and safety protocols during the first day of each program session.

Adjusted Program Schedule

We are in constant contact with all our university partners, museums, companies, and other sites we visit. To maximize your experience each day, we will adjust program schedules to account for new rules for capacity management, social distancing, masks, and more.

Hygiene

All participants are expected to maintain good hygiene practices such as frequent hand washing, wearing face masks, and following social distancing guidelines when appropriate. Students will also receive two (2) disposable masks per day, personal sanitizer, disinfectant wipes, lanyard with clip for mask, and a safety card.

At the Program Location (hotel, college campus, and/or conference center)

All of our housing locations are committed to high health and safety standards, and we are in regular communication with them to review updated protocols. All specific updates will be added to your myenvisionexperience.com page.

Additional Information

Pre-Program Requirements
Make your health and safety a priority. Review and complete the list of required steps prior to your arrival at the program here.
Pod Model Structures
Envision by WorldStrides will be implementing a pod model structure to minimize exposure and reduce the transmission of infection during a potential outbreak of a contagious disease. To learn more about this structure click here.
Suspected and Confirmed COVID-19 Case Responses
Envision by WorldStrides is working closely with our partners and our health and safety team to follow the appropriate health and safety protocols for a successful and meaningful program experience. An outline of our response to both suspected and confirmed cases can be reviewed here.
Staff Health and Safety Protocols
All staff will be required to complete and adhere to the Envision by WorldStrides Health and Safety and COVID-19 prevention training and protocols. Review these protocols here.

Frequently Asked Questions

How are decisions being made on which programs will run?

There are many considerations going into our decisions about when and where to host programs. The Back to Travel Task Force is continually gathering information to help us make informed decisions. As we learn new information, all efforts are made to update our resources and share any decisions that we make about specific programs and sessions.
What should I know if I’m flying to the program

If you are flying to your destination, each airline has slightly different processes and protocols to respond to COVID-19, and we recommend you check the website of your airline for the most up-to-date information. Some airlines are deep cleaning and may be reducing the number of people on each plane and requiring face coverings while on board. Additionally, food service on the plane is either not available or pre-packaged, so we recommend packing a meal and snacks, particularly if you are flying around a meal time.

You can read more from commonly used airlines here:

United

Delta

American

Southwest
What will intra-program travel look like?

Our bus partners have new cleaning protocols and are establishing new guidelines, like loading and unloading procedures, to help keep drivers and participants safe. During site visits, student will only travel with their assigned pod and be asked to maintain appropriate distance from other pods and the public.
How many students will share a room, and can students have their own rooms?

Students will be assigned to room with 1-3 other students. Roommates will also be assigned to the same classroom. At this time, single room requests will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis, pending the circumstances of the request.
Can students from the same school/city/state be placed in the same group/housing accommodation to limit risk from regions with higher infection rates?

We are in the process of working with all our locations to review their plans and protocol updates. If you are interested in being placed in a sleeping room with a friend or someone from your home state, a roommate request can be submitted through your myenvisionexperience.com page, when available.
What will offsite experiences look like?

Many of our offsite experiences are undergoing changes to their rules and protocols, and we are working with them to provide the best student experience possible. A site visit may be modified to meet new capacity and social distancing requirements, or students may rotate through different visits on different days. We are exploring the options available and are working closely with our partners to help us design these experiences. Details of any changes to program delivery will be shared with you as available through the Envision website, your myenvisionexperience.com page, and via email.
What meal options will be available?

At our program sites, we will work with dining services to modify meal plans, with options to include providing boxed meals, dining in classrooms when necessary or rotating mealtimes. When we select meal locations during site visits, we will use our local knowledge and strong relationships to choose locations that follow strict local guidelines and hygiene practices.
Will a negative COVID-19 test be required before attending the program?

A polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test must be administered 3-5 days prior to the program start date. Test results must be submitted as soon as received and no later than 24 hours prior to attending the program.

Envision by WorldStrides’ Promise to You

If a student is diagnosed with COVID-19 while on an Envision by WorldStrides program, our staff will be there every step of the way, maintaining constant communication with the parent or guardian.

We need your help, too. We will ask all participants to commit to care for your fellow peers by acknowledging any symptoms you may be experiencing prior to travel. If you are sick, stay home.

Our Network of Safety Resources

Whenever you participate in an Envision by WorldStrides program, you can rest assured knowing that our long-time investments in health and safety are also in place, like:

Nurse Protocols: Our Elementary and Middle School programs will have a nurse on-site for each day of the program and High School Programs will have a nurse onsite every 3-4 days of the program. General nurse hours are from 7:30 a.m. to 10 p.m
Supervision: We hire and train staff that are dedicated to the health and safety of each of our students. Our team will be available 24/7 to participants and their guardians. We will also have an overnight team member to monitor hallways and address any student health and safety needs throughout the evening.

Emergency Contact Numbers

The Envision by WorldStrides team is available to answer your questions during business hours, and specific program offices are available 24 hours a day during program sessions. Please call:

Envision by WorldStrides Office of Admissions
1-866-858-5323

Refer to your program specific documents on your myenvisionexperience.com page for Program Office and staff contact information once that information is available.

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