Brad Cartwright

Travel That Teaches: 

A Conversation with Andrew Kempe at ETC

August 22, 2025

A chance to travel changed my life.

Mine began when I was 15, standing on a street corner in Guilin, China.   

As a kid from Cleveland, Ohio, saying that sentence still seems wholeheartedly unlikely.

I can close my eyes and put myself right there, right now.

The impact of that moment has been obvious in thousands of decisions I’ve made since, including this week as my daughter visits us here in Sofia, Bulgaria. For no particular reason, we drove to Niš, Serbia.

What we found was a fortress built on the foundations of earlier Roman, Byzantine, and later Medieval strongholds.  During World War I, it was occupied by Bulgarians and turned into a prison for Serbian patriots.  Nearby stood Skull Tower, erected by the Ottomans in the early 1800s. It’s a tower literally built from skulls to inspire fear, but which now stands as a monument to Serbian pride, sacrifice, and independence.

We also found a great place for lunch, some excellent coffee, and some of the best street ice cream I’ve ever eaten. 

This was all within 90 minutes of being there.

Moments like these remind me why travel has always been more than sightseeing. It’s learning in its truest form.

As I wrote back in June, there is a power and a privilege in travel. As teachers, we hold the power to share those opportunities, and what we share—and the experiences we create—can change lives forever.  

When done well, travel experiences of any kind are more powerful than anything we could ever teach or create inside a classroom. But doing it well, with genuine care for impact and education, is not easy.

That’s why this week I wanted to share a conversation I had with Andrew Kempe—the founder, creator, and all-around awesome guy behind Educational Travel Collaborative (ETC).

A lot of people talk about the value of “experiential learning”. I wholeheartedly agree. But how we do it matters most. 

I like to think of experiential learning as “life-experience-learning”. Andrew does too.

Given the impact of thoughtful travel experiences, I thought it would be valuable to share Andrew’s insights on how schools can design meaningful opportunities that truly shape students’ lives. 

What does “experiential learning” mean to ETC?

We know education is full of buzzwords. At ETC, “experiential learning” isn’t about checking boxes or trendy language; it’s about connecting students with real-world learning that supports academic inquiry, personal growth, and social-emotional development.

Our programs are grounded in reflection, inquiry, and action. Whether called a Week Without Walls, Global Inquiry Project, or something else entirely, the heart is the same: meaningful learning beyond the classroom.  They aren’t just “a trip” - they are authentic, immersive learning opportunities.

What sets us apart is that our programs are designed by educators to support the needs of students. With teachers, counselors, and university advisors on our team, we design learning that supports critical thinking, curiosity, ethical leadership, and global awareness. We know what schools aim to achieve and the realities they face, and our experience with diverse schools around the world sets us up to meet the unique needs of each of our clients.

This isn’t just about memory-making. Done well, experiential learning can change how students see themselves and the world while deepening intellectual curiosity and academic inquiry. We’ve seen our opportunities spark career paths, shape worldviews, and build lasting confidence and connection. Because every school is different, we co-create each experience to meet specific learning goals.

We’re also clear about what experiential learning is not. 

Flying students into unfamiliar communities to paint a wall and take photos isn’t service.  At its worst, it can lead to harm. Alternatively, we challenge students to engage with complexity: the legacy of apartheid in Bethlehem or Bloemfontein, sectarian legacies in Lebanon, or climate change in Madagascar. These aren’t simple stories, they offer problems of practice. Engaging with them builds empathy, resilience, and understanding.

What holds schools back from maximizing the value of experiential learning, and how can ETC help?

The biggest barrier is often uncertainty. Questions around risk, cost, or stakeholder support can feel overwhelming. That’s where the right partner makes all the difference.

There’s also a misconception that schools need to launch a whole-program model from day one. In reality, one thoughtful experience can change a student’s life. And there’s only one chance to reach this year’s students, so doing what we can to make experiential learning a reality is an urgent affair.

When schools do offer programs, two things often limit impact: stagnation and standardization.

Programs lose their value when they’re not regularly reviewed or updated. Schools work hard to improve classroom instruction: experiential learning deserves the same rigor. Too often, experiences are handed off to non-educator vendors, and the result is clear: a lack of alignment, challenge, or reflection.

The second pitfall is treating all experiential learning opportunities the same. One-size-fits-all programming rarely fits anyone well. Teachers bring different strengths. Students have different needs. Programs should reflect that - there should be opportunities for students who want physical challenge as well as those who are looking for a more academic lens - or a blend of both. 

ETC’s team is qualified to work with young people and to collaborate meaningfully with schools. That’s what allows us to build programs that work: because they’re built with you.

How can schools turn challenges into opportunities?

Start with a clear “why.” Schools that define the purpose of experiential learning, whether that’s SEL growth, academic challenge, global citizenship, or an amalgam of priorities can build programs that reflect their mission and earn community support.  

When schools and their stakeholders know why they are doing the work, focus and urgency generally follow.

One frequent concern is cost. But families will invest when they see value. Anyone can book a snorkeling trip to Thailand. What ETC offers is different: learning outcomes, real inquiry, transformative reflection, and real world relevance. That’s what makes the experience meaningful, and takes our offerings beyond just being “trips.”

Our team understands both the school and parent perspectives. That’s why schools that work with us often see strong family support; not just for the trip, but for the learning behind it.

How do you know these experiences make a difference?

We’ve seen students shift their worldview as well as their futures. Some go on to study climate science, public health, or international law. Others find new confidence or direction. Many write college essays about their experience with ETC.

Students often say their time with us was the most meaningful learning of their school years. When those moments become part of who they are, or what gets them into a dream university, we know the impact is real.  The chaperones on our trips can attest to this: it is always powerful to see real, visible growth after only a week in the field.

Why should school leaders prioritize experiential learning, and how does ETC help?

Experiential learning isn’t extraneous: it directly supports your school’s mission, student outcomes, and long-term strategy.

That’s where we come in. ETC partners with schools to build programs that align with academic goals, social-emotional learning, and your broader vision. We begin by listening; understanding your needs, constraints, and priorities.  We then co-create experiences that are rigorous, developmentally appropriate, and culturally responsive.

We often ask schools to revisit their Profile of a Graduate. What do you want students to know, do, and be when they leave? Identifying what’s missing or what has areas for growth can help us to build experiential learning opportunities that meet your needs.  Well-designed programs reinforce what schools aim to cultivate: empathy, curiosity, global engagement, and ethical leadership. 

Our experiences have been cited in IB, WASC, and MSA accreditations, and they regularly contribute to student success, from building confidence to strengthening university applications.

Families also value experiential learning. Several partner schools say ETC programs helped differentiate them in a competitive enrollment landscape. When students grow (and families see that growth) everyone benefits.

Because we’re educators, and because of our strong global network, we can design learning that’s rigorous, inclusive, and developmentally appropriate. We don’t just run the learning opportunity in the field, we support the learning before, during, and after, offering a level of educational design and school insight no typical vendor can match.

What services does ETC offer, and how are you different?

We see ourselves as a partner in learning.

There are three main areas where we support schools:

• Program Design & Delivery:  We operate experiential learning programs on every inhabited continent, with both off-the-shelf and custom-built itineraries designed to align with academic and developmental goals.
• Consulting & Capacity Building:  We work with teachers, leaders, and boards to integrate off-campus experiences into classroom learning and strategic planning. That includes systems for capturing learning, aligning with school goals, and building internal capacity.
• Program Coordination & Oversight:  For schools managing large, multi-vendor programs, we offer program coordination, vendor vetting, and logistics oversight—leveraging our unique position at the intersection of education and travel.
• Accreditation:  We’re accredited in the U.S. as an educational provider. Our growth has been intentional and values-driven. We’re proud of the schools we serve and the students we inspire.

I’m super thankful to Andrew for sharing his time and wisdom in this conversation. 

If you’d like to explore how ETC might support your school, you can connect with Andrew and his team at [email protected].

Travel.  

It changes lives.  It has mine. 

See you next week,

Brad