High School Outdoor Education Programs in Switzerland

My experience with MEI was life changing. I cannot recommend them enough. The teachers are some of the best I have encountered throughout high school and university. Every destination and experience enhances the curriculum, creating an education experience like no other.

Making the decision to attend MEI Academy is hands down one of the best decisions I have made. I attended the 2018 Adventure Down Under summer session and I loved it so much I signed up for the 2019 Kingdoms and Empires group for my second semester of grade 12. During these trips I learned a lot about myself and became more independent. The other students I met on these trips are still some of my best friends and I will always cherish the times we spent together. On top of this, the teachers educate you on much more than just academics. They help you reach outside of your comfort zone and support you as you learn more about yourself and the world around you. MEI Academy immensely helped me grow as an individual and prepared me to live away from home for University. I would take this opportunity again in a heartbeat!

During grade 11, I decided to go to Asia for my spring semester with MEI and transitioned to Europe in the fall of grade 12. This ‘reverse’ big year approach set me apart from my peers, yet I found myself enjoying it just as much. I chose to apply for MEI because I was looking for deeper knowledge than what was available at my local public schools. I went into it pretty blindly, not knowing anyone, as most of the students do. My high school experience has been anything but ordinary, as I have attended four different high schools, including MEI Academy. It was during the two MEI programs, where I discovered an incomparable educational experience. The teacher’s high expectations fueled my growth as a student, thinker, and peer. Coming from an online school, I initially lacked certain public speaking skills and certain social abilities. However, the immersive and supportive environment at MEI sparked my personal transformation. I came out of my programs, not only as a more articulate individual but also as someone who can easily speak for myself and confidently form friendships with people who I might not have connected with otherwise. One aspect of the program that particularly resonates with me to this day was the structured routine of our days, which was nothing like my life at home. Waking up each day surrounded by individuals who were equally as eager to embrace the new experiences was a breath of fresh air. From daily morning workouts in constantly changing locations to reflective writing and collaborative projects, I truly would not have found this anywhere else. Unlike a conventional school setting where teacher interaction is limited to the class period, with MEI I had constant engagement with both educators and students, creating meaningful relationships that extended far beyond the classroom. Not only did my relationships extend beyond the classroom, but so did my education. MEI stands out as a transformative educational experience. Something I had never experienced in a traditional classroom, but had the opportunity to learn on my MEI program was the blend of courses with real-world application. The academic skills –from public speaking to essay writing– that were taught during my time with MEI, I continue to actively apply to all of my courses at home. These are valuable skills that will continue to allow me to prosper as I begin post-secondary education. For those who want to broaden their horizons and grow as an individual and as a student, MEI Academy is the perfect place to do that. I wholeheartedly recommend these programs for anyone who is considering it. I would not be the same without this experience.

I departed on MEI's big year in 2013/2014. Ten years later it is still a core memory and an essential aspect of my education. I continue to employ the values, experiences, and educational techniques gained during my experience in both day-to-day life, as well as professionally. I am forever grateful for my experience with MEI International Academy.

In 2019 I went to western Europe with MEI Academy and had the most amazing experience in my life! The teachers on MEI are the most caring, supportive and hands on teachers I’ve ever had. They are very invested in getting to know each individual student to insure the get the most out of their education and experience abroad. I highly recommend traveling with MEI for the most rewarding and fun experience you’ll have.

Our family sent two of our daughters with MEI Academy. One completed the International Business summer program and we were so impressed that our other daughter completed her entire Grade 12 year with MEI. The experience was outstanding! Their English and communication skills, understanding and interest of world issues, politics, human rights, history and geography all emerged from their lessons They were taught by extraordinary teachers with real passion for their subjects plus a nurturing personal style while the students were on the road. They were inspired and energized with daily exercise and learning in such unique and wonderful locations It was an exciting time for us as parents as well, as the school takes excellent care to publish photos and blogs along with carefully detailing the homework and projects the students were working on. We were able to follow along with every step of the journey. The girls have gone on to complete excellent University degrees and have found meaningful work in their lives I can't express how important this decision was for our family and how life-changing the programs were. I would highly recommend MEI Academy to anyone thinking about a travel abroad program for their students.

An amazing journey and a life-changing adventure. My son recently returned from your Fall Europe trip and he loved it and learned so much; he is so glad that he went and I loved following along with the photos posted by the teachers. The places that he saw and learned about were incredible, and the teachers excellent. I can't say enough great things about the experience from start to finish. Thank you for making these programs happen through excellent organization, extensive knowledge of your destinations, and dedication to guiding young people to grow, reflect and become independent.

In 2018 I joined many other students on the most amazing 'school trip' ever! During the Fall Semester with MEI, I travelled to Southeast Asia and Australia and I am beyond grateful for the knowledge and lifetime friendships I gained on this journey. Every day was a new adventure and the lessons we would learn were that much more engaging because we were surrounded by the history of that days' topic. Now, almost three years later, I am still in touch with many of the friends I made on that trip and we have shared so many memories since. I would recommend this trip to all students as it is a 'once in a lifetime' kind of experience that I would not trade for the world.

This past summer I got to travel through Europe. We started in Florence where we explored magnificent art museums and got a feel for the Italian city life. Next we hopped on the train to Monterosso. Here we hiked the Amafi Coast and got to make our own pesto. Our next stop was Interlaken, Switzerland where we got an adrenaline with paragliding. We also filled up on fondue and chocolate! Our adventure ended in Paris, France. We got a beautiful view of the city from the top of the Eiffel Tower. For dinner I tried escargot and rabbit! One day we got to tour the city via bike and even got to see the Mona Lisa up close! This trip has been such an amazing experience and I have made life long friends. If I had the chance to do it again I would.

My experience traveling with TFT was nothing but extraordinary. In the summer of 2017 I set off, by myself for the first time, to travel abroad in Europe. Not only did Travel for Teens place me in a group with amazing people that I grew to be very close with, but I was guided through this trip with knowledgeable group leaders who cared about giving us the best experience possible. Through TFT I was able to visit the countries of Italy, Switzerland, and Paris. Each day was jam packed full of different activities including museums, hiking, eating delicious local cuisine, and creating new relationships with my group. My leaders, Taylor and Holden, knew facts regarding each area we ventured to, which made the trip so much more interesting and thoughtful. My favorite part about this trip, and the TFT company as a whole, was that travel, accommodation, and each experience was local and unique. We never loaded onto a tour bus, did not wait in long lines, stand in big crowds, or follow someone with a giant sign to each destination. Travel for Teens was personal, giving chief importance to an authentic experience abroad. I felt so secure with my team throughout the whole trip, with each activity being very well researched and planned, so there was never any confusion or worry. It was through this safe environment I was able to experience the true beauty of travel, which has inspired me to go out of my comfort zone, not to be timid, but to run towards any new opportunity in my life with an open mind!

I had the amazing opportunity to travel on the Europe for Older Teens trip to Amsterdam, Munich, Switzerland, and Venice with TFT in the summer of 2018 and it was one of the best experiences I have ever had! My amazing counselors were so welcoming and inclusive to not only me, but all the campers. I was a little nervous to go on the trip at first, but after just one day on the trip I knew I made the right choice! TFT programs are great because the counselors give you that independence you want, while also keeping everyone safe! That trip was one I will never forget, the memories I made with awesome people is priceless. Thank you TFT!

My experience going on an adventure with Travel For Teens was incredible and unforgettable. Last summer, I went on the two week trip to Florence, Cinque Terre, Switzerland and Paris with Older Teens. My trip had a rough start, since I did not go on the group flight, and my flight missed a connection in Portugal. I was scared that I would be missing out on activities and that it would be difficult to make friends if I joined the trip after it started. It was such a relief when I finally arrived in Florence and was greeted by my counselor Mike at the airport. He made me feel comfortable right away. It turned out that multiple people on my trip had problems with flights and TFT was able to keep track of everyone and collect them one by one from the airport. Once I got over the sleep deprivation from the long overnight flight, all of my worries went away and I had the best time travelling around Europe with people from all over the country, none of whom I had met before yet all of whom I became friends with. From Italy to Switzerland to France, we saw all of the famous sites and tried all of the amazing food. Just a few of the memorable experiences included learning how to make delicious homemade pesto in Cinque Terre, sampling fondue in Interlaken, paragliding through the Alps, and climbing up the Eiffel Tower in Paris. I must have taken over two thousand pictures over the span of the trip, and I look at them all the time to keep the memories of the trip intact and to put a smile on my face. I had the best summer of my life, and I couldn’t have done it without TFT.

For all four years of high school, it was my dream to go on a Travel for Teens Trip. After begging my parents and working for a majority of my senior year, my parents allowed me to go on a trip right before I went off to college. I was so nervous leading up to it, as I had never been on a flight alone and I didn't know anyone else going on the trip, but as soon as I landed in JFK and met the people on my trip, my anxiety disappeared. I met some of my best friends on this trip that I still talk to on a daily basis months later even though we are across the country from each other. The itinerary that was planned enabled me to push myself out of my comfort zone and face my fears through things such as canyoning in the rivers Switzerland, paragliding over the Swiss Alps, and hiking through the trails through the cities of Cinque Terre. I am so thankful that I was able to go on a Travel for Teens trip as it not only prepared me to live on my own in college, but it made me so much more confident and sure of myself. I recommend going on a Travel for Teens trip to people of any age but especially older teens about to go off to college because it will change your life and make your transition to college much smoother and easier.

I have been so fortunate to experience two unbelievable TFT trips, including TFT Older Teens: Florence, Cinque Terre, Switzerland and Paris. I have visited destinations in Europe that were so beautiful that words cannot describe it. Through these trips I have gained many stories that I look forward to sharing, I have gained confidence in myself to be independent, and I have tasted food that can only be dreamt about. I was able to go paragliding through the Swiss Alps, go canyoning in Slovenia, island hopping in Croatia, visit the Louvre, and climb the Eiffel Tower. The opportunities that were provided through TFT were amazing and I would recommend any of their trips because you will have a once in a lifetime experience.

This trip was one of the best weeks of my life. The cities we visited were beautiful and the itinerary had a perfect balance of learning and adventure. There is a mix of activities from visiting museums, trying new foods, going paragliding, hiking, sight seeing, and the list goes on. There is a great amount of time to break off from the group (obviously within a certain area and are still close by to staff) and explore the city, eat, shop, and more. I created lifelong friends on this trip who I still stay in touch with. The staff is amazing; they are well trained, they know what they are doing, and are seen not only as staff but another friend made on the trip. They always make sure we are safe but still having fun. This trip is something I will never forget and is an amazing choice!

This was my second trip with Travel for Teens and I was just as amazed by this one! The councilors are so knowledgeable when it comes to travel and made everything so much easier, especially for teens leaving the country for the first time. It's always scary to travel without anyone you know, but the councilors make everyone so comfortable with each other and you end up leaving trips with lasting friendships. Through my TFT trip, I was able to see so many different parts of Europe that I never thought would be possible in one trip. I tried different foods from every culture and interacted with locals. On TFT trips, you see the major landmarks in each city, but also the smaller, locally loved hidden gems. I always come back from my TFT trips with too many incredible stories.

My trip with Travel for Teens to Amsterdam, Munich, Switzerland and Venice was one I’ll remember for my entire life. The people I meet and the places I saw were ones that will stay with me my entire life. From seeing the city of Amsterdam while floating down the canals to canyoning through the Swiss Alps, we saw beautiful sights in adventurous and fun ways. We strolled the streets of Venice and engaged ourselves in the Italian cuisine, and in Germany explored the Bavarian alps while bike riding. The program and counselors were supportive and knew what they were doing, and always made sure we were having fun and always in a good mood.

In July 2018, I was given the opportunity of a lifetime: to travel across Europe with amazing kids my age and outstanding councillors. This trip showed me beautiful parts of the world I longed to see since I was a little girl. Not only were the people, accommodations and food incredible, but also the activities. Like canyoning down a mountain side in the middle of the Swiss alps, paddle boating in the canals of Amsterdam and riding my bike on a beautiful trail just at the foot of the Neuschwanstein castle to a lake where we could swim to the middle and be facing the German hillside with 2 beautiful castles. Going on this trip, I can now tell my friends that I’ve traveled across Europe and I’m not even done high school yet. It was truly an incredible experience and I would totally recommend it for any teenagers aspiring to travel.

Traveling with Travel for Teens was one of the best experiences I’ve had. Our trip leaders were fun and really added to the trip by hosting games, keeping us up to date, and adapting the program to our needs. Amsterdam was my favorite city because of the culture, history, and arts. Germany was fun with biking around Munich and then going to tour Neuschwanstein Castle. One of the best parts of the trip was meeting new people and making new friends. This trip, hands down, was one of the best tips I’ve had to Europe.

I went on this trip July of 2017 and had the time of my life! I instantly made friends with everyone on the trip and that made the whole trip even more fun! Exploring new cultures and sites everyday, going shopping and trying unique foods, seeing historical landmarks and meeting new people, this trip was a dream! I highly recommend it. Go TFT!