By Maureen Ewing

As a Girl Scout, you’ve grown curious about the world, eager to ask questions and challenge yourself with new experiences. As a Girl Scout traveler, you’ve honed important leadership skills like budgeting for a trip, money-earning to make it possible, and working together to plan a great itinerary. You’re an independent young woman who wants to see the world!

Some of the most fulfilling benefits of travel come from learning about new cultures and meeting new people. When you think about travel, you might think about vacation with your family, a troop trip, Girl Scout Destinations, or council-sponsored trips – trips that are often a week or two. Now, it’s time to think longer!

See the World While You Study!

When you spend a summer, semester, or year studying in another country, you will immerse yourself in a new culture, expanding our horizons while learning more about the country and cultures around you. Start daydreaming now about where you’d like to study!

In high school, some schools offer exchange opportunities through language departments. If your your school doesn’t offer them, there are many organizations and companies that offer opportunities for high school students, such as Rotary International and EF Tours. There are also scholarships available for travel through organizations like Hostelling International and ACIS. You might even consider doing some travel and volunteering before going to college through organizations like AIFS, Greenheart Travel or Cross Cultural Solutions.

Most people study abroad in college because there are more opportunities. When choosing a college and a course of study, do research about what study abroad and exchange programs are available. Most colleges and universities offer some type of study abroad, but each school differs as to what credits transfer and when you can go during your degree. If your school doesn’t offer programs that appeal to you, consider an organization like IES Abroad, which offers independent study abroad programs.

Dream It & Make It Happen

If you want to study abroad, you can make it happen; it just takes curiosity and motivation! You’re a Girl Scout – You’ve Got This! Start early by visiting the International Programs or Study Abroad office on your campus to see what programs you can attend.

Here are some things to consider as you daydream:

Once you start asking daydreaming, you’ll find it difficult to choose where to go. Travel is a lifelong adventure, and there’s always somewhere new to go!

There are scholarships and fellowships available to travel all over the world. You just need to do your research and stay organized! As we say in the Global Action Volunteer Team: Dream It, Plan It, Travel!

Maureen Ewing is a Lifetime Member of Girl Scouts with 12 years as a girl member and over 25 years as an adult volunteer. She currently serves on the Global Action Volunteer Team and is co-leading a Destination to India and the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts (WAGGGS) World Centre Sangam this summer. Maureen studied abroad for a full academic year at Nottingham University in the UK and did graduate studies at Rhodes University in South Africa, where she earned her Master’s Degree.

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Travel with Girl Scouts GCNWI!

If you are not headed off to college or university next school year, check out the GSGNCWI Travel page for information on how to plan a troop trip—where you can choose to go backpacking—or join a GSUSA Destination!

Future Senior and Ambassador Girl Scouts, if you want to try your hand at camping and experiencing another part of the world, apply for the Camping in the UK 2020 trip!