Family Programs | Lindblad Expeditions

Watch kids develop the attitudes, skills, and knowledge of an explorer.

Created in conjunction with National Geographic Education, this unique, hands-on program teaches kids and teens how to explore the natural world like scientists on every Galápagos, Alaska, Baja California, and on select Iceland and Antarctica itineraries. Young travelers can choose fun activities, from dropping a net on the side of a zodiac to collect plankton to recording wildlife sightings in their field notebook. Each learning opportunity is designed to help them see and do more.

Go with National Geographic certified field educators

Destinations like Alaska and the Galápagos hold infinite opportunities for young travelers to nurture new relationships with the natural world. Our certified field educators at the helm of the National Geographic Explorers-in-Training program are experts at interpreting the fascinating stories of species and their habitats so kids and teens can return home inspired to protect the planet. Educators are specifically trained to lead invigorating activities and to teach about specific plant and animal features like the scales on a fish or a giant coral head. Kids are also given creative flexibility to record their observations in their field notebook and tell stories about what they see and do through photos, videos, music, and drawings. In this program, mentors help drive them to lead the next generation of explorers.

Having direct access to a naturalist was a real bonus. We could ask questions whenever we wanted and I got to learn about what I was interested in.

Bridget Goldberg, National Geographic Global Explorer in Alaska

Wildlife Watching

Hop into a Zodiac, zip along the shore, and then hike in search of wildlife and strange and interesting plant life. Snap photos with your smartphone and jot notes in your official National Geographic Global Explorers Field Notebook.

Microscopic Exploration

Drop a net over the side of your Zodiac to collect plankton, then check it under a video microscope to see how it looks and moves.

Video Shoots

Meet your National Geographic Certified Photo Instructor in the lounge and get tips on how to create impressive slow-motion and timelapse videos, then test out those new skills in the field.

Check Your List

Meet up in the lounge to go over all the wildlife you saw and mark it down in your field notebook. Be sure to include creatures big and small—whether it’s a humpback whale in Alaska, or tiny krill in Antarctica. Add the day’s points to your tally so that you can keep track of your progress on becoming certified as a National Geographic Global Explorer.

New Friends and Fun Adventures

Meet up with your new friends for fun activities with your certified field educator. Depending on the day, it might be a pizza dinner, fun games in the lounge, a special National Geographic Explorers-in-Training hike, or other surprises.

Night Sky

Head to the top deck to watch the stars come out as the sun goes down. Find new constellations with the help of your naturalists and make notes of them.

I deeply believe that fostering positive interactions between youth and nature is the way to motivate future citizens in awareness and passion for stewardship.

Kimberly Baldwin, Certified Field Educator and Naturalist in Alaska

7 Amazing Activities for Kids in Antarctica

Although it can be overlooked as a family travel destination, Antarctica offers endless snowy—and unforgettable—fun. Here are some of the activities in store for kids and teens on an Antarctica expedition.

What to Expect: Expedition Cruising for Families

There’s a world of discovery in store for your family on an expedition. Each day is full of invigorating activities for all ages and abilities led by a group of experts. In our “What to Expect” series, we answer your top questions about expedition cruising for families.

Small Tracks, Big Impacts

When 9-year-old Sophie first visited the Galápagos islands, it left such an impression on her that she was inspired to raise money to support conservation efforts there—first with small fundraising efforts, and eventually by founding her own nonprofit organization.

5 Awesome Alaska Activities for Kids & Teens

Give your kids a breath of fresh Alaska! Our exclusive family program is the only one of its kind in Alaska travel. The National Geographic Explorers-in-Training program is designed to help kids and teens develop the attitudes, skills, and knowledge of an explorer. And most of all—it delivers glacier-sized fun! Here are just some of the amazing activities they can do on your memory-making family expedition.

Smart Fun in Magdalena Bay with Mika

Hi! I’m Mika (that’s pronounced M-eee-ka!) and I‘m 9 years old. A few months ago, my parents and I had the chance to visit a beautiful and wild place called Baja. We saw so many amazing things like whales breaching, dolphins playing in the water around our ship, and a sky filled with hundreds of sparkling stars.