Consider a Journey to the United States: Should You Go?
In a notable change, several Canadian school districts are contemplating avoiding educational trips to the United States for the upcoming 2025-2026 school year. This decision, influenced by ongoing investigations or advisories affecting cross-border travel policies, has sparked a response from travel agencies who are now promoting and expanding trips within Canada.
Travel providers like Class Trotter and Intrepid Travel are emphasising Canada’s diverse and attractive landscapes as prime alternatives for educational trips. These destinations offer year-round activities, from winter sports to summer hiking and camping, making domestic travel a compelling option. Furthermore, they are highlighting partnerships with Indigenous communities and sustainability efforts to enrich the educational value of such trips.
The Centre de services scolaire de la Pointe-de-l'Île (CSSPI) in Montreal encourages schools to prioritise destinations within other Canadian provinces in the current political context. Similarly, the Centre de services scolaire des Patriotes (CSSP) on the South Shore of Montreal has asked school teams not to organise trips to the United States for the 2025-2026 school year, pending the evolution of the general political situation.
However, it is important to note that no official directive has been issued by any centre or the Quebec Ministry of Education regarding the prohibition of educational trips to the United States. The final decision on educational trips lies with the school councils, composed of school staff and parents.
The shift in demand for educational trips within Canada rather than the United States has not been without challenges. Stephan Mathieu, the general director of Class Trotter, has expressed regret over the "hype" surrounding cases of Canadian citizens detained by the U.S. immigration control agency (Immigration and Customs Enforcement, or ICE). Similarly, the Fédération autonome de l'enseignement (FAE) has invited its members to "seriously consider" the issue of student and teacher safety when planning trips to the United States due to the current context.
Melanie Laviolette, the president of the Fédération des comités de parents du Québec, argues that school trips south of the border often raise "moral questions" in the current context, due to an increase in intolerance towards certain groups such as racialized people, LGBTQ+ individuals, and transgender people.
Despite these challenges, travel agencies are adapting to meet the needs of schools within Canada. For instance, Class Trotter and Éducatours have adapted their services to accommodate the shift in demand, ensuring that school groups are well-prepared for their journeys within Canada. Vanessa Kingsland-Lavoie, marketing manager of Éducatours, states that school groups are often treated differently at borders, which facilitates their passage when they are well-organised and have the necessary consent forms and documents prepared in advance.
In response to this potential shift away from U.S. destinations, it appears that travel providers are pivoting to enhance and market Canadian destinations as safe, enriching alternatives for school travel in 2025-2026.
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