Photos from etr educational travel's post

Earlier this month, students on an etr exploration of Tokyo enjoyed a session of traditional Japanese drumming, or taiko, under the tutelage of professional musicians. Literally, taiko means "fat drum," and when hit hard with the bachi (drum stick), taiko can produce sounds exceeding 130 decibels, a sound level that is equivalent with jet airplanes. Outside, such sounds can be heard over a distance of several kilometers which is why one of the early uses of taiko was as a battlefield instrument used to frighten and intimidate the enemy. That aside, recent scientific research has shown that pounding away on a taiko can be mentally refreshing and also helps to energize the brain. All we know is that the visiting students consider our taiko lesson to be one cool activity. Want to learn more about etr's student travel in Japan, just drop us a line

Timeline Photos

While on a hike this past Saturday, etr Director Greg Godar telephoned in this image of the 12th century Savoyard castle, the Château d’Aigle, situated some 40 kilometers southeast of etr’s HQ in Lausanne, Switzerland. Because its location provides an extended view across the Rhône valley, the turreted castle has been a strategic military bastion, a governmental residence as well as a prison over its 800 year history. Today the Château d’Aigle is a Swiss heritage site of national significance and houses an interactive museum of local wine production as well as providing a great photo op.

Photos from etr educational travel's post

Berlin is one of etr’s more exciting urban adventure destinations. Educational themes include components of both WW2 and the Cold War. But we don't forget that Berlin is also a mega hub for Europe’s exciting contemporary art scene and visiting middle school students on a Berlin program last week had the opportunity to express themselves (and have fun) with a graffiti workshop led by a talented local artist. Take a look!

Timeline Photos

With the holiday season upon us, we here at etr educational travel would like to extend this greeting as a gesture of recognition and sincere thanks for your continued confidence and loyalty. To all our friends around the globe, we wish you and yours all the best for a wonderful holiday season and a happy new year!

Photos from etr educational travel's post

Photos just sent in from one of our groups delving into the art of Japanese ceramics in Mashiko. Under the tutelage of one of Japan’s most successful ceramic artisans, these 20 students from Singapore profited from the extensive studio sessions to acquire skills and techniques in such a beautiful and refined traditional art. We can’t wait to see the results! etr offers our hands-on ceramics programs in Mashiko year round and it includes two days in exciting Tokyo. However, as each etr program is custom designed, just drop us a line as we can build a program to suit your requirements.

Photos from etr educational travel's post

It’s a great Friday here at etr’s headquarters in Lausanne. We’ve had two groups confirm explorations of Beijing, Xi’an and Shanghai for later in the year. These student trips will delve into the ancient as well as more contemporary aspects of Chinese history, art and culture and, of course, are great personal growth experiences. One highlight of any Beijing program is the hike along the Great Wall at the less visited section at Mutianyu. Yes, Mutianyu is a bit further from the center of Beijing than the heavily touristic section at Badaling, but as the tinted photos indicate, Mutianyu provides a more rewarding experience. Take a look! From all of us at etr, wishing you a great weekend!

How far and wide is the etr list of student destinations? Well, from San Francisco in the west to Tokyo in the east and from Moscow in the north to Cape Point in the south…and all the exciting student destinations in between. In fact, just this week etr groups can be found in Berlin, Hanoi, London, the Kalahari, Crete, Vienna, Tokyo, Avignon and the Kruger National Park of South Africa. And next week we get really busy. If you want to learn more about how etr can assist you with your next student trip, just drop us a line. Look forward to hearing from you.