THE PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITY OF A LIFETIME
The Grosvenor Teacher Fellowship (GTF) is a professional development opportunity for pre-K–12 educators made possible through a collaboration between Lindblad Expeditions and the National Geographic Society. Through a comprehensive application process, we select exemplary educators to host aboard Lindblad Expeditions’ voyages for a life-changing, field-based experience. Grosvenor Teacher Fellows transfer their onboard experience into transformative ways to teach students, engage colleagues, and bring new geographic awareness into their learning environments and communities.
Fellows also take on a two-year ambassador commitment to support National Geographic’s education initiatives. Throughout their commitment, Fellows may be asked to conduct webinars, co-design resources, participate in meetups, collaborate with our Explorer-led programs, and serve as mentors to other educators.
The fellowship was founded by Sven-Olof Lindblad in honor of Gilbert M. Grosvenor, chairman emeritus, National Geographic Society, in recognition of his decades-long work supporting pre-K–12 educators and promoting geography education across the United States and Canada.
EXPLORE 2024 EXPEDITION REGIONS
GALAPAGOS: A Galapagos Sea Lion (Zalophus wollebaeki) at San Cristobal Island, Galapagos Islands National Park, Ecuador.
EUROPE & BRITISH ISLES: Fair Isle lies between Orkney and Shetland in the North Sea.
EGYPT: Pyramids of Giza.
COSTA RICA, PANAMA & COLOMBIA: Get up close to explore diverse habitats — from mangrove-lined beaches to islands — on Zodiac forays from our expedition ship.
ARCTIC: Puffin on the rocks at latrabjarg Iceland on a sunny day.
ANTARCTICA: The Lindblad Expeditions ship National Geographic Explorer at anchor off Peggotty Bluff, South Georgia, South Atlantic Ocean.
ALASKA: Brown bear sightings are common on our Alaska expeditions, and we often see them hunting and playing.
2024 EXPEDITION ITINERARIES
CASE STUDIES
Watch three educators highlight their Grosvenor Teacher Fellow experience.
Nichole Berg (née Von Haden)
2014 Grosvenor Teacher Fellow
Antarctic Expedition
Since becoming a Grosvenor Teacher Fellow in 2014, Nichole Berg (née Von Haden) has moved from her bilingual middle school classroom in Madison, Wisconsin, to become the climate change and climate justice programs manager with Portland Public Schools in Portland, Oregon. The Grosvenor Teacher Fellowship enhanced Nichole’s passion for multilingual education, integrated curriculum, and polar studies, and she is excited to create curriculum that embeds climate change and justice into K-12 science and social studies instructional units by incorporating the inclusion of student and community voices into the process.
Coleman Eaton III
2012 Grosvenor Teacher Fellow
Arctic Expedition
Coleman is a physical science teacher at Inman Middle School in Atlanta, Georgia. Working with students from a variety of cultural backgrounds as well as different academic levels motivates Coleman to move toward his goal of creating more opportunities for his students to seek meaningful careers. Coleman’s dream is to create a school that allows students to be well prepared for life through learning trades, gaining certifications, and creating paths to success and ownership. He volunteers with students outside of school and works with mentoring programs to change the narrative of young black men in society. As a 2012 Grosvenor Teacher Fellow, he traveled to Svalbard, Norway, for the Land of Bears Expedition. He used his time in the Arctic to connect with nature and the experiences he had there to connect with the community back home. In 2019, he was selected to travel to the Galápagos Islands as a Grosvenor Teacher Fellow Alumnus. He plans to inspire more students than he did before. From the Arctic to the Equator, the privilege of being a Fellow has connected Coleman to nature, his students, community, and the call to serve others.
Karuna Skariah
2016 Grosvenor Teacher Fellow
Galápagos Expedition
Karuna Skariah, a National Board–certified teacher originally from Nepal, is a Montessori and gifted program coordinator at Robert Goddard Montessori pre-K–8 School, Prince George’s County Public Schools (PGCPS), Maryland. She is also a mentor teacher for the National Board Teaching Certification, PGCPS. Karuna holds a master’s degree from Johns Hopkins University, and bachelor’s degrees in sociology, anthropology, English literature, and economics. She was a finalist for the Prince George’s County Public Schools Teacher of the Year in 2017, and had the opportunity, in 2016, to accompany the U.S. Secretary of Education John King’s U.S. delegation to the International Summit on the Teaching Profession in Berlin, Germany. The National Geographic Educator Certification and Grosvenor Teacher Fellowship have enhanced Karuna’s teaching practice by connecting both teachers and students to geographic inquiry and global education. She currently teaches a multidisciplinary gifted curricula focused on real-world application. Karuna believes that every child has the potential to make a positive difference in this world, it’s just a matter of helping the child tap into this internal source by transforming them into a fearless learner.
OUR ORGANIZATIONS
The National Geographic Society uses the power of science, exploration, education and storytelling to illuminate and protect the wonder of our world. We’ve developed the Explorer Mindset Learning Framework to inspire pre K-12 learners through, a competency-based framework that outlines the unique Attitudes, Skills, and Knowledge (ASK) that Explorers embody. We also offer best-in-class resources, experiences, and programs that teach students about the world and how it works, empowering them to succeed and make it a better place. We educate by sparking curiosity, imparting knowledge through storytelling, and empowering action. We inspire the next generation of global citizens to discover the world’s past, celebrate its present, and protect its future.
ABOUT LINDBLAD EXPEDITIONS
Lindblad Expeditions is a pioneer and global leader in journeys of deep discovery, providing immersive and authentic ship expeditions to the world’s most remarkable destinations. Lindblad offers 100% carbon neutral trips that highlight nature, preserve culture and support local communities and artisans. In partnership with National Geographic, Lindblad delivers unmatched expertise, bringing together leading scientists, naturalists and researchers to inspire travelers, highlighting moments that elevate the soul, fostering a lifelong passion for the planet and its people.
BECOME A FELLOW
The application for the Grosvenor Teacher Fellowship is live now. You may now submit your application online to be considered for the 2024 cohort. Applications must be received in our online system by January 7, 2024, at 11:59 pm Eastern.
Selected applicants will be notified in February 2024 of the selection panel’s decision. If you are selected, you will receive a phone call from a Grosvenor Teacher Fellowship staff member.
HOW TO APPLY
Fellows are expected to be active and engaged members of the Grosvenor Teacher Fellowship over the course of the expedition year and the year following. This includes participating in a preparatory workshop as well as periodic virtual meetups. Fellows are also expected to serve as ambassadors of the Grosvenor Teacher Fellowship in all professional settings.
In addition, throughout the course of the program year, Fellows are required to submit a number of professional development deliverables to National Geographic. Deliverables include goal setting, outreach and classroom action plans, media and data collection, ongoing surveys, outreach presentation(s), and outreach documentation. Fellows will receive detailed information about all required deliverables after their selection into the program is confirmed. All required deliverables are intended to help educators incorporate their field-based experience into their teaching practice and share it with their professional and community networks.
- The Grosvenor Teacher Fellowship is a professional development opportunity for current pre-K–12 classroom teachers and informal educators from and based in the 50 U.S. states, Canada, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and Department of Defense Activity schools.
- Applicants must have a proven dedication to geographic education in their teaching field and show promise of continued active engagement in the future.
- Applicants must have plans to return to a classroom or teaching environment the year following their assigned expedition and demonstrate the ability to incorporate what they learn into their teaching.
- Past Grosvenor Teacher Fellows are ineligible to apply again.
The goals of the Grosvenor Teacher Fellowship are for educators to
- Gain firsthand experiences and knowledge of the interconnectedness of the human and natural world.
- Integrate their experiences as Grosvenor Teacher Fellows into their teaching in an effort to create more globally minded students who are empowered to take action.
- Grow as leaders and ambassadors.
HAVE A QUESTION?
The National Geographic Education team is here to help!
A PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN
SPONSORED BY
A generous donation from Suzanne P. Smith
IN COLLABORATION WITH
PHOTOGRAPHS COURTESY OF LINDBLAD EXPEDITIONS