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Published: Thursday, 03 May 2018 03:39

WASHINGTON, D.C., May 2, 2018 – Twenty-seven students and four chaperones from the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Washington, D.C., participated in the 2018 SYTA Youth Foundation (SYF) Next Generation Program at SeaWorld Orlando and Busch Gardens Tampa in April.

Through the Next Generation Program, in partnership with SeaWorld Parks & Entertainments, the youth participated in interactive and innovative learning experiences, working hand-in-hand with the parks’ animal caregivers and learned firsthand how to take care of animals. The students also learned about conservation programs and how their behavior and actions can impact wildlife and their environment.

It was four days that the students will never forget. The trip included a three-night experience with educational programming provided by SeaWorld Orlando, Busch Gardens Tampa, and topped off with leadership and team building lessons with Norm Hull.

The students that participated were selected based on their demonstrated desire and excitement to attend, as well as staff recommendations of who would benefit the most from the experience. One student described her experience as enlightening. “I want to be a neonatal nurse, so I would have to receive a degree in biology. I learned that with the same degree I could be a zoologist. I am contemplating a career with animals now.”

The Next Generation Program is part of SYF’s mission is to impact the lives of youth and students who would otherwise not have the resources to participate in those enriching and life-changing opportunities. SYF ensures young people have access to travel opportunities that would otherwise be unavailable due to family economic hardship, budget cuts in school systems or simply lack of access to or education about travel as a learning experience.

A special thank you to the SYTA Youth Foundation Program Partners who help cover all the costs that make this trip possible for the youth: SeaWorld Parks & Entertainments, The Air Travel Group, Battle's Transportation, BookMyGroup, Holiday Inn Express & Suites Orlando at SeaWorld, Holiday Inn & Suites - Tampa North Busch Gardens, Linda McCue Productions, Mears Transportation, M5digital Technologies, LLC, Norm Hull & Associates, Pegasus Bus and Potbelly Sandwich Shop and the SYTA Youth Foundation Wingmen.

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The SYTA Youth Foundation (SYF), the philanthropic division of the Student & Youth Travel Association (SYTA), provides access to travel opportunities for young people that would otherwise be unavailable due to family economic hardship, budget cuts in school systems or simply lack of access to or education about travel as a learning experience. The SYTA Youth Foundation is focused on changing young lives through travel.  www.sytayouthfoundation.org

SYTA is the non-profit, professional trade association that promotes student and youth group travel. It seeks to foster integrity and professionalism among student and youth travel service providers. SYTA members play an important role in facilitating both domestic mobility and international incoming and outgoing mobility worldwide. As the voice of student and youth travel, SYTA represents the interests of leading U.S., Canadian and international travel agencies, tour operators, attractions, destinations, educators and suppliers. www.syta.org