Application deadline: February 26, 2014 | Apply Online

Announcing the launch of the Hilton Worldwide Teacher Treks Program 2014 for K-12 teachers! The Hilton Teacher Treks Program is meant to bring people together and foster greater understanding between the U.S. and other countries. For the 2014 year of the program, teachers will be asked to choose one of the following two tracks as a focus for their program—Teach Abroad or Travel Grant. The Institute of International Education (IIE) administers the Hilton Teacher Treks Program on behalf of Hilton Worldwide.

The Teacher Treks Program 'Teach Abroad' track was established to allow ESL/ELL teachers the opportunity to teach abroad for 2-3 weeks to provide educational workshops to Hilton employees in key emerging hotel markets. The purpose of Teach Abroad is to increase Hilton employees’ knowledge of American culture and customs in hotel markets that will see an influx of American tourists. Selected Teach Abroad awardees will be placed at a Hilton hotel for 2-3 weeks. 

The Hilton Teacher Treks 'Travel Grant' track was established to recognize teachers who build awareness of cultural diversity within the classroom and to provide an opportunity for them to further their commitment to acting as cultural curators and molding the future generation of travelers. Travel Grant awardees are offered the opportunity to go abroad for 2-3 weeks to travel, explore and experience culture firsthand. This option of the Teacher Treks Program is of the teacher’s design. 

Questions? Contact teachertreks@iie.org.

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Recently, Kottie Christie-Blick, alumna of the Fulbright Distinguished Awards in Teaching Program, sat down for an interview with Minda Berbeco, Policy Director of the National Center for Science Education (NCSE), to discuss how she approaches the subject of climate change in her 5th grade classroom. In the interview, Kottie emphasizes the importance of teaching climate change and empowering students by teaching them ways to help slow down climate change.

Her students, inspired by their lessons, contributed to an article written by Kottie, published on the NOAA’s Climate Steward website, which encourages adults to talk with children about climate change honestly and at an age-appropriate level. "Even very young children can begin learning that we need to take care of Planet Earth, even if they don't yet fully understand why," Kottie writes. In her article, she shares tips and ideas for how to talk to students, as well as sample essays written by her own students on climate change and environmental topics.

Kottie Christie-Blick traveled to South Africa in 2011-2012 as a participant of the Fulbright Distinguished Awards in Teaching Program. While in South Africa, she organized an international exchange of ideas between elementary students in South Africa and the United States. Together, the students studied and discussed ways they could take care of the environment via virtual methods such as blogs and Skype.

The Fulbright Distinguished Awards in Teaching Program is sponsored by the U.S. Department of State and administered by the Institute of International Education.

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Can't get your school on board with that field trip to Yosemite National Park? Use tech to get there instead. Here's how: bit.ly/1gBlbQv.

Check out this great list of 'virtual field trips' for your students - and then visit www.iie.org/hiltonteachertreks to see how YOU can take a trip abroad as part of the Hilton Worldwide Teacher Treks Program! 

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The Global Teacher Programs Division at IIE offers K-12 school districts a wide range of services to increase teachers’ global competence. These services include customized program design, training, internationalization of curricula and short-term professional development opportunities for teachers and staff to travel abroad throughout the year.

For more information email us at: tmackliff@iie.org.