25 Jan 2021
Following its successful partnership in the first lockdown, luxury tour operator Original Travel and leading London-based mentoring firm Oppidan Education have teamed up again to create ten new online learning modules, this time focusing on some of the most popular February half-term destinations.
Just as Joe Wicks has dusted off his lycra, Original Travel and Oppidan Education are once again bringing their support to families during lockdown by joining forces and bringing the world to children virtually, until they can visit again in real life.
The digital backpacking adventures are live, interactive online modules aimed at children aged 8-16 and will be a fantastic resource for parents trying to home-school (again). They have been designed by Oppidan Education, a firm changing the rules of online learning and mentorship, in association with Original Travel, an award-winning expert in family holidays and firm believers in the educational benefits of travel, so are guaranteed to keep the children busy and entertained.
The 10 Digital Backpacking modules include those destinations that many families would ordinarily be visiting in February half-term, including:
- Norway and its Fjordland scenery
- Swedish Lapland and the magical Northern Lights
- Iceland's technicolour landscape of dazzling white glaciers, black sand beaches and the famous blue lagoon
- Montenegro, set to be a must-visit country when travelling restarts
- The winter wonderland of Sweden
- The culture and history of Amsterdam
- Switzerland, home to so much more than skiing
- Portugal's charming countryside
- The majestic Dolomites
- The perennial family favourite whatever the season: Japan
Tom Barber, Co-Founder and Director of Original Travel says: 'While families can't enjoy a February half-term break this year, these modules are the next best thing to keep children's wanderlust and curiosity in the world alive. When I did the modules last time with my own children, they were something we could both enjoy and something we really bonded over.'
George Barber, aged 10 says: 'Last time, after we finished on Zoom, we carried on learning about the country at home. I chose Mexico and we made guacamole, designed Day of the Dead masks and did some paintings like Frida Kahlo. I hope we do that again.'
Walter Kerr, Co-founder and Director of Oppidan Education says: 'Although we're all of course dying to get back travelling again, the virtual modules are a great way of understanding the places we'll all be able to visit soon. Off the back of a successful first (virtual) adventure in April, we're looking forward to getting grips to the countries on offer in this digital holiday!”
The modules will run kick off at 10am on Monday 15th February with two hourly sessions a day (10am and 4pm) throughout the half-term week. Delivered via Zoom, they are live and interactive and run by professional mentors who are each specialists in their respective fields. The one hour modules cost £20 each and you can book individual sessions or the whole week's course by visiting here: oppidaneducation.com. For more information, visit originaltravel.co.uk/blog/virtual-travel-february-half-term
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For more information contact press@originaltravel.co.uk
020 3582 4990
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Notes to Editors:
Original Travel curates customised itineraries, crafted by destination experts to 77 countries worldwide from Anguilla to Zimbabwe. Since its launch in 2003, it has created 50,000 itineraries, each unique and adhering to the company ethos that “Life is in the Detail”.
In response to the Covid-19 pandemic, Original Travel launched a flexible pledge that allows clients to change their dates or destination up to 30 days prior to departure. The promise applies to all bookings made before 31st March 2021 and allows clients to swap to a different destination or postpone their trip to any date until the end of 2021, without incurring any fees. Should a client not know where they would like to defer their trip to, funds will be held as credit for a future trip with a departure date on or before 31st December 2021. The new trip must be confirmed before 31st January 2021. Should Original Travel be unable to fulfil a booking due to FCDO changes in travel restrictions, the luxury tour operator will postpone the trip - again at no charge - to any departure date until the end of 2021, offer credit against any future departure or refund all monies paid. Original Travel is an Introducer Appointed Representative of Campbell Irvine Ltd, who are authorised by the Financial Conduct Authority and who now offer a brand new travel insurance policy that includes cover for cancellation or curtailment of a trip due to contracting coronavirus, or through being quarantined or refused permission to travel due to infection or suspected infection. Full details can be found on a new section on Original Travel's website, entitled 'Coronavirus Confidence'.
Original Travel also has its own specialist dive division. Original Diving is the world's only luxury dive travel outfit and is staffed by a team that includes 1 dive instructor, 5 dive masters and a marine biologist. Having completed more than 3,000 dives in over 50 countries, equating to over 100 years' collective diving experience, the team pride themselves on their unparalleled expertise and knowledge of the best dive destinations across the globe.
Original Travel clients enjoy a wealth of additional services they wouldn't find with any other UK tour operator, including:
- Access to a network of 70-plus Concierges who live locally, know their destinations inside and out and are extremely well-connected. They lend fantastic ground support, offering insider recommendations, facilitating any last-minute changes andtroubleshooting
- A brace of additional services designed to make departure easier than ever. Every Original Travel client, regardless of whether they're off on along-weekendto Seville, or a multi-destination sabbatical, will enjoy UK airport meet and greet, fast track UK check-in, fast track UK security*, lounge access and pre-booked flight seats. There are also upgrade options to include: a luggage transfer service from your home to the airport; fast track check-in and security and lounge access on your flight home; fast track through immigration on your return to the UK.
- The knowledge that not only will Original Travel offset the carbon footprint of their international flights, but also - in an industry-first - car-hire and other flights (even if booked independently).
- The knowledge that they are contributing to Our Foundation, which supports nearly 100 humanitarian projects in 30 developing countries. To date, nearly £800,000 has been invested to support five key areas: child protection, vocational training, economic development assistance, preservation of cultural and natural heritage and safeguarding the lifestyles of indigenous peoples
Oppidan Education was founded in 2016 with the aim of disrupting an overcrowded private tuition market. We now support thousands of children through one-to-one mentoring programmes privately and in schools around the world. Mentoring places personal development at the heart of any education. It's simple – we all need a mentor.
Oppidan has now grown to a team of 200 inspiring mentors; a network of game changers who dedicate themselves to positive growth in each of their mentees across 3,000 families in the UK. The work Oppidan does helps children fulfil their potential, affirming their belief that the attainment of better grades exists only as a by-product of positive wellbeing. The elevation of children's mental health should be a central focus of their education experience.
Oppidan has just launched an online curriculum of Brain Labs, live workshops for children at home delivered by our mentors - journalists, authors, comedians, musicians, artists and entrepreneurs for ages 8-18.
Oppidan was voted as a Top 5 Graduate Employer in 2019, a multiple category finalist in 2018 & 2019 Education Investor's Business of the Year Awards and most recently, Henry and Walter were nominated as social entrepreneurs for the Forbes 30under30 class of 2020.
We believe wholeheartedly in the role of a mentor in a child's development. Self-worth, confidence and inner motivation form the core objectives behind our ethos that goes beyond the prescriptive confines of exam preparation. Having people who make it their priority to nurture children and keep them grounded is of huge value in an increasingly uncertain world for the younger generation.
