A few years ago, my niece went on an educational trip through an organization called People To People. The group offers international travel opportunities to students, in order to “promote peace through understanding,” in the words of Dwight D. Eisenhower, who founded the program in 1956. She’s planning her 2nd trip with the group now. Her mother invited me to a parent meeting this month so that we could learn about it for our oldest daughter. I don’t think I’m quite ready to let her go off to Europe without me, but the group does give kids a great experience. Often, they get access to people and places that regular tourists can’t access, and of course, it’s educational!

My niece did her first trip with People To People the summer before she entered the 8th grade. Do you think you could send your child on a trip like this when they were still in middle school? That’s my biggest concern!