Program Directed by
John Ralston
If you have questions or would like to talk further about this program, please get in touch!
Leadership
Travel programs with the Smithsonian Institution for grades 8–12
Challenge yourself academically at the world's most prestigious universities
Non-profit organization offering student travel scholarships
High school youth summit focused on public health, climate change, and equity
Campus-based climate change program for grades 9–12
Travel to Germany and Sweden this summer and dive into the history of the automobile industry in these two influential countries, and witness how tech and automotive companies are propelling us into the electrified and autonomous future. Learn about automation and design with visits to Volkswagen, BMW, and Volvo factory headquarters, and see their current and future electric vehicles. Meet with experts and industry professionals in the worlds of electrified transport, charging systems, and autonomous driving; and explore careers related to engineering, automotive design, and urban planning.
This itinerary represents our best projection of the group’s schedule. However, we may implement changes designed to improve the quality of the program.
Meet your fellow high school student travelers and one or more of your program leaders in New York, and fly together to Berlin, Germany. To learn more about how we organize travel, click here.
Begin your program in Berlin, known for its vibrant art scene, diverse culinary offerings, and varied architecture. Get to know your peers and leaders with a group orientation, then dive into the history of the automotive industry in Germany, long a leader and innovator in this field and others related to tech and manufacturing. Visit a Berlin car museum and Deutsches Technikmuseum, then get out to meet and interview Berliners to get a sense of their views on automation. Meet with journalists covering the auto industry and with German policymakers working to adapt laws to this rapidly evolving technology.
While here, take time to visit important historic sites, reminders of the country’s turbulent history, and memorials for victims of the World Wars and the Holocaust. Trace the path of the Berlin Wall by bicycle, and experience the sights, smells, and sounds of the Turkish market at Maybachufer.
Spend a day exploring Wolfsburg, home to Volkswagen, and learn about the scandal that rocked the automotive industry. Chat with Germans who refer to Volkswagen’s slogan “Fahrvergnügen” (“driving enjoyment”) and question whether automated vehicles can offer that same enjoyment. Visit Volkswagen’s Autostadt—an amusement park-style museum dedicated to the auto giant. Learn about the history and future of Volkswagen, experience a racing simulator, and get a peek inside the factory.
Travel to nearby Dresden to visit Volkswagen's Transparent Factory, which is dedicated to the production of electric vehicles. Then venture out to explore the baroque urban landscape of Dresden’s Altstadt, rebuilt with magnificent spires, towers, and domes after WWII bombings.
Next, head south to Stuttgart, a manufacturing city home to both Mercedes-Benz and Porsche. Porsche is dedicated to designing electric vehicles and Mercedes-Benz is taking its highly advanced driver assistance systems to a new level in the race to create self-driving luxury cars. Visit the expansive and impressive museums of these two luxury giants and meet with members of the teams dedicated to bringing these brands into the future.
Travel to Munich, headquarters of one of Germany’s best-known automakers. Visit the BMW Museum and BMW World exhibition to learn more about the history of this iconic brand. Meet with professionals at a local startup who are developing solar-powered vehicles for the future. Spend an afternoon exploring the cobblestone streets of Bavarian Munich. Hear the bells chime at the Glockenspiel in Marienplatz and sample the traditional noontime meal of sausage and pretzel.
Fly to Gothenburg, Sweden, an up-and-coming tech hub and the home of Volvo. The company recently introduced cars with driver assistance technology—the first step in gaining public trust in autonomous vehicles. Meet with Volvo representatives to learn about their innovations and how they are promoting them to customers. Hear their approaches to legal and ethical concerns, and go behind the scenes on the factory floor. Meet with CEOs and industry professionals developing charging systems and autonomous vehicles. Ride an autonomous bus already on the streets of this university city. Continue your investigation of public opinion through conversations with locals on the street. Brainstorm ways that self-driving technology could be promoted in your own town.
Visit the Skansen Kronan, an old fortress perched on a hill offering spectacular views of the city. Sample fresh seafood at the fish market, take a day trip to the vehicle-free fishing islands of the archipelago, and attend outdoor summer concerts in the park. Present your project to your group and take a Tesla to the airport for your flight home.
Fly from Gothenburg, Sweden, to New York with your group and a leader, then continue on to your final destination. To learn more about how we organize travel, click here.
This itinerary represents our best projection of the group’s schedule. However, we may implement changes designed to improve the quality of the program.
Meet your fellow high school student travelers and one or more of your program leaders in New York, and fly together to Berlin, Germany. To learn more about how we organize travel, click here.
Begin your program in Berlin, known for its vibrant art scene, diverse culinary offerings, and varied architecture. Get to know your peers and leaders with a group orientation, then dive into the history of the automotive industry in Germany, long a leader and innovator in this field and others related to tech and manufacturing. Visit a Berlin car museum and Deutsches Technikmuseum, then get out to meet and interview Berliners to get a sense of their views on automation. Meet with journalists covering the auto industry and with German policymakers working to adapt laws to this rapidly evolving technology.
While here, take time to visit important historic sites, reminders of the country’s turbulent history, and memorials for victims of the World Wars and the Holocaust. Trace the path of the Berlin Wall by bicycle, and experience the sights, smells, and sounds of the Turkish market at Maybachufer.
Spend a day exploring Wolfsburg, home to Volkswagen, and learn about the scandal that rocked the automotive industry. Chat with Germans who refer to Volkswagen’s slogan “Fahrvergnügen” (“driving enjoyment”) and question whether automated vehicles can offer that same enjoyment. Visit Volkswagen’s Autostadt—an amusement park-style museum dedicated to the auto giant. Learn about the history and future of Volkswagen, experience a racing simulator, and get a peek inside the factory.
Travel to nearby Dresden to visit Volkswagen's Transparent Factory, which is dedicated to the production of electric vehicles. Then venture out to explore the baroque urban landscape of Dresden’s Altstadt, rebuilt with magnificent spires, towers, and domes after WWII bombings.
Next, head south to Stuttgart, a manufacturing city home to both Mercedes-Benz and Porsche. Porsche is dedicated to designing electric vehicles and Mercedes-Benz is taking its highly advanced driver assistance systems to a new level in the race to create self-driving luxury cars. Visit the expansive and impressive museums of these two luxury giants and meet with members of the teams dedicated to bringing these brands into the future.
Travel to Munich, headquarters of one of Germany’s best-known automakers. Visit the BMW Museum and BMW World exhibition to learn more about the history of this iconic brand. Meet with professionals at a local startup who are developing solar-powered vehicles for the future. Spend an afternoon exploring the cobblestone streets of Bavarian Munich. Hear the bells chime at the Glockenspiel in Marienplatz and sample the traditional noontime meal of sausage and pretzel.
Fly to Gothenburg, Sweden, an up-and-coming tech hub and the home of Volvo. The company recently introduced cars with driver assistance technology—the first step in gaining public trust in autonomous vehicles. Meet with Volvo representatives to learn about their innovations and how they are promoting them to customers. Hear their approaches to legal and ethical concerns, and go behind the scenes on the factory floor. Meet with CEOs and industry professionals developing charging systems and autonomous vehicles. Ride an autonomous bus already on the streets of this university city. Continue your investigation of public opinion through conversations with locals on the street. Brainstorm ways that self-driving technology could be promoted in your own town.
Visit the Skansen Kronan, an old fortress perched on a hill offering spectacular views of the city. Sample fresh seafood at the fish market, take a day trip to the vehicle-free fishing islands of the archipelago, and attend outdoor summer concerts in the park. Present your project to your group and take a Tesla to the airport for your flight home.
Fly from Gothenburg, Sweden, to New York with your group and a leader, then continue on to your final destination. To learn more about how we organize travel, click here.
Meet some of our featured leaders. Please note that these may not be your leaders for the program.
Meet some of our featured leaders. Please note that these may not be your leaders for the program.
Germany and Sweden are leading the way in incorporating technology into their public transportation framework. German cities feature e-vehicle ridesharing companies and autonomous buses. Sweden is second only to Norway in the number of electric vehicles sold, and has also deployed autonomous shipping pods. Germany is considered the top economy in Europe and one of the most competitive economies in the world. Sweden has a smaller economy but boasts greater economic freedom, and is also known for its social welfare system, quality of life, health and education systems, and income and gender equality.
German is the official language in Germany and Swedish is the official language of Sweden.
Daytime temperatures during the summer in Germany and Sweden typically range from 70–85°F ( 20–30°C), with occasional rainfall.
In addition to globally recognized dishes such as bratwurst, currywurst, and schnitzel, the culinary scene in Germany, and especially in Berlin, is a reflection of its large immigrant population, including Turkish foods like kebabs, flatbreads, and salads with yogurt dressing. Swedish cuisine features a hearty mix of meat and dairy products, as well as fresh vegetables, especially in the south of the country. Potatoes are common, as are many types of delicious breads.
Germany and Sweden are leading the way in incorporating technology into their public transportation framework. German cities feature e-vehicle ridesharing companies and autonomous buses. Sweden is second only to Norway in the number of electric vehicles sold, and has also deployed autonomous shipping pods. Germany is considered the top economy in Europe and one of the most competitive economies in the world. Sweden has a smaller economy but boasts greater economic freedom, and is also known for its social welfare system, quality of life, health and education systems, and income and gender equality.
German is the official language in Germany and Swedish is the official language of Sweden.
Daytime temperatures during the summer in Germany and Sweden typically range from 70–85°F ( 20–30°C), with occasional rainfall.
In addition to globally recognized dishes such as bratwurst, currywurst, and schnitzel, the culinary scene in Germany, and especially in Berlin, is a reflection of its large immigrant population, including Turkish foods like kebabs, flatbreads, and salads with yogurt dressing. Swedish cuisine features a hearty mix of meat and dairy products, as well as fresh vegetables, especially in the south of the country. Potatoes are common, as are many types of delicious breads.
Review specific program expectations here. For more general information:
Engineering, Design, & Automation • During your time in Germany and Sweden, you can expect to interact with engineers, artists, designers, urban planners, and policymakers, as you explore the future of cars. This program provides students with opportunities to work alongside individuals who have dedicated their lives to innovation in the automotive industry. Hands-on experiences, such as design workshops, interviews with engineers, and factory tours enable students to learn more about potential career paths connected to cars, design, and innovation.
Proficiency in German and Swedish is not required. However, if you study either language in school you will have opportunities to practice while communicating with local people. English is used in all the offices, factories, and laboratories we visit, and previous language study is not required. Students who do not speak these languages will equally enjoy their experience and learn some basic phrases and vocabulary.
Pursue an independent project and explore an aspect of the automotive industry of particular interest to you—become an expert on the state of automation, design a mock-up of your own vehicle, or map out the changes necessary to bring electric or autonomous vehicles to your hometown.
This is an active summer travel program. You can expect to spend time walking and cycling as you explore cities in both Germany and Sweden. You do not need to be at peak fitness to participate, but it is important that you have a desire to be physically active, and that you are excited about trying all activities.
Rooms are separated by gender and leaders stay in the same residences as the students throughout the program. We stay in a mix of small and large family-run hotels throughout the program, and rooms vary throughout the itinerary. In some destinations we stay in rooms that are dormitory-style (larger rooms separated by gender, with a shared bathroom), while in other destinations we stay in double rooms with private baths.
We eat breakfast in our accommodations or at restaurants while out. A typical breakfast might include bread with butter and jam or honey, muesli with yogurt and fruit, eggs, and sliced meats and cheeses. Lunches are either eaten in restaurants or picnic-style on the go. Dinners are eaten out at restaurants. Students can choose from a variety of local specialties, including items like schnitzel, currywurst, fischbrotchen and knäckebröd. All dietary needs and restrictions can be accommodated.
Review specific program expectations here. For more general information:
Engineering, Design, & Automation • During your time in Germany and Sweden, you can expect to interact with engineers, artists, designers, urban planners, and policymakers, as you explore the future of cars. This program provides students with opportunities to work alongside individuals who have dedicated their lives to innovation in the automotive industry. Hands-on experiences, such as design workshops, interviews with engineers, and factory tours enable students to learn more about potential career paths connected to cars, design, and innovation.
Proficiency in German and Swedish is not required. However, if you study either language in school you will have opportunities to practice while communicating with local people. English is used in all the offices, factories, and laboratories we visit, and previous language study is not required. Students who do not speak these languages will equally enjoy their experience and learn some basic phrases and vocabulary.
Pursue an independent project and explore an aspect of the automotive industry of particular interest to you—become an expert on the state of automation, design a mock-up of your own vehicle, or map out the changes necessary to bring electric or autonomous vehicles to your hometown.
This is an active summer travel program. You can expect to spend time walking and cycling as you explore cities in both Germany and Sweden. You do not need to be at peak fitness to participate, but it is important that you have a desire to be physically active, and that you are excited about trying all activities.
Rooms are separated by gender and leaders stay in the same residences as the students throughout the program. We stay in a mix of small and large family-run hotels throughout the program, and rooms vary throughout the itinerary. In some destinations we stay in rooms that are dormitory-style (larger rooms separated by gender, with a shared bathroom), while in other destinations we stay in double rooms with private baths.
We eat breakfast in our accommodations or at restaurants while out. A typical breakfast might include bread with butter and jam or honey, muesli with yogurt and fruit, eggs, and sliced meats and cheeses. Lunches are either eaten in restaurants or picnic-style on the go. Dinners are eaten out at restaurants. Students can choose from a variety of local specialties, including items like schnitzel, currywurst, fischbrotchen and knäckebröd. All dietary needs and restrictions can be accommodated.
If you have questions or would like to talk further about this program, please get in touch!
If you have questions or would like to talk further about this program, please get in touch!
Providing immersive summer travel programs for middle & high school students since 1951.