I have the dual role as both a mom whose son went on the EF STEM Tour to London and as someone who also went on the trip with them. From both perspectives, this experience was amazing. It was a fast-paced, intense tour that was perfectly geared to its target audience -- high schoolers. Our hotel was phenomenal and in a fantastic location, right next to shopping and to a Tube station. The food selections were, on the whole, good, with decent variety. Preordering dinners for the full group was really the best way to make everything move quickly.
Our embedded tour director, Robbie Szabo, developed incredible rapport with the students and kept us all on time and on task. He was so knowledgeable and helpful -- I cannot say enough good things about him! The video he recorded for our group was a really nice touch that allowed us to share more of our experience with family and friends once we returned home.
From my son's perspective, he had an amazing time. He loved the hotel and its location. He said that even the educational activities (Forensic Workshop, Stonehenge building activity, etc.) felt like they were part of the tour, rather than just educational activities.
One thing we both agreed on was the segment at the National Museum of Computing was pretty boring and too long, and it cut short our exploration at Bletchley Park. He definitely would have preferred to have the option to spend more time on the WWII history there. Since they're on the same grounds, students should be given the chance to choose their preferred learning experience at that particular site.
Overall, I would highly recommend this tour for any high schooler mature enough to participate. As long as your child will follow directions and obey group rules, they can have an amazing experience, too. London feels very safe, and navigating the Underground was pretty easy to pick up, so they're unlikely to get too lost. This was a wonderful experience for my son and me, and I'm grateful I am able to share these memories with him.
