Educational Travel Programs

In addition to programs and events with the faculty, Associates and members of the President’s Circle are given the opportunity to travel with Caltech’s world-renowned researchers. These faculty leaders design tours to showcase the unique aspects of the particular travel location and thus share their expertise with the group. While traveling, participants are often given special tours and access to places the general public rarely sees.

These travel programs provide an opportunity for Associates members to foster relationships with Caltech’s faculty as well as with like-minded individuals (alumni and friends of the Institute) who are interested in learning about the world.

Programs range in length depending on the destination. Field trips and one-day outings to various sites, such as Palomar Observatory, the Kerckhoff Marine Laboratory, and the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, are offered to all Associates. They also receive invitations to participate in short excursions to places such as the Keck Observatory in Hawaii, Death Valley, and Palm Springs.

Members of the President’s Circle have the opportunity to participate in International Travel Programs led by Caltech faculty. The President's Circle members have journeyed to all seven continents and have recently been to Antarctica, Ireland, Italy, Hungary, Scotland, and the Dalmatian Coast. These expeditions have integrated Caltech research with the culture and history of each destination.

The Associates have also traveled with their children and grandchildren on trips, such as white-water rafting through the Grand Canyon and an eye-opening journey to the Galapagos Islands. These Family Travel Programs allow families to travel together while they participate in a unique educational adventure.

Upcoming Travel Programs

October 6-13, 2010
Berlin & Dresden
with optional post-trip to Prague from
October 13-17, 2009
With Dr. Mordechai Feingold, Professor of History
President’s Circle Trip
Berlin & Dresden Itinerary

Recent Travel Programs

June 19-28, 2009
The Norman Conquest of England -
York, Rye, and Normandy
with optional pre-trip to London from
June 16-19, 2009
With Dr. Warren Brown, Associate Professor of History
Norman Conquest Brochure

April 25-26, 2009
Palomar Observatory and overnight at the South Coast Winery, Resort and Spa in Temecula
with Dr. Michael Brown, Richard and Barbara Rosenberg Professor and professor of planetary astronomy
Palomar Observatory Itinerary and Information
                                           Photographs from the trip

October 11-19, 2008
Paris, Burgundy and Lyon
With Dr. Jean-Lou Chameau, a native of France and the eighth president of Caltech, and his wife, Dr. Carol Carmichael, a faculty associate in engineering and applied sciences.
President's Circle Trip
France Brochure


October 14-21, 2007
Siena and Tuscany
With post-trip extension to Florence
October 21-24, 2007
With John Brewer, the Eli and Edye Broad Professor of Humanities and Social Sciences.
President's Circle Trip
Siena and Tuscany Trip Brochure
Photographs from the trip

June 10-24, 2006
Scotland
With Dr. Anneila Sargent, the Benjamin M. Rosen Professor of Astronomy, and director of the Owens Valley Radio Observatory (OVRO) and the Combined Array for Research in Millimeter-wave Astronomy (CARMA).
President's Circle Trip
Scotland Trip Brochure