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Key people at Where There Be Dragons.
Where There Be Dragons delivers immersive, experiential travel and education programs focused on cultural engagement and personal growth. These programs enable students to develop leadership and real-world skills through direct interaction with communities across Asia, Africa, and Latin America, often qualifying for college credit. The organization prioritizes deep cultural insights over conventional tourism.
Joshua Morris founded Where There Be Dragons in 1993, aiming to provide a substantive alternative to traditional travel. His foundational insight centered on rigorous, authentic explorations that pushed participants beyond comfort zones. This pedagogical approach fostered significant personal development and a nuanced understanding of global cultures.
The programs cater to high school, gap year, and college study abroad students seeking transformative educational experiences. Where There Be Dragons envisions a future where individuals explore beyond perceived boundaries, cultivating profound connections with the wider world. The company is dedicated to facilitating responsible and impactful global education.
Where There Be Dragons (WTBD) is a Boulder-based educational travel company founded in 1993, specializing in immersive, experiential programs for high school, college, and adult participants, primarily aged 15-22.[1][2][4] It offers gap year, summer abroad, and custom experiences in regions like Asia, Latin America, Africa, and the USA, emphasizing cultural immersion through homestays, trekking, language learning, and apprenticeships with locals to build skills in global citizenship, self-awareness, and environmental stewardship.[1][3][5] The company's mission centers on fostering meaningful connections, confronting power dynamics, amplifying marginalized voices, and promoting sustainable, reciprocal community relationships via "travel like locals" rather than tourism.[2][3][6]
With 30 full-time employees and 120 global contractors, WTBD partners with educational institutions and corporations, delivering hands-on programs that ignite curiosity and personal transformation in uncharted cultural territories.[1][4]
Where There Be Dragons was established in 1993 by visionary educators passionate about cross-cultural experiential learning, starting with programs targeting remote areas like China—where ancient maps marked "unexplored territory" with dragons, symbolizing opportunities for inner discovery.[1][2] The name reflects this ethos of venturing into the unfamiliar for personal growth.[1]
Headquartered in Boulder, Colorado, the company expanded westward, opening a Santa Cruz office to proximity to Bay Area partners, led by operations head Aaron, who oversees global programs.[1][4] Key milestones include international recognition (e.g., Malia Obama's participation in a Bolivia-Peru trip) and collaborations like University of Colorado capstone projects on environmental curriculum and B Corp certification efforts.[4] Over 30+ years, it evolved from niche expeditions to comprehensive offerings for diverse ages, maintaining a focus on real, adaptable immersion amid changing global landscapes.[3][5][6]
While not a tech firm, Where There Be Dragons rides the edtech and experiential learning wave, amplified by digital platforms enabling virtual scouting and post-trip advocacy tools amid rising demand for gap years and cultural fluency in a globalized, post-pandemic world.[5][6] Timing aligns with youth seeking purpose-driven alternatives to traditional college paths, fueled by climate awareness and social justice movements—WTBD's environmental modules and marginalized voice amplification tap these forces.[3][4]
It influences the ecosystem by partnering with universities (e.g., CU Boulder), shaping curricula on resiliency and justice, and inspiring a "traveler not tourist" mindset that complements tech-driven remote work trends, fostering resilient global citizens.[1][4]
WTBD is poised to expand hybrid/virtual-physical programs, leveraging 30+ years of expertise to meet demands for accessible immersion amid geopolitical shifts and climate challenges.[3][4] Trends like AI-enhanced personalization and corporate wellness travel will shape its path, potentially growing institutional partnerships and B Corp impact.[1][4] Its influence may evolve toward broader advocacy training, empowering alumni as change-makers—reinforcing the dragon-map ethos: exploring uncharted territories builds transformative leaders.[1][2]
Key people at Where There Be Dragons.
