2026 Colorado Academy UK Explorers Program

Accommodations

Copthorne Tara Hotel London Kensington

This hotel is located within a 3-minute walk from Kensington High Street and within easy reach from the shops and restaurants of Knightsbridge and Notting Hill. Rooms here feature TVs and in-room safes. All are en-suite and feature coffee and tea making facilities. Free WiFi is available in all areas. The hotel has a restaurant, a cafe, include, a conference centre and a fitness room. Students will be grouped in their rooms according to gender.

Learn More

Yotel Edinburgh

Located just minutes from Edinburgh’s most important sites, Yotel offers the perfect location for our group to discover the city on foot. All rooms come with central heat and air conditioning, as well as high speed wifi.

Learn More

Group Flight

Once your flight schedule has been confirmed, the itinerary will appear here.

Walking Tree will secure a seat on the group flight for each participant unless otherwise instructed.

Travelers are responsible for checked baggage fees. Please visit the airline’s baggage webpage to learn if you should expect to pay anything.

We will provide a group manifest – complete with reservation codes and ticket numbers – to the Group Organizer/s before departure, and travelers will need to check in at the airport in order to receive their boarding pass and have documents verified. We recommend arriving no later than three hours prior to the scheduled departure, but contact your Group Organizer for specific details on exactly where and when to meet on the day of departure.

FLIGHT INTERRUPTION, DELAY OR CANCELLATION 
Air travel can be unpredictable.  Regardless of proper planning, there may still be instances when a flight is delayed or cancelled due to staffing shortages, weather, mechanical problems, etc.  Please note that in such an event, Walking Tree Travel (WTT) is not financially responsible for unanticipated costs incurred by travelers en route.  Our programs officially begin and end in the destination country, and because our staff doesn’t fly with the group, Group Organizers (the traveling faculty member/s) become the front-line advocate for the group in the event of a delay. In most cases of cancellations or delays, the airline will be the one who re-books travel or possibly arranges a hotel and food the night.  Our primary role will be to  keep families updated and provide support to the Group Organizer to reach a  quick and effective resolution.

Host Community and Project Details

Packing List

What follows is a sample packing list but you know yourself better than we do so please adjust accordingly. We recommend you bring a larger piece of luggage like a roller, duffel bag, or backpack, as well as a smaller backpack that you can bring on daily outings, weekend excursions and shorter activities.

“Less is more” is a packing tip we encourage for all our travelers. The list below should cover everything you would need, but know yourself and what you are comfortable traveling with.  We suggest bringing only as much as you would be able to carry on your own.

Finally, we recommend consulting a weather forecast for your destination. 

CLOTHES

• Underwear
• Socks (a mixture of good active socks and casual socks)
• T-shirts
• Long sleeve shirts
• Pants, shorts
• Sweaters/sweatshirts/jacket for cooler evenings
• Rain jacket
• Nice shirts/tops to be worn to theater
• Durable athletic/walking shoes
• Hat/sun protection

TOILETRIES:

• Your basics
• Sunscreen
• Over the counter meds you plan on using
• Hand Sanitizer
• Prescription meds in properly marked original container

MISCELLANEOUS:

• Valid Passport
• Student ID
• Sunglasses
• Journal and pen
• Book
• Camera
• Power adapter – Type G
• Spending money: $100-$200 in GBP or credit/debit card
• Durable water bottle
• Deck of cards or other portable games
• Portable power bank (optional)

Support Team

At a minimum, one experienced Program Leader will travel on every trip. In addition to this full time leadership presence, Walking Tree has additional staff in all destinations and 24/7 support from our headquarters in Denver, Colorado. Below you’ll find the the team members involved in the preparation, planning and execution of your program.

Enrique Parrales

---

Southend-On-Sea College, UK – Counselling/Psychology

Enrique was born and raised in San Jose, the capital of Costa Rica. He became very passionate about the undiscovered rural areas of my country by spending quality time with friends and family at my grandparent’s farm in Perez Zeledon and its surroundings. Enrique is an outdoor enthusiast and nature lover, with over 20 years of experience working in outdoor adventure, commercial recreation and rural tourism. He has worked in student travel and leadership organizations in Costa Rica, the US and the UK. He has also traveled and volunteered in countries in Central and South America, the US, and Europe and moved to England with his family in 2020 where he has been working in programs supporting individuals and families struggling with the negative outcomes of active addiction in treatment centres. One of his best mentor and friend’s favourite quotes goes like this… Nature does not treat us differently, Nature does not see colour, gender, belief, religion, or anything…. Nature treats us all equally!

Luke Mueller

Co-Founder of Walking Tree Travel and Business Lead - Denver, CO

[email protected]

---

Emory University – B.A. Sociology and minor in Latin American History

Luke’s path to student travel began in Mexico, during a year abroad in Mexico and Central America. This formative time led him to join an international volunteer program which, after graduating from college, sent him to the small village of San Gerardo de Rivas in south-central Costa Rica. Welcomed by the loveliest of host families, his experience in this tiny town is directly connected to the beginnings of Walking Tree five years later. His love for travel still burns bright, and today he’s lucky to have a wife and daughter who are equally passionate about exploring the world. Settled in Denver, he adores his family and colleagues, skies whenever possible, and is a devoted fan of all Colorado sports teams.

Jordan Sparrow

Director of Operations - Lisbon, Portugal

[email protected]

---

University of Kansas – B.A. Latin American Studies; Global and International Studies, Minor in Brazilian Studies

Jordan hails from Kansas City where he spent his entire childhood. Although he didn’t realize it at the time, his first international experience would set the course for the rest of his life.  After high school, he traveled to Guatemala where he began learning Spanish and cultivated a deep interest in everything Latin America. In college, Jordan spent almost half of his university career studying abroad in both Costa Rica and Brazil.  In 2010, Jordan moved to Costa Rica for six years where he began his professional career teaching Portuguese to Costa Ricans and working with Walking Tree Travel.  From Costa Rica he moved to Denver, Colorado and spent seven years traveling the USA and experiencing life as an adult in America for the first time. Jordan is trilingual and has traveled to more than 30 countries around the world. He currently lives in Lisbon, Portugal and enjoys practicing yoga, hiking, biking, spending time at the beach and cooking Middle Eastern food.

Aristea Linakis

Program Leader

---

After studying marketing and communication, I trained as an actor for 5 years, first studying at the Cours Florent, then l’Atelier Blanche Salant Paul Weaver, and finally completing the 2-year Meisner training at Los Angeles’ Joanne Baron DW Brown Studio. I also studied scriptwriting and directing, wrote-directed and auto-produced a dozen short movies before working as a scriptwriter, copywriter and director for communication agencies. Parallel to this I’ve worked as a Tour Director, guiding groups of American students and their teachers throughout Western Europe. I would be delighted to meet you in London – a city that I’m very fond of, having lived there for 6 fantastic years – for a performing arts tour taking us all the way to Edinburgh.

Group Roster

Below is a list of the travelers enrolled on the program.

• 1 Asma Mehrzad Naiman
• 2 Charlotte Gleaton
• 3 Charlotte Hobson
• 4 Eloise Lee
• 5 Eloise Malick
• 6 Evelyn Toth
• 7 Iliana Monterroso
• 8 Josephine Robinson
• 9 Julia Boyesen
• 10 Kate Petrucci
• 11 Kinnari Majmudar
• 12 Leven Weekes
• 13 Melissa Zaremba
• 14 Naomi Giarratano
• 15 Nichols Malick
• 16 Sora Fassett
• 17 Tristan Paguio
• 18 Tucker Mohraz
• 19 William Klevans
• 20 Zoe Jones

Blog and Communication

During travel we work hard to keep families updated as frequently as possible with blog posts and photos, giving you peace of mind that your traveler is safe and thriving on their program.  Students regularly contribute to these posts, providing families back home a great way to vicariously track the progress of the trip. You will be notified when the first update is posted, after which we recommend checking in regularly via the black “Program Blog” button at the top of this webpage.

Assuming your school allows the use of cell phones, most destinations are wired enough to allow participants access WiFi at different moments in the program, allowing them to communicate directly with home. Ask your Walking Tree representative about the degree of connectivity on your program.

GLC Curriculum

Standards of Behavior

In order to run a safe and successful program, it is vital that travelers are prepared to be on their best behavior and bring enthusiasm and interest to each and every day. A communal atmosphere of trust and mutual respect is the foundational.  As such, all individuals participating on a Walking Tree program are required to take responsibility for their actions and adhere to a high standard of personal conduct.

IMMEDIATE DISMISSAL

1. Possessing, consuming or distributing alcohol or illegal drugs.
2. Associating with participants while they are in possession of alcohol or illegal drugs.
3. Behaving in a way that consistently damages the group dynamic or jeopardizes personal or group safety. This includes consistently displaying a negative attitude, intimidating or excluding other participants, sneaking out, disobeying group leaders, and any other behavior that is not conducive to an atmosphere of trust and mutual respect.

GROUNDS FOR DISMISSAL OR IN-COUNTRY CONSEQUENCE

1. Getting a piercing or tattoo.
2. Stealing, or deliberately damaging or defacing any personal property, buildings or materials.
3. Threatening physical or emotional harm, or brandishing a weapon.
4. Possessing, consuming, or distributing tobacco or nicotine, including vape pens.
5. Riding mopeds, motorcycles, or any other type of unauthorized vehicle.
6. Being out of designated area or accommodations after curfew.
7. Breaking group rules.

These standards of behavior are essential for the successful completion of your program. Please take the time to review these as a family and make sure everyone understands and agrees to them.

Health and Safety

We strongly recommend visiting the CDC United Kingdom website to get the most updated information on health and vaccination considerations in your destination country. In addition, we encourage you to consult your personal family physician so you can be as informed as possible when making important decisions about vaccinations and other necessary health-related preparations before traveling.

Our in-country staff meticulously prepare for all programs. Walking Tree receives regular updates from the U.S. Department of State’s Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) to proactively stay ahead of any potential security concerns. Our in-country staff also verify the safety records of our partner organizations, vendors, and transportation providers, thoroughly vet homestay families through in-depth interviews and visits, and stay informed about important current events in the region.

Program Leaders are seasoned travelers who are CPR and First Aid certified, undergo thorough training in crisis management, and participate in comprehensive leadership training. We do our best to prepare for any eventuality and have detailed emergency protocols for our leaders, in-country staff, and U.S.-based staff.

We collect medical disclosures from all participants to ensure we can meet every student’s needs during the program. Please inform us immediately of any additional health issues not listed during your initial registration process. Leaders and in-country staff are prepared to respond promptly to any mental, physical, or emotional health concerns and follow comprehensive emergency protocols.

Insurance

While we work hard to ensure the safest experience possible for our travelers on program, experience teaches that travel can be unpredictable. For this reason, we recommend that all travelers consider a travel insurance policy with a Cancel for Any Reason (CFAR) provision. Detailed explanations of plan options can be found via the link below.

To provide travelers and families with a quality option, Walking Tree has partnered with Travel Insured International, one of the most respected providers in the industry.  Begin by getting a quote here.

IMPORTANT NOTE: in order to secure coverage that includes CFAR, you must purchase the plan within 14-21 days of your first payment to Walking Tree. Be careful when you read the tenets of the policy to ensure you understand the required timeframe for purchase. You must also insure 100% of your trip cost, so program tuition + flight. Please reach out to us with questions.