Health, Safety & Risk Management

Once program admission has been confirmed, medical clearance for travel is required from an Experimenter’s healthcare provider(s). Experimenter health histories and provider clearances are then thoroughly reviewed by our medical team. This detail-oriented health review process allows The Experiment to anticipate many health-related risks on program and to facilitate appropriate management of these risks. 

During the health review process, a member of The Experiment medical team may contact Experimenters and families to follow up on health information provided, discuss program realities, and clarify expectations of and for the Experimenter, their family, and Experiment program staff. To facilitate management and support of certain medical and mental health concerns on program, individual Experimenter Wellness Plans may be created collaboratively prior to travel. 

Full disclosures of health histories and concerns are vital to the success of the health review process and Experimenters’ preparation for safe and successful programs. Any changes to the Experimenter’s health history or status that arise between the submission of their health forms and their departure for program must also be immediately disclosed to The Experiment. Up-to-date health information allows Experiment group leaders and risk management staff to best support Experimenters’ health and wellness on program. 

All information will be kept confidential and shared securely with Experiment group leaders and in-country partners as needed to facilitate planning and support for anticipated health concerns and response for any healthcare needs that may arise on program. 

The Experiment follows the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines for best public health practices during our programs. Experimenters will be required to follow current public health guidelines as well as any additional protocols established by The Experiment, for keeping themselves and others safe during the program.  The Experiment’s COVID-19 protocols are based upon current guidelines from the CDC, WHO, and local governments.

Understanding that Experimenters and their families often have many questions about health and safety abroad, The Experiment provides resources to address these questions and to help Experimenters prepare for safe and successful program experiences. The following are general guides for all Experiment families, accessible through the Experiment Portal:

• Travel Vaccinations & Medications
• Traveling with Allergies Abroad
• Traveling with Personal Medications Abroad

The Experiment also provides in-depth Experimenter and Family Handbooks, program-specific Health Guidelines, detailed packing lists, and comprehensive travel logistics.

The Experiment is committed to supporting program participation for Experimenters traveling with physical or mental health concerns requiring active management through proactive wellness planning. For Experimenters with such health concerns, Wellness Plan Templates and guidance are made available as part of the Health Review Process. Wellness planning allows Experimenters to anticipate challenges they may encounter while traveling and to translate management strategies from their daily life at home to the Experiment program context. The core of a Wellness Plan articulates realistic strategies for prevention and response, as well as expectations and responsibilities for safe and successful behavior on program.

All Experimenters traveling internationally are covered by the World Learning medical insurance policy, which provides full coverage for accidents, illness, and emergency evacuation while on program. This policy starts when Experimenters either board their international group flight or join their group in their program country. 

Experimenters traveling on programs outside the United States are insured through GeoBlue. For further details about the GeoBlue policy coverage, read the GeoBlue 2024-2025 Member Guide.

In many cases, we can arrange a guarantee of payment for medical services through GeoBlue. Sometimes, though, this may not be possible. As a result, Experimenters should be prepared to pay for their own medical expenses out of pocket, keep itemized receipts, and then submit a claim for reimbursement.

Experimenters are strongly encouraged to maintain their ongoing coverage in the United States even while traveling abroad. 

The Experiment partners with GeoBlue to provide medical support and security assistance coverage for all Experiment programs abroad. All Experimenters and Experiment families have access to extensive country-specific resources through GeoBlue’s member hub website or the GeoBlue mobile app.

The Experiment’s GeoBlue membership includes access to a 24-hour assistance network that works in coordination with The Experiment’s summer on-call team. This multilingual service helps Experiment group leaders locate appropriate medical treatment in-country, coordinate with doctors and hospitals, arrange direct payment, and facilitate medical transfer or evacuation if necessary.

The Experiment team continuously monitors events abroad and receives up-to-the-minute travel advisories both before programs depart and throughout the program season. The Experiment monitors U.S. government advisories issued by embassies and consulates as well as the U.S. Department of State in Washington, DC. The Experiment also consults with academic and nongovernmental organizations through World Learning’s global network. World Learning’s institutional global risk management committee and GeoBlue provide additional support and context for assessing risk associated with events in program countries.

Each Experiment group is supported by an extensive professional network of in-country resources including partner offices, international educators, homestay coordinators, program guides, and translators. Our in-country partner offices help us design each program and support our groups throughout the program season. All third-party program partners and providers have been vetted for safety standards and compliance with all Experiment policies. All Experimenters are registered with the local U.S. Embassy through the U.S. Department of State’s Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP).

The Experiment groups are accompanied by two carefully selected and trained adult leaders. Group leaders maintain ongoing contact with all Experimenters throughout the program and work collaboratively with in-country partners and The Experiment offices in the United States. All Experiment group leaders are certified in CPR and First Aid, receive program-specific medical briefings and are trained as on-the-ground risk managers.

The Experiment has created a robust suite of policies and procedures to structure the program experience and to mitigate known and anticipated risks. All policies are published in full in Experimenter and Family Handbooks, and Experiment group leaders receive extensive training on policy and procedure implementation.

Each Experiment program begins with an in-country orientation that includes health and safety information. The orientation focuses on local health and safety best practices, increasing cultural knowledge (such as language survival skills and in-country norms), and developing Experimenter’s cross-cultural communication skills and self-awareness, specifically within the context of the program country. Beginning with the in-country orientation, and continuing throughout the program, Experimenters are routinely familiarized with location-specific emergency response plans.

The Experiment provides a 24-hour on-call assistance line based in our Brattleboro, Vermont and Washington, DC offices for any health, safety, or security concerns that may arise throughout the program season. Our on-call staff communicates with families, group leaders, in-country partners, GeoBlue and other relevant support resources.