Our Travel with Scholars program believes that learning should be a lifelong process that opens minds and enriches lives. We believe sharing new ideas, challenges, and experiences is rewarding in every season of life. Our Travel with Scholars program offers unique educational experiences infused with the spirit of camaraderie and adventure that enrich and enhance the lives of its participants. Our expert instructors share stimulating information through in-depth lectures, field trips, and cultural excursions. Lively discussions with faculty and fellow participants illuminate issues and broaden horizons. Facilitated by energetic and knowledgeable faculty, such as Drs. Mark Welford (Mark is standing in the middle at the back of this group who he led to England in 2005), Theresa Welford and Robert Yarbrough who have a long history running faculty-led programs to South America (Mark, Theresa and Robert - Ecuador 2008, 2011; Mark - Ecuador 2005; Robert - Guatemala, Belize and Mexico 2000, Guatemala 2001), Africa (Mark - Morocco 1986; Kenya 1987; Egypt 1993) and Europe (Mark - London 2003, 2004, 2005; Czech Rep and Vienna 2006; Krakow and Warsaw, Poland & L'viv, Ukraine 2008; Theresa - London 2001, 2007).
Dr. Mark Welford
In addition, to running many bird trips with Ventures Birding, Mark has also run expeditions and university study abroad trips to Africa, South America and Europe. In 1986 Mark was a leader on a Duke of Edinburgh's Gold Award Expedition to Morocco that climbed Toubkal (13,671 ft). Following this successful trip, Mark participated as a leader, food and scientific officer for the British School's Exploring Society 5-week expedition to Northern Kenya that retraced the footsteps of Richard Leakey's 1969 expedition that first discovered fossils hominds at Koobi Fora on the shores of Lake Turkana. After completing a masters and Phd in geography here in the US, Mark returned to running trips and taught in a Study Abroad trips to London in 2003, 2004 and 2005. Thereafter, Mark directed and taught in Study Abroad trips to the Czech Republic (2006) which included trips to Poland and Austria, to Poland in 2008 which included a 3-day trip to L'viv, Ukraine, and in 2008 and 2011 led a Study Abroad with Dr. Robert Yarbrough to Ecuador. In addition to these trips, Mark ran a Georgia Southern University Travel with Scholars program to Romania in 2005 that is very similar to the trip advertized below.
Mark is far right with students during
the 2008 Study Abroad to Ecuador.