Road Scholar

Road Scholar's educational programs held outside the United States and Canada (ranging in length from one to six weeks or more for on-site programs, and one to five days for virtual web-based programs) provide a stimulating academic experience introducing participants to the arts, history, literature, culture, architecture and natural environment of their locations. They are designed to further cross-cultural understanding by forging direct connections between participants and local residents, experts and lecturers. Community service and multi-generational programs are also offered. Room, board and in most cases airfare are included in the cost of on-site programs. In fiscal year 2023, 27,621 enrollees participated in on-site programs, and 1,533 enrollees participated in virtual, web-based programs and lectures.

Road Scholar's Adventures Afloat programs (ranging in length from one week to four months) are ship-based learning adventures that allow participants to experience the educational wonders of broad regions interconnected by the world's oceans and waterways. Experts and professors provide stimulating educational programs on board, which are enhanced by fieldtrips to experience the culture of local communities through related land components and lectures. Multi-generational programs are offered, and room and board are included in the cost, as is airfare for most programs. In fiscal year 2023, 10,203 enrollees participated in Adventures Afloat programs.

Road Scholar's unique liberal arts educational programs in the United States and Canada (ranging in length from four days to three weeks for on-site programs, and one to five days for virtual web-based programs and lectures), provide a stimulating academic experience exploring the arts, literature, sciences, history, culture, and environment of North America. Some programs provide community service and others are designed to be multi-generational, allowing grandchildren, or adult children and their children, to attend. Room and board are included in the cost. In fiscal year 2023, 44,355 enrollees participated in on-site programs, and 35,796 enrollees participated in virtual, web-based programs and lectures.

Nearly 11.2 million publications, including 2.7 million catalogs were produced and mailed to over 1.3 million households on Road Scholar's mailing list. Road Scholar's website, which provides program information, had almost 52 million page views from over 7 million unique visitors. In FY23, Road Scholar garnered millions of media impressions.

Over 150 workers in the United States and internationally worked with over 1,000 providers and vendors to develop, operate, oversee, and evaluate approximately 3,875 departure dates of 655 unique programs, and 219 virtual programs and lectures.

Our 90-seat Participant Services Centers primarily located in Massachusetts and Oregon with some staff working from home in other states handled over 270,000 inbound telephone calls and made approximately 39,000 outbound telephone calls to inquirers and enrollees that resulted in over 88,000 enrollment, cancellation, transfer and contribution transactions. The centers also responded to over 90,000 emails. In addition, the 36-seat Travel Services Center primarily located in Massachusetts with some staff working from home in other states handled approximately 47,000 inbound telephone calls and made over 8,500 outbound calls to participants who desired assistance in making, changing or cancelling their travel flight arrangements to Road Scholar programs. This team also responded to over 11,000 emails.