“A unique, once-in-a-lifetime journey that connects students and educators with the living history of World War II.”

The Normandy Pilgrimage

  • The Destination

    Normandy serves as a living classroom where students encounter one of the most significant events of World War II—the Allied effort to liberate Europe from Nazi occupation. Its beaches, historic sites, and memorials provide a tangible setting in which students can examine the realities of conflict, cooperation, and sacrifice. By engaging directly with this environment, students are encouraged to think critically about the human cost of war and the responsibilities associated with preserving freedom.

  • The Purpose

    Our program is designed to support student learning by linking historical study with civic development. It expands access to meaningful educational travel while fostering a deeper understanding of democratic values, service, and responsibility. Through this program, students are guided to reflect on how the actions of past generations inform present-day citizenship, encouraging them to develop informed perspectives and a sense of personal responsibility within their communities.

  • The Experience

    This immersive learning experience emphasizes active engagement with history through direct exposure to significant sites. Students are not only observers but participants in a process of inquiry and reflection, using place-based learning to deepen their understanding of historical events. This approach supports the development of critical thinking, empathy, and ethical awareness, helping students translate historical insight into a lasting commitment to peace, freedom, and responsible civic participation.

APPLY TODAY
Group of World War II soldiers in uniform, wearing helmets, on a boat with military vehicles in the background.

The Curriculum

Developed in collaboration with World War II veterans, the Connecting Generations™ curriculum brings history to life through firsthand testimony and eyewitness perspectives. Students explore the strategies, sacrifices, and human experiences that shaped the Allied fight for freedom, engaging directly with the realities behind pivotal moments in history. By examining decisive events and grappling with the moral complexities of war, students develop a deeper understanding of courage, resilience, and the responsibilities inherent in democratic citizenship. This immersive experience honors those who served while fostering a meaningful connection to the values they defended—liberty, unity, and the enduring pursuit of peace. Ultimately, the curriculum challenges young Americans to recognize their role in preserving democracy, to appreciate the freedoms they inherit, and to contribute thoughtfully and honorably to the nation’s future.

A man and woman walking barefoot on a sandy beach, holding hands, with the ocean in the background. The man is wearing a beige cap, sunglasses, a gray jacket with patches, and white rolled-up pants. The woman has blonde hair tied back, and is wearing a black t-shirt, jeans rolled up at the cuffs, and a lanyard around her neck.

Why Normandy?

On the hallowed grounds of Normandy—the greatest classroom in history—students form a direct connection to the past, walking the very battlefields where courage and sacrifice reshaped the course of freedom and the fabric of our nation. Here, education becomes an act of remembrance and transmission. As students stand where heroes once stood, memory is carried forward, deepening their personal understanding of the immense responsibility borne by those who fought to preserve democracy. Through powerful stories, veteran interviews, primary sources, and immersive projects, learners receive and preserve the lived experiences of those who endured war. By listening to the voices of those who witnessed these defining moments, students not only absorb historical knowledge but also carry forward empathy, gratitude, and a profound respect for the values our veterans upheld. Their firsthand testimonies ensure that the challenges, hardships, and triumphs that shaped the world we inherit today are neither forgotten nor diminished, but entrusted to a new generation.

Transfer of Memories

This experience deepens students’ historical understanding through the intentional transfer of memory from one generation to the next. By engaging with firsthand accounts, they recognize that freedom is not inherent, but cultivated and sustained over time. As eyewitness voices diminish, the responsibility to preserve and transmit their knowledge becomes essential. Students examine how civic values endure across generations and are called to carry them forward—applying these lessons through informed citizenship, community engagement, and stewardship of democratic institutions and shared national ideals.

Apply Now