Kids Can Get Licensed in Nautical Navigation — No Experience Necessary

Family travelers looking for something different may be interested in this offering from Lindblad Expeditions-National Geographic. Kids, even though they may not be old enough to drive a car, can now get licensed for a different type of vehicle — a Zodiac boat, which is a lightweight, open-air inflatable boat powered by a small engine and used on expeditions to transport passengers on excursions away from the main ship. While usually manned by an expert driver, this summer, the National Geographic Global Explorers Program allows school-aged kids and teens to earn their very own Zodiac “driver’s license.”

© Lindblad Expeditions-National Geographic

Certified Field Educators will help children under the age of 18 learn how to pilot a Zodiac cruiser and earn a license to use on future expeditions. Lessons include knowledge about the local environment and how to navigate waters safely and responsibly. The course will be offered this summer on select departures in Alaska, the Galápagos and Baja California.

© Lindblad Expeditions-National Geographic

The cruise line’s Global Explorers program offers many ways for children to immerse themselves in the expedition experience, with activities including snorkeling, observing wildlife, examining plankton, recording findings in a field notebook and much more. Another new program, National Geographic Expeditions Adventurers, debuts for the first time in the Arctic this year.