R2Urban
Turning Field Trips Inside Out
Making visitors out of the visited—where rural students explore urban environments and discover new possibilities.
R2Urban is part of 360Plus’s “Learning through Travel” initiatives.
It turns the traditional concept of “field trips” on its head by making visitors out of the visited.
This program is designed to expose rural students to the urban environment,
thereby broadening their knowledge and understanding of future options and opportunities.
What Is R2Urban?
R2Urban involves experiential 4-5 day trips by small groups of rural children to urban settings, giving them access to and understanding of places and institutions which do not exist in their home settings.
The visits under supervised conditions have equal elements of:
Education
Structured learning experiences designed to expand knowledge and skills
Interaction with Urban Peers
Meaningful connections with students from urban environments
Exposure to Urban Institutions
Access to universities, cultural centers, government buildings, and other urban facilities
Commercial Establishments
Visits to businesses and enterprises not available in rural settings
Guided Discussions
Opportunities to discuss differences, similarities, and synergies between urban and rural ecosystems and people
Before The Trip
Pre-Departure Preparation. Teachers from the rural school work with 360Plus coordinators to:During the Trip
4-5 Day Urban Immersion. Small groups of rural students:
After the Trip
Post-Trip Integration. Teachers and 360Plus coordinators facilitate:
- Devise a specific curriculum tailored to the group
- Prepare students for what they’ll experience
- Establish learning objectives
- Build readiness for the urban environment
- Travel to urban settings under supervised conditions
- Access places and institutions that don’t exist in their home settings
- Interact with urban peers
- Visit urban institutions including commercial establishments
- Participate in discussions about urban and rural differences, similarities, and synergies
- Engage in educational activities aligned with the prepared curriculum
- Debriefing sessions to process the experience
- Sharing of experiences with other students who were not part of the trip
- Integration of learnings into ongoing education
- Reflection on how urban exposure relates to future options and opportunities
Program Objectives
R2Urban is designed to:
- Broaden knowledge and understanding of future options and opportunities
- Expose rural students to urban environments they may not otherwise experience
- Provide access to institutions and places unavailable in rural settings
- Facilitate interaction between urban and rural peers
- Encourage exploration of differences, similarities, and synergies between urban and rural ecosystems
- Support curriculum integration through teacher collaboration and structured learning
- Extend impact through post-trip sharing with the broader school community
Key Program Elements
- Small Group Format
Trips involve small groups of rural children, ensuring personalized attention and meaningful engagement.
- Supervised Conditions
All activities take place under appropriate supervision to ensure safety and maximize learning.
- Teacher Partnership
Rural school teachers accompany students and collaborate with 360Plus coordinators throughout the process.
- Curriculum Integration
The experience is connected to educational goals through planned curriculum before, during, and after the trip.
- Peer Interaction
Urban and rural students engage with each other, learning from their different perspectives.
- Institutional Access
Students visit urban institutions—educational, cultural, civic, and commercial—that broaden their understanding of possibilities.
- Comparative Learning
Structured opportunities to explore differences, similarities, and synergies between urban and rural contexts.
- Knowledge Sharing
Participating students share their experiences with classmates who didn’t travel, multiplying the program’s impact.
Who R2Urban Serves
Rural Students
Small groups of children from rural schools who would benefit from exposure to urban environments and institutions.
Rural Schools & Teachers
Educational institutions seeking to expand their students’ understanding of future options through experiential learning.
Urban Peer Communities
Students and institutions in urban settings who engage in meaningful exchange with rural visitors.
Ready to Transform Your World?
Interested in bringing R2Urban to your rural school?