Au Pair Course Exploring America’s Southwest

Earn education credits as you experience some of America’s most beautiful natural places and discover what makes them so important to
the nation’s history, culture and identity

What You’ll Learn

Students will learn about some of America’s most beautiful and iconic natural places: how these landscapes were formed, why they look the way they do, and what makes them so important to American history, culture, and identity.

How it Works

Participate in a “Know Before You Go” Zoom session with your teacher and fellow classmates on Sunday, May 31, from 3:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. Pacific time. (All times on this page reflect Pacific time.)
Meet your teacher and classmates in Las Vegas for “out and about” class sessions.

Course Description & Schedule

This course is an educational travel experience through the American Southwest that combines guided learning with unforgettable sightseeing. Students see a variety of famous parks not just as photo opportunities, but as places that tell the story of the land, the people connected to it, and the role these protected spaces play in the United States today.
3:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. — “Know Before You Go” Zoom session with your teacher and fellow classmates.
4 p.m. to 7 p.m. — Start your experience in Las Vegas with an evening class session, where you’ll meet your classmates and set the stage for an unforgettable adventure. Enjoy a welcome group dinner and get to know those who will share this journey with you.
9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. — Dive into the vibrant culture of Las Vegas through an engaging class session as you explore the city’s unique blend of entertainment, history and desert surroundings. The day includes a visit to Seven Magic Mountains, the colorfully iconic desert art installation. Discover how this ever-evolving city thrives in the heart of the Southwest before preparing to set out on the road.
6 a.m. to 8 p.m. — Depart Las Vegas and head into the heart of the Southwest’s natural wonders. Wander beneath the towering cliffs of Zion National Park, hike to the breathtaking overlook at Horseshoe Bend, and explore the world-famous Lower Antelope Canyon with a Navajo guide. Overnight stay in Arizona.
6 a.m. to 8 p.m. — Spend the morning taking in the breathtaking views at Grand Canyon National Park’s South Rim. Then travel along the historic stretches of Route 66 as we make our scenic return to Las Vegas.

We’re scheduled to arrive back in Las Vegas at 8 p.m. For those of you flying home this evening (many guests take “red eye” flights in the late evening), our driver will make drops at both the Las Vegas Airport as well as at the Hyatt Place Hotel (in case you wish to spend another night in Las Vegas and want to book your own hotel room here).

Important Update: National Park Entry Requirement

As of January 2026, the U.S. National Park Service introduced a new policy requiring non-U.S. residents to pay an additional $100 surcharge to enter some of the most visited national parks, including Zion National Park and the Grand Canyon. Park rangers may check identification at park entrances to determine eligibility.

If you have a valid U.S. state-issued driver’s license, a valid U.S. state-issued ID card, or a U.S. National Parks Annual Pass (with a valid state ID or driver’s license), no further action is required. Please make sure to bring your ID and/or annual pass with you on the trip.

If you do not have a U.S. state-issued ID or driver’s license, you will need park access through a shared “America the Beautiful” Annual Pass. The annual pass costs $250 and can be shared by up to 4 participants, bringing the cost to $62.50 per person. Learning Across America will pay half the cost of the pass or $31.25. We will arrange shared passes for students who need them, and the remaining $31.25 fee will be collected closer to the course date.

Course-Specific Questions & Answers

Unlimited water, non-alcoholic drinks, and snacks will be provided along the way during Friday and Saturday.
Snacks will not be provided on Wednesday or Thursday.
Each student may bring one small suitcase to be stored underneath the motorcoach. You should also carry a small day bag (backpack or drawstring style) with anything you’ll need during the day, as the luggage bays will remain closed until we reach our final destination each evening.
No, your Antelope Canyon admission is included in the tuition. Guided tours, led by Navajo guides, offer insights into the Canyon’s history, geology, and cultural significance.
There is a moderate amount of walking required on this tour:
- Horseshoe Bend: Approximately 1.2 miles (1.9 km) round-trip
- Lower Antelope Canyon: Approximately 1 mile (1.6 km) total, including descending five flights of stairs
- Zion National Park: Trail walking
Please note: This tour is not suitable for wheelchairs, walkers, or mobility scooters.
In Las Vegas we will stay at the Hyatt Place Las Vegas, 4520 Paradise Road (phone 702.369.3366).
On Friday night you will stay at the Garner Hotel Page in Page, Arizona (phone 928.645.5050).

Tuition & What’s Included

The tuition price is $1,249 and includes the following:

3 nights hotel accommodation (a bed of your own* on Wednesday, Thursday & Friday night)
*Each student will have their own bed in a shared room. The room’s occupants may be of mixed gender, with both female and male au pairs.
Entrance fee to Grand Canyon
Entrance fee to Zion National Park
Entrance fee to Horseshoe Bend
Entrance fee to Antelope Canyon ($80 value)
Welcome dinner (Wednesday)
3 breakfasts (Thursday, Friday & Saturday)
1 lunch (Friday)
Snacks and non-alcoholic beverages (Friday & Saturday)
All transportation during class hours with your teacher
all costs associated with the class (there are no additional registration, material or activity fees)

Use Your Host Family Education Contribution

Most au pairs receive up to $500 from their host family to use toward their education requirement.
Many students choose to apply this contribution toward this course.

If you prefer to pay your tuition in two payments, you can choose to pay a deposit of $500 when you sign up for this course. The balance of your tuition would be due by Thursday, April 16, 2026.

The tuition price does not include:

airfare to/from Las Vegas
transportation from the airport to our hotel on Wednesday (We do offer a drop-off at the Las Vegas Airport on Saturday)
meals, other than those listed above

Frequently Asked Questions

Classes take place with your participation as well as that of your teacher and fellow students. Classes require each student to take an active role in group discussions, activities, projects, etc. In other words, your full attention and participation are required, whether it be in the classroom or out and about with your teacher.
We appreciate the fact that English is not the native language for most of our students. Consequently our classes are designed around their needs and abilities.
Since each Learning Across America course consists of a limited number of class sessions, Towson University requires you to attend — and actively participate in — each class from its start time to its end time. If you fail to do so, you will not be eligible to receive a certificate of completion. Towson University carefully monitors class attendance.
If you plan to fly to Las Vegas, please allow sufficient time to travel from the airport to class and back again. Remember, you must attend each class and out and about session from start to finish in order to receive full credit.
Once you successfully complete this course, you’ll earn 72 hours of credit.
If you have additional questions regarding credit hours, please contact your au pair organization.
Students will be given 3 weeks to complete their post-assignment and turn it into their teacher. Once you submit your post-assignment, you will receive your certificate of completion directly from Towson University within 10 days, assuming you have satisfactorily completed all course work. Feel free to turn your assignment in as soon as you complete it, as this will allow us to get your certificate to you sooner.
If you need to cancel the course, the following cancellation policy applies:
— If you cancel on or before Thursday, April 16, you will receive a full refund.
— If you cancel between Friday, April 17, and Friday, May 1, you will forfeit $500.
— If you cancel after Friday, May 1, you will receive neither a refund nor a credit.
You can transfer to another Learning Across America course if you do so on or before Monday, May 4. No transfers are permitted after that date.