EXPLOReviews of explo.org

Reply from EXPLOSep 11, 2026

Thank you for the feedback. So glad you enjoyed the Advisors. We wish we could control the weather - maybe we can have a class on that? Seriously, thanks for the input and we are working on how to handle the hot nights.

Reply from EXPLOSep 9, 2024

Thanks for your note. We are always happy to share feedback and provide insights during and after your summer experience. Please send a note to [email protected] and let us know what program your child attended.

Reply from EXPLONov 25, 2024

Thank you for your thoughtful review. We're delighted your teen had such a positive experience with our diverse community and engaged staff. It's wonderful to hear that the RAs successfully built trust and made your teen feel heard and seen. We agree with you that it is essential that students are supported in their transition from home to the program and it’s something we take seriously. Leaving home can be challenging and being homesick is normal. It can take a few days to feel comfortable in a new place and we are very focused on making sure that each student feels a sense of belonging. In terms of communication with home, during the first week of the program should there be any serious mental health issues or an emergency we certainly would have students call home. But what we have found over the years is that calling home when a student is homesick can actually exacerbate the homesickness. That said, if we think a case of homesickness is very severe, we will be calling home to consult with parents. There are many systems in place to help students adjust, including the first few days of structured schedules, regular check-ins with residential advisors, and all-community meetings. No doubt, parents know their children best, and at the same time, parents don’t know the program, the other students, the programming, the campus, and the resources available. What we’ve found is that it’s important for students to work with adults at the program who are well equipped to help students become adjusted to this new place. After the first week, students have access to phones and there are multiple times during the day when they can call home. We do know that going a week without hearing from your child can be challenging for parents, which is why we have a robust Office of Student Life. Everyday members of that department are communicating with parents. Parents are our partners in ensuring every child has a positive experience. Thanks for the feedback on the dorms. We hear you. This coming summer we’ll be moving to different accommodations that we think your child would appreciate. Thank you again for your review!

Reply from EXPLOAug 29, 2024

Thank you for your feedback. We are committed to making our classes interactive, and members of our Department of Teaching and Learning observe every class to ensure that courses are hands-on and engaging. We would welcome knowing what classes you or your child took that were slide-based so that we can look into this. Regarding certified instructors, our primary focus is on hiring instructors who know the discipline and who demonstrate that they can deliver engaging and experiential curriculum.