National Geographic Photo Camp, a programme supported by the Lindblad Expeditions-National Geographic Fund, has continued to operate immersive, week-long photography workshops for young people in the Galápagos Islands and Baja California Sur, Mexico. These camps are designed to introduce participants aged roughly 17 to 22 to the technical and narrative aspects of photography under the mentorship of experienced National Geographic Explorers and photographers, providing instruction and practical guidance in visual storytelling over successive days of activity.
Since its establishment in 2003, the Photo Camp initiative has reached more than 3 000 students in numerous countries, with the programme’s objectives extending beyond camera technique to include building confidence, fostering peer connections and encouraging participants to reflect on and articulate the unique qualities of their own communities through imagery. The camps are provided at no cost to students, with lodging, meals, transportation and equipment included, and tend to enrol around 20 young people per session in recognition of the value placed on personalised instruction.
In 2025, three such camps took place with logistical support from field staff associated with National Geographic-Lindblad Expeditions: a February session on Santa Cruz in the Galápagos, an October session at San Cristóbal also in the Galápagos archipelago, and a November session in Baja California Sur. These locations were selected for their environmental and cultural significance, offering varied natural settings from island landscapes to coastal and desert margins that serve as dynamic backdrops for photographic exploration.
The structure of the programme typically culminates in presentations or exhibitions of student work that are shared with local communities, family and peers, and may also be disseminated through social channels to illustrate the breadth of perspectives captured during the camp. By equipping participants with both technical skills and narrative frameworks, the initiative aims to expand their capacity to document and communicate the environmental and cultural dimensions of the regions they inhabit and explore.
This youth-focused programme aligns with broader educational and outreach goals upheld by National Geographic and its expedition partners, emphasising the role of photography not only in personal enrichment but also as a medium for cross-cultural engagement and environmental awareness among emerging storytellers.