Beyond Backpacks: A Guide to Healthy Travel is a free online program designed to help college students prepare for safe and healthy travel.
The course is currently being piloted through the 2025–26 academic year and will remain free for campuses through the 2026–2027 academic year.
Preview a sample of the video content here. To receive more information or to sign up to participate, please complete the interest form here.
Why Offer Beyond Backpacks at Your Institution?
- Provides engaging, accurate, and up-to-date travel health education for all traveling students
- Expands access to travel health information, especially for campuses without dedicated services
- Saves time for busy health center staff by delivering standardized education
- Allows students to complete content independently and at their own pace
- Helps ensure students are better prepared before departure
- Covers topics often missed in clinical visits, such as safety planning and travel health insurance
About the Course
Designed to be completed in 1–2-hours, Beyond Backpacks features engaging short videos, interactive activities, and assessment questions covering relevant travel health topics, including:
- Intro to Beyond Backpacks
- Mental Health
- Packing Health Essentials
- Travel Vaccinations/Travel Immunizations
- Travel Health Insurance
- Communication/Emergency Planning
- Identity Care
- Food and Water Precautions
- Responsible/Ethical Travel
- Bite Avoidance Measures
- Returning Travelers
- General Health and Safety Tips
The course can be:
- Integrated into your campus learning management system (e.g., Canvas, Brightspace) or
- Accessed externally through a direct link
Both options allow you to monitor students’ completion and comprehension of the content.
The content has been focus group tested and is tailored for young adult travelers.
Who Is This For?
Beyond Backpacks is especially valuable for:
- Campuses without dedicated travel health services
- Institutions looking to scale pre-travel education
- Study abroad and global programs seeking consistent student preparation
It can also serve as a supplement to existing clinical or advising services.
Pricing (beginning AY 2027-28)
Annual pricing will be based on student usage:
- Under 100 students: $250/year
- Under 500 students: $500/year
- Over 500 students: $1,000/year
About the Program
This program is part of the ACHF Campus Travel Health Programs project with funding support from Valneva. See also: Guide for Travel Health Practices
About the Project Team
Beyond Backpacks was developed by a multidisciplinary team of college health professionals with expertise in travel medicine and student health.
- Julie Richards, DNP, MS, MSN, FNP-BC, WHNP-BC, CTH®, FATHNA – Vaden Health Center, Stanford University
- Gail Rosselot, MS, MPH, APRN-BC, COHN-S, FFTM, RCPS (Glasg), FAANP, FISTM, FATHNA – The Westchester Course in Travel Health Fundamentals
- Amy Sauls, PharmD, BCACP, CPP, CTH® – University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill
- Noa’a Shimoni, MD, MPH – Rutgers University
- Kathy Thorson, NP-C, CTH® – Bowdoin College
Questions?
Contact ACHA’s Director of Strategic Partnerships Robyn Buchsbaum at rbuchsbaum@acha.org.
Contributor Info
American College Health Foundation (ACHF) with support from Valneva through an educational grant
Topic
ACHF, Travel Health
Resource Type
Patient Education Materials
Publish Date
August 15, 2025
