About Us

Grand Classroom History

Grand Classroom founder JT Maxwell is in his third decade in student travel. He is an avid fisherman, biker, camper and triathlete, and feels that too many of the most popular student trips lack an outdoor component. In 2002, JT elected to start his own company that would focus on National Parks. His goal became to get students outside, show them some of the most beautiful places on earth, and educate them on the importance of preserving these national treasures.

JT began Grand Classroom by offering a 5-day tour of Grand Canyon National Park, which became successful the first year. Keeping the same formula, he quickly added Yellowstone National Park to the roster, Bryce and Zion, and Yosemite National Park as well. As the years passed, more trips were added: the Florida Everglades, Alaska, the Smoky Mountains, and recently, Costa Rica. New trips are introduced almost annually to offer more choices for current and new travelers.

One thing is for sure — no matter the destination, the quality of the experience with Grand Classroom remains consistent. Trip planning is superior, the learning opportunities are broad, the itineraries focus on fun and adventure, and the staff continues to be top-notch. As we all get more connected via the electronic world, our staff believes more than ever the importance of making sure all students have a connection to the outdoors — to preserve our National Parks and our entire planet as well!

Inside of the office, the staff of Grand Classroom treats teachers like family. Each school receives an account representative whose sole mission is to make the experience as easy as possible over the school year. The staff functions at Grand Classroom as a close-knit family, celebrating together birthdays and holidays, and enjoy taking an annual outdoor trip together. Like JT, many of the members of the staff have spent their entire careers in student travel. Grand Classroom boasts over 150 years of combined student experience.

JT’s wife Robin also works in the business. The Maxwell family consists of two school-aged daughters, who have spent their childhoods in the office and traveling to the destinations that Grand Classroom offers on spring break and during the summer.

We create the adventure of lifetime...