Traveling for World Youth Day with ACIS: A Q+A with Group Leader Taylor

Taylor Blanton has lead tours with Cardinal Gibbons school for over a decade. In 2025, he worked with ACIS to create a custom itinerary for the Jubilee for Youth in Rome, celebrating the Papal Jubilee. He shares insights into planning an ACIS trip for World Youth Day, the next of which will be held in Seoul, South Korea, 2027 with a brand new itinerary.

Why do you think it’s important to travel to World Youth Day? What do your students gain from the experience?

One of the most important parts of a Catholic education is the spiritual and faith development of our students. While much of that happens at home, at Mass, and in the Spiritual Life programs of our school, there are certain life experiences that can open the eyes and hearts of young people in a way they could never experience at home.  Going on a religious pilgrimage can have that impact, and when you combine that with hundreds of thousands of other young people from around the world coming together to worship God and celebrate their faith, amazing things can happen. 

In the words of our students, our most recent Jubilee for Youth pilgrimage experience with ACIS…

“This experience truly was a peak of my faith life. It shaped me into someone who isn’t afraid to spread my faith anymore, but instead it encourages me, because I want people to know the impact the Lord can have!”

“I felt like I grew closer to God and the others in the group at the same time. It was a powerful trip to go on and experience with my peers and people I know. This was life changing.”

“This pilgrimage had a huge impact on my faith life. I feel so much more on fire for my faith by learning about Jesus’ suffering and through the influence of the saints. I feel so much more called to sainthood. I feel like I realize now that that is the only true goal of life.”

“It really moved my spiritual faith to another mountain. I thought I made progress last year in growing closer to God, but nothing could compare to how much I was changed while on our pilgrimage.”

“It made me realize there are so many Catholics my age from around the world that are so involved in their faith. It really opened my eyes to other cultures and seeing them so happy to see the Pope and be at the Jubilee.”

In the words of the parents who sent their students to the most recent Jubilee for Youth with ACIS…

“My child had a life changing experience that he will carry with him. I struggle to share how profound it was for him and the superb leadership and planning made the experience excellent.”

“Seeing Pope Leo up close was a big moment for her. Meeting Catholics from across the world was amazing.”

Why do you choose to travel with ACIS?

Our school has a long relationship with ACIS for academic trips to Europe and Asia.  For years they have been the best in the business at organizing trips for high school students.  From logistics to travel planning, they take care of everything from safe and desirable accommodations to guides who are both experts in their craft and caring for the needs of our group.  What sets them apart is not only their attention to detail, but their willingness to work with us to customize and create the experience we want our students to have. When it came time for the 2025 Jubilee for Youth, going with ACIS again made complete sense.

I understand you have traveled with another organization in the past, what are some of the specific areas of difference and how did those differences impact your experience?

Any teacher can tell you that there is a difference between just doing something, and doing it well.  ACIS had our entire 10-day Jubilee for Youth pilgrimage down to a science.  From figuring out exactly what order in which to do events, what time to grab lunch, how to navigate the bus or metro system efficiently, making dinner reservations for our group in the exact location and time to make the next activity…the experience flowed so efficiently that it was like the entire Jubilee was designed around us. That didn’t happen when we went with another organization, causing us to miss out on opportunities.  With ACIS, we didn’t miss out on anything.  In fact, we created new opportunities and experiences for our students to soak up every minute!

ACIS works with many Catholic schools, but does not specialize in only Catholic travel opportunities. Did this concern you pre-trip? Did it negatively impact your tour?

I understand why some people might think they need a “Catholic company” for a “Catholic trip”, but that simply isn’t the case.  ACIS is an amazing organization, and I had no concerns about their ability to help us have a deep and faith-filled experience.  They took the time to learn what we wanted the pilgrimage to be, from daily Mass to evening Adoration, or from small group reflections and retreat-style sessions, to adding a site visit or extra activity.  We communicated what we wanted and if it was a possibility, ACIS helped to make it happen.  At the end of the day, the adult group leaders create a vision of the trip, set the expectation, and lead the experience.  What they need is someone to help bring that vision to life, and the best organization to help you do that is ACIS, hands down.

On our recent Jubilee for Youth pilgrimage, we were there with hundreds of thousands of other young people from around the world.  However, I doubt many of them had a behind the scenes tour and discussion of EWTN’s Vatican Office on Via della Conciliazione, just blocks from St. Peters.  From visiting a seminary while in Rome, to adding two days in Assisi, ACIS helped us to create the pilgrimage that we wanted, taking the experience from good to great!

Is ACIS worth the price? Please talk about if ACIS is a good value.

We ask our parents this question at the end of every trip we take, and I have yet to have a single parent tell me that ACIS wasn’t worth the price.  From quality transportation to safe and desirable accommodations, ACIS sets the standard for student travel, but it doesn’t stop there.  They have guides that do more than “show you around”.  They get to know you, your students, and try to help them have the best experience possible.  They have a logistical team that spots a scheduling problem before it becomes one.  If something does go wrong, they have protection plans and procedures in place to help resolve them as quickly as possible.  The old adage “you get what you pay for” is true, but with ACIS, you get more!

Please talk about ACIS Tour Managers and the value they bring to the experience.

It is hard to say enough good things about the ACIS Tour Managers.  Having someone with you from the moment you land in your arrival city and doesn’t leave your side until you go through security at the airport to head home gives such a sense of peace and comfort.  They speak the language, know the customs, and are experts at making “everything work”.  But this is only the beginning.

You soon realize that they are knowledgeable in history, culture, arts, music, and more, and bring the trip to life.  Whether you want your manager to take the lead and help teach and explain things to your students, or you prefer them to handle logistics behind the scenes, ACIS Tour Managers partner with you to craft an amazing experience.

Has anything ever gone wrong on one of your ACIS Tours? How was it handled? 

When traveling with large groups, it is always a possibility something happens.  From lost or damaged luggage to sick participants, group leaders want to have peace of mind that they will be taken care of.  ACIS has procedures in place and protection plans available to meet their travelers’ needs.

On one trip, one student’s suitcase arrived damaged.  Their protection plan covered this and within a few hours, a suitable replacement suitcase was purchased at no cost to the student.

On another trip, a few students’ suitcases were delayed.  Their protection plan covered this and each student was able to purchase new clothing for the following day until their suitcase arrived.

On a more serious note, one student became ill enough on a trip to warrant a hospital visit.  Our tour manager worked quickly with us to gameplan the situation.  They traveled with the student and I to the hospital to help translate and work out any details and had already planned for a colleague to help the rest of our group if the manager needed to stay at the hospital for an extended time.  Fortunately, that wasn’t necessary.  The communication, the planning, and the resources of both ACIS Tour Managers and their support system made what could have been a scary situation into one that was relatively calm and organized. 

What would you say to someone considering traveling to World Youth Day with ACIS?

World Youth Day is an amazing opportunity to help young people grow in their faith by learning more about God, about others, and about themselves.  If you are considering going, whether you are an experienced traveler or are nervous about a big trip with students, know that ACIS is the best at bringing these types of experiences to life.  Their motto is “travel changes lives”, and World Youth Day is a chance to see that in action.  Get in touch with ACIS and let them show you how you can help your students have an experience of a lifetime.

Is there anything else you want to share?

For years I was nervous about taking students on an international trip.  I wanted to do it, but it seemed so daunting.  Looking back now, I can’t believe I waited so long!  ACIS takes the hard work away, letting you focus on the experience and your students!  Go for it!