Resident starts Grad Adventures to give less opportune grads a chance to travel
- Connor Luczka
- Oct 2
- 3 min read
CONNOR LUCZKA, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
Bruce Whitaker and his family have traveled the world – from Egypt to India – and now he would like to give the same opportunity to Stratford’s youth.
“I have three boys and I've been able to take them to different places in the world,” Whitaker said. “… My youngest child is Grade 12, so now I want to expand it to the community to go out and see places … Our goal is really to foster personal growth. We want to shift perspectives, I guess. And then the third thing is to really challenge preconceptions of young people about what the world is about … and it's all through, connecting with different cultures.”
Whitaker and his family are starting Grad Adventures, a unique scholarship program that offers international experience for recent graduates. In partnership with GVI Canada, an organization which connects youth with nature conservation and social development programs abroad, this year three students will be selected for an immersive one- or two-week volunteer program in July 2026.
This opportunity will not be a vacation – selected students will travel to Peru, Nicaragua or Costa Rica to engage in impactful projects that focus on health services, community development and rain forest conservation, respectively.
The initiative aims to cultivate young leaders to think optimistically about the world, even when current events, opportunities and their mental health may steer them towards pessimism. As Whitaker said, the antidote to all of that is travel.
“It's a challenging time for young people,” Whitaker said. “There's a lot of anxiety. We're seeing a lot of mental health issues. We're seeing a complex world. I want young people to understand that the world is beautiful and that there's a lot of things they don't necessarily see, and the people that they'll be connected with are very similar to themselves. They want love. They want to be cared for. They want to eat good food. So I think it's to get across an understanding that the world is a great place, and there's a lot of people that are very similar to us, and I think we should care for those folks.
“… You know, 1.8 billion youth are about to make strong decisions, and they’ve got this weight … on their shoulders. It’s important that they make decisions that are not just good for you and I, but are good for the world. And that’s what I’m trying to get across to them, because we don’t empower our young people and I don’t think we ready them for participating in such huge decisions.”
Applications are open to graduating students from families with incomes lower than $100,000, and who have a passion for the arts, environmental conservation and mental health.
Stratford residents may recognize Whitaker as an Avon Maitland District School Board trustee, though he clarified that this is a personal project that does not involve the school board. As this is the first year that Grad Adventures is running, Whitaker is personally financing the trips and will be selecting students with his family, though he wants the program to continue into the future with the help of other area donors.
Two-week experiences can range between $1,500 to $7,000 and donors may contribute anonymously or be engaged in a hands-on way.
Applications will be accepted until Feb. 28. Students must be nominated by a teacher, family friend or employer and must include a short essay or video explaining why they should be chosen.
A shortlist of candidates will be interviewed in March and successful candidates will be notified by the end of that month. They will have all expenses covered, including food, accommodation, travel, mentorship and training, as well as transportation to and from Toronto Pearson International Airport, as well as transfers to the destination.
Students are being asked to contribute $500 toward the trip. As Whitaker said, that amount is to show that students have initiative and can work hard.
For more information, or to apply as an applicant or a donor, visit https://gradadventures.com/.