The American Journey Project
A 30-day youth leadership, history, wellness, and documentary experience giving selected 11th and 12th grade students the chance to travel across America, experience history firsthand, and share their voices with the world.
More Than A Road Trip. A Story Of Becoming.
The American Journey Project gives students the opportunity to learn American history outside the classroom, process what they experience, and record personal 3–4 minute video reflections that become part of a powerful documentary story.
See The Experience14 students. 30 days. One nation. A lifetime of impact.
The American Journey Project is a transformational youth documentary experience that takes selected 11th and 12th grade students across America for a structured month-long educational journey.
Students will visit meaningful historic locations, participate in guided lessons, receive wellness support, and record personal reflections about history, identity, leadership, healing, and purpose.
What happens during the journey?
The American Journey Project combines place-based history, youth leadership, emotional reflection, documentary storytelling, and supervised wellness support.
Student Growth
Students will experience American history beyond the classroom while building confidence, communication skills, leadership capacity, cultural awareness, and self-reflection.
- Guided historical lessons at meaningful locations
- Group discussions and personal reflection
- 3–4 minute video check-ins after major stops
- Leadership and communication development
- Cross-cultural learning with students from across the country
Documentary Storytelling
The journey will be filmed as a documentary that captures students as they encounter history, ask questions, grow in awareness, and share their voices on camera.
- Student reflection videos
- Behind-the-scenes travel moments
- Historic site interviews and guided lessons
- Documentary episodes and promotional clips
- Presentation on OnStagePLUS Television
Trauma-Informed Wellness
Students may encounter difficult parts of American history. The project includes wellness support so students can process what they are learning in a healthy, guided, and age-appropriate way.
- Licensed therapist / wellness lead
- Daily check-ins and emotional processing
- Structured reflection after significant stops
- Adult chaperone supervision
- Clear safety and reporting protocols
What Sponsors Make Possible
Sponsors, donors, and in-kind partners help fund the infrastructure required to move students safely across the country and produce the documentary.
- Transportation, lodging, and meals
- Student support and educational materials
- Therapist / wellness support
- Video production crew and post-production
- Connectivity, logistics, insurance, and safety infrastructure
From California across America and back.
Students will travel from California through the southern United States, up to New York, and back to California, stopping at meaningful historic locations along the way.
A serious project requires a serious support team.
The American Journey Project is designed with supervision, safety, wellness, logistics, and production support built into the structure.
4 Adult Chaperones
Support student safety, accountability, supervision, and daily structure.
Wellness Lead
Licensed therapist / wellness professional to help students process difficult history.
Professional Driver
Safe cross-country transportation support for the full journey.
Logistics Staff
Route planning, lodging, meals, vendors, schedules, and daily operations.
Video Crew
2–3 person production crew documenting the student journey and story.
A documentary journey built for impact.
These visuals represent the spirit of the project: the road, the students, the story, and the mission.
Frequently asked questions.
Who is The American Journey Project for?
The project is designed for selected 11th and 12th grade students from across the country who are mature, open-minded, respectful, and willing to participate in a documentary experience.
How long is the journey?
The journey is planned as a 30-day cross-country educational road trip with historic site visits, guided lessons, video reflections, and wellness support.
Will students be filmed?
Yes. The project is a documentary initiative. Students must be comfortable being filmed and recording personal 3–4 minute reflections during the journey.
Is there adult supervision?
Yes. The project includes adult chaperones, a licensed therapist / wellness lead, a professional driver, logistics support, and a video production crew.
Where will the documentary be shown?
The documentary will be presented on OnStagePLUS Television and may also be promoted through OSP CARES and related media platforms.
Help students see America differently.
The American Journey Project is seeking students, families, sponsors, staff, volunteers, and community partners who believe in youth leadership, history, wellness, and storytelling.