Inspiring people to go further.
Smaller Earth is our house of brands offering meaningful cultural exchange programs including work and travel, internships and summer camp jobs.
- Founded
- 1999
- Category
- Group
- Audience
- Young adults and gap-year travellers looking for work, travel, and cultural exchange experiences abroad.
Origin
It started with one summer at camp.
Smaller Earth began in 1999 when Chris Arnold returned from a US summer camp determined to make the same experience easier for the next person. From a Liverpool back bedroom, that one decision turned into a house of brands taking people further every year.
Why Smaller Earth
Making the world a little bit Smaller.
Smaller Earth's aim has been to make this big world feel a little bit smaller. Through our brands and our people, we keep finding ways to help more travellers experience the life-changing impact of cultural exchange.
A house of leading brands
We don't run one program. We build, launch and operate seven distinctive brands across cultural exchange, software and conferences, each serving a specific audience well.
Owned by the people who built it
In 2024 Smaller Earth became an Employee Ownership Trust, entrusting the company to the team rather than outside investors. The same purpose, with the people closest to the work in charge of its future.
25 years, 17 countries
From a single placement in 1999 to over 100,000 lives changed, with offices across Europe, the Americas, Asia Pacific and beyond.
Today
A new chapter.
Following the 2024 transition to an Employee Ownership Trust, Smaller Earth is investing in the next generation of cultural exchange, expanding existing brands, launching new ones like Campfront, and reinforcing the commitment to diversity, accessibility and meaningful exchange.
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