The National Geographic Society and Cengage Celebrate Expanded Partnership with the Announcement of a New Interactive Student Experience at the Museum of Exploration
$15 million gift from Cengage will fund the National Geographic Learning Launchpad, a new educational experience at the National Geographic Museum of Exploration
Photo Credit: Courtesy of the National Geographic Society
WASHINGTON, D.C. (May 29, 2025) — The National Geographic Society and Cengage have expanded their long-term partnership with a $15 million gift in support of the National Geographic Museum of Exploration, opening in 2026. The National Geographic Learning Launchpad, powered by Cengage, is an extraordinary interactive space that will inspire young people to connect with the concept of geographic thinking and to apply what they learn to their own lives.
The National Geographic Learning Launchpad will be the first stop for the student groups visiting the Museum of Exploration at National Geographic Base Camp in Washington, D.C., setting the scene for their experience at the museum. The space — which includes an introductory corridor, interactive activity room and immersive projection room — presents geography as a way of thinking, understanding and interacting with the world. Visitors will learn to ask questions and seek knowledge, think critically and creatively to solve the world’s most pressing problems and to understand the Explorer Mindset — a series of attributes, shared values and commitments that define what it means to be a National Geographic Explorer.
Photo Credit: Visualizations by REDVERTEX, based on designs by Hickok Cole Architects, Inc.
“Curiosity is at the heart of exploration, and education is how we nurture that spark,” said Jill Tiefenthaler, chief executive officer of the National Geographic Society. “Thanks to the generosity of our partners at Cengage, we’re able to create innovative, hands-on learning experiences like the National Geographic Learning Launchpad — bringing the fieldwork and projects of Explorers straight to students and inspiring the Explorer in everyone.”
The dynamic partnership between National Geographic Society and Cengage launched in 2011, when the organizations came together to establish the National Geographic Learning brand and business. This strategic partnership provides Cengage the exclusive rights to develop and deliver National Geographic-branded learning products that engage tens of millions of learners around the world each year. National Geographic Learning products, which support learners and educators in both the English Language Teaching and Secondary education markets worldwide, immerse students in a range of subject areas, including science, social studies, language arts and math, featuring information from the unique viewpoint of Explorers and their multifaceted work.
National Geographic Learning content reaches approximately 20 million students each year with Explorer-centered educational content across 109 countries, with over 600 individual Explorers featured in materials. These learning products highlight the Explorer’s work in connection to the subject matter in ways that uniquely engage students and provide cross-cultural connections to other subject areas in an authentic, relevant way.
In 2024, National Geographic and Cengage extended their National Geographic Learning partnership through 2040 to continue bringing the world to the classroom and the classroom to life with rich content and experiences.
“We are proud that our partnership with the National Geographic Society is expanding further as we explore all the ways we can change the typical classroom experience together and provide a window to the world for students,” said Michael Hansen, chief executive officer of Cengage. “Our mission at Cengage is to provide education for employment – empowering learners with the skills and experiences they need to achieve their education and career goals. Our partnership with National Geographic helps us realize this ambition; by leveraging the insights, experiences and imagery of National Geographic Explorers we are able to better develop engaging and impactful educational experiences that prepare students to lead fulfilling lives in the real world. The opportunity to get students out of the classroom and into the world of an Explorer through the National Geographic Learning Launchpad is a remarkable next step for this collaboration.”
The National Geographic Museum of Exploration, where the National Geographic Learning Launchpad will be housed, is currently under construction and will open in 2026. To find out more information and updates on Base Camp, visit us here.
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