Over the past decade I have led numerous trips abroad with students and their families.
Most of the trips have been to European countries but we have also traveled to China, Japan and Costa Rica.
In my experience as a teacher, I’ve found that the benefits of travel for students are extensive.
Not only do they experience new places and cultures, but they also gain confidence in themselves and a new perspective on the world.
Learning how to navigate the underground in London, order a meal at a Parisian Restaurant, make sushi in Kyoto, walk along the Great Wall of China, or hike in the Rain Forests of Costa Rica are life changing experiences.
Many students who have traveled with me have gone on to travel extensively on their own and some have even lived in other countries.
They have caught the “Travel Bug!”
I chose to travel with EF Tours (Education First Tours) because they have been in business for over 40 years, have offices around the world, and safety of the students in most important to them.
They provide a full time tour director who is with us the entire tour and makes sure everything runs smoothly.
EF is the largest student travel company in the world and they provide exceptional tours at great prices!
Last year I took students to Italy and Greece during spring break.
We traveled with students from other parts of Western Canada and made many new friends. Seeing so many ancient ruins and sights made the past come to life and learning about history became fun!
Imagine walking through the Roman Forum to the Colosseum or taking a cruise to the Greek Islands and stopping in to spend a day in Turkey! It was a fantastic experience!
In March of 2014 I will be taking a group to Costa Rica to experience this tropical paradise.
We will be hiking in the rain forests, bathing in hot springs warmed by a volcano, zip lining through the trees, kayaking in the lakes and seeing many different wildlife including monkeys, sloths and crocodiles.
In July of 2014, Julia Jack, a teacher at the Carson Campus will be taking a group to explore London, Paris, Venice and Rome!
This will be an amazing trip seeing some of the highlights of Europe — a trip of a lifetime!
In March of 2015, Julia and I are planning a trip to Ireland and Scotland. This will be a fantastic trip where we will tour castles, look for the Loch Ness Monster and experience the culture of the Irish and Scottish people.
If you are interested in any of the tours listed above please contact Julia or myself - start traveling the world!
We take students, teachers and their family and friends on these amazing, educational trips!
The deadline for signing up for the Costa Rica trip is Dec 6 but could be extended. The deadline to sign up for the July trip to Europe is the end of March 2014.
People interested in joining the tours are asked to contact Sharon Smith 250-398-8298 or Julia Jack at Lake City Secondary Williams Lake Campus.
Sharon Smith is a retired School District 27 teacher.