Heather Latter
Now raising
funds for trip
to Europe
The newly-formed “Travel Club” at Fort Frances High School will see about 20 students heading to England and France over the March Break.
But they already are beginning their fundraising efforts to help lower the cost.
“It’s for students who aren’t involved in the groups that usually go on trips,” explained Susan De Gagne, the teacher in charge of the club.
“There is lots of opportunity for kids in art, band, and French to travel but not kids with other interests,” she noted, citing the trip originally began as a chance to bring some students to see Vimy Ridge for its 95th anniversary.
“But it developed into more than just a history trip and we opened it up to other students,” De Gagne added.
“We will be covering a lot of different subjects.”
To join the “Travel Club,” students must be in Grades 11 or 12 and meet the criteria regarding marks and attendance.
“But other than that, it’s open to everyone,” De Gagne said, noting there are some club members who have never been further than Minneapolis and others who have travelled as far as Ecuador, Alaska, and the Galapagos Islands.
“So it is a wide range, which is nice.”
The trip has been planned with EF Educational Tours and students will visit many of the typical tourist attractions, such as the Eiffel Tower, Versailles, Westminster Abbey, and the 2012 Summer Olympic sites in London.
But they also will partake in some more unconventional activities, including cricket lessons at Lord’s Cricket Ground in London and an impressionist painting class in Paris.
“We wanted them to be able to experience things, so the trip would be more than just looking at things,” De Gagne enthused.
“It’ll be a different cultural experience.”
In addition, each student has been asked to come up with a travel “mission”—find something they are interested in to learn more about while they’re in England and France.
De Gagne said the travel mission could be anything from fashion or food to music or architecture.
“Travel is more meaningful if you are interested in something before you go,” she reasoned.
“It makes the trip more interesting and memorable, and it adds more depth to the trip.”
Students then will share what they learned when they return.
De Gagne stressed the “Travel Club” is not meant to take over the other trips offered at Fort High; rather, it just adds another option.
Two other groups at the high school will be planning trips for the 2012-13 school year, with the senior band heading to Cuba and the art classes travelling to Greece.
“We’d like to keep the Travel Club going after this trip,” De Gagne stressed, adding they would look to travel every other year, alternating with the trips planned by other groups.
“We’ve had a good response for the club,” she added. “The kids are really excited.”
“I am most excited about two things,” noted member Shanna Whalen. “One is climbing the Eiffel Tower. It has always been something I wanted to do.
“The other thing, which might sound silly, is hopefully eating Chinese food in England.
“I mean, honestly, how many people can say they ate Chinese food while they were in England?”
“I am looking forward to visiting the historical landmarks such as the Eiffel Tower, Westminster Abbey, and the Arc de Triomphe,” enthused Kiela Ford.
“I am really interested in history, and seeing the landmarks in person would be amazing.”
The students each will be fundraising for their own trip. Whatever they raise will come off the cost.
And they have been planning several fundraisers, including selling poinsettias from Lowey’s, a yard sale in the cafeteria at the end of the month, and a movie night.
They’re also hoping to take on the citrus fruit sales, in addition to selling tickets for a dinner out while the club members baby-sit the children.
Watch for more information about these fundraisers or contact De Gagne at Fort High (274-7747).
