Students Travel Abroad During Spring Break

Spain

17 Berkley High School students, three parents and three teachers traveled to Spain over Spring Break. Students were able to see seven major cities on the trip from Barcelona to Madrid. While the trip was open for any high school student, many students who joined the Spain trip are taking World Language Spanish classes. Students learned about Spanish history and culture from its Moorish roots to modern day, saw amazing architecture, visited palaces, ate tapas and spoke Spanish to the locals! Some of the favorite stops included the Complex of Arts and Sciences in Valencia, the Alhambra in Granada, the Mezquita in Cordoba, a Flamenco show in Barcelona and students were lucky enough to see an Easter Precessional throughout the streets of Granada! Teachers Lynn Lotter, Tracy Burroughs and Saundra Rathburn accompanied the trip.

Ecuador & Galapagos Islands

On March 19th, 28 travelers embarked on a trip to Ecuador and the Galapagos Islands. The group consisted of 14 adults and 14 students with various configurations of families and individual travelers, grades 6-12.

The first stop was in Quito, Ecuador where students saw the city with its native and European influence. Students visited an outdoor "museum" on the zero-degree line of latitude and were able to experience the Coriolis Effect firsthand. 

Next students island hopped among the Galapagos Islands of Santa Cruz, Isabella, and San Cristobal. Each morning, travelers were up at dawn to catch a boat for the island and saw the sun rise over the Pacific Ocean. On the islands, students saw, snorkeled, and sometimes interacted with the unique wildlife: tortoises, sea turtles, blue-footed boobies, penguins, sea lizards, black-tip sharks, and sea lions!

On the last day, the group was back in Quito viewing a spectacular waterfall, learning more about the native culture, including how they dye, prepare, and create textiles, and wandering in the market area shopping and eating native dishes before heading back home.

Teacher leader Athena Troher said, “Everyone in our group had a great time. Friendships were made, new experiences were had, and we all came back with newfound knowledge of places beyond our homes. It was amazing!