International travel opportunities abound at TGS
The Gregory School’s mission challenges students to make a positive impact in the world. One of the many ways we strive to meet this mission is through opportunities for international travel. After all, what better way is there for students to think about the impact they want to have than to actually see and experience the world?
As TGS Digital Arts teacher and Costa Rica and Southeast Asia trips leader Mr. Stephen Krohn wrote, “When students travel, they expand their knowledge of the world around them, discover more about themselves, and grow more confident. These skills are critical for creating the global citizens of tomorrow.”
We are fortunate to have the faculty and the connections to other programs to offer a diverse array of opportunities to our students.
Asia
Mr. Stephen Krohn is planning a trip to Thailand, Vietnam, and Cambodia for the summer of 2025. The trip is open to students who will be in grades 8 - 12. Highlights will include Angkor Wat, Ho Chi Minh, and Bangkok, with a focus on history, including temples, ruins, and war, and culture, including food, dancing, music and art.
Costa Rica
In the summer of 2023, Mr. Krohn took a group of 8th-12th graders to Costa Rica. The group visited Arenal, La Fortuna, San Jose, and Manuel Antonio National Park, among other highlights. The trip’s focus was primarily nature and adventure in nature, including zip lining and kayaking. The Costa Rica trip may be offered again in 2026 or 2027.
France
French teacher Mme Amy Clashman led a 10-day spring break trip to France in 2023 for 8th-12th grade students who studied French. The trip included stays in Normandy, Brittany, and the Loire Valley, as well as several days in Paris. It focused on history, arts, and culture, as well as plenty of time to shop, be a tourist, experience regional cuisine,and practice speaking French. The students even got to spend a morning in a French school. Mme Clashman hopes to offer another trip to France for spring break 2025.
Italy
Every year since 1996, Latin teachers Mr. Jim Carlson and Mr. Jeff Clashman have led summer trips to Italy. More recent trips have been open to parents as well. The trips focus on a particular region of Italy. For example, the summer 2024 trip will be visiting the south, including Sicily, Calabria, Campania, and Rome. If you want expert knowledge of Italy and its history explained to you by two master teachers, and if you also want to have fun, look no further.
Spain
A group of upper school Spanish students, along with some members of the student International Club, will travel to Spain for spring break this year. Led by Spanish teacher Sra. Noriega, the group will visit several locations, among them, Figueres, Girona, Barcelona, Segovia, Toledo, El Escorial, and Madrid. Sra Noriega explained, “The purpose of the trip is mainly to practice the language in an authentic setting, but also to expose our students to other cultures”. We hope to have another Spanish language trip soon, but to Mexico, either to San Miguel de Allende or Magdalena-Hemosillo-San Carlos.
Service Learning in Kenya
While not a Gregory School program, The Gregory School has a long-standing relationship with Service Learning In Kenya (SLIK), and several of our upper school students go on this trip each summer. SLIK’s primary focus is to provide an opportunity for high school students to serve as volunteer teachers at primary schools in Kenya, not only teaching in the classroom, but tutoring, helping after school activities and more. Beyond this, there is plenty of time for exploring and just having fun.
In addition, our faculty are always coming up with new ideas and building new connections, so keep looking for additional travel opportunities in the future!