Destinations Read Like a Travel Brochure of Some of the World's Best Places; Some Trips Open to the Public
Wilmington College is taking hands-on learning activities outside the classroom to new heights — and distances — this year.
(PICTURED) A combination of Wilmington College students, faculty, staff and members of the community-at-large enjoyed a spring break trip to Greece in 2015. They are pictured at the Temple of Poseidon.
Opportunities students have to learn and serve outside of the campus and Ohio sound more like destinations on a travel agency brochure than what many would expect a small college to offer: France, Holland, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Hawaii, Belize, Washington, D.C., and even the Super Bowl.
“These are short-term, hands-on learning programs featuring study tours, cultural immersion, real-life interaction, academic major-related work and even service projects,” said Dr. Angela Mitchell, associate professor of business administration and the leader of one of the spring break trips.
“In my experience, these educational tours have not only complemented courses taught in the classroom, but they also serve to give participants a greater global perspective and appreciation for other cultures — plus foster a lifelong love for travel.”
Some of the trips are open for community participation.
Two spring break trips in March share France as a destination, however, they feature distinct itineraries. Dr. Marta Wilkinson, associate professor of English, is organizing a tour of France that features excursions to Paris, the Loire Valley and Normandy, while Mitchell is leading a tour of Paris and Amsterdam.
Both of these tours feature a $150 discount if participants register before the end of October. The leaders can be reached for more details at marta_wilkinson@wilmington.edu and angela_mitchell@wilmington.edu.
Heading in the other direction — west — over spring break is a trip to Hawaii with an equine and agriculture-flavor that will include not only many of the popular historic and tourist destinations on Oahu, but also horseback riding and a visit to a pineapple plantation. Open to the public, the contact persons are Chad McKay, visiting assistant professor of agriculture, and Bethany Siehr, assistant professor of equine business management. They can be contacted at chad_mckay@wilmington.edu and bethany_siehr@wilmington.edu.
Ecuador is the destination for Dr. Tom Stilwell’s class on Andean agriculture. Among other attractions, it will feature a look at high altitude farms, visits to greenhouses and the opportunity to interact with Ecuadorian farmers. This spring break trip is open to the public. He can be reached at tom_stillwell@wilmington.edu.
In May, the women’s basketball team will travel to Costa Rica for tourism and competition. While the team will train and compete, the itinerary also features a number of ecotourism stops and activities like zip-lining and whitewater river rafting. Those interested from the public should contact group leaders Dr. Michael Snarr, professor of political science, or head coach Jerry Scheve (michael_snarr@wilmington.edu and jerry_scheve@wilmington.edu) .
All of these study tours have a study component prior to the trip. In fact, many students are taking a course that includes the tour for international academic credit. All trip participants, students and otherwise, are able to attend the lectures associated with the respective study tours. Also, once in-country, professional tour directors and guides will lead the excursions.
In addition to these trips, campus minister Nancy McCormick is heading a service trip to the central American nation of Belize over spring break. Working out of a Friends school, participants will tutor children and lead other after-school activities. Information is available by contacting her at nancy_mccormick@wilmington.edu.
Experiences designed especially for WC students include three Washington, D.C., lobby trips, two this fall with an agriculture theme and one in March that will highlight the plight of refugees. They will learn lobbying techniques from experts associated with the Friends Committee on National Legislation and actually lobby their elected representatives. Also, many students are taking classes associated with these lobby trips, which constitute what has become a signature WC hands-on learning experience.
Finally, sport management students will combine their love for sport and big-time sporting events when they work at the Super Bowl in Minneapolis, as well as college football’s Music City Bowl in Nashville and the national championship game in Atlanta.
Also, in December, following the end of the semester, students have an opportunity to travel to Washington, D.C., to see some of the nation’s greatest museums, monuments and memorials.
