Principal Woodlock Serves Up Smorgasbord of Student Travel/Service Opportunities

by John Ellenberger

   This year High School Principal Michael Woodlock continued his efforts to expand travel opportunities for Groton Dunstable students during the next school year (2020). Although many of these opportunities are still in the early planning stages, interested parents are encouraged to attend a “travel night” on Thursday, October 25 to hear more details and to interact with the individuals planning the various trips.   

    For service-oriented opportunities the high school will offer two trips (winter and summer) to Camp Sunshine in Maine which serves families with children who have a life-threatening illness. Similarly, there is a plan to repeat this year’s upcoming trip to Give Kids the World Village in central Florida which provides housing for families visiting local resorts under the auspices of organizations such as the Make a Wish Foundation.  

   Foreign Language chair Jacqueline Liebold is planning to offer a student exchange program with Costa Rica.  This program would be similar in nature to the ongoing GD student exchange program with Germany. The Costa Rica exchange program is already offered by other districts in the area. 

  In addition to the exchange programs, Assistant Principal Rick Arena is planning a European “home stay” program which facilitates students touring Europe while staying with pre-approved host families around Europe.

     GD high school also plans to offer three tours through EF tours, a commercial travel company in Cambridge specializing in student educational themed tours.  These trips would be offered in spring. These include a STEM-focused trip to the Panama Canal and the rain forest, a trip to Peru which includes a community service component and finally, a trip to South Africa to view wildlife and learn about the political history of apartheid.  These three trips will be taken in spring.

    Various payment options are available depending on the trip. Trips are open to eighth graders who will be attending high school at the time of travel. Travel offerings are subject to approval by the superintendent and school committee and will be offered only if there is enough interest.