Traveling internationally for school trips can be transformative experience for kids. It broadens their perspective, enhances their understanding of different cultures, and fosters independence and adaptability. These trips provide real-world learning opportunities that go beyond the classroom making education more engaging and memorable
For Ms. O’Keeffe, sending her kids on international adventures is an investment in their future, fostering a broader worldwide and a deeper understanding of different cultures.
“So it’s important to note that the trips are not school sponsored, and they’re private trips, so the cool part is that I can pick where I think travelers want to go. I have a ton of different options, so I ask kids what they’d like, and then I start building a plan. The private company we use is incredibly experienced and they give us great support to make really awesome itineraries,” Ms. O’Keeffe said.
Ms. O’Keeffe has put so much of her time and energy into these trips, and she enjoys every minute of them.
“I had so much fun last year, and I’m really looking forward to my upcoming trips. I really feel that seeing the world changes you in a way that media and classroom models can’t. I think that those are both incredibly important, but there’s something about BEING there and seeing the things we read about and studying for yourself,” Ms. O’Keeffe said.
Most international trips for kids typically range from a few days to a couple of weeks, depending on the destination
“Our trip to Ireland, England, Scotland, and Wales was 14 days. Our trip this summer is France, Germany, Austria, and Switzerland (also a pop into Lichtenstein!) for 10 days. Next summer, I’m traveling with students to Belize for 7 days on a STEM based trip to study the ocean and rainforest!” Ms. O’Keeffe said.
Ms. O’Keeffe, as always been a travel enthusiast; she has fond memories of living in Germany and always cherishes the enriching experiences that come with new culture
“When I was at NAU, I had the opportunity to do my student teaching with the Department of Defense Schools. I had to work really hard to get accepted into the program, and the deal was that I wouldn’t actually know where I was going until a few months before leaving. I was super lucky to get to live in Western Germany for the better part of a year, and from there we used every weekend and holiday to travel to other places in Europe. At the end of our student teaching, the person I was student teaching with (who is now, to this day, my dearest, best friend) and I backpacked across 12 countries in 2 months. Actually, she’s bringing students from her school on the same trip I’m taking this summer, so we’ll finally be able to travel together again,” Ms. O’Keeffe said.
Ms. O’Keefe has been all over the world, but there has been a couple of places that she visited that she wished she could’ve stayed longer: Scotland and Paris.
“Oh, that’s a hard one. I truly wish I had the means to live in a place for a few months to REALLY get the place, and then move to the next spot like a nomad. I think that I didn’t get nearly enough time in Scotland, and I always love Paris. Paris is a truly incredible city.”
Overall, Ms. O’Keefee’s passion for traveling, combined with her experience from living in Germany makes her an ideal advocate for these international trips as she understands the impact they have on her students.
