Granton School Board approves travel club

By Cheyenne Thomas Traveling to another country to learn more about its culture and history is something that is often a staple of foreign language clubs. At its Jan. 9 regular board meeting, the Granton School Board voted to approve a travel club that would be open to all high school students.

Annette Woller, the district’s kindergarten teacher, presented the idea to the board. In the past, she said students at the district have only had opportunities to travel to foreign countries and other locations to learn about culture and history through clubs such as Spanish Club.

“I want us to be able to give students an opportunity to travel and see other cultures and have it open to everyone, not just those kids who are a part of culture clubs like Spanish Club,” she explained to the board. “When kids who went on the Spanish Club trip went to Belize, those kids learned a lot from the experience. It opened their eyes to different cultures. I want that to be open to all students, not just ones learning a foreign language.”

In her presentation to the board, Woller said that if the club was approved, they would be working with EF (Education First) Educational Tours, a company that specializes in providing educational tours for students and educators. The company also has methods of payment that would allow students to gradually save up money to go on a trip, as well as potential credits they could earn for participating.

“EF Tours are easy to work with and have monthly payment plans that a student can take on to save up for a trip,” she said. “They also have financial aid and grants that kids can apply for to afford to go on trips. They help with passports, rooms and other things they will need for travel.”

By working with EF Educational Tours, students will have the opportunity to earn 0.5 high school credit, or up to three college credits if they fulfill the criteria. Teachers can also earn credits, up to six graduate-level credits or 45 professional learning hours for taking students on trips.

After her presentation, the board asked a few questions about some of the details of the proposed club, such as the grades that would be able to participate as well as how often trips would be planned. Many of those details will have to be worked out, Woller said, but the idea in its current form would make the travel club open to all high school students, at least, and would have international trips every two years.

“They have cheaper trip options that are in-state or in the country for those kids who may not be able to afford to go on an international trip, which is more expensive,” said Woller. “The students will be able to vote on where they want to travel as a group. Spanish Club went on trips every other year, and I think it would be good to plan for an every-other-year trip for the travel club so students are able raise the money needed to travel. The club would do fundraising itself to go on these trips.”

The board decided to approve the travel club by unanimous vote. The club will have its official start in the 2024-25 school year and will be open to both high school and middle school students, with the high school members being able to go on trips.