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New Zealand and Australia 2028 Informational Meeting--Tuesday, May 12th at 7pm in VLHS Family Room
Penelope S.
Berlin, Prague, and The Alps 2023
Portugal and Spain 2025
I do not know where I would be without travel.
Going into high school, I really had a hard time, and I was going through many life-changing family events. My parents signed me up for the Germany, Prague, and the Alps trip. I really felt indifferent about going. However, this trip would change my life.
I knew no one going on the trip. I was one of three sophomores going, however, I made so many connections and friends that I keep in contact with to this day. Going on that first trip sparked a love for adventure in me along with my love for learning being discovered. Seeing the places that history has unfolded was so magical.
By going I was able to experience a whole other culture and the world started to feel smaller. The guides at EF are amazing and they want kids to know more about the world. Our first guide, Jenny, taught us so much about Germany and, specifically, Berlin because she is from Berlin. I learned about things that I would never have known actually happened because Jenny was able to share her lived experience. She made the trip 100% amazing.
When I came home after this trip, the adults around me could see the impact this trip had on me. People were telling my parents and me that I seemed more mature, confident, and well-rounded. My parents were thrilled I went from a hot-mess,to a kid who wanted to learn more and who was engaged in school.
And I did change because of this trip; I changed so much that I wanted to go again. So I did go again. At the end of my senior year I went to Spain and Portugal which was, again, another amazing experience.
That trip was different however, because I saw girls who were my age going on the trip alone—just like I did that a couple of years earlier. It felt very full circle to see other people taking that same first step I did. A step that I think made me who I am today. Now my love for travel didn't stop there, I spent my first semester of college in Florence, Italy. I didn't know anyone going to Italy; I don't speak Italian. But I felt comfortable to take that leap; traveling in high school allowed me to say “yes” to that opportunity.
Traveling in high school has helped me gain more motivation, leadership skills, and has provided me with the gift of a love of adventure.
Lauryn C.
Portugal and Spain 2025
A favorite memory of travel is just being with everyone you meet. I loved Carlos, our tour director, especially when he played music on the bus. The trip was well worth it; we were able to see so many beautiful views and explore the cities. I was able to collect a Starbucks cup from every town we visited. I enjoyed when we got to go to the beach and jump into the Atlantic Ocean off the top of the boat, I learned I don’t like salt water, but the experience topped everything."
zeke P.
Berlin, Prague, and The Alps 2023
"I had an incredible time traveling to Europe with VLHS in 2023! One of the best parts of the experience was making many memories with classmates and other friends from high school, some that we would even reference bumping back into each other at graduation parties during the summer. Also, as an aspiring Social Studies teacher, going to Europe with VLHS was a phenomenal way to gather my own pictures as well as compile stories and information from tour guides that I can share with my future students. One instance that immediately comes to mind was, in the summer of 2023, we visited Berlin and I was able to take my own pictures of Checkpoint Charlie and other famous sites associated with the Berlin Wall. It will be really cool to share with my students that "I was really there." Finally, I'd say taking the opportunity to travel abroad with VLHS helped expose me to the wider world outside of the US which may sound intimidating, but because you are traveling with people you know, it is a wonderful, eye-opening experience."
Abigail S.
Portugal and Spain 2025; Switzerland, Italy, and France 2026
“I really enjoyed learning about how different people live around the world. I feel like a lot of us that don't travel a lot don't take into consideration that other people live differently. I also really like all of the buildings and scenery. Just knowing that those buildings were hundreds of years old and are still being used and kept up so well is really cool. I also really liked the food; getting to try new things—and learning that I like those things—was fun.”
The Roberts Family
Our Germany and Switzerland trip was incredible and so well planned from start to finish. EF Tours and Ms. Weilnau worked hard to make sure we were prepared and able to experience the best highlights in every place we visited.
We loved the mix of everything, from the history in Berlin to the beauty of Dresden, Prague, Munich, and Zurich. The experience just kept getting better with each stop. We thought Dresden would be the highlight, then Prague somehow topped it. Munich brought such a fun city vibe, and ending in Zurich was the perfect way to take in stunning scenery and enjoy some unforgettable mountaintop hiking AND CHOCOLATE!
We never had to stress about a thing, even when one of us didn’t get their luggage at the start of the trip, lol! EF Tours and Ms. Weilnau truly made it easy to enjoy every moment. The whole trip felt smooth, well paced, and thoughtfully put together. It’s definitely one of those experiences that will stay in our hearts for a lifetime.
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