The meeting for the Educational Travel Program’s trip to Italy and Greece in 2022 was held on Nov. 19, by Jancy Davis, the director for this program and also a math teacher at Manhattan High. 

“The meeting went really well,” Davis said. “There is a great deal of interest in the trip and several participants have already enrolled.” 

The program goes through Explorica, a traveling company that helps with student trips such as this one. With the pandemic, there have been changes to how things will run. Masks will be provided as well as frequent hand washing breaks and hand sanitizers. When students arrive, the staff will brief everyone on the guidelines and protocols. Hotels will be thoroughly cleaned and prepared for students to stay. Schedules will be adjusted to maximize the experience while also following the new safety and healthy protocols. The main focus is to focus heavily on enhancing sanitary conditions and creating health protocols to ensure the safety of the students and teachers going.

A more positive change to this trip is that it will end with a four-day Aegean Cruise to the Greek Islands, as many other tours have not offered something such as this.

There are some extra pieces of information that need to be addressed regarding the trip. First, the trips are not sponsored or supported in any way by USD383, this is something Davis wanted to do for the students. 

Teacher to chaperone ratio will be one teacher to 10 students or less.

The EarlyBird Enrollment Discount is only available until Nov. 30th, and Risk Free Booking is only available for participants who are enrolled by Dec. 15th.

The trip provides much for the students, and it also is great for Daivs who love to share her love of travel with the students and open up their eyes to new cultures. 

“I am the most excited to share my love for travel with students in my community.  As for this trip specifically, I have always loved Greek and Roman Mythology,” Davis said, “so I am extremely excited to have the opportunity to visit all of the buildings, temples and museums in both Italy and Greece.”