Travel Courses 2016

JANUARY 2016
Europe
Spend January of next year touring the most famous and beautiful spots in Europe — see EIGHT countries for the price of one! Locations are Amsterdam, Prague, Munich, Salzburg, Rome, Vatican City, Pompeii, Florence, Paris, and London. Just some of the sites include castles, museums, a concentration camp, the Eiffel Tower, and Stonehenge! Wind Goodfriend and Annamaria Elsden

French Polynesia
Tahiti, Bora Bora, Huahine, Maupiti and other islands that make up French Polynesia will be our classroom as we explore environmental issues, culture and law enforcement structures of these islands. We’ll live in a home where the back yard is the most beautiful, peaceful lagoon, and learn about the culture, life, and go behind the scenes in this French influenced police system. Estimated costs: $4,900 for 2 and 1Ž2 weeks (17 days) limited to maximum of 10 students. Swasti Bhattacharyya and Stephanie Hays

Romania: Making a difference in children’s lives
Travel to Barlad, Romania for 3 weeks including 10 volunteering days. We will work with infants and toddlers with special needs in the St. Nicholas Children’s Hospital. We will partner with Global Volunteers, a private, non-profit (501C-3) tax-exempt organization, from Minneapolis/St. Paul, and partner with other volunteers worldwide. After volunteering and over the weekend, we will explore historic and cultural cites such as the “Bran Castle” and “Peles Castle” in Transylvania and Bucharest. Estimated total cost is $4,700. Miyuki Vamadevan Arimoto and Peter Johnson

A Forgiveness Journey through the Dominican Republic and Haiti
During our two weeks together, we will look at forgiveness from both the psychological and theological perspective through volunteering, readings, personal reflections, and intentional group discussion. As we volunteer alongside locals in Haiti and the Dominican Republic we will study and analyze the two very different cultures and countries that reside on the same island. This is an opportunity for us to explore forgiveness through the eyes, words and perceptions of individuals who have struggled to come to terms with self and others in light of their sometimes painful history. Join us on this journey of hope, healing and forgiveness through serving others. Estimated trip cost $3,500. Student Limit: 10 Ashley Farmer-Hanson and Ken Meissner

Disney: 2016 Storytelling with Walt Disney by Land and Sea Walt Disney World, Universal Studios & Disney Cruise Business & Media
The Business & Media Interim travel course examines the business and communication strategies of effective storytelling, and shares how “Walt Disney’s Way” can be used in any field of study or career. Our storytelling journey begins in Orlando, Florida, home of Walt Disney World and Universal Studios Florida and extends to the Disney Dream on the Disney Cruise Line. The group will spend 17 exciting days learning about Walt Disney and how he created a whole new art form designing a new business of storytelling. The students will personally cruise with internationally known Disney historian and author of over 8 books regarding Disney and animation, Jim Korkis on the Disney Dream to the Bahamas. The Estimated cost is $2,750. Enrollment limit of 8 students. Jerry Johnson and Henry Hardt

Naturally Nicaragua
Are you looking for an international interim travel course which will utilize your skills as you work directly with children, enhance your knowledge as well as your perception of Central America, and rejuvenate your spirit? This course does all that and much more. Travel to Nicaragua’s primary coffee producing area to work in an established program promoting literacy and life skills with children during the first half of this course. Then explore the country to discover sweeping rainforests busy with wildlife, amazing beaches, active volcanoes, and misty, jaw-dropping vistas over one of the strangest and most beautiful lakes in the world, Lake Nicaragua. If you are looking for an amazing January experience the answer is “Naturally Nicaragua”. Robbie Ludy and Bev Ahern

American College Theatre Festival, Minneapolis
Students in this class will spend two weeks doing research and preparing material for auditions, design competitions, summer job interviews, and workshops at the Region V American College Theatre Festival. The final week of the course will be spent in Minneapolis at the Region V Kennedy Center/American College Theatre Festival, during which they will gather with over 1500 students from North Dakota, South Dakota, Minnesota, Nebraska, Kansas, Missouri, and Iowa to compete in various categories, attend plays and special performances, and participate in workshops and auditions. Bethany Larson and David Walker

Bozeman, Montana Outdoor Recreation
An outdoor recreation course in the mountains just outside of Bozeman, Montana at Lion’s Ridge camp. This course will have three major themes: outdoor recreation, outdoor leadership, and spiritual and personal transformation. Students will learn a variety of outdoor skills including avalanche awareness, backcountry travel, winter camping and survival skills, skiing, ice climbing, orienteering, risk management, and planning and implementing events. Trevor and Lisa both have experience in backcountry outdoor recreation as well as team building. Trevor adds experience in leadership training and Lisa has led a variety of groups in spiritual and personal transformation. In addition, we will utilize the expertise of Lion’s Ridge director, Ryan Connelly. Estimated cost is between $1500-1700. Lisa Mellmann and Trevor Berneking

MAY-JUNE 2016
South Africa
The seventh trip to eastern South Africa will occur during May and June, 2016. The trip will include exploring the Zulu culture, the history of the British and Dutch settling South Africa, and exploring Provincial Preserves as well as the world famous Kruger National Park and animals…animals…animals. Rick Lampe, Mark Kirkholm and Melinda Coogan

Slaínté! The Irish Experience—Ireland
The Emerald Isle has long held an air of mystery and intrigue for travelers. From its stories of the ‘Wee Folk’ and Banshees to the magic of its music and dance, Ireland is truly the place to learn about storytelling in all of its forms. This trip welcomes storytellers of all kinds and will emphasize the importance of learning and sharing the real stories of the Irish culture. We will spend the first part of the Irish experience in a small, remote village meeting its people, learning the customs, and studying the history of the area. We will then explore the rest of the country from it’s breathtaking vistas to its bustling cities. This is a travel trip for people with a wide range of interests because all academic areas are dependent upon great storytelling. Andrea Frantz and Bethany Larson