CWDHS students are getting set to travel to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil in the spring of 2014.
Diane Ballantyne, head of the History department and the trip coordinator says “International travel is incredibly educational for young people. They find themselves completely immersed in language, culture, religion, history and food all at once. So much learning occurs in addition to creating life-long memories in a safe and supervised environment.”
Ballantyne, and her colleague Jim Mason, head of the English department, have done half a dozen student trips to such far flung places as Egypt, Turkey, Peru and Greece. “We have travelled to five continents, with over 150 students, including some amazing parents”.
Ballantyne explains Brazil was chosen as it is a nation that is being featured on the world stage in a very big way. Rio is the location for 2014 FIFA World cup next summer and is the host city for the 2016 Summer Olympics.
“I thought it would be amazing for students to spend a week in this city and then come home to watch the World Cup and Olympics coverage and say ‘Hey, I remember that place! I was there.’” It is expected that tourism will surge after these two international events, and with that, prices will as well. It seemed like the right time to see a city on the cusp of great things, she said. Aside from that, the city of Rio itself is a UNESCO World Heritage site and is home to one of the Seven Wonders of the World – the Christ the Redeemer statue. “We plan to summit local mountains, hike through a rain forest, wander the historic districts of Rio and soak up some Samba music.”
Ballantyne said. There are still a few spots left on this trip of a lifetime. Contact diane.ballantyne@ugdsb.on.ca or check out the itinerary on http://www.explorica.ca/, tour number Ballantyne-9800.
