Exploring new horizons

By Adyson Rackley, Contributing Writer

Adventurous spirits and eager eyes were illuminated as Centralia High School (CHS) students embarked on their journey through Europe. ​

 Historical landmarks and exciting European adventure were ready to be explored by the members of the Travel Abroad Trip this past summer. 

This summer, 17 bright-eyed students were itching to visit some of the most iconic landmarks of Ireland and England, such as the Tower of London, Buckingham Palace, Big Ben and Westminster Abbey. The trip to Buckingham Palace was extra special to this group because King Charles was residing in the castle at the time. Their local tour guide explained to the group that the King is rarely in attendance at the palace. 

The adventure started on June 6 at the St. Louis, MO airport with their bags freshly packed and spirits high for their takeoff to Dublin, Ireland. The crew landed in Ireland’s vibrant capital to check in at their first hotel to get some much comfier rest. 

The fun-filled week included more sightseeing to villages and landmarks such as Shakespeare’s birthplace, Anne Hathaway’s cottage and a ferry trip to Conwy Castle. When asked what location senior Haley Ludwig was most excited to see, she responded with, “Buckingham Palace.” Another senior attendee, Samantha Scheeler’s reason  for attending the trip was, “This was kind of like my senior trip and Ireland has been on my bucket list for awhile.” Chaperone of the trip and CHS Language Arts/Publications teacher, Mrs. Jennifer Ludwig stated “Conwy Castle in Wales was my favorite spot.” The group was also able to find a cozy cafe while exploring that served cream tea, scones, hot tea and jam. 

It is the student’s responsibility to fund their trip. Students had a personal fundraising page which they were encouraged to send to family and friends who wanted to contribute donations towards the nine-day trip cost. The travel group as a whole also hosted events to generate funding.

Students can attend future Travel Abroad Trips by appearing at the informational session hosted by Mrs. Ludwig at CHS. The upcoming trip for summer of 2025 is Japan. 

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