bbin娱乐平台 Global Travel: Spring Break Trip Recaps
Over March break, 51 students and 9 adults traveled to Roatán, Greece, and Arizona as part of bbin娱乐平台’s Global Travel Program, which emphasizes hands-on, experiential learning, and relevance to the bbin娱乐平台 curriculum. View complete photo albums from the 2025 spring break here: Roatán | Greece | Arizona
Home base for the Roatán trip, led by bbin娱乐平台 biology teacher Dr. Colleen Krivacek, was the Roatán Institute for Marine Sciences (RIMS), surrounded by over 30 miles of fringing and barrier reefs, seagrass beds, mangroves, and pristine shoreline – a living laboratory and part of the second largest barrier reef system in the world. Student travelers experienced a deep dive (literally!) into marine biology: their classrooms included the Caribbean Sea, with twice-a-day snorkeling sessions, and the wet and dry labs of RIMS. Throughout the week, students had the opportunity to work alongside marine biologists, participating in cutting-edge research projects and conservation programs aimed at protecting the fragile marine ecosystems of Roatán.
Trip participant Finn Hoebelheinrich ’25 reflects: “I really enjoyed getting to connect my coursework in marine biology, my senior thesis, and my general passion for marine biology/plans for the future with the trip. The academic [piece] was really valuable, and I loved getting to put it in practice snorkeling. I can’t emphasize enough how much I loved this trip and this opportunity, and I think it was the perfect way to close off my time at bbin娱乐平台. I found the way the lectures and snorkels were tied together to be very interesting, and I liked being able to take something I’d learned in lecture about a certain type of coral or invertebrate or fish and connect it to something I noticed in the water. I also thought the REEF fish identification process was very valuable, and it was cool to be able to recognize and identify progressively more fish as the week went on and we learned more species. And getting to contribute to real databases (and learn survey methods) was awesome too!”
The Greece trip, led by classics and history teacher Dr. Mark Alonge, explored Greece’s rich tradition of self-government from antiquity to today. Students learned about ancient history and the modern political climate, probing how the legacy of ancient Greece affects modern Greek identity. With expert guides, students visited the ancient archaeological sites of Nemea, Mycenae, Messene, Olympia, Delphi, and Athens. Along the way, they learned about the importance of ceramics in ancient and modern Greece while creating their own works of art. Their exploration of Greek food included a cooking class to expand their knowledge and skills in the kitchen. After walking the grounds of the Agora, the center of ancient Athenian civic life, students spoke with a local democracy watchdog organization about current issues impacting the region. Students reflected on their experience by making zines with a local Athenian artist.
Lyahnnette Morales ’27 summarizes the educational experience, explaining: “I got to understand and see things we’ve only read about in person. The trip provided immersive and experiential learning beyond textbooks and lectures, bringing the history we study to life.”
The Arizona trip, led by history teacher Ms. Emily Kamen, explored Arizona through three lenses of inquiry: climate change, water in the West, and Indigenous land rights. Students walked among ancient Indigenous petroglyph sites and dwellings at Picture Canyon and Montezuma Castle National Monument. At the Grand Canyon, students hiked along the rim after gaining a deeper understanding of its ecological and cultural significance to the Four Corners region. They also engaged with an advocacy group to learn about the ongoing threats posed by uranium mining. Students learned from two Hopi artists, who shared their craft and the stories behind their work. Inspired by these conversations, students had the chance to create their own art, incorporating symbols and narratives they had encountered. Students took moments to pause and reflect while hiking among Sedona’s red rock landscapes and Flagstaff’s scenic trails—absorbing the beauty and complexity of the land they had spent time learning about.
Reflecting on the experience, one student traveler shared: “The most valuable part of the program was that I learned things about Native American culture I wouldn’t be able to find online. Speaking with Indigenous people in Arizona gave the best possible insight into how they live and how they feel.”