(For High School Students)
The Emerald Isle Adventure
4-Week Cultural Exchange & Service Program
Session : June 28th - July 22nd (25 days)
Average size of group : 18 - 20 students
Grades for session : 9 - 12
Tuition for 25 day program : $5695 (plus RT airfare, group flight from Newark)
* This Program Offers Staff Escorted Group Flights
Irish culture is filled with music, dance, poetry, and a hospitality that invites you to share in its warmth and wonders. A journey through Ireland echoes with ghosts of the past: Druids, Celts, Vikings, Medieval castles, Oliver Cromwell, harsh famines, and the struggles for peace. With days full of service, adventure, and interaction with our Irish friends, we will explore this magical island and introduce ourselves to the history, landscape, and people that make it so enchanting.
Service Projects*
- Earn 50-70 community service hours
- Plant trees with the Irish Woodland Trust
- Assist a local community day-care program
- Construct playgrounds for elementary schools
- Engage in building a Culture of Peace alongside Irish youth
Adventure and Cultural Activities
- Learn to surf in one of Europe’s hottest surf spots
- See a high stepping dance show
- Take excursions to the Giant’s Causeway and the Cliffs of Moher, two of Ireland’s most amazing natural sights
- Bike and hike thru the small fishing villages of Inishmore Island
- Play Gaelic football and learn to speak some basic Gaelic phrases
- Explore history-rich Dublin, New Grange, and the Boyne area
*Please note that some of the projects and activities will change from year to year, however, they will be similar to those listed. A final itinerary will be printed prior to each trip.
SAMPLE ITINERARY
Drogheda, Dublin & County Longford (7 days) – Starting our trip in Dublin provides for an incredible introduction to Ireland as well as a wonderful backdrop for getting to know one another through teambuilding activities. We will take day trips around the bustling city for some sightseeing, shopping on Grafton Street, and authentic Irish fish and chips. We will take a guided tour of the Boyne Valley area, home to many historically significant events in Irish history. These day visits will provide us with a cultural and historical context for remainder of our journey, an important element in the Ireland program! In County Longford, we join the Native Woodland Trust learning about conservation efforts in Ireland while helping plant tree saplings. After a few days of service, we will explore the central Lake Country of Ireland and discover its many hidden secrets, as well as meet up with a local youth group for fun games and activities.
County Galway and the West of Ireland (6 days) – From Dublin our group travels to County Galway on the West Coast of Ireland. The West is home to dramatic landscapes: towering seaside cliffs, the moon-like Aran Islands, bog lands, and breathtaking mountain views. We will make beautiful Kylemore Abbey our home and spend our project days working alongside our Irish friends on construction projects for a local elementary school and environmental education projects with the Connemara National Park. When our service work is finished, we’ll visit the town of Clifden for music night and traditional Irish dancing. Excursions include a voyage back in time to the famed Aran Islands, where we will stay overnight and bike and trek across ancient sights.
County Donegal (9 days) – The windswept beaches of Donegal rival the Caribbean for its beauty and miles of white sand! Based in the resort town of Downings, we will explore this amazing landscape, including an excursion to The Giant’s Causeway, one of Ireland’s most amazing natural sights, and work with regional grassroots organizations. With local youth groups, we address issues of Peace, Healing, and Reconciliation in Ireland, Northern Ireland, and around the world. In search of a peaceful future, we will visit the provocative murals in the walled city of Derry. Our journey through Donegal will also take us into Yeats country for a Gaelic football lesson, some incredibly exciting surfing lessons with the Donegal Adventure Center, a listen to local musicians, and the chance to meet warm, friendly people who are never short of a good Irish story!
Gallway City and The Burren (3 days) – To round out our journey, we end in the unique limestone landscape of the Burren. Our final days are full of adventure as we go rock climbing and caving with the Burren Outdoor Education Center. There will be plenty of time to do some last minute souvenir shopping in the charming city of Galway, where we can explore the local artist markets and listen to the many talented street musicians. We’ll visit the beautiful Cliffs of Moher for a view to home across the Atlantic and share a last dinner together before flying home from Shannon. As the trip comes to a close, you will no doubt acknowledge the spirit and magic you’ve uncovered on this incredible Emerald Isle, and you’ll want to return again and again.
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 "Click to enlarge Ireland map.")