|
|
(For High School Students)
The Emerald Isle
Cultural Exchange & Service Program
Session One: June 29th thru July 23th (25 days)
Size of group: 16-18 students
Ages: 14 to 17
Tuition: $5,295 (plus RT airfare, group flight from Newark)
Irish culture is filled with music, dance, poetry, and a warm hospitality that invites you to share in all its splendor. 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*
- Plant trees with the Irish Woodland Trust
- Assist a local community day-care program
- Construct playgrounds for elementary schools
- Develop the Peace Gardens of Balleyshannon
- Engage in building a Culture of Peace alongside Irish youth
Adventure and Cultural Activities
- Explore history-rich Dublin, New Grange, and the Boyne area
- Play Gaelic football and learn to speak some basic Gaelic phrases
- Learn to surf in one of Europe’s hottest surf spots
- Take in a high stepping dance show on the Aran Islands
- Bike and hike thru the small fishing villages of Inishmore Island
- Discover the extensive caves and rock cliffs in the Burren
*Please note that some of the projects and activities will change from year to year. A final itinerary will be printed prior to each trip.
SAMPLE ITINERARY
Drogheda, Dublin & County Longford (7 days) – Drogheda and Dublin provide a fascinating contrast of the new high-tech modern Ireland with the old and historically rich side of the country. Starting our trip here 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 to the bustling city of Dublin 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 Co. 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 Castlerose 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 between 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 learning some traditional Irish dances. Excursions include a voyage back in time to the famed Aran Islands, where we will 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 its miles of white sand! Based in the resort town of Downings, we will explore this amazing landscape, hike its tallest mountain, Mt.Errigal at 756 meters, and assist in the rebuilding of a pre-historic Ironage hillfort. Here we will work alongside grassroots organizations addressing
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 and join local youth groups in their communities and learn how they are to bridging the
differences of the past by developing connections and friendships. 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 to 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.
|
| Back to top |
|
 |
|
 "Click to enlarge Ireland map.")