The Somers Record
Somers Students see the world!
Article written by Anna Timone; Photos provided by Tusker Travels
Tusker Travels is a non-profit educational travel company founded by five Somers High School teachers, Mrs. Brooks, Mrs. Holder, Mrs. Lepkowski, Dr. Maelia and Ms. Timone. In 2023, Tusker Travels ran three trips abroad on three different continents. In February, they discovered Ecuador and the Galápagos Islands. In April, they visited Ireland and Scotland, and this past summer they traveled to Thailand.
In Ireland, our Tusker Travelers explored the city of Dublin where they were able to experience the Georgian Squares, O’Connell Street and St. Patrick’s Cathedral. Next, they traveled to Belfast where they saw the shipbuilding docks where the famous Titanic was constructed. They also saw Belfast’s famous giant political murals which tell the history of Northern Ireland. In Scotland, students and teachers were able to explore Edinburgh and take a walking tour of the Royal Mile, walking through the Old Town. They saw many medieval buildings throughout the city and were also about to visit Edinburgh Castle. The young adventurers were able to take an excursion to Stirling and the Trossachs, and saw a sheepdog demonstration, Loch Katrine and Stirling Castle. Although they searched for the Loch Ness Monster, Nessie remained hidden, but they made memories that will last a lifetime!
The trip to Thailand was one of the most exciting and different itineraries that Tusker Travels has enjoyed! Tour highlights included an elephant rescue and rehabilitation center and visiting local monks in Chiang Mai, an evening rickshaw ride through the night market in Phitsanulok, and the Erawan Waterfall and National Park in Kanchanabur. In Nakhon Sawan, they visited the Bo Ya Cave and saw the giant golden Buddha in the underground temple. And in Ratchaburi, they floated along the Damnoen Saduak floating market, purchasing local goods from their small boats. One of the highlights was the visit to Bangkok where students and chaperones visited the Wat Pho Temple of the Reclining Buddha, along with taking a boat ride along the Chao Phraya River and Thonburi klongs (canals).
In past trips Tusker Travels has taken, students and chaperones have enjoyed local cuisine in every country, and students have embarked upon these educational travel experiences with the spirit of adventure, and the willingness to try new things! If you have a teenager with the desire to see the world, visit www.TuskerTravels.org to learn more about our upcoming educational travel opportunities!
There will be two trips in 2024, a February trip to Spain and an April trip to Switzerland and Italy. The Spring Break trip is filled, but there are limited spots available on the Spain trip, whose fabulous itinerary includes Granada, Alhambra, a visit to a Moroccan tea house, Seville, Las Setas, a Flamenco evening, Córdoba, Madrid, the Prado Museum, Barcelona, and Park Güell. There are also spots available on the Spring Break 2025 trip to Paris and the Riviera. Highlights of this tour include Paris, the Eiffel Tower, the Arc de Triomphe, the Louvre, Versailles, a Seine River cruise, a TGV train ride to Avignon, the Palais des Papes, the Pont du Gard (Roman aqueduct), Les Baux-de-Provence, Arles, Monaco, Nice, the Promenade des Anglais and the Vieille Ville of Nice.
For the trips to Spain and France, there are early enrollment discounts available to students enrolling prior to October 27, 2023. Student travelers must be in 9th thru 12th grade at time of travel, and we accept applications from Somers students as well as from students in nearby school districts. For more information, you can follow Tusker Travels Inc. on FaceBook, @tuskertravels on Instagram or visit www.TuskerTravels.org to see detailed itineraries and see how to start the application process. Come see the world with Tusker Travels.
In Ireland, our Tusker Travelers explored the city of Dublin where they were able to experience the Georgian Squares, O’Connell Street and St. Patrick’s Cathedral. Next, they traveled to Belfast where they saw the shipbuilding docks where the famous Titanic was constructed. They also saw Belfast’s famous giant political murals which tell the history of Northern Ireland. In Scotland, students and teachers were able to explore Edinburgh and take a walking tour of the Royal Mile, walking through the Old Town. They saw many medieval buildings throughout the city and were also about to visit Edinburgh Castle. The young adventurers were able to take an excursion to Stirling and the Trossachs, and saw a sheepdog demonstration, Loch Katrine and Stirling Castle. Although they searched for the Loch Ness Monster, Nessie remained hidden, but they made memories that will last a lifetime!
The trip to Thailand was one of the most exciting and different itineraries that Tusker Travels has enjoyed! Tour highlights included an elephant rescue and rehabilitation center and visiting local monks in Chiang Mai, an evening rickshaw ride through the night market in Phitsanulok, and the Erawan Waterfall and National Park in Kanchanabur. In Nakhon Sawan, they visited the Bo Ya Cave and saw the giant golden Buddha in the underground temple. And in Ratchaburi, they floated along the Damnoen Saduak floating market, purchasing local goods from their small boats. One of the highlights was the visit to Bangkok where students and chaperones visited the Wat Pho Temple of the Reclining Buddha, along with taking a boat ride along the Chao Phraya River and Thonburi klongs (canals).
In past trips Tusker Travels has taken, students and chaperones have enjoyed local cuisine in every country, and students have embarked upon these educational travel experiences with the spirit of adventure, and the willingness to try new things! If you have a teenager with the desire to see the world, visit www.TuskerTravels.org to learn more about our upcoming educational travel opportunities!
There will be two trips in 2024, a February trip to Spain and an April trip to Switzerland and Italy. The Spring Break trip is filled, but there are limited spots available on the Spain trip, whose fabulous itinerary includes Granada, Alhambra, a visit to a Moroccan tea house, Seville, Las Setas, a Flamenco evening, Córdoba, Madrid, the Prado Museum, Barcelona, and Park Güell. There are also spots available on the Spring Break 2025 trip to Paris and the Riviera. Highlights of this tour include Paris, the Eiffel Tower, the Arc de Triomphe, the Louvre, Versailles, a Seine River cruise, a TGV train ride to Avignon, the Palais des Papes, the Pont du Gard (Roman aqueduct), Les Baux-de-Provence, Arles, Monaco, Nice, the Promenade des Anglais and the Vieille Ville of Nice.
For the trips to Spain and France, there are early enrollment discounts available to students enrolling prior to October 27, 2023. Student travelers must be in 9th thru 12th grade at time of travel, and we accept applications from Somers students as well as from students in nearby school districts. For more information, you can follow Tusker Travels Inc. on FaceBook, @tuskertravels on Instagram or visit www.TuskerTravels.org to see detailed itineraries and see how to start the application process. Come see the world with Tusker Travels.
The Somers record-
Tusker Travels Explores Ecuador and the Galápagos Islands
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Article written by Anna Timone; photos provided by Tusker Travels
Somers teens are once again traveling the world! Over February Break, some adventurous Tuskers headed south and had an unforgettable experience in Ecuador and the Galápagos Islands! The Galápagos archipelago consists of islands off the coast of Ecuador, and visitors can find diverse plant and animal species there, many of which are not found anywhere else on Earth. The Tusker Travelers were able to witness sea lions, marine iguanas, giant tortoises, the Galápagos penguins, blue-footed boobies and more! Students and chaperones began their itinerary in Quito, the capital city of Ecuador. They experienced a guided sightseeing tour which included Independence Square, and the Church and Convent of Santo Domingo. They had the opportunity to travel to the Mitad del Mundo just north of Quito, to stand at the equator with one foot in each hemisphere which was such a cool experience! Next, they traveled to Imbabura, a province of lakes and mountains. The Tuskers then flew to Baltra which is an island of the Galápagos, and from there continued first by bus and then by boat to Santa Cruz Island. This was just one of many fun boat rides the Tuskers experienced during their adventures. On Santa Cruz Island, they were able to visit the Cerro Mesa Ecological Reserve to learn about regional conservation. They continued to Puerto Ayora, and visited the Charles Darwin Research Station. This is a center for research and education. Students and chaperones had the opportunity to see giant Galápagos tortoises and their offspring. They then visited Isabela Island and Flamingo Lagoon to learn about the impact of tourists on the islands and protecting national resources. The group continued to the Sierra Negra Volcano, with the second largest volcanic crater in the world (it is 6 miles in diameter!). They also visited Volcan Chico, and then returned to Puerto Villamil to visit a giant tortoise breeding center. There are over 300 giant tortoises who live there. That afternoon included one of the 3 snorkeling tours of this trip, at Las Tintoreras, to see firsthand the underwater half of what makes the Galápagos Islands so spectacular. They were able to see tropical fish, sea lions, sea turtles and penguins in the wild! The group took time to explore Puerto Ayora, see the village and relax by the waterfront. They traveled to Tortuga Bay for some fun in the sun with sea turtles at one of the most beautiful beaches in the Galápagos Islands. After flying back to Quito, they stopped in Otavalo which is known for its handicraft market, with colorful weavings, textiles, jewelry, fruits and vegetables. At the final lunch in Quito, Tusker Travels treated its international explorers to a local delicacy of roasted guinea pig and yucca. Most of the students tried and loved it! This continues the tradition that Tusker Travels started of trying something daring and different on every trip. Last year in France, the students ate escargots, in Australia they had kangaroo and crocodile, and in Iceland they tried fermented shark! Coming soon: Tusker Travels has several future educational trips planned! In February 2024, we will travel to Spain. In April 2024, we will visit Switzerland and Italy (this trip is already at capacity). In April 2025, we will explore Paris and the French Riviera. Additional information, pricing, itineraries, and enrollment forms available at www.TuskerTravels.org and you can also learn more by following Tusker Travels on FaceBook and Instagram. We will have an informational Zoom meeting to discuss the Spain 2024 and France 2025 trips on Wednesday March 22, 2023 at 6pm. Students must be in grades 9-12 at the time of travel. Come see the world with Tusker Travels! |
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The Somers Record- "Tuskers in Greece"
Tap Into Somers -
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ICELAND – On April 10, Tusker Travels, Inc. left for an adventure-packed trip to Iceland with 32 Somers High School students and five chaperones. The goal of Tuskers Travels is to enhance education through travel, helping students to develop global perspectives. Its directors have previously led educational travel experiences through the Somers Journeys program with the Somers Central School District.
Tusker Travels is a nonprofit corporation formed by Somers High School teachers Christine Lepkowski, William Maelia, Christine Brooks, Angela Holder and Anna Timone (this author). We departed on April 10, and flew into Reykjavík, where we were met by Andy, our tour director from Education First (EF) Educational Tours. We toured this capital city, visiting the National Museum and the stunning Hallgrímur Church. A popular Icelandic activity is visiting geothermal pools and spas, and that’s exactly how we spent our first afternoon. At Árbaejarlaug, we were able to enjoy geothermal pools, hot tubs, waterslides and even cold baths for those who dared. The next day, we went to Thingvellir National Park, where the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates meet. Here, we took a geology hike past Lake Thingvallavatn and through a tectonic fissure zone. We visited the Gullfoss waterfall, a spectacular waterfall in the Golden Circle in South Iceland. We were lucky enough to see a gorgeous rainbow over the water as it fell. We visited the Strokkur Geyser, which erupts every 10 minutes or so. The eruptions reached over 50 feet above our heads, but we had not anticipated the strange (rotten eggs) smell that accompanied them. We went to a farm that afternoon in Selfoss, where we were able to see Icelandic horses. They are small horses with a kind temperament, and we not only pet them but also got to see their two special gaits. Typically, horses walk, trot and canter/gallop, but Icelandic horses have two additional gaits, one of which involves only one hoof touching the ground at any point in time. This farm, Fridheimar, also had a greenhouse, heated by geothermal water. Their specialty is tomatoes and we were able to see how their process works. Green energy and pure water made for some amazing samples. For two evenings, we stayed in the Hellisholar Cottages in Fljotschlid. Flat fields, blue skies and mountain ridges in the distance, we were really in the Icelandic countryside. We headed to the Sólheimajökull Glacier, where we met our guides and suited up for our glacier hike. Each hiker had a harness, an ice pick, a helmet and crampons (metal spikes that we attached to the bottom of our boots). The glacier was stunning and we got quite the workout. There were markers indicating where the glacier had been in certain years, so we visually learned about glacial erosion. After a visit to the village of Vik, we went to Reynisfjara, or the Black Sand Beach, with sharp cliffs, basalt sea stacks and a puffin population that was hiding from the ice storm we saw there. From there, we visited the Seljalandsfoss waterfall, which was interesting because we could walk behind it into a cave. Those who chose to brave the waterfall walk got soaked, but it was worth it to hear and see the power of the thunderous water rushing down right in front of us. Later, after visiting a geothermal energy plant, we headed back to Reykjavik, where most of the group tried the famous Icelandic hot dogs. They are unique because they contain pork, beef and lamb, and they are served with a special mustard the color of tree bark. We had some free time to explore the capital city, during which teacher William Maelia purchased some fermented shark for the group to try. Most of us were good sports and some even took a second piece, but it is definitely an acquired taste. After a seafood dinner on the water, we headed back to the hotel to pack. Once darkness was approaching, our bus pulled up so we could take a special excursion arranged by teacher Christine Lepkowski to chase the Northern Lights. After a couple of hours, we were losing hope when a student asked, “What’s that?” For the next hour we shared a magical experience, watching the white, teal and green streaks paint the sky before our very eyes. On our last day, we headed to the world famous geothermal spa, the Blue Lagoon, where we bathed in geothermal water rich in silica, algae and minerals. We went to the silica bar in the lagoon and applied silica mud masks to our faces, which left our skin feeling soft and nourished and left us feeling relaxed and ready for our trip home. On the way to the Blue Lagoon, we pulled over to visit a troll that had been turned to stone. Did you know that Iceland is full of trolls and elves and water-dwellers? We loved the stories about Iceland’s hidden people. This trip was educationally rich and truly unique, and we have more adventures planned for the future. Tusker Travels, Inc. has two trips planned for 2018, and you can get more information about enrolling from any of our directors: Mrs. Lepkowski, Mr. Maelia, Mrs. Brooks, Mrs. Holder and myself. We will be doing a 10-day trip to Paris, the Loire and the Riviera over spring break 2018, and will be traveling to Australia, New Zealand and Hawaii for 16 days at the beginning of summer break. We have rolling enrollment for both 2018 trips, until the spots are filled. Visit tuskertravels.org for more details. |
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Tap into somers -
SOMERS, N.Y.--Tusker Travels will journey down under in July 2018 and will head to France during spring break 2018. It is accepting applications through Oct. 27 for both of these trips.
This non-profit educational travel company was established a year and a half ago by five Somers High School teachers, Christine Lepkowski, William Maelia, Christine Brooks, Angela Holder and Anna Timone. The first Tusker Travels trip was to Iceland in April 2017. Participants learned about glacial erosion, geothermal energy, folklore, culinary delights and more.
The spring trip in 2018 is to Paris, the Loire and the French Riviera. Travelers will get to experience the City of Light, visit the Louvre, go to Notre Dame, climb the Eiffel Tower at night, explore two châteaux in the Loire Valley, take a tour of Avignon and see the Palais des Papes, visit the ancient Roman aqueduct in Nîmes, spend time in Nice and Monaco and tour a French perfume factory in Eze. This is a 10-day trip and will travel during the school’s spring break. Applications for this trip by sophomores, juniors and seniors in high school are currently being accepted.
The summer 2018 trip is a 14-day trip to New Zealand, Australia and Hawaii. Travelers will begin the trip in Auckland and Rotorua, New Zealand, where they will learn about geothermal activity, see sheep shearing, learn about local legends and tribal customs in the Maori Village and explore historical landmarks. From there, they will fly to Sydney, Australia, where they will see the famous Opera House, visit the Sydney Tower, tour the historical Rocks District and visit the Featherdale Wildlife Park. Their next stop will be Cairns, where they will visit the Great Barrier Reef, being able to swim and see the scenery from a glass-bottomed boat. They will also go snorkeling with a marine biologist. On the return trip, they will spend two days in Hawaii where they will participate in a lei greeting, take a tour of Honolulu, visit the USS Arizona Memorial in Pearl Harbor, go to a pineapple plantation and attend a luau. They will depart about a week after the end of the school year, and applications are being accepted from freshmen, sophomores, juniors and seniors in high school.
There will be an interest meeting for parents and students who want to learn more about these itineraries, the application process, the costs and payment options and more fro 6:30 to 7:3- p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 11, in Mr. Maelia’s room, 117A, at Somers High School. Completed applications, including three character references, should be submitted by Friday, Oct. 27.
For more information, email [email protected], visit http://www.tuskertravels.org/ or Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/TuskerTravels.org/. We will be announcing our 2019 trip in a month or two so make sure to sign up for our updates!
This non-profit educational travel company was established a year and a half ago by five Somers High School teachers, Christine Lepkowski, William Maelia, Christine Brooks, Angela Holder and Anna Timone. The first Tusker Travels trip was to Iceland in April 2017. Participants learned about glacial erosion, geothermal energy, folklore, culinary delights and more.
The spring trip in 2018 is to Paris, the Loire and the French Riviera. Travelers will get to experience the City of Light, visit the Louvre, go to Notre Dame, climb the Eiffel Tower at night, explore two châteaux in the Loire Valley, take a tour of Avignon and see the Palais des Papes, visit the ancient Roman aqueduct in Nîmes, spend time in Nice and Monaco and tour a French perfume factory in Eze. This is a 10-day trip and will travel during the school’s spring break. Applications for this trip by sophomores, juniors and seniors in high school are currently being accepted.
The summer 2018 trip is a 14-day trip to New Zealand, Australia and Hawaii. Travelers will begin the trip in Auckland and Rotorua, New Zealand, where they will learn about geothermal activity, see sheep shearing, learn about local legends and tribal customs in the Maori Village and explore historical landmarks. From there, they will fly to Sydney, Australia, where they will see the famous Opera House, visit the Sydney Tower, tour the historical Rocks District and visit the Featherdale Wildlife Park. Their next stop will be Cairns, where they will visit the Great Barrier Reef, being able to swim and see the scenery from a glass-bottomed boat. They will also go snorkeling with a marine biologist. On the return trip, they will spend two days in Hawaii where they will participate in a lei greeting, take a tour of Honolulu, visit the USS Arizona Memorial in Pearl Harbor, go to a pineapple plantation and attend a luau. They will depart about a week after the end of the school year, and applications are being accepted from freshmen, sophomores, juniors and seniors in high school.
There will be an interest meeting for parents and students who want to learn more about these itineraries, the application process, the costs and payment options and more fro 6:30 to 7:3- p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 11, in Mr. Maelia’s room, 117A, at Somers High School. Completed applications, including three character references, should be submitted by Friday, Oct. 27.
For more information, email [email protected], visit http://www.tuskertravels.org/ or Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/TuskerTravels.org/. We will be announcing our 2019 trip in a month or two so make sure to sign up for our updates!