Expand Your Horizons with Travel Club

English fields, Scottish castles, and French skylines, Travel Club has seen it all.

Travel Club in Paris, summer 2025.

Travel Club first began when Mr. Horton realized he had never travelled outside of the U.S., and he wanted to give students the experience of seeing the world and travelling. The main goal of the travel club, according to Mr. Horton, is to have students gain an understanding of the world they live in. He further explained that, “All of us human beings share the same values when it comes to caring for each other and having mutual respect for one another's opinions and viewpoints, but also to experience the beauty and joy of travel." Joining Travel Club not only allows students to see the world, but also to recognize cultural differences and practices. This knowledge is beneficial to students as they can learn to appreciate the people that they share the world with.

Anybody can join the club; however, it requires work. The average cost for trips to foreign countries is 6K or more, and trips have to be scheduled two years in advance. Which means students have to do their part in volunteering to raise money. This club offers volunteering opportunities for club members. During club meetings, students will discuss these opportunities but also very important factors in travelling, such as passports and safety concerns. However, the travel club itself is not limited to just going on trips. If you are interested in travel and are not so interested in going on trips, Travel Club is still a place for you. You are able to gain information based on travelling and even learn about different cultures simply from a classroom perspective if you wish.

A few members of the club in front of the newly restored Notre-Dame Cathedral of Paris.

This past summer, the Travel Club took 40 students on a tour of various European countries. These countries include England, Scotland, France, Ireland, and Northern Ireland. Not only was this trip incredibly memorable for the students, but it also allowed them to develop close friendships along the way. Mr. Horton tells me that, “We as a group came together as a family, and it was hard to separate once we came home.” On this trip, students saw many different iconic parts of these countries. Such as Parisian cities, sites of London, and Scottish castles. They were also able to get a taste of Irish culture, a taste of Northern Irish culture, and learn how they differ. The ability to explore these cultures is what makes the Travel Club such a desirable club to join. So, the idea that students are very willing to be open-minded and explore various cultures allowed me to ask Mr. Horton how he feels about students being so curious to see the world from a different perspective. He tells me that, “I would love to give the gift to every student on this campus the opportunity to go, it is something that they are going to remember for the rest of their life.” Mr. Horton appreciated this trip a lot, so there is no doubt that the students did as well.

For future reference, the Travel Club plans on taking a trip to Japan next summer. This trip will consist of activities such as visiting historical sites and riding bullet trains. Students will also have a taste of authentic Japanese cuisine, and they will be able to learn about Japanese history through this trip. In the summer of 2027, students will be able to travel to Italy, Austria, and Germany. The final trip that is currently planned will be in summer of 2028, and students will be able to go to New Zealand, Australia, and Hawai’i. If you are interested in any of these trips, feel free to stop by C162 and ask Mr. Horton.

So, if you find yourself interested in travelling and just having overall knowledge of it, by all means, join the Travel Club! Travelling to various places is truly an experience that you will never forget, and you are able to travel with like-minded people. Resulting in newfound friendships and bonds. Mr. Horton gives a word of advice as to why students should join this club: “I think anyone who is interested in travel would like it, but someone should join the club because it took me 56 years to travel outside the US — don't wait that long.”

If you happen to be someone who is interested in travelling, then Travel Club may be for you! The club meets in Mr. Horton's room C162. Club meetings tend to vary, so if you are interested, feel free to ask Mr. Horton about upcoming dates.