Valley students to visit British Isles

Ten local youth from area high schools will join another 10 from Akron to tour the British Isles for three weeks, leaving June 19 and returning July 7.

The youth are part of the thousands of students experiencing the People to People Student Ambassador program, started by President Eisenhower in 1956 as a way to encourage world peace and understanding among its people. Students were selected based on recommendations from teachers, administrators, local leaders and alumni of the program.

During the 19-day adventure, the students will visit England, Ireland, Wales and Scotland, with two-day homestays in Ireland. Among the activities will be a visit to Parliament and meeting with a member, St. Andrews Golf Course, talks with college students who were part of “The Problem” tensions in Northern Ireland, repelling down a castle wall, riding an Irish “jaunty cart,” local culture events and cutting peat for winter fuel for the elderly.

Gary Reel is a veteran leader of this program, having taken groups to Australia, China, Russia, Europe and the British Isles since 1994. The group was originally scheduled to visit Japan this year, but situations made that impossible.

Details on the program, applications and nominations are available online at www.peopletopeople.com. Next year’s destination will be the Capitals of Europe.