“Ride Through History”

The 9th grade Trekkers and mentors do a celebratory jump after climbing the “Rocky Steps” at the Philadelphia Museum of Art during their 10-day “Ride Through History” trek to Boston, Philadelphia and Washington, D.C.

Trekkers Students and Mentors Explore Nation’s History in 10-day Expedition
(Thomaston) Last month, 16 Oceanside High School freshmen and seven adult mentors explored firsthand our country’s history and culture, traveling to Boston, Philadelphia and Washington, D.C.  They were participating in Trekkers’ “Ride Through History” expedition – a 10-day journey of experiential education and group relationship building. Trekkers is a non-profit mentoring organization that connects young people with caring adults.

Through tours, interactive multi-media, group discussions and hours of bus riding, the students learned the circumstances of our country’s founding. Surrounded by adult mentors throughout the 10-day expedition, they also had the opportunity to connect with caring role models from their local community while discovering new aspects of themselves and their peers.

In Boston the students and mentors took a tour of the Freedom Trail, where they learned about the beginnings of the Revolutionary War. They also visited the U.S.S. Constitution, the world’s oldest commissioned warship afloat. Crossing the Delaware River into Philadelphia, the students saw the Liberty Bell, visited the National Constitution Center, ran the famous “Rocky Steps” of the Philadelphia Museum of Art, and ate Philly cheese steaks at Pat’s, arguably the best cheese steak place in greater Philly.

The students and mentors also participated in a community service project volunteering for Philabundance, the largest food bank and hunger relief center in the Delaware Valley. At the hunger relief center, the group prepared more than 1,000 food boxes for the organization’s Senior Food Assistance Program, which provides food supplements to elderly residents living at or below the poverty line.

The Trekkers next went to Washington, D.C., where they visited a variety of national monuments and landmarks, including the Holocaust and Air and Space Museums. They also visited the Washington Monument, Arlington National Cemetery and U.S. Capital Building.  They did an evening tour of some of the most famous monuments, including the Lincoln, Vietnam Veterans and Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorials.

“This trip really brings our shared history to life, emphasizing not just the facts and stories of the past, but how to be a contributing citizen today,” commented Trekkers’ Program Manager Emily Carver. “Students have a chance to experience it all first hand, then process and discuss with adult mentors afterwards - it is truly an incredible experience.”

You can learn more about Trekkers’ recent “Ride Through History” expedition, including the trip log and photographs, by visiting www.trekkers.org and following the links to the Ride Through History trip log. For more information about Trekkers, please call (207) 594-5095.