Students prepare to embark on their once-in-a-lifetime trip to France. On June 4th, 2024, they get ready to fly to the French Riviera, France for their twelve-day adventure.
Louisa County High School students are going on another trip across the world with the help of “EF (Education First) tours.” Louisa has been using this program to travel for over ten years. The student travelers and company have gone to many places from Iceland to Peru.
(Ariana Varga)
“EF Tours” was created in 1965 by twenty-three-year-old Bertil Hult when he brought a group of Swedish students to England. After struggling with dyslexia during his childhood and spending his teenage years in England, he learned the importance of culture immersion and hands-on learning.
“Over 50 years later, millions of people have created opportunities for themselves through EF,” “EF” posted on their website.
Jennifer Toney, science teacher and head organizer for LCHS “EF Tours” trips, had the opportunity to choose where she and the people signed up from Louisa would travel and she decided to go to France. The France itinerary consists of exploring Nice, Monaco, Eze, Provence, Lyon, Loire Valley, Château de Chenonceau, the Louvre, the Normandy Region, and a guided tour of Paris.
“We do not visit just one spot in France we go to different places and each of those places have a different culture just like different states here have different cultures,” junior and student traveler Aubree Pickett said.
Students not only get to learn about France and its people, but they also get to learn about a culture they are unfamiliar with.
“I am hoping I get to experience a culture different from American culture and I get to see how different places do different things,” Pickett said.
This trip encourages people to bond and connect while learning about each other’s culture and France. Toney has traveled eight times with “EF Tours” and said she loved not only the experience of traveling but also having the opportunity to meet new people.
“I really enjoy meeting other teachers because when I do meet up with other groups I get to not only spend time with my students and get to know them better, but I also get to know other teachers from around the country and get to work with them closely,” Toney said. “I enjoy seeing the kids grow and learn and that’s really why I keep doing this.”
