For nearly 30 years, Mr. Noonan has organized East Coast trips for students. Each year, students travel to Washington, DC and New York City, along with a third city that rotates annually. There is a limit on how many students can attend. Mr. Noonan explained, “Probably 90. We have 80 travelers and then 7 chaperones.”
This year’s trip takes place from June 16 through June 22. While travel is a big part of the experience, the trip includes many educational and memorable activities. Mr. Noonan shared, “We always go to Washington DC and New York. The third city I rotate every year just to keep it different. This year we’re going to Philadelphia. Next year they’re going to Boston. Other places we’ve been include Amish country and Hershey, Pennsylvania. I just constantly rotate that third city. You have to do DC and New York every time. DC for the history, and New York for the history but also all the exciting things you can do there. At each stop we balance history and fun so it’s not too much one way or the other.”
For Mr. Noonan, the most rewarding part of the trip is watching students step outside of their comfort zones. He said, “I think the best part is being able to expose kids to something they’ve never seen or done before and may not ever do again. Seeing them away from school in a different environment and doing new things is really special. I remember one year going up a 110 story building. Some kids were scared of heights and were freaking out. I’ve had kids say no, but I’ve also had kids power through it and feel super proud of themselves afterward. It’s fun, but it’s a lot. You’re exhausted when you get back. The chaperones enjoy it too. As long as the kids are behaving and staying chill, it’s super fun.”
For students planning to attend in the future, there are ways to help manage the cost. Mr. Noonan explained, “Most of the kids going this year have their accounts paid down low. Everything is covered except for spending money and souvenirs. There were a couple fundraisers that parents launched this year. People could participate in them to help with costs.”
Even after flying to the East Coast, there is still plenty of travel involved. “We’re flying into Washington DC and we spend about two and a half days there and two nights. Then we take a bus to Philadelphia, which is about three or four hours. After that, we take another bus to New York, which is about four hours. Everybody usually goes to sleep on the bus.”
The East Coast trip continues to be a memorable tradition at GEMS, giving students the opportunity to experience history, explore major cities, and create lasting memories with their classmates.
