The AP European History class and Feather journalism students are preparing to embark on their most anticipated trip of the year. This adventure sets off at the beginning of April during the students’ spring break where they will be visiting four countries in Eastern Europe, including Austria, Czech Republic, Hungary and Poland. The major cities they plan to explore on their journey are Vienna, Prague, Budapest and Kraków.
Dawson Briner, ‘25, took AP Euro the last time it was offered at Fresno Christian Schools in 2022-23. Briner has taken both AP Euro and AP US History (APUSH). He took the opportunity to travel to France and England with his French class sophomore year.
“I encourage taking pictures of anything, honestly,” Briner said. “And completely immersing yourself in the country.”
Even students who took APUSH without taking AP Euro were invited to accompany them on their escapade. The AP Euro class includes many veteran students from the prior year of APUSH who were unable to attend any sort of trip due to price or scheduling conflicts.
Christian Martinez, ‘26, is an APUSH veteran who wanted to take another AP history class with his friends. Martinez is anticipating the upcoming adventure and he is appreciative of the opportunity to travel so far around the globe with his fellow students.
“I’m really looking forward to visiting the Czech Republic, specifically Prague,” Martinez said. “When people visit Europe, Czech Republic usually isn’t one that comes to mind.”
The trip will include 13 chaperones and 26 students. The group will mostly be traveling by bus from city to city, spending a few days in each. The key stops during the trip allow students to learn more about famous historical landmarks that they only read about in class. The travel group will also be visiting many museums, castles, and even Auschwitz, the largest of the German Nazi concentration camps and extermination centers during World War II.
With Poland, Austria, and Hungary being the main countries involved in WWII, the AP Euro class will have the privilege of deepening their understanding of the war, including Jewish anti-semitism. Prague has one of the best-preserved Jewish quarters in Europe since it was not bombed during the conflict.
When planning this year’s trip History Teacher Kori James looked at many different destinations that were up for consideration, including Italy.
“I love traveling in Europe, and Italy is my personal favorite,” James said. “When considering where to take this next crew of students, I purposely chose a location that most do not have at the top of their bucket list but is rich in history and culture. Knowing that we would have a personal tour guide to show us around sealed the deal for heading to the beautiful countries of Eastern Europe.”
The classes will have the opportunity to discover new and interesting cultural flavors and cuisine which is always a highlight on any trip with teacher Kori James. Exploring each country’s history and foods are of the utmost importance along with plenty of photo ops when planning the itinerary. James wants to give every student an amazing once-in-a-lifetime experience while broadening their world view.
Ashlyn Dyck, ‘27, is enthusiastic about AP Euro, her first FCS AP class. Dyck looks forward to the remarkable opportunity of exploring Europe with her classmates.
“I’m most looking forward to Kraków because of the history behind the places we’re going to see, like Schindler’s Factory,” Dyck said.
The group will be traveling with EF Educational Tours, which designs travel experiences “curated by world travelers and subject matter experts who understand that compelling itineraries should be full of opportunities for experiential learning.”
This trip will be a life-changing adventure where students can immerse themselves in the history they have worked all year to learn. Students will acquire hands-on experiences and make memories with their classmates as they embark on the journey of a lifetime.
For more from The Feather visit Column: Caleb Eldridge emphasizes the foundational skill of leading with courage and Two Fresno Christian athletic teams make school history.
