This summer, while most of Texarkana takes on some sunscreen and shades, one group of students, teachers, and parents will be taking to the skies. The group will depart for a ten-day trip to London, Paris, Munich and the Swiss Alps on July 6. Teachers Erin Buchanan, Lance Kyles and Danny Williams are among those chaperoning the trip. The trip is open to all high school students, even those not attending Texas High, and any interested parents.

“I think we do more harm than good by not traveling and learning about other cultures and embracing new and different ideas,” world geography teacher Erin Buchanan said. “It’s so necessary, particularly while you’re young and still learning to develop that appreciation.”

The locations, London, Paris, the Swiss Alps, Munich and a few other stops along the way all encapsulate the Europe experience. Each city has a significance to the world and the trip. London, the first stop, is a world city with a history stretching thousands of years.

“London is an international city and so I hope we get the opportunity to see a variety of people doing lots of different things,” Buchanan said. “Texarkana is just a small town, so to be thrust into the middle of this mega metropolis and have to navigate our way around and see what daily life is like for other people is just going to be incredible.”

Travel can be an educational experience too, according to Buchanan. Witnessing other cultures firsthand can spark curiosity and discovery. This trip offers a learning experience in a safe environment.

“It’s cool to see those lightbulb moments and those moments of discovery for students. It’s an experience for yourself but it’s also an experience for them,” Buchanan said. “I think it makes it safer, we are with a company that has a good reputation versus going it alone and not really knowing things, you have that help to kind of navigate all the spaces you’re going to be in.”