![Hosting the SCLA Casptone Mentor Dinner outside allowed for more attendees on September 27, 2021 at Silver Creek. This event would’ve usually been held inside. According to Lauren Kohn, a SCLA 12 teacher, “If we have a higher number of people, as long as we can host the event outside, then that seems to be keeping every[one] safe”.](https://schsnews.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/sxMAIGbSYGodZkqmrvTi5YWcJ1ssWA08ApkeMLpp-900x675.jpeg)
Silver Creek High School students are offered the unique opportunity to travel the world and visit foreign countries on trips led by Silver Creek teachers and staff members through the Education First Educational Tours program.
Jason Lathrop, an English teacher at Silver Creek who has been on multiple of these trips, says getting to see other countries with different cultures and ways of life is one of his favorite parts of going on the trips.
“There are islands in Greece that don’t have any cars,” Lathrop said. “So that’s a really cool experience to go to a place and not hear any motorized vehicles moving around.”
Lathrop adds that the most valuable lesson he has learned from going on these trips is appreciating the things we have in our lives.
“You go to another country and I think you appreciate the other country,” Lathrop said. “But it also makes you appreciate your own country and some of the things that we take for granted.”
Lathrop encourages all students to consider attending one of these trips because they are unique and exciting experiences.
“I think it’s great to have new experiences and to get out of your comfort zone,” Lathrop said. “It just opens your eyes to all those other possibilities. I would encourage everybody who can to travel somewhere at some time.”
Sara Whiteley, a Physical Education teacher at Silver Creek who has led many of these trips, is going on one to Scandinavia in the summer of 2026.
Whiteley enjoys visiting new countries and is very excited to visit five new ones on the Scandinavia trip. Whiteley says that after visiting Norway, Denmark, Sweden, Finland, and Estonia, she will have visited 30 countries.
Whiteley recommends students come on these trips because they not only look good on college applications, but they give students “a sense of empowerment, responsibility, and independence.”
Senior Ireland Miramontes, who is going on a trip to Europe in the summer of 2026, says this is her first trip through the school and her first time going to Europe.
“My parents were wanting me to go because I’ve only been out of the country once, and so they thought it’d be a good chance, especially since it’s with the school and getting to travel with other people my age,” Miramontes said.
With this being Miramontes’ first time visiting Europe, she is eager to experience everything Scandinavia has to offer.
“I’m really excited for the historical landmarks and also the food,” Miramontes said. “I really like the food from other countries, so I think that will be fun.”
With multiple opportunities for students to get the wonderful experience of visiting another country, those who want to go to Greece in 2027 or Spain in 2028 can contact Whiteley or Lathrop for more information.
