Twenty Queensbury High School students spent spring break in Europe visiting Venice, Salzburg, Munich, Switzerland and Liechtenstein. Highlights included going to the peak of Mt. Pilatus, a salt mine tour in Austria, and a gondola ride in Venice.
“When students travel, they don’t just see new places — they discover new parts of themselves,” said QHS social studies teacher Kerry Rodriguez. “Travel challenges students to adapt, think independently, and grow in confidence.”
This trip included a visit to the Dachau concentration camp. Students have read Holocaust literature, learned the history of World War II, and heard a Holocaust survivor share their story while at QHS.
“Visiting the concentration camp was a deeply powerful experience that stays with you long after you leave,” Rodriguez said. “It is not like a typical historical site; it is a place where the reality of the Holocaust becomes tangible and personal.”
The 2027 Europe trip to London, Bruges and Paris is open to rising juniors and seniors.
“Some of the most important skills — resilience, flexibility and empathy — can be learned through travel,” Rodriguez said. “Educational travel provides students with authentic, real-world experiences that extend well beyond the classroom walls.”