H-ton Social Studies Teachers Use Travel to Connect to History

Huntington High School social studies teachers love to travel and use their experiences to connect to history. From local sites to Civil War battlegrounds and trips to faraway lands and multiple continents the faculty members have found travel to be a way to gain new knowledge and understand and improve their skill set while also being able to inspire students.

Multiple social studies department members have affiliated with EF Tours on trips over the past two decades, including one to Italy earlier this year that allowed them to gain a better understanding of cultures, events, architecture, etc. that stretches back thousands of years.

“We visited Padua, Venice, Florence, Assisi and Rome,” teacher Camille J. Tedeschi said. “As history teachers, we feel passionate about our content subject area and want our students to learn and understand the past through our various teaching methods in the physical space of the classroom, but we also want them to learn through experience by traveling abroad. This year we will be traveling to Portugal and Spain during the spring break to visit Lisbon, Cordova, Seville, Madrid and Toledo. There will be many highlights on this trip but one major excursion bolstering excitement will be when we go on a guided tour of the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium.”

All of the Huntington teachers hold advanced degrees in their field. They have been teaching in the district for decades. Several grew up in the Town of Huntington.

“What I enjoy most about traveling with students is watching the students discover the sites and the histories, along with the cultures that they may have been learning about but now are experiencing firsthand. It opens up a new world for many of the students,” teacher Peter Crugnale said.

EF Tours has coordinated thousands of trips since it was founded 55 years ago. The trips taken by the Huntington UFSD teachers and students are not district approved or funded. They are private treks that enrich lives personally and benefit the teachers professionally.

“The trip to Italy along with many other previous tours are more than just a journey for the group of students and teachers,” teacher Erik Bruckbauer said. “It is a chance to watch individuals discover a world rich with history, culture and art. Traveling with students is a highlight for us as educators because their wonder becomes ours and together we create memories that go far beyond the classroom and last forever.”

Ms. Tedeschi has travelled very extensively throughout the world. She looks forward to visiting Antarctica, which is the only continent she is yet to travel to.

“When traveling, there is a great desire to try new things and see everything there is to see in a new destination,” Ms. Tedeschi said. “The benefits of traveling are immense. It is scientifically proven that travel improves our lives. Life satisfaction and well-being increase even before leaving home because just starting to plan a trip makes one feel good. It’s an anticipatory pleasure that helps you live your daily life better while waiting for the vacation as your reward. Travel nurtures creativity and learning because not all classrooms have four walls. This is a motto I feel passionately about because the world provides the best education.”