The Long Trip was revived in 1998 by Fern Khan, then Dean of Continuing Education, and Carol Hillman, a Bank Street alumna and former Board of Trustees member. Attendees to these "new" Long Trips include students, alumni, faculty, staff, and friends of Bank Street.

The third of these newer trips took participants to Saint Helena Island, South Carolina in 2000. Participants visited the Historic Penn Center, the first institution designed to educate freed slaves, also called the Port Royal experiment, founded in 1862 by Laura Towne and Ellen Murray and supported by Philadelphia Quakers. They learned about the preservation of the Gullah/Geechee culture, sweet grass basket weaving, and of the former slaves work as skilled builders, carpenters, and artisans.

2002 took trippers to Falmouth, Jamaica. There they explored the city’s rich cross cultural history, art and architecture, economy and education. They toured Prospect Plantation and learned about the cultivation of bananas, sugar cane, coconuts and mangoes. Visited Harmony Hall, a 150 year old Great House now an art Gallery featuring the best Caribbean Art and crafts. Ate daily breakfast on the Fisherman’s Inn Terrace while receiving cooking lessons; sang along with the vocalist while lunching at Bibibips by the sea. Appreciated the beauty of the flora and fauna within the Coyaba Gardens and viewed the production of sugarcane at the Long Pond Factory. Listened to the Hon. Custos Royland Barrett present his research on the influence of the church during slavery and abolition, and enjoyed local storytelling.

The fifth of these trips took participants to Helsinki, Finland in 2003. Participants were introduced to the country’s music, arts, culture, industry, education and history. They enjoyed visits to Leila Mustanoja’s home for coffee and Poola, a pastry; the Kiasma contemporary art museum where the stunning works of Yinka Shonibare combining ‘disparate traditions’ were on display; the Rock Church where they were invited to refreshments following the baptism of a Congolese baby with her Finnish Godparents, and Sibelius Park, where a sculpture in his honor was made by Ailie, a female sculptress. In the Aland Islands, participants stayed in Mariehamn, named after the Empress of Russia. They visited agricultural, academic and vocational schools all with brightly colored curtains at windows. Students begin school officially in 1st grade and learn 3 languages with English being compulsory.

In 2004 participants explored Monteverde, Costa Rica. There trippers studied the ecology of the rainforest, influence of the Quaker community and observed small scale agricultural projects in the St Luis valley. This trip introduced the natural beauty of Costa Rica, the only country without a standing army. At the U.N. University for Peace outside of San Jose, participants met Robert Mueller and learned the history of its origin, and saw the impressive monument to world peace; also visited the Children’s Interactive Museum located in a renovated former prison. They drove through coffee, and dairy farms, forest and alpine vegetation, and visited the hot springs at the base of the active Arenal Volcano then headed over rough terrain to Monteverde settled by Quakers.

The seventh of these trips took participants to Knoxville & Nashville, Tennessee in 2005. The trip focused on Civil Rights, Social and Environmental justice. Participants visited Maryville College founded in 1819 on the premise that ALL people could and should be educated. This ended in 1901 when state laws forbade mixing the races. They also visited the Highlander Center known for its focus on popular education, labor, civil rights, environmental justice and immigration issues and empowering people for action, and sang with Guy and Candie Carawan! The next stop was the Black Cultural Center at the University of Tennessee, its Law School, the Norris Dam providing cheap electricity for the region and flood control, and Alex Haley farm where its ark-shaped chapel was designed by Maya Lin. On to Clinton, site of the first (peaceful) march in school desegregation and then to Nashville, and then the Belle Meade Plantation famous for breeding thoroughbred horses; learned much about the 60’s civil rights activities and key individuals like Septima Clark, and sat at the recreated lunch counter in the Civil Rights Room, an impressive space in the Nashville Public Library where participants also watched a powerful film on the civil rights movement.

The 2006 trip in Charleston & Morgantown, West Virginia revisited the first 1935 Long Trip locations, taking participants to Arthurdale, a New Deal Resettlement community for miners; they learned much about the impact of mountaintop removal on the community. Bill Price, Sierra Club organizer, taught about the work being accomplished by his organization as well as by the local residents in preserving the mountains and creating a healthier environment. A side trip to environmentally polluted Cheshire, Ohio, introduced families suffering from massive pollution from the American Electric Power, the devaluing of their homes and the company’s legal maneuvering to avoid compliance. Participants saw the total devastation of the awesome Kayford Mountains, a sad and somber scene. In Mingo County, coal sludge waste has seeped into drinking water, causing numerous illnesses within families. They entered the Beckley mine and marveled that workers, often cheated and mistreated, survived in the dark and damp environment.

The ninth of these trips took participants to Reykjavik, Iceland in 2007. The Iceland Long Trip spanned thermal pools, the Blue Lagoon, glaciers and, geysers, Thinguellir, the Kerid volcanic crater and the magnificent Gulfoss waterfall. There was so much to learn and understand about Iceland. The terrain was unfamiliar with different vegetation and the lack of trees; however, all roundabouts on the highway used stones as art in their centers. Rocks everywhere were covered by brown or limegreen moss. Participants learned that Iceland is a volcanic island so the soil doesn’t hold trees. They explored Iceland’s history and culture through the exhibit of medieval manuscripts, Eddas and Sagas displayed in The Culture House. Participants gained information from the Department of Education on preschool education, and then visited four play schools to observe that teachers’ voices were rarely heard. Teachers trust the children to work by themselves, play is valued and the children’s engagement in dramatic play was evident. At the University, Hronn Palmadottir discussed teacher preparation and early childhood education and the influence of John Dewey on curriculum. Bank Street, through Harriet Cuffaro, influenced block building in their EC classrooms. In response to a question re whether children play outside during bad weather, a teacher told us, “there is no bad weather, only bad clothing!”

The 2009 trip was to New Orleans where participants learned much about the social, racial and environmental injustices in New Orleans as well as the devastating impact of Hurricane Katrina on the African American, Huoma and Vietnamese communities; experienced outrage over the juvenile justice abuses and were inspired by the advocacy work of the Juvenile Justice Project to challenge the legal system. They enjoyed a special lunch prepared by disadvantaged African American youth being trained at Cafe Reconcile, a non-profit group doing good work for poor citizens and were thrilled to meet so many community activists focused on changing unfair systems and rebuilding communities. They heard of the amazing results using sunflower seeds to remove toxins from the soil from Dillard University faculty and enjoyed the cuisine, beignets, and a jazz performance at Preservation Hall! Powerful learnings. ”

To view a timeline and map of the newer Long Trips, visit the Bank Street Continuing Professional Studies site.