The Long Trip was revived in 1996 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.

2010 Trip to Patzcuaro, Mexico

First on the agenda was to learn about Patzcuaro’s history by visiting Tzintzuntzan, the archeological site near Lake Patzcuaro that was the capital of the Tarascan (or Purepechan) state until it was conquered by the Spanish in the 1520s. Today, most of the people speak and write Purepechan, and the language is taught in the schools. Visits to local artisans steeped in the traditions of the Purepechan were the focus of the next few days. At Tocuaro, the group viewed the workshop of one of Mexico’s most respected ceremonial mask carvers. In Jarcuaro, they toured a factory that made sombreros and other kinds of hats. The group also visited Santa Clara Del Cobre, the center of a renowned artisan copper community producing objects ranging from bathtubs and huge jars to jewelry and exquisite sculptures and bowls. In various workshops, they saw raw copper (and silver) being smelted and then beaten into flat, round, thin disks.

Since the trip took place during the Christian Holy Week, the group was able to see traditional observations of the “Passion of Christ” on Good Friday - processions and passion plays staged in the street. On Holy Saturday, some group members watched the Procession de Silencio, a parade honoring the dead Christ and his grieving mother, performed in total silence before a similarly silent audience. They also met with local educators and with a group working on recycling and other environmental issues. A last visit was to Ucasanastacua, a community on the shore of Lake Patzcuaro. There the group met at a clinic with traditional healers and herbalists Jorge Cira Ramos and his mother, Consuelo Ramos, and learned about the treatments and ceremonies the healers use.

2011 Trip to Seattle, Washington

This trip focused on the cultural connections and community involvement among First Nation peoples as well as Asian Americans; their preservation, challenges and community engagement. The famous American Indian artist, Andrew Morrison, whose works were displayed at The Daybreak Star Indian Cultural Center, the meeting place for all native peoples, served as the group's tour guide. From storyteller Roger Fernandes they heard stories and learned more about the Duwamish, Seattle’s native group, and of the 29 recognized tribes in the state. Participants visited the Lummi Youth Academy, a dorm, school and drug treatment center for youth, and heard the struggles and successes of this self-help program.

They also heard if the early struggles of immigrant Chinese on a visit to the Wing Luke Museum, named after the first Asian American elected to the City Council. The exhibition’s theme was “Tradition and Change” selected by the Community Advisory Committee. The theme of social justice was developed to support other community cultural groups.

2012 Trip to Havana, Cuba

Participants saw exceptional arts in education programs, a superb ballet performance and the result of planned ecotourism for one community. They stayed at the Hotel National which through its photographs clearly showed the early influence of, and link to, the U.S. On the patio in the evenings, there was always great music played by a female quartet. Participants toured Old Havana while receiving a history and political orientation from their guide; marveled at how Jose Fuster totally decorated his community with amazing and creative art forms and colors, even on the benches. At various schools, students welcomed them with performances and they visited Ernest Hemingway’s home, a cigar factory and museums. A great case study of social and political change.

2013 Trip to Panama City, Panama

The first activity was a tour of the Bio-Diversity Museum by a retired NYC doctor now living in Panama. Designed by Frank Gehry, the museum has cascading roofs with bright Caribbean colors; it has also successfully combined technology and innovation. The city tour revealed a thriving city with numerous gleaming skyscrapers and evident wealth juxtaposed with older, cramped, decaying buildings; “two different transformation realities!” Nearby was the West Indian Museum of Panama located in a former church, representing the cultures of the Caribbean men who worked on the Canal and women who taught the children. At the Panama Canal, an engineering feat now totally operated by Panama, they watched in awe as the locks opened to enable the passage of ships to the Atlantic or Pacific oceans! Another memorable experience was riding in canoes steered by Embera men, on the unpredictable Chagres River to visit and lunch with the Embera people upriver. They also visited Portobelo, and Colon which ‘hosts’ the profitable Duty Free Zone, but appeared forgotten and neglected by the government, resulting in devastating and relentless poverty.

2015 Trip to Copenhagen, Denmark

The focus for this Long Trip was to visit a forest school. With Caroline McKenna as guide, trippers navigated the city using local transportation and a lot of walking. The first experience was at the Mariendal Friskole, a local independent school. The group was broken up into smaller units and placed in math, science and english language learning classes. Then the entire school assembled in the gym for their daily group meeting where teachers role-play and students are able to intervene and change the scenario, a fantastic educational and confidence building experience. Later, they joined one of the teachers for refreshments in his home. Participants also drove through the various neighborhoods including Christiana, a self-proclaimed autonomous neighborhood and a commune.

The forest school they visited began as a summer camp 157 years ago. Funded by the government, the Forest school has 66 children, a building for a variety of activities and a nearby forest. They assembled for a session on the school’s philosophy, learning all that they could and then spent much time observing and interacting with the children.

2016 Trip to Glasgow & Edinburgh, Scotland

Scotland was chosen to see other models of Forest Schools where young children spend most of the school day in the forest. At the Secret Gardens forest school, the only visible “structures” (except the small outhouse), are built by the children who become familiar with the trees, sounds, moss around them and use their imaginations as they play out different roles. Their interaction with nature is at the core of the curriculum. At the Mindstretchers forest school, the model is more eclectic. The children’s learnings are documented in a variety of forms, e.g. art and learning story books. Portfolios are also kept on each child linking their development to Scotland’s curriculum. The school’s philosophy is ‘inside, outside and beyond’ with ‘beyond’ representing the nearby forest where children experience “nature on nature’s terms”. Glasgow afforded a glimpse into its past wealth aided by the River Clyde and the trading of sugar, tobacco and other goods. Participants explored the Kelvingrove gallery; the Burrell Collection of high quality stained glass, tapestry wooden statuary and paintings by “The Glasgow Boys”; the Scotland Street School Museum; the unique Glasgow Women’s Library and The City Council. In Edinburgh, they toured the Castle at the top of the Royal Mile; the Canongate Church and its historic graveyard; the gardens and art exhibit at the Inverleith House and saw famous monuments. A highlight was having Tea at the famous Colonnades in the Signet Library.

2017 Trip to Detroit, Michigan

Participants focused attention on civil rights, environmental and economic justice issues, educational inequality and the arts. They visited Wayne State early learning centers and Spain Elementary School, and spent time with activists from The Bogg Center.

2018 Trip to Montgomery and Selma, Alabama

In Selma, participants spoke to men and women that had served as youth activists during the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960s. In Montgomery, they visited the Equal Justice Initiative and the Southern Poverty Law Center.

The Long Trip Announcement read: "Bank Street's annual Long Trips have played a vital role in increasing our understanding of the issues that shape and challenge our country. The 2018 Long Trip will be held from April 2 – 8 in Montgomery and Selma, Alabama. We have chosen to visit Alabama's Black Belt for its historical significance as well as the rich culture and unique challenges that shape the region today. In 1965, both cities were at the center of the fight to protect African Americans from barriers that prevented them from voting. Today this fight continues in Alabama. In addition to exploring the issue of voting rights, we will visit artists and craftspeople, speak with members of the religious community, and hear from educators that best understand the lived experience of the children they serve."

2019 Trip to St. Helena Island, Savannah & Charleston, South Carolina

The announcement for the trip read: "For over 150 years, The Penn Center has been a beating heart of African American education, historic preservation, and social justice for tens of thousands of descendants of formerly enslaved West Africans. The Center was also an instrumental site for planning and organizing during the civil rights movement. In addition to a close look at the work of The Penn Center, we will meet with artists, clergy members, storytellers, and social activists in the greater Charleston and Savanna areas. We seek to engage diverse political and social perspectives as we gather greater insight into those living and learning in the region."

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