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