2016

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. The sixteenth of these trips took participants to Glasgow & Edinburgh, Scotland in 2016.

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.

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