Trojans Abroad Students Travel to Ireland, Wales and England

During the summer of 2024, 22 students from Carson Middle, Fountain Middle, and Fountain-Fort Carson High School embarked on an unforgettable journey to Ireland, Wales, and England as part of the Trojans Abroad program. Accompanying them were FFC8 staff members Shannon Fortune, Brooklyn Plagge, and Hazley Sutter.

The adventure began in Ireland, where the group climbed to the top of Blarney Castle to kiss the famous Blarney Stone, immersing themselves in the myths and legends surrounding this iconic tradition.

The next day, the students visited the Kerry Bog Village and explored the scenic Ring of Kerry, where they witnessed a sheepdog herding demonstration.  This experience highlighted the vital role sheep play in maintaining the lush greenery of the region.

Next, they visited the EPIC Irish Emigration Museum and learned about Irish Immigrant discrimination in the United States from the 1800s to the present day. Ms. Fortune says it was very eye-opening for students.

"EPIC was my personal favorite as a teacher," said Ms. Fortune. "I saw a light bulb turn on when our students made the connection between history and their own experiences."

In Dublin, students explored the National Museum of Ireland where they saw Bog Bodies that are dated around 400 BC and 200 BC. Students took an Irish Dancing and music class and visited restaurants and shops. The journey continued with a ferry ride to Wales, where the group explored Conwy Castle. The students enjoyed this and compared Conwy Castle to the architecture and structure of Blarney Castle in Ireland.

The final leg of the trip took the students to London. They had a bus tour of all of London and also visited many places on foot. They visited Buckingham Palace, Windsor Castle, Big Ben and the Tower Bridge.

"The students thoroughly enjoyed it, said Ms. Fortune. "I’ve had many parents reach out to tell me their student is still talking about the trip, and that is why I continue to support student travel."