The Lake Babine Nation recently organized an educational trip for its graduating high school students, spanning London and Paris.
Spearheaded by one of the parents, Felicia Erickson, and supported by the Lake Babine community, the trip aimed to celebrate the milestone achievements of the youth through a series of educational and cultural experiences.
The idea for this trip originated from the desire to commemorate the graduation of local youth from high schools like Lakes District Secondary School, JN Burnett (Richmond) and Chilliwack Secondary (Chilliwack).
Erickson said the concept grew from a simple Facebook post inviting other parents to join in. What started as a small idea quickly gained traction, evolving into a significant endeavour supported by various stakeholders.
There were 15 students who went on the trip ( 11 from 亚洲天堂 Lake that all graduated from LDSS, four urban students from Chilliwack and Richmond), accompanied by two chaperones who were parents of the youth 鈥� Erickson and Nathan Alec. The trip took place from June 30 to July 8, covering both London and Paris.
The entire cost of the trip was funded through generous donations from sponsors like Lake Babine Nation, Lake Babine Nation Forestry, BLNDC, Hampton, and Chinook, alongside numerous fundraising activities organized throughout the year. These activities included weekly bingo concessions, bake sales, raffles, bottle drives, online raffles, 50/50 draws, Purdy's chocolate sales, and other community-driven efforts. Several of the parents and families of the youth also raised funds through catering for many events throughout the year.
Through all fundraising events, the group raised a total of $108,000, an initial goal of $75,000 to pay for the tour guide which included airfare, accommodations, breakfast and dinner, said Karen Alec from Lake Babine Nation.
The Itinerary was planned by an educational travel agent, Explorica, ensuring a blend of educational and cultural experiences.
In London, the group visited iconic landmarks such as the Tower of London, Buckingham Palace, St. Paul's Cathedral, and Westminster Abbey, among others. They also embarked on a memorable Jack the Ripper walking tour. Transitioning to Paris via the Eurostar, the itinerary continued with visits to the Eiffel Tower, The Louvre, a Seine River cruise, and the Arc de Triomphe, among other significant cultural sites.
The trip was designed not only to expose the students to historical and cultural landmarks but also to foster personal growth and global awareness. Each activity was chosen to provide insights into European history, art, and architecture, enriching the students' academic perspectives beyond the classroom.
"We mostly wanted the kids to experience a trip abroad and set their horizons to do more for education or work experience," Alec added.
Erickson thanked the Lake Babine community, parents and students for their support throughout the fundraising process and the trip itself.
"This was a parent run group, they worked really hard all year to make it a reality for the kids and the kids really stepped up and participated in all fundraising activities and got see their hard work in school and in fundraising pay off," Erickson said.
Looking ahead, Erickson hopes that such trips will become an annual tradition, allowing future graduates to benefit from similar enriching experiences.
