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Grand Classroom Blog & Newsletter

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JT and Carleen talk Grand Canyon:

Here's a rundown:

Q: When Grand Classroom started in 2002, the Grand Canyon was the first trip… tell me about that.

A: I’ve always loved the outdoors. I have done a lot of traveling and found my heart was in the west. The Grand Canyon being the marvel that it is, I wanted to get kids off the pavement and outside. 

Q: Now that we are here in 2020, everyone is talking about getting outside. What a wonderful place to go and bring students.

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John and Carleen discuss our Yellowstone trip:

 

Q: Tell me a little bit about the Yellowstone trip

A: Yellowstone was the first National Park, founded by Teddy Roosevelt. It is a fascinating place with a lot of wildlife, unique geothermal features. If you haven’t been to Yellowstone, you will be shocked that something so amazing exists. 

Q: I have never been to Yellowstone. Tell me one thing that will make my jaw drop.

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Ardis and Kerianne talk about our fantastic Iceland trip! 

Can you give me a quick summary of the trip?

Most Grand Classroom trips last 6-7 days 5-6 nights on the island and we travel some 900 - 1100 miles. Some days can be long, leaving a hotel at 8:00 am and arriving back at 6:00 PM having dinner at 7:00 PM. We travel mostly in the South West part of the island surrounded by all kinds of natural forces like, the volcanoes, the ocean, the glaciers, the water streams, rivers and lakes, the weather to name the strongest ones. Iceland has two locations on Unesco´s World Heritage List. We most often visit both: Þingvellir and the National Park Waterglacier (Vatnajökulsþjóðgarð).

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Dr. Laura sat down with Robin, Kerianne, Billy and Eric from Grand Classroom to talk about air travel during Covid 19.
 
 
Q. What updates have there been regarding air travel in the last few weeks?
 
A. Both Harvard and the Department of Defense have released studies saying that the risk of getting Covid 19 on an airplane is virtually nonexistent. This is because of the mask mandate on airplanes and because the air filters on planes are able to clear 99.99% of airborne viruses from the air in the cabin every 5 minutes or so. While all travel has an element of risk, the risk of getting Covid 19 on an airplane is quite low according to these studies.
 
 
Q. Where have you traveled by plane since Covid? What airports did you use and what airlines did you fly?
 

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Dr. Laura and Eric discuss what makes our Alaska trip such a unique experience. 

 

Q. Alaska is so vast - there are so many national parks and areas to explore - what parks and places does a Grand Classroom Alaska tour typically visit?
 
A. Our tours start and end in Anchorage with time to explore the museums and hike or bike the coastal trail to look for wildlife. We then head down to the fishing village of Seward - along the way we visit the Alaska Wildlife Center and do a cool train ride/rafting combo trip that takes you along Spencer Glacier. In Seward we spend time at Kenai Fjords National Park - we go for a kayak and also have the opportunity to hike on Exit Glacier. For the grand finale we head up to Denali, usually with stops at a dog sledding place and a gold mining spot. At Denali, you can take a guided bus ride into the park and/or hike at a variety of spots including the Savage River, Horseshoe Lake, and Mount Healy.
 

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Naomi and Will talk about the Pacific Northwest trip where you get to see it all!

Here's the rundown:

Q. The Pacific NorthWest is a bit of a lesser known trip, but it's one of my personal favorites. Can you let people know what to expect on the tour?

A. In my opinion, the PNW is such an easy wind. Nature is right there in the City. You have a stratovolcano, you have Rainer looming over what really feels like an Emerald City. You also have access to the sound and all that has to offer, as well as the fantastic countryside if the group decides to travel down to Portland as well.  
 
Also, one of the absolutely most fascinating topics to explore in the area is my personal favorite, volcanism! It's wonderful seeing students realize we have active volcanoes in the USA. And just being immersed in the nature of the area is exhilarating. The weather also dictates much of the mood of the trip and provides a lot of magic.
 
  1. Domestic but International - Puerto is the Best of Both
  2. Yosemite and San Francisco, Two of the Best
  3. A Big (Bend) Education
  4. Galapagos with Cesar and Pete
  5. "Rainbow Beard" Talks Great Smoky Mountains