Students at Confederation College Take ‘Trip of a Lifetime’
Second-year Tourism – Travel and Eco-Adventure students recently travelled to Peru as part of their studies. They are pictured alongside their instructors at Machu Picchu. Supplied photo
THUNDER BAY, ON – Second-year students in the Tourism – Travel and Eco-Adventure program at Confederation College are unpacking their suitcases after a week-long trip to Peru.
Known as a familiarization (FAM) trip to the tourism industry, the intent is to provide an opportunity to practice skills learned in the classroom and to gain a first-hand travel experience that can later be used as a sales tool once students begin their careers. Each year, students in the fourth semester of the program visit a foreign country and engage in voluntourism activities while travelling, to help the local communities they stay in and to emphasize the value of philanthropy.
Students Chelsea Kartinen (left) and Brittany Best make a connection with a child supported by the Casa Generacion orphanage in San Bartolo. Supplied photo
“During the two years of the program, students learn about the five sectors of the tourism industry including accommodation, food and beverage services, recreation and entertainment, transportation, and travel services,” said Program Coordinator Giannina Veltri. “This trip allows students to see for themselves how each sector relates to the next to contribute to a memorable and enjoyable experience for the traveller. By taking on the role of a traveller themselves, students will be better able to provide guidance and travel advice for their future customers.”
From left, students Chelsea Kartinen, Brittany Best, Amy Parhiala, Kesley Dillon and Kyle Prystie are ready for a dune buggy ride in the Paracas Desert. Supplied photo
Students are exposed to all elements of the industry from airline service and resort accommodations to tours, local attractions and ethnic cuisine. While in Peru, students trekked the Incan ruins of the world-renowned Machu Picchu, rode dune buggies and sandboarded in the Paracas Desert, visited a llama and alpaca farm, and took an environmental tour to the Ballesta Islands where they observed huge colonies of sea birds, sea lions and the Humboldt penguins. They also learned about the history of Spanish conquistadors, visiting the underground world of the San Francisco de Asis catacombs and the Lima Cathedral.
“This was the trip of a lifetime and I would have never been able to plan something like this on my own,” said student Amy Parhiala.
Student Chelsea Kartinen added that “it was action-packed with a large variety of activities. Watching the sunset in the desert was amazing.”
Student Brittany Best shared that the experience “was a real eye-opener to other cultures and ways of life.”
The Humanitarian Aid project with Air Canada was an important part of opening students’ eyes. With the help of student organizer Aaron Beemer, the entire class came together to fill two suitcases with items such as toothbrushes, toothpaste, children’s clothing and shoes, toiletries, candies, toys, school supplies and more. The suitcases were delivered by the students to an orphanage called Casa Generacion located in San Bartolo, Peru, which provides a safe home, heathy food, education and art and music classes to abandoned children living on the streets.
“The Humanitarian project was the best thing I have ever participated in and I will never forget all the smiles and hugs of all the children,” said student Laurie Kivi.
The class also worked with a local biologist and his environmental group to pick up plastic objects from the bay waters and along the ocean shoreline, with some students taking to surfboards to collect the objects from the water.
Students fund their trip by raising money throughout their two years in the program, hosting several fundraising events on campus.
For more information about the Tourism – Travel and Eco-Adventure program, visit www.confederationc.on.ca/tourism . It’s not too late to apply for the 2016 fall intake.
