EF Educational Tours is a program that creates opportunities for students to visit countries abroad through teacher-led trips. In the 2026-2027 school year, there are two tours available for students to join: one to Rome and Athens, and one to Japan. 

To be a part of either trip, students must be six or more years old and have a valid passport. 

 

Rome and Athens

Ashley Tabron and Shannon Carr, both teachers, are leading the 2027 tour to Rome and Athens. There is currently no set registration deadline for the tour, and anyone can sign up. If you are interested in this tour, contact either Mrs. Carr at scarr@wcpss.net, or Ms. Tabron at atabron@wcpss.net. 

“Some benefits include exploring a different culture with expert local guides, trying new cuisines, and learning more about yourself and others. Students will also meet new friends and make lifelong memories,” said Tabron (via email). 

Some activities the tour will partake in are a Rome food tour and a Greek island cruise. The tour will also visit the Colosseum, the Trevi Fountain, Pompeii, and the Parthenon. 

While this is a great opportunity for the students, it’s also a nice opportunity for the teachers. 

“I have always wanted to go to Greece. The beautiful scenery has always captivated me. Being able to give students the experience of visiting another country inspired us to pick the trip,” said Carr (via email). 

 

Japan

The second tour offered in 2027 is to Japan. Jonathan Fisher, staff, will lead this tour. Unlike the Rome and Athens trip, this tour has only 25 spots, with 23 spots already filled. If you’re interested in joining this tour, contact Mr. Fisher at jefisher@wcpss.net. 

The Japan tour visits Osaka, Kyoto, and Tokyo. There’s also an optional 3-day trip extension to Seoul, South Korea. 

Some specific sights the Japan tour will cover include the Golden Pavilion, the Kanazawa Castle, the Imperial Palace plaza, and Akihabara Electric Town. Tour members will also get to make their own gold leaf chopsticks and partake in a guided Zen meditation experience. 

“My personal requirements as the Group Leader are: travellers must be HS age, attending LRHS, have a friend from LRHS going on the trip, or be a family member of an LRHS student attending the trip,” said Fisher (via email). 

When it comes to funding the trips, EF Tours offers need-based discounts for students who might have trouble paying. 

“Two student travellers who signed up the first night even received a $500 scholarship for the trip,” said Fisher (via email).

In addition, once the tour group is finalized, each student member will have their own personal fundraising page that family and friends can donate to. 

Both of these 2027 tours give students a great opportunity to explore languages, history, and cultures outside the U.S.