When eighth grader Christian Beck went to Neah Bay last year, he had serious fun with his friends on the ferry and at numerous museums. However, seventh graders this year won’t get this opportunity. UPrep History department staff and the administration recently suspended the Washington State History overnight trips, which had been in service for several years.
Director of middle school Brian Johnson quickly provided information as to why the field trips were closed.
“Fort Worden went bankrupt, and they were one of our biggest destinations. We took about 40 kids there, which really helped logistically. And after government cuts, the Tri-Cities announced too that they could not support our group anymore… Transportation costs right now are also through the roof,” Johnson said.
The U.S. and Israel’s war on Iran has also sent gas prices skyrocketing.
Johnson also touched on the decision making process.
“I started to think about it during the summer and talked with the history teachers in early fall, and really, by the fall, we knew that there was a low likelihood of us being able to maintain the trip for future classes, “Johnson said. “I felt terrible for the students.”
Beck opposes this change that happened during the school’s 50th year in service.
“It just seems really bad that they’re removing it, because I made lots of great connections and friendships on that trip,” Beck said.
Beck, who went on the trip to Neah Bay last May for two nights, also pointed out the carefree and innocent sense of the excursion that created memories for multiple students, including himself.
“We weren’t allowed to buy things from the vending machines, but we still did anyway,” Beck said, referring to the feeling of innocence during his trip. He also touched on his favorite memories, saying that “they went to a museum, and learned how to braid yarn like the true Native way”.
While the overnights will be canceled, the students will get to take many more day trips and go to High Trek Adventures, a ropes course in Everett, for one day during the intensive.
Seventh grader Ahana Kameshwar remarks that “while the overnights were canceled, I’m looking forward to seeing how it goes.”
