James Forester, left, with fellow travelers at the Great Wall in China.

Susannah Francis (center, in pink) gets grubby with other teachers during the 2009 Teachers' Institute Program at the Frontier Culture Museum in Staunton.

Non-Pub: Bradley Yarbrough with his wife Angela and their kids Caleb and Tessa, as they prepare to set off on their summer adventure, a bicycling trip in Canada.

Traveling teacher Michele Strayer in Australia

An educational tour of Europe

Thanks to the generosity of Thomas McGlothlin and the McGlothlin Foundation, I had a life-changing travel experience this summer.

My two-week trip spanning England, France and Ireland allowed me to experience some of Europe's greatest cultural treasures firsthand. I hope to translate my experiences to the classroom by bringing the sights and sounds of these exciting places to life for my students.

Everywhere I went, I bought children's books, collected samples of coins and took pictures to put in a slideshow for my students. Now when we talk about England and history, I will be able to show them places I actually visited.

My daughter, Lori, and son, David, and I began our travels in London, visiting many of the city's historic landmarks. At Parliament, we witnessed lawmaking in progress from the public gallery. We also visited 700-year-old Westminster Abbey, the Tower of London, Shakespeare's Globe Theatre and the Tate Modern Museum, London's impressive collection of modern art. On our third and final day in England, we ventured outside the city to visit the mysterious prehistoric site of Stonehenge, the city of Bath and Windsor Palace.

In Paris, our first stop was the Musee d'Orsay, a former railway station that now houses France's national collection of impressionist, post-impressionist and art nouveau pieces. We also ventured to the Louvre and enjoyed many meals alfresco while soaking up the local atmosphere at sidewalk cafes.

After leaving Paris, we briefly returned to England before departing for Ireland by ferry. Arriving in Dublin by water was an incredible introduction to the city. Our first stop was Trinity College, Ireland's oldest college, home to the famed Book of Kells.

When our time in Dublin was up, we headed north to Belfast, then took a breathtaking ride along the rugged northern coastline to the Giant's Causeway. This awe-inspiring natural rock formation is made up of more than 40,000 interlocking basalt columns and was well worth the journey!

Like all great things in life, the trip eventually came to an end, and it was time to head to the airport. When I handed in the keys to my rental car, it was with a great sense of satisfaction -- although I had come back minus one hubcap, I had gained a lifetime of wonderful memories.

I learned the importance of mud

One thing I will bring back to my classroom this September is mud. MUD? Well, it's not just any mud; it is a red, clay mud with just the right amount of sand.

Mud, or rather making mud, was one of the main topics at the 2009 Teachers' Institute Program sponsored by the Frontier Culture Museum in Staunton. During the week, we explored the Igbo culture of West Africa, from home construction to foods and their influences on the Virginia colony during the years of slave trade.

We worked side by side with native Igbo educators and families as we helped build traditional Igbo homes on the new West African exhibit under construction at the museum. These Igbo homes were made from mud and had thatched roofs and beautifully carved wooden doors.

The knowledge and friendships I gained in those few short days have given me a wealth of ideas to share and resources to access with my students. It was truly an experience I will never forget!

Canadian bike trip taught us a lot

On June 17, I drove our Toyota Sienna, with my wife, Angela, our children Caleb, 11, and Tessa, 8, and our two tandem bicycles inside, over the Canada border to Chambly, a beautiful little town on a canal about 30 miles outside of Montreal. Through couchsurfing.org, we had contacted a couple there willing to let us leave our van parked in their driveway for the duration of our two-week trip.

We spent the night in their home, and enjoyed the first of many enriching, stimulating and restorative visits in the homes of hospitable Quebeckers whom we met either through that site or through warmshowers.org. We learned so much about life and culture in Quebec from these wonderful, generous people.

We left our van in Chambly and traveled on our tandems into Montreal, then along the north shore of the St. Lawrence River to Quebec City, then south through the Eastern Townships area to Sherbrooke and, nearly 500 miles later, back up to Chambly. After that, we drove the van back into Montreal to spend a few more days in the city.

Some highlights of the trip: Seeing the "Imagine" exhibit about Yoko Ono and John Lennon at the art museum in Montreal; buying poutine (the signature fast food of Quebec, french fries with cheese curds smothered in gravy); riding along the waterfront promenade into Quebec City on Quebec National Day (June 24); seeing a traveling Cirque du Soleil performance in the streets of Quebec City; communing with the polar bears at the Aquarium du Quebec; savoring with our children the well-earned calories of many snacks and ice cream cones; eating wild strawberries that Warmshowers host, Frank, spotted as he rode with us on the bike path out of Victoriaville; watching the lion stare down the chipmunk in his enclosure at the Zoo de Granby; tubing at the waterpark next to the zoo and so many more!

We survived 4,500 miles of car time

It was the first summer in three years that we were able to go on a vacation because of my breast cancer and reconstructive surgeries.

We left on June 9 after school for a 28-hour drive to Minot, N.D. We took off about 5 p.m. so the boys, ages 2 and 4, would sleep for eight or nine hours of the drive. We were equipped with the portable DVD players and lots of car toys to occupy the time.

Nathan, 2, did exceptionally well and didn't color on himself until the last 30 miles. He then became the coloring book, and my mom got a good chuckle out of it when she saw him.

While in North Dakota, we made stops in Williston, Washburn and Bismarck to visit friends and family. After spending about six days in Minot, we headed to Platte, S.D., to visit with my husband's family. While there, we took in the Corn Palace in Mitchell and the Great Plains Zoo in Sioux Falls. We then drove to Clarksville, Tenn., to see my husband's two daughters, Shannon and Mandy.

We made the entire loop in two weeks, as that was all my husband, Don, could take off of work. It was nice to visit family and friends, and we wished we could have spent more time at each place. In total, we drove a little more than 4,500 miles. We had a fun time though.

Trip to China will help my classroom

This summer, I had the opportunity to go with educators from several states to China on a monthlong Fulbright-Hays study abroad trip.

We had the chance to visit secondary schools and universities in Beijing, Chengdu and Xi'an, learning a tremendous amount about the Chinese education system and the reforms that they are implementing.

Without a doubt, the most awesome experience was traveling to the Great Wall, which I had the opportunity to visit twice.

The first trip was to a place called Baldaling. This part of the wall has been reconstructed, complete with railings on the stairs, and is covered with thousands of people. On my last full day in China, several teachers and I went in a small group to a second part of the wall. This was the exact opposite of the first experience, because the wall has not been reconstructed and is falling apart. There is basically a forest growing on top of the wall. Seeing both extremes was an awesome experience.

Traveling to China was the best possible way I could spend my summer. My classroom is sure to take on a more global perspective because of the experiences I had there.

Harpers Ferry passed my test

This summer, I continued my exploration of distant, often remote, exotic locales in search of off-site learning opportunities for my third-, fourth- and fifth-grade students. Or, skipping the educational jargon, I "scoped out" field trip ideas for the upcoming school year.

My idea of a good field trip is one that captures student interest, has a multicurricular focus (such as science and history), aligns with the children's studies and has food options and accommodations for large groups.

This year I ventured to Harpers Ferry, W.Va., to check out the National Historical Park, which re-creates the town as it was in the 1860s, before and during the Civil War. Harpers Ferry is best known as the site of John Brown's raid on the armory to secure weapons and ammunition for a slave revolt he hoped to inspire. The Kennedy House, where Brown and his group of fellow abolitionists planned their attack and stored weapons for their cause, is about a 10-minute drive from town and has been preserved.

But Harpers Ferry, once a bustling industrial town utilizing the water power of the Shenandoah and Potomac rivers, also features excellent presentations on the engineering and technological sciences of the 1800s. One exhibit at the park is devoted to the tools, engines, and manufacturing mechanics of the time. And because the two rivers meet at the town, the geology of the area is also emphasized.

Harpers Ferry passed my test, with nearby campground cabins at $10 per night and a large pizza restaurant in town. But in the spirit of full disclosure, I will admit that I ate real food and stayed at what is now a beautiful bed and breakfast, where Thomas (later to become "Stonewall") Jackson lived while training his first soldiers.

It was a bit of "history heaven" and a wonderful way to spend a few days this summer. One question still bothers me about the place, though: Why does Harpers Ferry have no apostrophe in its name?

An environmental lesson in Hawaii

This summer, I was blessed to be able to spend two weeks on the Big Island with my husband, our three teenagers and my parents.

We stayed in a "green" house on the Keakulua Bay in Captain Cook, Hawaii. The owner of the house invited guests to recycle and to contribute to the compost area in the yard. There were geckos in the house to control the insects (mostly ants) that thrive in the tropical climate. The inside of the house was crafted from a variety of beautiful and plentiful island woods.

We met the local caretakers of the house, Sandy and David. David is also a teacher, so we had much to talk about! His preschool-age grandson, Malaki, was happy and friendly (just like the preschoolers I teach).

Words and photos cannot adequately express all that we experienced -- the steaming caudera of the Kilauea Volcano, the excitement of walking through a lava tube, the gushing waterfalls, the black and green sand beaches, the carefully chosen steps on lava rocks, swimming and snorkeling on the bay, close-up gazes at spinner dolphins, sea turtles, and brilliantly colored fish, the smell of exotic flowers, the sunsets over the water, the sound of tropical rain at night, and the songs of birds at sunrise.

A local roadside grill graciously served us freshly caught (and grilled to order) ahi tuna and mahi. The tropical flavored shave ice was addicting.

As you can imagine, it was with mixed feelings that we boarded the plane home. I returned with a sense of peace and hope for a better world.

Soon, I will return to my classroom of preschoolers, where I will share this hope for a cleaner, more beautiful Earth for our children. I will read a book that Hawaiian children listen to, and they will learn why we need to take care of our oceans. I will tell them why it is important to reduce, reuse and recycle. They will hear how my own compost area got started.

Ministry in Rwanda shows progress

I spent 15 days in Rwanda, Africa, this summer with my husband, Dennis, and friends Mary and Lindsey Forbes.

Four years ago, my church, Church of the Holy Spirit Orchard Hills, partnered with a church and primary school in Gahanga, just outside the capital city of Kigali. This was my fifth visit to Rwanda, and I am thrilled to see the changes in the school.

In July 2000, the school was in need of major renovation. The floors were made of dirt, the classrooms didn't have windows and some of the children sat on rocks or boards, as they didn't have enough desks. The classes shared Crayons, pencils and paper. Chalk boards were in bad shape. Gahanga did not have electricity or running water within miles. The children looked malnourished and sickly.

Every year, Orchard Hills has taken on different projects to help the school. Concrete sidewalks and floors have replaced dirt floors. Each child has a desk and school supplies. Grass and trees have been planted. The children now have a playground area. We gave each child a toothbrush and, to prevent malaria, mosquito nets. The biggest project came in 2007, when we put in a rainwater collection system at the school. The school has grown to 1,091 children, and we are currently working on installing another water tank to see them through the dry season.

The school placed first in their district and third in the nation with their exams (much like our SOL tests) last year and are expected to do well this year. The children look healthier and are eager to learn. They proudly displayed their new school uniforms for us this year.

The main focus of our visit this year was what I call "a ministry of presence." We spent a lot of time just being with the people.

We visited two children that we sponsor through Compassion International. That was priceless! Mary teaches music, so she taught music lessons in piano and guitar. We took the pastor/headmaster of the school to Akagera National Park for a safari and saw many spectacular animals. We were told that it was so reassuring to know that the people of Rwanda were not forgotten. They now have hope!

Experiencing the land down under

G'day! Excitement and education were the key words for my trip "down under" this summer!

For 15 days I chaperoned a group of fifth- and sixth-grade students through the People to People Student Ambassador Program. The goal of the program, which was started by President Eisenhower 51 years ago, is "Peace Through Understanding."

These students were from all over Southwest Virginia. We met up with two other groups, one from Virginia Beach and one from Detroit, for a total of 40 student delegates.

The students explored the sights of Sydney for four days, including the Sydney Opera House, before we traveled the Sunshine Coast north of Brisbane, which included a trip to the Great Barrier Reef. After our time on the coast, we traveled into the Australian bush.

Throughout the trip, the students met many people who were impressed with their maturity and good conduct as American citizens. In addition, they became friends with students in Australia and in America.

What a way to spend summer vacation!