ARCANUM — Sixth-grade Arcanum-Butler Middle School Language Arts Teacher Marla Miller likes to travel.
Every two years she takes a group of students, from any school district, with her on an education-based trip through Education First (EF) Educational Tours. So far the trips, which are not school-related, have been Europe – based, but each time Miller polls interested students of where they would like to go. This time around they are headed to a 10-day tour of France and Italy, in June 2018. Students will tour museums, cathedrals, basilicas and experience good food, many forms of travel and how to exchange money.
The trip cost per student is around $4,000, which includes a 24/7 tour guide, meals, hotels and transportation. Fundraising is a way for the students to off-set the expenses. One fundraiser “Flamingo Flocking” allows folks to purchase a flock of flamingos to land in a yard of their choice. They are delivered by the students to the appointed location for the following donations: small, 12 flamingos, $10; medium, 24 flamingos, $15; large, 36 flamingos, $20, Super-sized, 60 flamingos, $30. A sign accompanies the flocking, “You’ve been flocked.” By the next morning, the flock is gone.
“The kids have fun with this and hopefully it will take off from yard to yard,” Miller said.
Darke County Sheriff Deputy Rick Genovesi, of Arcanum, was recently flocked.
“I just laughed and laughed,” he said. “I wish I knew who did it.”
According to Miller, Jill Davis, a former Greenville School District teacher, took tours every two years with students and took one of Miller’s sons. That is how Miller got into the touring business.
“I think there is that whole cultural experience that you can’t put a price on,” she said. “Kids who might not get far from Darke county or Ohio are out in the world. They are hearing the languages, eating the food, seeing old architecture. There is so much in the world to learn about, see and experience and it is better than reading it in any book.”
The upcoming tour is open to students in any school district until the first week in March. To book reservations or to order a Flamingo Flocking call Marla Miller 937-417-6202 or Dana Henninger 937-206-4098.
