This past summer was a time for many vacations of students and staff at the Palace on Ballas. With school finally back in session and the summer season now behind us we can look back at some notable visits.

To kick off the summer Sophomore Avery Medley, Seniors Michael Huber, and Patrick Donovan accompanied by Mr. David Cabrera and Mrs. Christine Tseng visited the United Kingdom on a school trip.

Landing in Ireland, the group spent time exploring the Ring of Kerry and stayed in Dublin for a few days before traveling to Wales. After staying two nights in Wales they took a bullet train to London where they visited landmarks such as St. Paul’s Cathedral and Buckingham Palace.

Around the same time Junior Timmy Siebenman went to a Catholic camp in Tiger, Georgia called Covecrest. Timmy, along with teens from all over the country, took part in mini competitions and gatherings similar to that of a retreat. The camp centered on bringing participants closer to Christ through fun activities.

In late June and early July Mr. Chris Williams, his wife, their kid Harrison Williams ‘25 and his classmate Ryan Davis ‘25 accompanied by some other family friends went on a 10 day canoe trip in Ontario, Canada.

The canoing trip took place at Quetico Provincial park, on the banks of over 2,000 lakes and the beautiful Canadian mountaintops. The park is known for its vast wilderness and sunset views. It has several cabins and other places to stay and sleep nearby which is what Mr. Williams and company did.

For these three vacations all of the participants would recommend these visits to anyone who is interested and encourages those who are able and if possible to do so. This is not a ranking of vacation destinations but just a few the staff sought to highlight and write a story about.
Another thing these three vacations held in common was the importance and emphasis on developing relationships with others. Whether it be family, friends, or fellow camp-goers from all over the country, these vacations helped relationships develop and increase in growth. Each journey helped the participants to recognize the importance of the world around them and the people they have around them.

Each of these trips offered something unique to all who took part in them. For example Michael Huber emphasized his interest in history while exploring some landmarks in London. Or the closeness of nature experienced by Mr. Williams and his family and friends at the Quetico Provincial park was a great experience for all those around.