Havana, Cuba — It’s spring break. Hackley students wander the streets, admiring brightly-colored buildings and storefronts. High arching churches with ornately carved exteriors dot the cityscape. The group embarks on an adventure.

Every year since 2000, students have had the opportunity to travel abroad under the Casten Travel Program, generously founded by the Casten family.

Past trips have included Thailand and Cambodia, Iceland, and most recently, Morocco last spring. Since the first trip to Cuba, Hackley has arranged nearly 30 trips abroad.

Casten trips began with the idea that students would be exposed to unique experiences and gain fresh perspectives on the world. Students who travel on a Casten trip encounter new friendships, cultures, religions, and ways of life. Junior Lucia Yannuzzi, a student on the 2016 Morocco trip, said, “I went knowing that the purpose of [the Casten trip] was to expand my cultural exposure and widen my knowledge of the world…I believe that going to and traveling around Morocco accomplished this perfectly.”

Senior Lila Wolfe, who traveled on a Casten trip in 2015 said, “The trip to Thailand and Cambodia was the best experience traveling to a foreign country I’ve ever had. I’ve never been immersed in such beautiful cultures, food, and people. I couldn’t have asked for a better group of kids and chaperones; we immediately got along really well.”

This year, two Casten trips are scheduled to run. Students will have the opportunity to return to Cuba, home of the very first Casten trip in 2000. They will explore the vibrant art, history and culture of the country, which has only recently opened its doors to leisure travel. Students will be able to engage with Cuban natives and speak with them in English and Spanish (optional). They will be stationed mainly in Havana, with smaller day trips to regions such as Cienfuegos, Trinidad, and Las Terrazas. Drama teacher Willie Teacher, history teacher Vladimir Klimenko, and Spanish teacher Angela Alonso will be leading the trip.

Students can also travel to Denmark, where they will focus on the country’s rich history, art, and architecture, as well as its national and global policies, sustainability, healthcare, and wellness. An additional component of the trip will include studying the iconic design styles native to Denmark, with an emphasis on the Bauhaus movement. They will also study Denmark as a world leader in sustainability, the wellness of its people, and how the nation is dealing with immigration. The leaders for this trip will be art teacher Sarah Coble, Director of Auxiliary Programs Peter Sawkins, and science teacher Katherine Hannon.