Through its Carroll on the Go program, Carroll High School in Dayton offers travel abroad to its students. Beth Branum, Carroll’s World Languages Department Chair and an EF Tours trainer, oversees the program that typically schedules annual trips over spring break for seven to eleven days.

“Eighth grade parents and students receive [a guide to] the next four years’ worth of trips,” said Branum. “While your child is going to Carroll High School, [they can discover] what club or class is sponsoring that [trip] and which adult is going to be in charge. It helps financially … to figure out a place and to talk to their friends and other families about where they might want to go.”

Carroll on the Go began with language classes visiting countries relevant to their studies: Spanish students visited Spain, French students visited France, and Latin students visited Italy or Greece. History students joined in with trips to London and Paris, while the drama department visited New York City and even learned a dance from the Broadway musical, Wicked. And on a recent Spanish class trip to Costa Rica and Panama, activities included white-water rafting and ziplining through trees.

“I want the trips that we take to be the first trip of many in their lives,” said Branum. “They are figuring out how to deal with being in a country and not knowing the language. It’s all about using your language skills.”

As a Catholic high school, Carroll incorporates faith into its program. Students visit Catholic sites, attend Mass and spend time in prayer. “It is hard to separate faith from life,” said Branum. “The kids are so taken [aback … realizing] that the Mass that we are having in France, or in Italy, is the same as Mass at home. When the kids go up and receive the Eucharist [they realize] we are one Church. It doesn’t matter where they are. They can take Communion here while people at home are receiving Communion.”

“As we travel and bridge the gap between cultures, the Catholic faith and the celebration of the Mass are universal,” said Branum. “I don’t want their faith to be in the Church and left in the Church. I want to go in the Church, celebrate Mass together, and then be able to talk about the blessings we have every day.”

Carroll on the Go has enabled students to visit the Vatican, St. Peter’s Basilica, the Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi, and the cities of Florence, Venice and Milan. They celebrated Easter Mass at the Cathedral of the Holy Cross and Saint Eulalia (Barcelona); attended Mass at the Seville Cathedral (Spain), the second largest church in the world (after St. Peter’s Cathedral); and witnessed the Holy Week traditions of Seville, including the procession of floats that tell the Passion of Jesus Christ Branum, who leads the Spanish trips, also sees the trips as opportunities to connect with youth outside the classroom. “The Lord has blessed me greatly by sharing these experiences,” said Branum. “The time in prayer, lighting candles in honor and in memory of loved ones, discussing similarities and differences of the Mass celebration and figuring out the next step in their faith are moments I cherish.”

Upcoming destinations include the National Parks for the art and science classes and, next year, Italy and Spain for 62 people.

“I’ve learned a lot of lessons,” said Branum. “I hope I’m passing on the best of those. When we take these tours, I want [the students] to just go and experience.”

Branum’s goal is to give students the confidence and skills they need to travel. “You can go abroad and see the world the Lord has created for you,” said Branum.

This article appeared in the July 2023 edition of The Catholic Telegraph Magazine. For your complimentary subscription, click here.