By Maren Ingram, Opinions Editor 

As students returned to remote learning after just three weeks in the building, many families are beginning to take advantage of learning at home so they can travel.

During a normal school year, most students don’t take long trips unless it’s over a break, in fear of missing too much content or accumulating too many absences. But with this school year looking a little different, many students are realizing they can travel and learn at the same time. 

Back in October, freshman Annie Heath and her family left on a six-week RV trip out West, and Heath has been able to keep up with her schoolwork while still being able to see all the amazing things the United States has to offer at the same time.

“My favorite part has definitely been California, but especially San Francisco,” Heath said. “The Golden Gate Bridge was incredible, and it’s been super cool and different seeing the sun set over the ocean.”

Heath recognizes that without COVID-19, she and her family probably would never have gotten an opportunity like this.

“I definitely wouldn’t have been able to do this trip if we weren’t doing remote learning,” Heath said. “Being gone for six weeks, that would have been a lot of schoolwork I would be missing.” 

While some students struggle with remote learning, Heath explained that she is happy with it, and thankful for her teachers during this difficult time.

“All of my teachers are making it super easy and have been very accommodating to make sure I’m able to learn and have the same in-person experience, except online.”

Other students, like senior Bri Wilson, are traveling for sports instead of fun.

“I go to Bolles Swim Camp in Florida every year for swimming,” Wilson said. “I’m usually there for about six weeks in June and July, and then back around Christmastime.”

But with COVID-19 cases still rising, Wilson’s swim camp looks a bit different. 

“This year we can only go for two weeks instead of six weeks, so without COVID restrictions I would have been able to go longer,” Wilson said. “And when I went over the summer this year, masks and social distancing were really enforced, and we had to stand in lines on a circle most of the time.” 

And with COVID-19 fears still present, many students’ families are opting to travel by a safer option: by road instead of air.

Sophomore Bella Sarbora is taking an RV trip to Arizona to see her grandparents this month.

“We aren’t flying or staying in hotels. We’re going to take our RV and camp in national parks,” Sarbora said. “We plan on stopping to see my grandparents in Arizona and go sightseeing at national parks along the way. My mom and I especially want to stop in Waco, Texas.” 

Freshman Owen LaVier is also planning a road-trip, driving out to Big Bear, California, for a month and a half this December and January.

“It’s going to be super cool because I’ll be able to wake up and do schoolwork, and then still ski and snowboard in the afternoon,” LaVier said. “We’re also going to drive down to Los Angeles one of the days and check out the beach and maybe even surf.” 

Due to remote learning, some students are going further and taking longer trips than they could have normally.

“I’m going to Arizona over Christmas break and we’re going to visit the Grand Canyon,” junior Tyler Anderson said. “I do think this trip would have been much easier without COVID because of all the precautions people are taking, especially at airports, but I’m very excited to be seeing the Grand Canyon for the first time.” 

Junior Jada Lancsek is also taking a pretty big trip this year, but it’s somewhere she’s familiar with. 

“We’re going to Turks and Caicos at the end of December,” Lancsek said. “We go on this trip every year, but we usually go in spring, so this is the first time we’re going around Christmas.” 

With everything so different this year, Lancsek and her family, like many others traveling soon, are just hoping to return to a little bit of normalcy while on vacation. 

“I’m looking forward to the clear water and all the fun things to do,” Lancsek said. “It’s the most gorgeous place I’ve ever been and I’m so excited to be back.” 

Junior Maren Ingram can be reached at 22ingramma01@daretolearn.org.