More Than a Field Trip: Faith, History, and Seeing the World
The Catholic School Leaders Podcast
History teacher Jon Kendrick has led twelve international trips with high school students, from Rome to New Zealand. He joins the show to talk about how he built a safe, affordable travel program and why walking where history happened changes kids for good. Show notes Jon Kendrick still remembers standing in St. Peter's Square as a teenager, watching Pope John Paul II carry the cross on Good Friday. That moment planted a bug in him that never went away, and fifteen years later, as a history and government teacher, he's passed it on to hundreds of his own students. In this episode, Jon talks about the travel program he's built from scratch, twelve trips and counting to places like Italy, China, Dubai, Australia, and soon Scotland and Ireland. We cover the questions every school leader has before saying yes to something like this: keeping kids safe far from home, what it costs and how families make it work, and a couple of stories that stuck with us, including watching the pope up close and a passport that went missing in one country and turned up before dinner. If you've ever wondered whether a program like this could work at your school, this one's worth the listen. Topics covered What sparked Jon's own love of travel. Building the program and where the group has been. Safety and how EF Tours keeps large groups protected. The lost passport story. Making trips affordable on a monthly plan. Culture shock moments abroad. Running trips through the school versus independently. Chaperone ratios and packing advice. Guest bio Jon Kendrick teaches AP US History, AP Government and Politics, and Government Politics Honors at Cornerstone Classical in Jacksonville, Florida. For fifteen years he's led international travel programs for high schoolers, from Italy and China to Australia and New Zealand. Reach him at Jkendrick@cornerstoneclassical.org. Footer Subscribe to the Catholic School Leaders Podcast wherever you listen, and share this one with a colleague if it gave you something to think about. Got a topic for the show? Reach out at john@elementaryadvancement.com. Learn more about today's sponsor, Renaissance: As a global leader in education technology operating in more than 110 countries, Renaissance is committed to providing educators with insights and resources to accelerate growth and help all students build a strong foundation for success. We believe that technology can unlock a more effective learning experience, ensure that students get the personalized teaching they need to thrive, and help educators and administrators to truly, fully, See Every Student. Learn more at renaissance.com.