Mercy Academy students enjoy summer trips abroad

Throughout their time in high school, Mercy Academy students have multiple opportunities to become globally-minded learners through diverse travel experiences. These trips, encompassing academics, service, athletics, arts and recreational activities, extend far beyond Louisville's city limits.

In partnership with EF Tours, Mercy organizes international trips each summer, introducing exciting new destinations annually. In recent years, Mercy students have traveled to diverse locations such as England, Ireland, Scotland, Italy, France, Spain, Peru, the Galapagos Islands and many other countries around the world.

This year's summer trip allowed Mercy students to explore Switzerland and Italy over a 10-day adventure. Open to students of all grade levels, the trip included 13 participants, ranging from rising sophomores to recent graduates, along with five parents who joined the journey.

Audrey Mattingly, who serves as a math and personal finance teacher, math chair and assistant coach for the cross country team at Mercy, was one of four teachers who accompanied students on the trip. Mrs. Mattingly, who previously chaperoned on the 2022 summer trip to France, said the trip was an exceptional culturural experience for students.

"For students who might not feel comfortable planning a trip, it is a great way to support students in their first experiences abroad," Mrs. Mattingly said. "We know that there are some moments when students can experience culture shock, and it is a great way to be able to have support from teachers and friends during those times. Students get to see so many things that they discuss in classes, and see the history, art, architecture and literature that they've discussed in school come to life."

The group traveled from June 10 through 19, with the 10th and 19th designated as travel days, allowing for eight full days abroad. They departed from Louisville on June 10, arriving in Rome on the morning of June 11. The itinerary included two days in Rome, followed by a visit to Assisi en route to Florence on June 13. After spending a day in Florence, the group traveled through Bologna to the Venice region. They then journeyed through Lake Como into Switzerland, spending their final day in Lucerne before flying out of Zurich back to Louisville.

During their stay in Rome, the group visited major landmarks such as the Trevi Fountain, Colosseum, Roman Forum, Spanish Steps, the Vatican and St. Peter’s Basilica. In Assisi, they admired the Medieval architecture and the Basilica of St. Francis, while in Florence, they saw the Ponte Vecchio, the Duomo and enjoyed views of Renaissance architecture from Piazzale Michelangelo.

In Bologna, they visited the Basilica of St. Petronio and learned about its historical significance. In the Venice region, the group explored the islands of Burano and Murano, watched a glass-blowing demonstration, visited St. Mark’s Square and took a gondola ride. The journey continued through the Lake Como region, where they took a funicular to a spectacular overlook. The final day included a scenic train ride to the top of Mt. Rigi, a boat ride on Lake Lucerne and an afternoon in the city of Lucerne, ending with traditional Swiss games, chocolate and fondue.

Mrs. Mattingly said one of the greatest highlights of the trip for students included being in St. Peter’s Square during a papal audience and seeing the Pope. Students also particularly enjoyed the local cuisine, Italian fashion and excursions such as the visit to Mt. Rigi, the fondue night and the glass-blowing demonstration. They also appreciated the free time allotted for personal exploration, trying gelato, shopping and sampling regional dishes in both Italy and Switzerland.

“Students get the opportunity to push out of their comfort zones and experience these moments while being fully supported by faculty and their tour leaders,” Mrs. Mattingly said. “Not only that, there are some opportunities that are just hard to get if you are doing a trip that you’ve organized yourself. The EF trips give opportunities like the fondue night or glass blowing demo that just wouldn’t happen if you tried organizing your own trip.”

In addition to hosting summer trips, Mercy Academy also offers an annual three-day trip to New York City for rising seniors. An annual research trip to Costa Rica is also offered, which allows students to pursue undergraduate-level research in the country’s rain forests and earn college credit.

“These experiences really are once-in-a-lifetime opportunities for students,” Mattingly said. “I can’t say enough how much I think students should take advantage of these trips while they are at Mercy. The faculty who lead these trips are so dedicated to Mercy students and to giving them the best, most enriching experience possible.”

To learn more about travel opportunities for Mercy Academy students, visit www.mercyacademy.com/student-life/travel.