Belmont Hill boys are not just athletes, students, and club members but also globetrotters who learn best about the world by experiencing history firsthand. Over the summer, three trips were offered to Belmont Hill students. The first of these was a trip to Hawaii, during which students explored the unique ecological diversity of the island. Next, students of all ages traveled to Greece, focusing on the rich classical history of the country and its many famous ancient ruins. Finally, four students visited England, Belgium, and France on the Kenney Legacy trip, exploring several World War II battlegrounds and museums.
During the 8-day Hawaii trip led by Mr. Sweeney and Mr. Trautz, students went all across the Big Island. They visited the snow-capped peak of Mauna Kea and the rainforests of the Waipi’o Valley. Students stepped within feet of boiling lava, as Hawaii is home to one of the longest continuous volcanic eruptions. Belmont Hill students went camping and backpacking at various sites, including a national park and black-sand beach. In addition, the group participated in a beach cleanup organized by the founder of the Drifters Project, an environmentally focused group of artists. Harry Liu ’27 explained, “My favorite part of the trip was definitely being able to snorkel with sea turtles.”
On the Greece trip led, by Mr. Bracken ’15 and Dr. Davis, students traveled across mainland Greece, observing the most famous ruins and monuments. The eight-day trip started in Nafplio, near the historic ruins of Mycenae and the Theater of Epidaurus. Next, the students went to Olympia to see the ruins of the Temple of Zeus. Students raced across the original Olympic stadium before heading to Delphi. There, students witnessed the temple of Apollo, the home of the Oracle of Delphi. The trip ended in the capital city of Athens, where students visited the Parthenon, several museums, and ruins. Jack Daley-Demerle ’27 explained that he enjoyed “exploring the city of Nafplio and seeing the Parthenon in Athens.”
The Kenney Legacy Trip, established in honor of Charlie Kenney ’06, is sponsored by the Kenney family and awarded to four or five rising fifth and sixth formers. This year, Mr. Zellner and Mr. Williams led the trip. The trip began in France as students walked along the beaches of Normandy, where they learned about the D-Day invasion. Students then traveled to Dunkirk, where hundreds of thousands of Allied troops were rescued from German forces. The trip then moved on to Belgium, where students examined the battleground of Bastogne. After leaving Belgium, students returned to France to explore the city of Paris and its wartime relevance before leaving for London. There, the group explored the Churchill War Rooms and many other must-sees, including Buckingham Palace and Big Ben. Davis Woolbert ’25 explained, “My favorite part of the Kenny trip was walking along the beaches of Normandy, especially given it was the 80th anniversary of the D-Day invasion.”
Belmont Hill students got the opportunity to explore many unique locations worldwide through the opportunities provided by the Office of Global Experiences and the Kenney Family.
