Featured among the variety of Intensive Learning trips this year is the recurring Give Kids the World trip, a week-long experience overseen by PE/Health teacher Michael Brunswick and Math Department Chair Katie LuBrant.
On the trip, students travel to Orlando, Florida to engage in service work with the Give Kids the World organization. This year, sixteen students will embark on the trip on March 22 where they will have the opportunity to earn between 25 and 35 service hours through volunteer work. In addition to service performed directly with Give Kids the World, students will also volunteer at the Christian Service Center and the Second Harvest Food Bank.
Upon flying into Orlando, students will visit Medieval Times, an entertaining dinner show. After engaging in four days of dedicated service and a stop by Disney Springs, the trip will conclude with a day-long expedition to Magic Kingdom.
Give Kids the World, a trip that has been offered as an Intensive Learning option for six years, has always been led by Brunswick and LuBrant, who are especially passionate about service work. LuBrant shared her views towards the service component of the trip, highlighting the multitude of new perspectives and life experiences gained through the trip: “At Give Kids the World, we work with children with life-threatening illnesses, and many of us go through our whole lives without knowing a child like that or a family that is dealing with those circumstances. [The students] get to see things from a different perspective, and help out families that need it.”
Regarding his motivations for launching the experience and leading the service opportunity for several years, Brunswick said, “We [the group] volunteer for Make a Wish kids. My son got a wish … and it is an opportunity to give back that allows students here to see how other families are affected by severe diseases.”
Additionally, she remarked on the value of some of the most anticipated aspects of the trip, such as the Magic Kingdom and Disney Springs: “We not only help at Give Kids the World, but we also help at a service organization that helps the homeless and a food bank. So we’re dealing with some pretty heavy issues. The fun part gives us a chance to relax and get to know classmates and peers that you may not interact with on a daily basis.”
Both of the trip leaders emphasized the value of engaging in service work as a group. LuBrant said, “When we finish with the service work, we debrief. We ask students, ‘What did you think of this?’ and ‘Do you have any questions?’ Reflecting as a group is helpful.”
Vikram Verma ’25, who will be embarking on the trip, said “I am really looking forward to working with kids with special needs because I really enjoy that. It’s something that I’ve done a lot in the past, specifically through sports like Mount Laurel soccer. Helping people is something that brings me joy.”
Before flying out on March 22, students will attend three pre-departure meetings: one on November 3, another on January 19, and a final on March 15. Additionally, there will be one meeting for parents and guardians that is scheduled to take place in March. These meetings will focus on informing students and their guardians on the trip’s policies and agenda, while also preparing students to engage in their upcoming service experiences.
