PLU Alumni Travel Opportunities
Upcoming travel opportunities
PLU at Holden Village
At some point in the future, PLU is planning on reserving a week for Lutes at Holden Village. PLU enjoys a long and happy connection with Holden Village, a Lutheran retreat and learning center in the heart of the Cascades. Many Lutes have spent time there with families, youth groups, or in January term courses with Prof. Bob Stivers and Prof. Sergia Hay. Whether you have been there before or have always wanted to go, this will be a wonderful opportunity to experience Holden in the summer with a group from PLU. PLU’s mission to “educate students for lives of thoughtful inquiry, service, leadership, and care- for other people, for their communities, and for the earth” highlights our university commitments to environmental stewardship and thoughtful inquiry. Holden Village provides the ideal locale to learn, reflect, and share ideas about these commitments.
When Holden Village is back to hosting summer retreats, we will plan a Lute trip. Stay tuned for more details. If you are interested in joining us, whenever this trip may be, please contact Kathy Engle at engle@plu.edu.
Alumni Travel Seminars
Through a collaborative effort of the Office of Alumni & Student Connections and the Wang Center for Global and Community Engaged Education, PLU has offered opportunities for study away for PLU alumni and friends. At this time, we are pausing all trips to ensure the health, well-being and safety of our alumni and friends in the community and around the world.
2019 Diversity Center Alumni Trip: Trinidad & Tobago
PLU’s Diversity Center is excited to host the Second Annual Diversity Center Alumni Trip to the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago. Alumni will have the opportunity to learn about the history and culture of Tobago and enjoy the festivities of their Heritage Festival. Visit the dCenter’s website for full details about registration, program fees, event schedules, and travel and lodging options.
Logistics
Travel dates: July 22 – 29
Registration fees: $400; includes two days of excursions in Trinidad (includes ground transportation, entrance fees and one dinner), a Caribbean Airline flight between Trinidad and Tobago, ground transportation in Tobago, and six meals in Tobago (plus groceries).
Does not include lodging or airfare to and from Trinidad.
Registration is now closed.
Galápagos and Ecuador
2019 Galápagos and Ecuador Alumni Travel Seminar
The Galápagos Islands are without question one of the great destinations in the world. Join Faculty Tour Leader Dr. Charles Bergman, Professor Emeritus, Department of English and Environmental Studies on a PLU Alumni Travel Seminar designed expressly for alumni and friends. Experience the charm and incredible importance of these islands with other graduates, and do it the PLU way—passionate faculty leaders, authentic experiences, intimate attention to nature and animals and culture, short readings chosen to deepen and enrich our experience. Central themes include evolution, conservation and environmental awareness. This seminar will include an itinerary with suggested readings and discussions.
Location: Quito and Galápagos Islands, Ecuador
Travel Dates: June 1 – July 15, 2019
The program included seven nights on a ship in the Galápagos Islands, stays in Quito and visits to the wonderful colonial center of town, and two nights in the nearby forests of the Andes Mountains. For those interested, there were optional excursions to Peru: Cusco, the Inca Trail, the Sacred Valley, and Machu Picchu. Galápagos Islands—7 nights, Andes mountains—2 nights, Quito—3 nights. Peru and Machu Picchu—7 nights.
Northern Ireland
2018 Northern Ireland Alumni Travel Seminar
The pilot seminar for PLU Alumni Travel launched in April 2018 to Northern Ireland with Professor Ann Kelleher, alumni and friends.
Location: Derry/Londonderry, Northern Ireland, UK
Travel dates: April 7-14, 2018
The seminar, “Local Peacebuilding in Practice”, enabled its participants to find their own favorite experiences as they discover the wide range of possibilities open to them in a place becoming known as “peace city.” This opportunity was made possible by the partnership between Pacific Lutheran University and local community development/peacebuilding groups that have been engaging in inter-community work for 29 years. Learning about their efforts to build sustainable peace in a deeply divided society can teach a great deal. Healthy societies require creating constant interconnections among people on all sides of communal divides as they diligently work to improve the quality of life for their communities.