Germany, Czech Republic, Poland

"Dream and Reality"

A group of students will travel to Berlin, Prague, Krakow and Auschwitz. Students will explore the idea of monument and its role in public memory, focusing on the Holocaust, and how Germany, Czechoslovakia and Poland responded in the late 20th century and early 21st century to the study of Holocaust memory, public art, and their fusion in contemporary life. Students will be introduced to the concepts in Holocaust Studies which explore how perpetrators, victims, and collaborators operated, who bystanders and upstanders were, and the current 21st century spike in antisemitism and attacks on citizens.

Students will return from this trip with a deeper joy in learning, reflection, and transference of what we have learned and seen to other issues and problems the world faces about how groups treat each other, how we remember the past, and what that texture of memory looks like.

Program Notes

This program conflicts with the March 9 SAT test date.
Families are responsible for transportation from U.S.-based airport to the student’s destination for the remainder of March break.
During this trip, students will stay in hotels, inns, cabins, and lodges. Meals will be shared at accommodations and restaurants.

Program Dates

March 4 – 13, 2024

Program Eligibilty

This program is open to all students with a preference towards students who have a demonstrated interest in European history. All interested students are encouraged to apply by November 5. Financial Aid is available to all qualifying students.

Faculty Trip Leaders

John Leistler; Ryan Tyree

Approx. Trip Cost: $5,250 (*INCLUDES ROUNDTRIP AIRFARE FROM A NE/NY BASED AIRPORT)

Deerfield Academy’s Center for Service and Global Citizenship strives to make all of our travel programs affordable and accessible for all students while ensuring a high-quality global education experience. While the costs of travel around the world have been rising steadily over the past several years, all of our trips are subsidized, and thanks to the generosity of many we are able to provide robust financial aid for qualifying students.

Helpful Links:

CDC briefings on Germany, Czech Republic, and Poland.
State Department briefings on Germany, Czech Republic, and Poland.

2024 Preliminary Itinerary

* This itinerary is subject to change

Day 1: Travel Day – Flight from NE/NY based airport to Berlin

Day 2 – Day 4: Berlin

Sight visits to the Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church, the Berlin Wall
Various Memorial and Museum visits
Walking tours
Participate in a Cooking Class

Day 5: Travel to Prague via Dresden

Dresden sightseeing tour, Church of Our Lady visit, and Zwinger Museum visit.

Day 6: Prague – Guided tours to the following sites:

Astronomical Clock, Charles Bridge, Golden Lane, Prague Castle, St. Vitus Cathedral visit, Wenceslas Square, Jewish Quarter, Jewish Museum visit, Jewish Cemetery & Synagogue visit

Day 7: Prague / Krakow

Morning Terezín visit
Travel to Krakow by train
Krakow evening walking tour

Day 8 – Day 9: Krakow site visits to:

Wawel Hill, Wawel Castle & Cathedral
Medieval Market Square
Cloth Hall Museum
St. Mary’s Basilica
Kazimierz Jewish Quarter
Auschwitz Concentration Camp & Memorial visit
Program closing and reflection

Day 10: Travel back to NE/NY based airport

** Families are responsible for transporting their students from U.S.-based airport to their home destination for the rest of the March break.