VIPHS Ecology Class Travel Scholarship Fund

Travel is one of the best forms of learning. It can be transformative, especially for young people.

We are 13 students at a small charter school called Valley International Prep High School that focuses on project-based initiatives to teach and empower. We are taking a field ecology class where we study conservation and the impact of tourism on the environment. We don't follow a textbook; rather, we design our own curriculum. The students become the teachers.

Our goal is to raise money for two full scholarships and eight smaller scholarships to allow students to go on one of two international trips led by Dr. Foldi. Priority will be given to students with financial need that would not be able to go on an international trip without support and students from underserved communities. The class will ultimately determine who gets the scholarships.

The two trips will be organized by Education First, an educational tour company with over 50 years of experience. Dr. Foldi led a very successful trip with VIP students to Costa Rica and EF in July 2022. He has co-led ten other international field trips with high school students and another 25 multi-day trips within the United States. The upcoming trips that these scholarships will go to are Marine Conservation in the Dominican Republic (July 2023) and Iceland: North to South (2024). The Marine Conservation trip involves service work in reefs and mangroves where students help restore these habitats. The Iceland trip has students learn about sustainable environmental fishing, farming, and energy consumption.

Every contribution matters, no matter how small. Share our GoFundMe with your friends and family. And contact Dr. Foldi to apply for a scholarship or get details about how your child can join one of these trips.