Portage la Prairie students will keep exploring the globe thanks to a new community-led initiative.
Teachers Laura McMaster and JoEllen Sevcenko have co-founded the Portage Travel Club.
This move comes after the Portage School Division recently decided to stop approving international student trips, prompting the veteran educators to ensure these life-changing experiences remain available locally.
Why Travel Matters
McMaster passionately explains the club’s core purpose, emphasizing the irreplaceable value of student travel.
"We really strongly believe that international travel for high school students offers an incredible opportunity to learn and grow and open minds and hearts and see the world from a different perspective," she states.
The founders see travel as essential education extending far beyond traditional classrooms.
"We really believe that education extends beyond the classroom and the textbook and that's what travel can do," McMaster adds.
Sevcenko highlights the personal growth fostered by these journeys: "We want to let students have the opportunity to step outside their comfort zone. Travel is a really great opportunity to test out your independence in a safe way because you're travelling with adults who are well-travelled."
How It Works
The club seamlessly steps in to manage trips previously run through schools, leveraging the founders' extensive experience.
McMaster outlines the transition: "It will operate more or less the same as it always has. Jo[Ellen] and I have together over 20 years of leading student travel to locations all around the world, so we have all of the background that we need to plan, organize, and run trips, and we have worked extensively with EF Tours, the provider we'll continue operating with."
The key changes are logistical. "We will do so based in the community. So we'll meet in the community, we will not be meeting in the school, and we will be using our travel club social media and e-mail to communicate with families."
Crucially, Sevcenko notes the expanded reach: "Students outside of Portage are welcome to join us as well. So, other smaller schools that might not have the opportunity, those kids can come to us now."
Funding remains driven by families, significantly supported by ongoing fundraising efforts.
"The school division has never contributed funds to the running of the tours," clarifies McMaster.
"We are committed to continuing [fundraising]. We don't want to see income or funds being a barrier to those students."
Proven fundraisers will continue. "We've done everything from frozen pizzas to cured meats and popcorn to Sobeys grocery box... All of that we will continue to run," says McMaster, ensuring accessibility.
Future Adventures
Existing school-division trips are proceeding as planned.
Sevcenko confirms: "We have two trips with PCI still. The first is to Amsterdam, Paris and London... in 2026. And in 2027, there's a trip going to Japan."
New adventures under the Portage Travel Club banner begin in 2027 and 2028. McMaster details the exciting rotation: "On the odd-numbered years, we'll be planning tours that are designed for students who want to do some travelling in French... even-numbered years, they'll be open tours that will be run in English."
The inaugural club-led trip targets 2027: "We will be going to Paris, the Riviera and Rome, which will be a French immersion planned trip, but open to anyone who's interested in learning. And in 2028, we'll be going to Greece."
Families eager to learn more are invited to the official launch. "We're having our official launch meeting on June 16th at 6:00 PM at the Herman Prior Centre," announces McMaster.
The club welcomes students "in grades 9 to 12 the year they want to travel" from Portage la Prairie and the surrounding region, ready to open doors to the world.
Those interested in learning more can follow the PLaP Travel Club on Facebook, Instagram, or email plaptravelclub@gmail.com