Joʻel Nathansen organized unforgettable journey at no cost to students
Posted: November 4, 2022
Many of Joʻel Nathansen’s students at Keaʻau High School haven’t left the state of Hawaiʻi, let alone the country. But a trip over the summer to Iceland made world travelers out of eight of her students during an all-expenses paid journey to the land of fire and ice.
Nathansen, who has taught marine science and environmental science at the school for the past 17 years, helped organize and chaperone special education and at-risk students on a journey to a country of their choice.
The opportunity was sponsored by the now-defunct organization FLYTE, or the Foundation for Learning Youth Travel Education, a nonprofit dedicated to providing equitable travel access to students worldwide.
Keaʻau High’s trip to Iceland was the last the organization would ever fund, as it sunset its operations due to rising costs associated with the pandemic.
Nathansen heard about the program when it was still operational from her colleague and former student Damien Packer, who accompanied her, along with one other teacher. Nathansen said they could choose any country in the world to travel to on their application.
“We chose Iceland, because we can make correlations and differences between Hawaiʻi and Iceland. We were able to compare the geography and natural resources,” she said.
In their application, the students had a chance to weigh in on why they would be excited to travel abroad for the first time.
Caleb Gaines said, “I have never traveled off of Hawaiʻi Island, never been on an airplane before,” while Malakai Pung said he was “excited to explore a new place and new culture.”
Packer said in an application that all eight of the students chosen to go came from alternative learning settings due to behavioral/emotional disorders that prevent them from learning in a traditional classroom. All of the students have faced severe forms of trauma, yet “they have demonstrated a sense of resilience and have taken responsibility for their behaviors which is why they were selected for this opportunity.”
The 11-day journey took place in June 2022 and was, according to Nathansen, “100-percent funded,” from passport fees to food, lodging and activities.
However, the students still needed items like warm-weather clothes, hiking boots, and outerwear.
“We fundraised on Donors Choose and got donations from councilmen and businesses. We were able to buy hiking boots, backpacks and new clothes for them to be outfitted for Iceland’s weather conditions. They did some serious hiking and outdoor activities. Thank goodness they had that donated. Otherwise families would have incurred the costs, which might have prevented them from being able to go on the trip,” she said.
The trip to Iceland was bucket list-worthy. They went on a guided fishing tour, a tour on a glacier with crampons (or devices attached to the shoe for securely traveling on snow and ice), visited an old plane wreck, drove UTVs (Utility Terrain Vehicles) and went horseback riding. They also worked with a local business to plant trees.
“During the tour, they told our students that by planting 48 trees per person, they would offset their carbon footprint for a year. So of course, they doubled and tripled that amount,” Nathansen said.
Another highlight? Training at a world-famous mixed martial arts gym.
“Wellness was another topic of our trip,” Nathansen said. “They trained at an MMA gym which was world famous — they went twice. The kids had a blast and were absolutely awestruck.”
The students stayed in hostels and prepared most of their own meals, but treated themselves to a few meals out.
Nathansen enjoyed experiencing a place that is geographically different from Hawaiʻi, but geologically similar.
“They use their natural resources differently and more efficiently,” she said.
She also enjoyed seeing a new country through the eyes of her students.
“This was their first time traveling or for many of them, traveling abroad. The post-trip discussions have been amazing. Their trip was very different from my trip.”
She said several of her students want to travel more now that they went to Iceland, and one even wants to move to Iceland.
“They are changed. I see it in them. They were all away from their families for 11 days. Nobody really knew each other. We walked out of there with lifelong rapport. They are all thankful. It was a gift.”
