Planning for our trip began approximately two and a half years ago with the intent of visiting Peru, but due to political instability and the cost, we changed our plans to visit Mexico instead. The students that participated volunteered to meet once a week after school for ten weeks to work on making this trip a reality. During those ten weeks, the students worked hard in writing a grant proposal to help fund the trip. They also spent the time developing a few itineraries of what they wanted to do while in Mexico. A few tour companies in Mexico sent sample itineraries for us to look through and the students wrote letters asking for more activities relating to what they wanted to do on the itineraries.

One of the purposes of our trip was to compare the development issues in Southeastern Ohio to the development issues in the Yucatan. Several local speakers, ranging from the Athens County Planner to transportation and tourism officials, shared information about problems associated with economic development in Southeastern Ohio. A few of the topics discussed were the process of development, preparing for Mexico, welfare and child services relating to economic and social development, and the effects of tourism on Southeastern Ohio, namely the area where we live.

The students also received assistance from a group of preservice teachers attending Ohio University that are a part of the CARE cohort. The preservice teachers helped the students in locating research online about the economic, social, and cultural development of the Yucatan Peninsula. We were also fortunate to have a preservice educator teach our group basic, essential Spanish phrases, such as manners, asking for a restroom, etc.

Another large part of preparing for the trip was funding it. Each student was required to raise at least $500 on their own; the majority of the rest of the cost was paid for through contributions of local businesses and individuals, and fundraising activities. A professor at Ohio University was very kind in donating a Mercedes-Benz for us to raffle to help alleviate the cost of the trip. Parents were also involved in the process by writing letters and calling local businesses for donations and in supporting their children with the fundraising.

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