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This summer will mark the 25th University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point Art, Architecture & Design program abroad.  In 1977, Shirley Randall led the first trip as part of the home eco nomics program.

This summer will mark the 25th University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point Art, Architecture & Design program abroad.  In 1977, Shirley Randall led the first trip as part of the home eco nomics program. This year’s three week trip to Italy will also be the ninth program co-led by Larry Ball and Kathe Julin.

Ball, a Ph.D. in ancient Roman art, is also a regular member of the American School of Classical Studies in Athens and a Mellon fellow of the American Academy in Rome. Julin has a Ph.D. in architecture and is currently affiliated with the Interior Design Educators Council and the Council of Interior Design Accreditation.

“This program is devised to give students an experience in their field they can’t get oth erwise,” said Ball. “These sorts of exhibitions are meant to be experienced outside of slides in a classroom. They are meant to be seen in 360 degree space using light, motion and all the senses. A simple still does not do the work justice.”

Past trips have included Greece, Italy, Spain, Paris, South France, Turkey, Holland and Germany. This year's Italy trip, which departs on May 24, will have 29 student participants. It will last approximately three weeks and will cost around $4,800 a student.

Junior Kayla Schmidt is extremely excited to be going on this year’s trip. “After spending months in Larry Ball’s classes listening to him say, ‘Go, go, go; you need to go,’ I decided I bet ter,” said Schmidt. “He would show us pictures of all these beautiful places and all the stu dents that went. He called it ‘Pointers in Wonderland.’”

Schmidt said there are too many things she wants to do that she couldn’t narrow it down. “Everything,” she said. “I want to eat the food, listen to the music and just get immersed in the culture. It will be nice to see these places outside the text book.”

Trip costs vary depending on the strength of the dollar overseas, location and the num ber of students attending the trip. “Generally speaking, the more students participating, the cheaper the cost,” said Ball.

Recently trips have been so popular that the program has had to make arrangements for another trip to Greece that otherwise was going to go unplanned. “The office was getting so many requests from students that wanted to go we had to open up another trip,” said Ball. “We otherwise had planned to take some time off.”

The program also plans to extend to non-western cultures soon. “It is just another oppor tunity we have to get students that unique experience of see ing these exhibits and cultures in a one-to-one ratio,” said Ball.

The next trip to Greece is only about half booked at this point and anyone interested is encouraged to sign up now to ensure they get a spot. The trip is currently scheduled for May 20 through June 9, 2009 with cost estimates somewhere between $3,990-$4,490. Tentative stops on the trip include Crete, Delphi, Nauplion and Athens.

Anyone interested in the program should contact the International Programs office in room 108 of the Collins Classroom Center or call (715)346-2717.