Bozeman students raising money to see the world

By GAIL SCHONTZLER Chronicle Staff Writer

It's not easy to come up with $4,000 when you're only 13.

But Jessica Baide, an eighth-grader at Chief Joseph Middle School, was determined to raise that much so she could join the school's spring break trip to Europe. Twenty-five students who are learning French, German and Spanish are signed up.

Jessica babysat and all summer sold packaged snacks in downtown Bozeman for $1. Several strangers gave her $20 donations, and one family friend gave $200.

“People are just so generous,” she said. “I was amazed by that.”

Jessica is one of a growing number of Bozeman students who are busy raising thousands of dollars to go on school-approved trips across the country or overseas.

At Sacajawea Middle School, 40 eighth-graders studying American history signed up for the school's first spring-break trip to Washington, D.C. Another 19 Sacajawea foreign-language students will travel to Europe next summer.

At Bozeman High School, German students are planning a summer trip to Germany and Austria. Latin students are going to Greece. And biology teachers are taking students to the Galapagos Islands.

Marilyn King, Bozeman schools' assistant superintendent, said more trips are being offered in recent years because parents are excited that their children can have “the opportunity to travel in a safe way and an educational way.

“Part of it is the cognizance of students and families that we are living a global community,” King said.

Joe Moriarty, Sacajawea assistant principal, said, “There are some really gung-ho, enthusiastic teachers out there who are willing to give students that experience.”

As students and teachers return from trips and talk about their successful experiences, he said, “it has snowballed.”

Claudia Boddy, who teaches French at Chief Joseph, said she started the Europe trip five years ago.

“It opens all their eyes to why they're learning a language,” Boddy said.

Students see how important language skills are when they have to buy picnic food from vendors in an open-air market in southern France, for example.

Of course, travel is expensive. Prices range from $1,622 for the Washington trip to $4,500 for the Galapagos. Chief Joseph students figured they need to raise $3,500 to pay the tour company that's taking them to Spain, France and Germany, plus another $400 to $500 each for spending money.

Many families can't afford it, and so never consider signing up their kids for trips. Yet King stressed that teachers organize fund-raising events to help all students who want to participate.

“We really work with families and try to make it possible for them,” she said.

The Chief Joseph eighth-graders are proof that sometimes all it takes is a really motivated kid.

Emily McIntyre, 13, worked last summer at an ice cream truck selling Sponge Bob Pops. She also participated in group fund-raising events, like selling hotdogs at Montana State University football games, and bagging groceries at Town & Country Foods.

This Friday the students will help the Optimists sell Christmas trees.

Eighth-graders Gabe Taurman sold Croakies at farmers' markets, Emma Hughes sold brownies and dog-neckerchiefs, and Barbie Still worked as a peer leader at the Boys & Girls Club.

“I realize if you really set your heart on it, anything is possible,” Emily said.

Gail Schontzler is at gails@dailychronicle.com

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