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Exploring Italy: Ohio Virtual Academy’s Travelers Club Brings Learning to Life 

Stories & Spotlights
A large group of travelers posing together outdoors in front of a hillside town with stone buildings, green lawns, and tall cypress trees under a clear blue sky. The group stands closely together, smiling, with some people wearing hats, sunglasses, or backpacks.

For most students, history class happens in front of a textbook or computer screen. For members of Ohio Virtual Academy’s (OHVA) Travelers Club, history comes alive—sometimes thousands of miles away. In June, more than 20 students, family members, and chaperones, embarked on a two-week journey through Italy, exploring some of the world’s most iconic destinations. 

Led by OHVA history teacher and Travelers Club advisor, Ms. Wahl, the group’s itinerary was a whirlwind of art, culture, history, and unforgettable experiences. From the fashion capital of Milan to the winding canals of Venice, the Renaissance treasures of Florence, the sacred streets of Assisi, the ruins of Pompeii, the coastal beauty of Sorrento and Capri, and the ancient wonders of Rome, every day brought new discoveries. 

Students took a gondola ride through Venice’s canals, visited the colorful islands of Murano and Burano, and watched a Venetian glassblower at work. In Pisa, they toured the iconic Leaning Tower, Cathedral, and Baptistery. They stood in awe inside the Basilica of St. Francis, walked the preserved streets of Pompeii, explored the cliffs of Capri, and soaked in the history of Vatican City, the Colosseum, and the Roman Forum. 

A woman smiling and holding up a small red cardinal figurine so it appears to rest on the Leaning Tower of Pisa in the background. The tower tilts noticeably against the clear blue sky, with other tourists visible at the base.

One highlight of the trip was seeing Pope Leo XIV pass by in his popemobile during the group’s visit to the Vatican. For students like Maddison and Mitchell, the impact went even deeper. Maddison, on her first trip abroad, loved visiting the sites she had studied in school—like Pompeii and the Catacombs—and found herself more adventurous with food, even trying fried octopus. Mitchell, on his second OHVA trip, was struck by the scale and age of the sites. “Some of those structures are thousands of years old,” he said. “It’s a completely different vibe than the U.S.” 

The trip wasn’t just about sightseeing—it was about connection. Many OHVA students met for the first time at the airport, but by the end, they were fast friends, staying in touch through group chats and social media. Traveling without parents also gave students a sense of independence and responsibility, from keeping track of passports to making sure they didn’t miss the bus. 

Since founding the Travelers Club in 2016, Ms. Wahl has led students to destinations including Costa Rica, Puerto Rico, England, France, Amsterdam, Eastern Europe, and Japan. In addition to unforgettable memories, students can choose to earn college credit by completing academic projects tied to their travels. 

Travel, Ms. Wahl says, gives students a global perspective, helps them adapt to new environments, and encourages them to interact with people from different cultures. It also reinforces classroom learning—whether it’s seeing Mount Vesuvius after studying volcanic eruptions or walking through the Colosseum after a world history lesson. 

Looking ahead, the Travelers Club is already planning its next adventure: the Adriatic Odyssey in 2027, which will explore Italy and Greece. For students like Mitchell, the journey is far from over. 

“It’s more than just seeing a country,” he said. “It’s growing and changing as an individual.” 

To learn more about the OHVA Travelers Club and future trips, please contact Ms. Wahl at [email protected].  

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