2026 Colorado Academy UK Explorers Program
Program Blog
Latest Updates
Blog 5
Day Two in Edinburgh
Our final day before returning home! Well, we stumbled out of the gate with a few missed wake-ups this morning, but we found our stride quickly, took food to go, and hiked the Royal Mile to Edinburgh Castle. Armed with audio guides, we split into groups to explore the prisons, chapel, great hall, royal apartments, and the Scottish Crown Jewels. We all met back up to swap stories before we crossed the city to a cool local food hall that many thought offered the best lunch of the trip.
We wrapped up with some delicious ice cream (and gluten-free options that were much appreciated!), before walking to the Prince Street Gardens where Enrique led the group through a reflection on their trip and had them write letters to themselves about what they wanted to remember from this week. The letters will be delivered in three years time.
After leaving the beautiful sanctuary of the park, we once again ventured through the city to Victory Street, thought to have been the inspiration for Diagon Alley in Harry Potter. The rest of our sunny afternoon was spent exploring the Royal Mile’s collections of shops and street performers. Some final souvenirs were purchased (as well as a few gifts for loved ones). For dinner, the kids had their fill at the all-you-can-eat buffet, so we took a slow, ambling walk to Greyfriar’s Cemetery, where we hunted for the tombstones that gave JK Rowling the names of Tom Riddle, McGonagall, and many others. In the evening sunshine (the sun sets at 11:30 here this time of year), supported by a chorus of crows, we circled up in the graveyard for a final reflection circle.
The kids shared gratitude for those who had helped them find joy and move through discomfort over the past week. Their heartfelt appreciations went on so long, Nick had to pause the group so we could get back to the hotel. Before he did, however, the kids proved why they have been such great travel companions. Travel is fun, but it is also tiring and stressful. Getting back to your hotel at 11:30 after a show, jet-lagged and away from home, and then rising early for a full day of active exploration is taxing. It would be easy to get grumpy and lash out at your trip-mates. Instead, these kids shared story after story of how they sought and found the support of each other.
We have loved traveling with your kids. We’ll see you Monday night, ready for our own beds, but know we will miss the joy this group created and shared with us at every opportunity.
With appreciation,
Nick, Melissa, Aristea, and Enrique
Blog 4
Day 5
After the thrilling Hunger Games experience at Canary Wharf, the kids were sad to leave London behind and not entirely sure what to expect up north, now that there were no more shows to look forward to. After a quick stop to pick up a takeaway lunch from the market, we boarded our train at King’s Cross station.
The city faded behind us, and the beautiful green English countryside took its place. Kids read or snuggled in for a nap. It didn’t take long for the cards, art kits, and travel board games to make their appearances. Books were swapped, and a few tried their hands at stage makeup with their travel paint kits (parents, if you spot hand wounds in any of the pictures, we assure you they are the result of talent and not injury!).
After we passed Newcastle, our singing group gathered in an empty vestibule to practice their newly learned repertoire of rounds they had learned on our bus rides. We had to pull them from their recording session so they wouldn’t miss our stop in Edinburgh. Upon exit from the train, we were met by Andy, a one-woman welcoming party, who both introduced us to Scottish culture and made us feel right at home with her gory stories of the city’s long history (she knew her audience). Any doubt about this final leg of the trip evaporated as we faced a brisk Scottish wind on top of Calton Hill.
From here we had an excellent view of this dark and ancient city, and the kids were excited to start exploring. After a short rest at our hotel, we ventured out again for dinner, where we tried the very Scottish soda, IrnBru. Andy had told us: “It’s orange, but doesn’t taste like it.” She declined to tell us what it tasted like, but most everyone enjoyed the unique flavor. We then walked through a city buzzing with energy (Scotland was playing their first World Cup game in 29 years that night), to meet our ghost tour guide. We learned some more grisly history, while the tour guide tortured the two teachers for toasting the king (not a very popular figure in old Edinburgh). We then descended into the caverns under Bridge Road to learn about the ghosts often seen down there. Perfect just before bedtime!
Don’t worry, the kids slept well. Perhaps too well, since half the rooms missed their wake-up calls this morning and were late to breakfast. We’re off to storm the castle! (Scotland won their World Cup game, by the way. Folks here are very excited.)
Blog 3
Day 4
A tale of two travel days: It was the best of times, it was the worst of times…
The best of times:
After our return from Much Ado last night (half the group thought it was better than Les Mis – the production was truly fantastic), everyone was excited to get a little more sleep and enjoy their Midsummer Night’s Dream.
We once again had a hearty breakfast at our hotel, and marked the halfway point of our trip (though it felt like a Twelfth Night) with a reflection on each person’s highlights so far; we then made our way to the new Banksy statue, before going on a scavenger hunt for Van Gogh’s Sunflowers in the National Gallery, just off Trafalgar Square. We left the gallery once everyone had had their fill of Monet, Manet, and Degas, and walked to Covent Garden. We enjoyed buskers, explored the merchants’ stalls, and food from the vendors was “As You Like It.” From there, we rode the bus to Brick Lane for a guided tour of some of the most famous street art in the world.
At one point of the tour, we found a novel type of two-person swing and just about everyone had to go, laughing and flying around in a Tempest. Dinner was a classic meal of fish and chips, and after satiating our hunger, we walked across London Bridge on our way to the Hunger Games.
It was the worst of times:
The adults woke to something more of a Winter’s Tale with the news that Abby Road was under construction, necessitating a shift in plans, while many of the kids did not wake at all, as the morning wake-up call had skipped their rooms. Those kids took their breakfasts to go, though they would have had time to eat because seven students, in succession, realized they had left their jackets or water bottles, or Oyster Cards (transit passes) up in the rooms.
At the National Gallery, the kids searched fruitlessly for the famous sunflowers. It was Love’s Labour’s Lost when they discovered that the flowers are on tour in America. In Covent Garden, one student left their wallet at a baked potato cart, never to be seen again, while two other students lost their Oyster Cards.
While our first bus on the way to Brick Lane was uneventful, as we transferred to our second bus, a little boy was exiting and vomited profusely at our feet. After one stop, the bus had to be decommissioned for cleaning, and we waited for a replacement. The replacement bus seemed great, until we got stuck in traffic, the sun came out, and we realized there was no air conditioning on the upper deck where we were seated. We arrived quite late for our tour, and afterwards, on our way to dinner, we had emergency bathroom needs that required us to split the group in two.
It was truly a Comedy of Errors. All’s Well that Ends Well, as the kids LOVED the Hunger Games, especially when they were blown a kiss from the male lead during the final bows. There was much discussion of Peeta being the Romeo to their Juliet. By the end of the day, the drama felt like Much Ado About Nothing.
While we were all fraying at the edges at our midway point in the trip, Measure for Measure, we truly had a fantastic day. We are on to Scotland!
Blog 2
Day 3
We began our third day with an early wake-up and breakfast, so we could travel to Shakespeare’s hometown of Stratford-upon-Avon. On the bus ride, we had no shortage of singing and game playing, though a few of our travelers opted for more sleep.
When we arrived, the rain was giving us a proper experience of the English countryside. The lovely owners of a garden cafe took pity on the Americans in the rain and opened early so the adults could have coffee and the kids tea and hot chocolate (thanks Debby and Abby!).
We toured the family cottage of Shakespeare’s wife, Anne Hathaway, and traveled to Trinity Church to see where Shakespeare is buried. After a quick sandwich lunch, we had some excellent tour guides at Shakespeare’s birthplace, including comedian Neal, who told us his name was Eric if we didn’t like him. Neal taught us about John Shakespeare’s glove-making business on High Street, which was perhaps the most entertaining moment of our trip so far (you had to be there). The kids had time to explore High Street before boarding the bus back to London.
On the bus, Nick cast the kids in Much Ado About Nothing and energetically directed the cast through a summary of the play. We are now headed to dinner before seeing Much Ado at the Globe, rain or shine!
Tomorrow’s our final day in London before we take the train north to Scotland!
Blog 1
Day 1-2
Our flights were delightfully uneventful, after a last minute gate change in Denver. We met our fantastic guides, Enrique and Aristia, at the Heathrow airport, and, after dropping our bags off at our hotel, went on a lightening tour of London including Buckingham Palace and a walking tour around the West End. We ended our tour with a much needed meal. The energy at dinner was high after we got some food in them. Then it was off to bed.
Yesterday began with a 7:30wake up and an 8:15 breakfast at the hotel. We then traveled on the Tube and traversed the streets to end at Borough Market. The kids were given a few pounds to use in the market for an early lunch. The chocolate covered strawberries and fresh juices were a huge hit.
From there we walked to the globe theater where our acting instructor took us into the middle level of the Globe to watch the final dress rehearsal of Much Ado About Nothing (we see the first preview performance tonight!). Our instructor then took us to a rehearsal studio for an excellent acting workshop. The kids parsed and performed a speech by Claudio, then ran a scene in pairs as Beatrice and Benedict.
Following a visit to the Globe gift shop, where lots of stuffed rats were purchased for some reason, we walked along the Thames to the Tate Modern Museum. The kids had an hour and half to explore and find three works that they connected with. In our debrief circle, even our most skeptical students shared stories of works that inspired them. Rain visited us on our way to dinner, which was just a preview for the deluge that hit us upon our late night exit from the Sondheim Theater.
Les Mis was exceptional, and our fellow soaked bus riders on the upper deck were treated to some full throated numbers from the show, before the group shifted into a near full recitation of Matilda.
We got back to the hotel late, but happy.
– Nick and Melissa