International students at Wright State get to experience local attractions

University Center for International Education organized trips to Young’s Jersey Dairy and Hocking Hills to help international students get to know the area.

Wright State students from around the world got a chance to experience local attractions through trips hosted by University Center for International Education (UCIE).

On Oct. 7, more than 50 international students visited Young’s Jersey Dairy, where they could run through a corn maze, pick out a pumpkin and take on a hayride. Dan Young, CEO of the farm who earned a MBA from Wright State, talk to the students about his perspective on continuing and growing the family business in the Dayton area.

The trip to Young’s was new for several students, since many had never been in a corn maze or picked a pumpkin before.

Bill Holmes, associate vice president for international affairs at Wright State, said the students benefit greatly from the trips.

“The trip to Young’s’ Dairy gave students a firsthand experience with traditional celebrations of fall in the Midwest with elements of the U.S.’s unique spin on Halloween. More significantly, students had the opportunity to learn about local entrepreneurship from the proprietor of Young’s Dairy, Dan Young,” he said.

Catherine Hernandez, international student program coordinator for UCIE, said the trips helped international students get to know the local area. She encouraged those participating in the International Friendship Program to attend, as it gave participants an opportunity to see local attractions in a new way.

“When you hang out with international students and go to places with them, you’re rediscovering the area with international lenses, so things are brought out that you may have never noticed before,” she said.

On Oct. 21, the UCIE took 60 students to Hocking Hills, a state park where visitors can hike to see caves and waterfalls. The students visited Old Man’s Cave, one of the most popular trails at Hocking Hills, featuring waterfalls, gorges, a waterfall known as The Devil’s Bathtub, and the cave, where at least three people are known to have lived. The students also visited Conkle’s Hollow, a nature preserve with the deepest gorge in Ohio.

“The Hocking Hills trip enabled students to learn about the distinctive natural history of Ohio by allowing students to directly witness the rock formations and gorges carved by receding glaciers,” Holmes said. “The whole purpose of these kinds of events is that we are educating our students on attractions that are local.”

UCIE plans trips throughout the year. The trips, Hernandez said, are inexpensive, fun and allow students to make friends from all around the world. It’s a win-win all the way around.

Other upcoming trips include ice skating, skiing and canoeing. To learn of upcoming UCIE trips, visit wright.edu/international-education.