FYE Culture Trips

As a part of the First Year Experience Course, all first year students should plan on attending one Culture Trip throughout their first semester. The purpose of the Culture Trip is to:

• Learn about culture and/or history outside of the classroom in a non-traditional setting
• Encourage social and educational interaction with other first year students
• Interact with faculty/staff outside of the classroom

Students will have the opportunity to select from a number of different trips (see below), and trip attendance will count toward the FYE course grade. Trips have been scheduled during the day, evening, and weekend, all at a variety of different times. Many trips are offered more than once throughout the semester. The trips are free of charge, with transportation and food included. Please contact the Director at sarah.forti@becker.edu with any questions regarding the FYE trips.

Higgins Armory Museum, Worcester

Visit one of the largest and most extensive armories in the western hemisphere! View live presentations and demonstrations of a variety of armaments and weaponry. Walk through the Medieval style Great Hall, view artifacts of all eras and from numerous locations throughout the world, including Japan, Italy, and Greece, or put on a battle helmet and gauntlet during one of the hands-on presentations. www.higgins.org

Newport Mansion & Cliff Walk, in Newport, RI

Visit the awe-inspiring historical estate, The Breakers (1895), and experience the grandeur of the extravagant private ballroom, go for a walk through the beautiful gardens, and view the inspiring collection of 19^th century artwork. When you are finished, you can eat lunch and go for a breathtaking Cliff Walk along the coast! www.newportmansions.org 

Old Sturbridge Village

Old Sturbridge Village allows guests to take a walk into the past as they stroll through the more than a century old rural New England town. Enter a living museum from the moment you arrive. Watch the villagers as they go about their daily activities in this early 19^th century town. Ask them questions and learn about their lives first hand from the people who live them.  Visit the local shops, farms, mills, meetinghouses and school. www.osv.org 

SAORI Weaving, Worcester

SAORI is an art weaving by hand that is dedicated to free expression and self discovery. In visiting this weaving studio, you will have the opportunity to learn how to weave with a loom, while also exploring the idea of weaving as it relates to community and connections with others. As a group, you will be encouraged to share ideas with each other and draw inspiration from watching one another while you create a colorful tapestry that you can keep. “The SAORI way is to weave friendships as we weave fabric.” www.saoriworcester.com

Worcester Art Museum, Worcester

Come see a collection of more than 35,000 art pieces from around the world. On this trip, you will take a walking tour of four floors of breathtaking artwork that tells the stories of numerous cultures throughout history.  See sculptures, statues, paintings, and furniture; see Greek, Roman, Egyptian, and American art! www.worcesterart.org

Basketball Hall of Fame & Cold Stone Creamery

Travel to Springfield, MA to visit the Basketball Hall of Fame, dedicated to honoring and preserving the history of basketball. You will find plaques and biographies of more than 280 individuals and teams that have been inducted into the Hall of fame since 1959. You will also find a timeline of world history and basketball history since 1891, galleries history, memorabilia, artifacts and interactive games that bring to life the history of basketball. Finish off the trip with a visit across the street to Cold Stone Creamery, where you can bring money to purchase one-of-a-kind ice cream. www.hoophall.com & www.coldstonecreamery.com

*** Trips are subject to change according to availability, weather, etc.***