Best Buddies Club Headed to Hawaii

For years, Shorewood High School students with special needs have watched their peers load buses for spring break trips to Italy, Guatemala and St. Louis. 

Next year, as part of the school’s Best Buddies Club, these students will finally have an opportunity for a similar high school experience when they travel to Hawaii to explore the ecosystems of the state.

Best Buddies is a national organization that matches students with and without disabilities. As SHS, students in the club and their peers form friendships, serve as role models, inspire each other, and, for the first time, travel together. 

The trip to Hawaii is scheduled to take place during the District’s spring break from March 31 through April 4.

“This trip will be the culmination of our students’ ‘hand’s on’ Hawaii project, and will also allow participants to apply critical social and travel skills,” trip organizer and SHS special education teacher Chris Gange said.

The students will be traveling with Wilderness Inquiry, a Minneapolis-based non-profit organization designed to share the benefits of outdoor adventures with urban youth, families and individuals with disabilities. Each year, the organization hosts more than 300 events that serve 15,000 people of all ages, backgrounds and abilities. 

To help raise funds for the trip, Shorewood’s Best Buddies Club will be holding a fundraiser on Sept. 19 at Einstein’s Bagels in Shorewood. As part of the event, Einstein’s will remain open two hours later than usual (from 5-7 p.m.) and will serve a special menu. A portion of the proceeds from the event will be donated to SHS Best Buddies.