Bay Shore students describe Denmark cultural exchange: host families, school projects and daily life

Bay Shore Union Free School District students who traveled to Denmark told the school board Tuesday that the visit combined classroom work, cultural exchange and extended homestays with Danish families.

Students and chaperones said the week included multi-day stays in Copenhagen, in-school presentations at the host school, group projects and time living with host families. "It was a very valuable learning experience," organizer Dan Sullivan said, describing the trip as more than sightseeing and emphasizing the students' presentations and hands-on work.

Why it matters: board members and administrators framed the exchange as an experiential learning program linked to the district's International Baccalaureate curriculum and student development goals. Speakers described gains in independence, cross-cultural understanding and student teamwork — outcomes the district said justify continuing the program.

At the meeting Sullivan and chaperones thanked the board and district office for supporting the program and noted logistical challenges — snowstorms and illness — that required chaperone flexibility. "We planned and planned and plan, but of course things happen," Sullivan said. He credited the chaperones and students for adapting during the trip.

Students gave specific examples of activities and takeaways. Thomas Hemingway described a blizzard during a two-hour bike tour of Copenhagen and said the ride helped the group bond. Alexis Trampy described documenting the trip with short video clips and tying a shared song to the experience. Other students described cooking demonstrations, folk-dance lessons, presentations about American culture, and rehearsing and performing music with Danish peers.

Several students who lived with host families recounted differences in daily life: biking to school, eating evening meals together, lighter homework loads and more informal teacher-student interactions. "They always ask me questions about U.S. politics at dinner," one student said, noting the conversations were a highlight.

Chaperones and the student board member also emphasized how much students learned from attending classes at the Danish school, which they described as having fewer, longer class periods and a more college-like structure. Students described 90-minute classes, fewer assignments outside school on some days, and more opportunities to work in informal campus spaces.

The district said it plans to continue the exchange; Sullivan asked board members for any questions and thanked them for support.