Through excursions in the United Kingdom, Ireland and Norway, readings and discussions, family and consumer sciences students from UW-Stevens Point will explore research, practice and education related to the field of family and consumer sciences June 10-27, 2026.
Some of the highlights include a day trip to Stonehenge, Bath and Windsor Castle, tour of Lochcarron tartan manufacturer, tea at Edinburgh Castle, visit to Atlantic Technological University St. Angelas in Sligo, day drip to Blarney Castle, and Norwegian fjords.
Led by Prof. Susan Turgeson, students will share their experiences along the way.
Travel Day: June 11, 2026 | Photos
After some delay, we left Chicago at 10 p.m. and arrived to London Heathrow at 11 a.m. We got settle into our rooms at the International Student Housing (ISH) in London before quickly headed outside to catch a glimpse of Princess Anne who was touring the new addition to ISH. Finally, we went to eat at the Market Place at Vauxhall Station, stopped at the local Tesco to pick up some treats and snacks for breakfast before starting to settle in for the night.
– Hadley Hosler
June 12, 2026 | Photos
We started out bright and early with a quick Uber ride to meet up with our tour guide, Valentina (who was absolutely amazing). We headed over to the historical site of Stonehenge where we explored the many theories behind its origins. Next we took a country side ride over to the gorgeous city of Bath. Many of us discovered the city via local restaurants, bookstores, shops, music and artisans.
Finally, we took a long ride over to Winsor Castle where we explored the life of a royal as we toured the palace apartments and Queen Anne’s elaborate dollhouse. A few of us ended the day trying out an authentic England fish fry, at Valentina’s recommendation, Sea Fresh, before heading home on the tube.
– Hadley Hosler
June 13, 2026 | Photos
Museum Day Vibes!!
Our warmup for the day was spent soaking up some serious design inspo at the Design Museum in London. So many cool ideas and stunning exhibits. Definitely feeling refreshed and creatively charged as evolving FCS majors. However, this was just the start of our day. 12 hours of adventure ahead!!
V&A Adventures!
Just visited the Victoria and Albert Museum in London, and it was seriously inspiring! Seeing all the incredible art and design up close is a whole different ball game than looking at pictures. Seeing the theater and design artwork was personally my favorite as well! It’s like getting a backstage ticket to creativity. You can really get into the details of how things were made and the stories behind them. This kind of hands-on experience is amazing for us and is exactly why we are here, you know? It’s not just about looking; it’s about understanding the craft and the ideas that went into each piece.
Honestly, leaving the V&A, my mind is buzzing with new possibilities and a renewed sense of purpose. Although we aren’t history majors everyone can still take in a bit of history. It’s a great reminder that design is constantly evolving, and we have a chance to be part of that evolution. Let’s keep pushing our boundaries and creating awesome stuff!
A Day of Royal Insights!
As our day is only halfway done we are off to Buckingham Palace for a look into Queen Elizabeth’s life in style. Although we didn’t personally meet any royals, the chance to still be inside this wonderful palace was quite enough. This day has been a perfect blend of historical exploration and practical learning, showing us how family and consumer sciences principles are woven into the fabric of daily life, even in the most iconic settings such as the queens wardrobe which plays a role in the education side of FCS. We’re bringing back so many insights and inspiration!
The Famous SIX in London!
Finally after our long and successful day, we got to relax and watch the musical SIX. Fitting for our historic adventures today, right? What would we do without a little bit of music in our lives? Now you may be wondering where does this fit in FCS, well the answer is the entire experience we have had and will have this entire trip. It gives us a perspective of entertainment in different cultures which is something everyone needs a education on. After the show we found ourselves hyper and ready for more action only to be told it was almost 10 p.m. If only the day was longer than 24 hours.
– Soriah Verdejo
June 14, 2026 | Photos
Today was a “choose your own adventure” sort of day. We all headed towards Richmond on the train, as a group, before splitting off our separate ways. Some of us chose to take a look at the iconic filming locations seen on Ted Lasso, including the famous pub he visits during the show. We also visited the Lindt store to try some of their exclusive flavors.
My group then hopped on a train and a bus to get to the Paddington bench for some cute pictures with everyone’s favorite bear. Lastly, we ended the day at the Black Dog for a Sunday Roast and a British classic, Sticky Toffee Pudding.
– Lily Stuart
June 15, 2026 | Photos
Hello family and friends! Today we said goodbye to London. First, we took the Victoria Line to Kings Cross to catch our train, The Flying Scotsman, to Edinburgh. While we waited, a few Harry Potter fans got their picture taken at Platform 9 and 3/4. Unfortunately, the lift at our platform in Edinburgh was busy so we had to lug our suitcases up two sets of stairs!
Next, we took a short Uber to our housing at The University of Edinburgh. A very pretty campus. We had a nice dinner, got ice cream bars at the small convenience shop, and then went back to our rooms to rest for Lochcarron tomorrow.
– Lily Streckert
June 16, 2026 | Photos
Hi guys! I’m not sure about the rest of these gals, but I could stay here in Scotland forever. Today, we spent some time at the world’s leading manufacturer of tartans mill! The Lochcarron Weaving Mill of Scotland honors the rich history of the Scottish people by producing anything from kilts to catwalks. All their fabrics are dyed, woven, darned, and finished at the mill in Selkirk and visitors can find their own family tartan – or are free to design their own products down to the color, texture and quality of wool.
After a short break, Lily and I ventured out to hike up the peaks of Arthur’s Seat. Fun fact: this geological site once was a volcano that erupted 350 million years ago! We were able to see the remarkable city of Edinburgh from the top, as well as the Firth of Forth bay that sneaks its way into the North Sea behind us.
After a bite to eat at Arthur’s restaurant and a nice stroll around the beautiful architecture of downtown Edinburgh, we joined some friends for a few games to wind down the night and get ready for tomorrow’s adventures.
– Hailey Schultz
June 17, 2026 | Photos
Our day started off by taking a bus to the Royal Botanic Garden. The Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh is a leading botanic garden and a global center for biodiversity science, horticulture and education. It covers over 70 acres of landscape and offers many flowers, plants and trees to see. It was hard to stop myself from taking too many pictures! Along the way, a few of us took pictures in front of a hedge arch and a small fountain.
Next, we took a bus to the Royal Mile leading up to the castle, where we saw street performers. One man in a kilt was balancing on what looked like giant mallet sticks. He juggled batons and performed a few other tricks. Another man was playing music while making a little wooden puppet dance with his foot. When we got to Edinburgh Castle, we found out where we would be having tea and then broke off to explore. Hailey and I mostly explored outside before sitting on a bench to enjoy the nice weather.
After touring, we had afternoon tea in the castle. There were many wonderful teas to choose from. I had the Green Tea with Peach. Some of the group’s favorites from the assortment of food included the castle-baked mini croissants, Lemon Meringue Tart and the Heatherfield Scottish smoked salmon wrap.
After tea, my group headed back to rest before a late dinner. Safe to say, the Chicken Caesar Wrap is a favorite from Arthur’s Food and Drink. It’s an early bedtime tonight so we can wake up bright and early for Loch Ness!
– Lily Streckert
June 18, 2026 | Photos
A Day at Loch Ness
This early morning, we took a coach bus about four hours north through the Scottish Highlands to Loch Ness. Along the way, we stopped to admire the Highland cows and beautiful scenery, including the famous Three Sisters of Glencoe.
Once we arrived at Loch Ness, we had some free time at the gift shop and café before heading to the dock at 3 p.m. for our cruise. The boat picked up passengers visiting the ruins of Urquhart Castle, and we enjoyed a relaxing ride across the loch while taking in the stunning views. We kept an eye out for the Loch Ness Monster, but Nessie must have been hiding underwater to avoid all the tourists!
After the cruise, we boarded the bus and traveled back toward Edinburgh, stopping along the way for some whiskey-infused ice cream. We then crossed the bridge into Edinburgh and were dropped off in the city.
To end the day, we took a taxi back to Arthur’s Food and Eat, where we had pizza, did laundry and packed our bags for tomorrow’s trip to Norway. It was a great final day in Scotland and a memorable way to wrap up our time here.
-Ella Heidmann
June 19, 2026 | Photos
Today started early so we could head to the airport for Oslo!!
We boarded the plane outside in the rain but had a short plane ride. We arrived in Oslo and were greeted with nice weather and lots of sun!! As well as a time change. Our day came with some slight challenges, but we made it to the hostel and found our rooms. We then walked to a local grill for some dinner and of course ice cream!!!
We are ready for some sleep so we can get ready for tomorrow’s adventures!
– Michaela Crandall
June 20, 2026 | Photos
Today our group took a bus from the hostel to the National Museum. Where we all got to walk around and see the cool things the museum had to offer! Before the museum opened we found some hammocks outside of the museum! We hung out in the hammocks till we could go inside!
After we spent some time at the museum we went for a walk to a mall where they had lots of restaurants. Ella and I had Italian for lunch! Then we all met back up to head to the Botanic Gardens!
We all enjoyed walking around the gardens looking at the various flowers and plants.
Afterwards we headed back to the hostel to hang out. Lily, Hailey, Ella and I headed back to the grill for pizza to wrap up the night! After dinner Ella cruised around on one of the electric scooters you can rent!
Now we are all getting ready for bed so we can get some rest for island hopping tomorrow!!
– Michaela Crandall
June 21, 2026 | Photos
Who knew we could get sunburns in Norway?
We spent the day outside in a Norwegian heat wave island hopping in the fjords! We visited Gressholmen and Nakholmen, two small islands off the coast of Oslo. Out there, bikes and cars are not allowed, so we used our legs to trek through forest and rocky terrain. The latter island mentioned previously included a variety of brightly colored cabins for those in search of a holiday escape from city life.
On our hikes, we saw a variety of wildlife including Barnacle Geese and a Lion’s Mane jellyfish. Our guide showed where to find some wild strawberries along the path as well! After an ice cream stop at an island shop, we returned to the mainland and ate a quick lunch at Backstube before retreating to our hostel.
Stay tuned to learn which country we will be in next!
– Hailey Schultz
June 22, 2026 | Photos
Today was our last in Oslo! After breakfast and packing our belongings, a couple people from our group took a quick ride on some scooters around the local area. Some of us purchased some souvenirs before we had some down time. After getting picked up by an Uber in the afternoon, we made our way to the airport. We dispersed for a bite to eat after making it through security and later found the way to our gate.
Our flight to Dublin wasn’t too long and we finally felt some cooler air! Many of us are missing the luxury of A/C. Once we landed in Dublin, we took a bus to Trinity College and settled into our apartment-style rooms, carrying our luggage up many stairs!
We dispersed again for a bite, with some of us grabbing some food at an Irish Restaurant called Quay’s where we got to try Bangers and Mash. Eventually we settled in for the night, preparing for an early day tomorrow.
– Alex Reitz
June 23, 2026 | Photos
We started our day early, taking the train to Sligo to visit St. Angela’s University and learn about its Home Economics program. We enjoyed scones together, toured the campus and watched a demonstration on making traditional brown bread and scones before sampling them ourselves. After lunch and more time exploring campus, we boarded a bus for sightseeing around County Sligo.
We visited Drumcliffe Church and Cemetery, where the famous poet W.B. Yeats is buried, and enjoyed views of Ben Bulben and the Gleniff Horseshoe. Later, we walked along a beach on the Atlantic Ocean and even dipped our hands in the water.
Before heading back, we stopped for dinner in Sligo and laughed when we noticed W.B. Yeats featured on the water bottle label. We then took the train back to Dublin and returned to Trinity College after a memorable day of learning and exploring.
– Ella Heidmann
June 24, 2026 | Photos
We started a GREAT day off early at Lemon Jelly Cafe. Starting a little FCS study abroad tradition going to this cafe as the group two years ago went as well! Crepes were a necessity for us. It was a little chilly in the morning but we knew the heat wave was among us. Starting to miss iced water a little more each day lol!
I know you all have been waiting for this one! Eagerly we all headed into Jameson Distillery at the prime time of 10 a.m. for a guided tour! Who knew learning about whiskey at 10 a.m. would be so much fun. It might look like a science lab to you but we learned so much about the fermentation process and the difference between the wood barrels used to store the whiskey. The tour was the most interactive one we have been on yet. What was more exciting to us was getting some gifts at the gift shop for our true Wisconsinite families.
After our walk back to Trinity Campus, we split and stopped for some lunch while the others took a trip to the national museum. We were missing home so we decided to go to SPROUT, which to the Irish is the closest thing to a Chipotle. Then we decided to shop around town for more souvenirs for our
families. Everyone needs a little time to shop!
Even though today we had more time for ourselves, we all had a blast. Being a student is hard work and sometimes days like these are what get us through the hard and long days of learning. As our trip comes almost to an end we find ourselves understanding the true purpose of this trip overall. We will never forget the experiences we have had so far and I’m sure you guys won’t either as long as we keep posting blogs.
– Soriah Verdejo
June 25, 2026 | Photos
Today we broke records in Dublin as Ireland hit its highest temperature since 1887 at 32.5°C. Battling the heat, we took a tour of three castles around Ireland.
First, we explored the ruins of a chapel from the 13th to 15th century located on Saint Patrick’s rock also known as the Rock of Cashel.
Next, we received a tour from an informative (and awkward) guide at Cahir Castle, which included features such as murder holes, an old cannonball, the skull of the now extinct Giant Irish deer, and a movie prop from the film “The Last Duel” starring Adam Driver and Matt Damon.
Finally, we made our way to Blarney Castle. Most of us chose to climb to the top, which is tricky due to the tight spiral staircase. Once we reached the top, we kissed the Blarney Stone, said to have magical properties, which will grant us “the gift of the gab.”
Once we got back into town we went to dinner where most of us took part in some traditional Irish fare at the Old Mill restaurant in Temple Bar.
– Lily Stuart
June 26, 2026 | Photos
Today was our last full day in Dublin, Ireland! We got to wake up a bit later today, meeting for a trip to Dublina this morning. Our group was able to walk through Ireland’s Viking history and climb to the top of an old church tower! The museum was very fun and included several interactive areas where we got to dress up and walk through a replica of Medieval Dublin.
The group split up after this, with some going on a tour of the Guinness factory, others going on a walking tour and some exploring the area on their own. We met again in the evening for a picture with all our UWSP umbrellas before breaking into smaller groups for dinner.
The group made it back earlier today so that we can pack and prepare for our final flight tomorrow. Leaving feels bittersweet! Many of us don’t want to go back, but we are excited for A/C and the comfort of home.
– Alex Reitz
June 27, 2026 | Photos
We made it home from our 17-day study abroad trip! We left Trinity College at 6 a.m. for our 9:30 a.m. flight. We arrived in Chicago at 11 a.m. No, we didn’t have an hour and a half flight – we got to have Saturday all over again due to the time difference.
Over the course of our trip we spent many hours riding in planes, trains, buses and automobiles. However, we also walked 10,000-20,000 steps each day as we made our way to the stations, visited historic sites and landmarks and explored our surroundings, often uphill.
We only had a few drops of rain the entire trip, which is very unusual for the places we visited. Our umbrellas only got used briefly on a couple of occasions to protect from a mist. We could have used them as parasols as the region experienced warmer temperatures and much more sunshine than is typical.
Students learned how to navigate new places, experience different cultures and meet people from around the world. Funny enough, we met folks with connections to Wisconsin everywhere we visited 😊Students were able to observe how other countries act on the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and connect the themes of the Family and Consumer Sciences Body of Knowledge to their experiences.
Everyone came home with lots of photos and stories about this adventure! Here is a reflection from one of the participants:
“This experience not only strengthened my academic knowledge but also shaped my personal growth. I became more confident navigating new environments, more aware of global interconnectedness and more appreciative of cultural differences. Most importantly, I learned that meaningful learning happens through experience, relationships and reflection. My time abroad showed me that the world is deeply connected and that understanding those connections is essential to both personal development and global responsibility.”
– Prof. Susan Turgeson