Ring in spring by educating
and entertaining yourself with
a variety of trips offered by the
Social Science Club at Bucks.
Lead by advisor Karen Platts
the 2011 spring semester trips
are sure not to disappoint.
The SSC is dedicated to conducting
trips and working with
other groups to sponsor social,
political, and service activities
throughout the school year.
The bus trips that are offered
for the remaining spring
semester are intriguing to say
the least. Out of the 14 trips
remaining four are already sold
out.
The trip descriptions, dates,
times, and ticket prices are all
located on the Social Science
Club website accessed through
the Bucks site at
http://www.bucks.edu/~socsci/
Spring2011Brochure.pdf
There is an educational trip
to the Slave Trade/
Underground Railroad on
April 7. Platts called it “a joint
effort between Tony Wolf and
Alli Chambers that opens up a
view into Philadelphia’s role in
the movement to assist slaves
to freedom.”
There are three times available
throughout the day
8:30a.m. -1 p.m., 11 a.m.-3
p.m. and 1 p.m.-5 p.m.
On April 13 there is a dual
trip occurring the first is the
Philadelphia Ethnic Tour,
which gives students the
opportunity to experience an
array of different cultures all in
one day.
From the Italian Market,
Jewish South Street,, Little
Vietnam, Chinatown, and various
others. The tour lasts from
10 a.m.-2:30 p.m.
The second is Eastern State
Penitentiary, which is one of
the most popular trips offered
by the SCC. There will be a
guided tour of the Quakerinspired
prison built in the
1820’s from death row to the
prisoner’s cells. Remember
this trip fills up fast so sign up
now. Trip Length 2:30 p.m.-
6:00 p.m.
There is a second trip to
Eastern State Penitentiary on
April 14 from 9:30 a.m.-1:00
p.m. and 1:30 p.m.-5:00 p.m.
April 19 provides two trips.
The first to Ben Franklin’s
Philadelphia where professor
Ward Vinson dresses the part
and takes the group on a jaunt
through colonial Philadelphia.
12:30 p.m.-5:00 p.m.
Tony Wolf guides the
Philadelphia Mural Walking
Tour. It is a two mile walk
through the residential streets
including Gimmie Shelter,
Dirty Franks, and Dream
Garden just to name a few.
Literally wear your walking
shoes for these two trips. 3
p.m.-7 p.m.
April 20 supplies two wonderful
trips.
From 1:30 p.m. – 6 p.m. a
trip that can shed a light on a
vibrant community is Gay
Philly: The Gayborhood trip
where professor Max Probst
will lead the group into the
neighborhood of culture and
history of struggles and triumphs.
The other is the Center City
Walk/Severn Treasures. 1:30
p.m.- 6 p.m.
On April 28 the group heads
to Puerto Rican Philadelphia.
Platts commented on the trip
saying, “Puerto Rican Philly is
a great trip that takes students
not only to that part of the city
but also gives them a chance to
sample the food of the area.”
8:30 a.m.-1:00 p.m. and 1:00
p.m.-5:00 p.m.
The last trip to round out the
semester is the Philly Murals
Highlights on May 4. Where
you will have the special
opportunity to visit the marvelous
murals ranging from
Spring Garden Bridge,
Grandmother’s Quilt, Tribute
to Nurses and many more. 1:30
p.m.-6:00 p.m.
The trips that were sold out
weeks in advance were West
Point, The “New American
Wing: Metropolitan Museum
of Art, The National Museum
of American Jewish History,
The Bronx Yesterday and
Today, Ellis Island, North
Philly Murals, The Ladies
Mile, Philadelphia’s Best
Public Art, and Central Park
Walk.
Highlights for future semesters
that should not be passed
up are:
The Central Park Walk which
Platts says “I will be giving a
guided tour of Central
Park…that is my chance to
share one of my favorite places
in the world with the travelers.
It is never what people expect
and much more than they can
imagine without having been
there.”
The Philadelphia Public Art
that features 27 pieces varying
from the “Good” to the “Bad”.
Platt’s expanded on the trip
“Public Art is kind of a variation
on the murals, with Tony
Wolf’s take on the best and
worst art that Philly has to
offer and should be lots of fun!
Moving back and forth
between the “gritty and the
pretty”
If you’re lucky to see these
trips next semester and are
interested in taking in a day of
fun culture and history should
heed Platts’s suggestion “I
strongly recommend that anyone
who wants to go on a trip
sign up as soon as possible.”
Arrive on time for departure
from campus and bring a camera!
Sign up for trips in the Social
Science Department located in
Penn 305 or call 215 968 8070.
Students must provide an I.D.
at the time of a viable payment,
which may be made through
check made out to BCCC or
cash.