Most teachers assign back-to-school projects where students reflect on their summer activities. However, Jerry McGuffee, a middle school teacher at Luckimute Valley Charter School, plans to share his own summer adventures aimed at continuing his learning journey. 

McGuffee, 58, has been participating in educational excursions through the Center for Geology Education in Oregon. This past July, he embarked on his first international trip to Vietnam. “We studied the geography from north to south Vietnam, starting in Hanoi and finishing in Ho Chi Minh City, also known as Saigon, covering every place in between,” McGuffee explained. “We travelled the entire length of the country over two weeks.” 

McGuffee has been on previous expeditions, known as “institutes,” through CGEO. One such trip was the Institute of Megalopolis, which took his group from Washington, D.C., through Baltimore, Philadelphia, New York, and Boston. “It was like earning four graduate credits in two weeks. These institutes are intense, with little downtime,” McGuffee said. 

He’s also participated in institutes where CGEO focused on PCC mapping, with a special emphasis on drones. “As a geographer, I teach aerodynamics with drones as an elective, so that was a great fit for me,” McGuffee said. “These institutes are free, and each one helps you learn more and become a better teacher.” 

Every March, CGEO members gather at a Geofest, attending breakout sessions and listening to keynote speakers on geology. They can then apply for an almost all-expenses-paid trip to one of the institutes. This year, McGuffee chose Vietnam after a planned trip to Egypt was cancelled due to the Hamas attack on Israel. 

Joining him on the trip was Braxton McFarland, a 23-year-old recent Western Oregon University graduate and aspiring teacher from Dallas, Oregon. With extra time during the summer, McFarland applied to CGEO and was surprised to be accepted. The two didn’t realize they were both from Polk County until they arrived in Vietnam. 

Once in the country, they were assigned a full-time tour guide named Happy, who ensured the group of 14 stuck to a rigorous learning schedule. “Happy took us everywhere, ensuring we kept learning. She didn’t just point out the sights but encouraged us, as fellow geology and history teachers, to discuss them,” McGuffee shared, noting that the learning continued through interactions with fellow travellers.

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