March 14, 2001 – International travelers-to-be could stock up on vacation guidebooks packed with hotel and restaurant information, then gamble with every decision they make along the way. They could join a commercial travel group, and become a tourist known by number, not name. Or, they could see the world with Wingspan, a new noncredit adult education travel program offered by the University of Utah's Academic Outreach and Continuing Education.

Wingspan adventurers immerse themselves in local culture and learn along the way with unique, intimate tours led by knowledgeable experts. Each of the trips is centered around a theme - digital photography in Paris, Italian life and ceramics, Grand Prix racing in Italy, French language and fall foliage in Montreal, design in Barcelona, Spanish language and Mexican culture, and more.

Intimacy and specialization set Wingspan tours apart from those offered by commercial agencies, according to the program's director, Laura Snow. "Wingspan tours are locally organized, with a guide from the local Utah community." At least one meeting prior to the tour allows participants the opportunity to meet their guide and the rest of the small group. With solid contacts overseas, Wingspan guides "know the ropes," says Snow.

University of Utah adjunct professor in ceramics Guiliana Marple, who will lead a ten-day journey to discover Italian life and ceramics in May, is more than familiar with the rolling sunflower fields, art studios, and out-of -the-ordinary sites her group will visit. Born and raised in Italy, she has studied at the Academy of Art and Pottery in Deruta and has been traveling in Tuscany for the past ten years for aesthetic inspiration. "You don't have to be a potter or a painter to go on the trip. You just have to be open to new things."

Marple's group will stay at Antica Gattoria del Colle, a rural pensione surrounded by groves of olive trees and vineyards. The elegantly restored farmhouse was highlighted in Gourmet magazine, which described it as one of the region's "lovely secrets." The itinerary will provide travelers with a variety of choices, including day trips to Siena and Florence, attendance at local events, and visits to nearby medieval villages. "The best part is that if people don't feel like going sightseeing, they can just relax on the farmhouse's balcony and enjoy the rolling hills and the air," Marple says.

Wingspan is not about seeing as many sites as possible in a short amount of time; its goal is cultural education. "Participants will get to meet and live with people from different backgrounds - that alone is an amazing education," Marple explains. "Even just seeing the different homes people have, the way they dress, talk, and share meals is a profound way to learn about another country."

In June, Wingspan will offer an educational excursion to Salisbury, England's Sarum College. Titled "Away with Words," the trip is an opportunity for Utah youth and their parents to explore literary, historical, and religious connections between England and America. "The charming medieval city provides an ideal hub for learning-with plenty of time for reflection and renewal," says the tour's leader, Anne Peterson of AOCE.

Wingspan will also take adults to the International Summer School at the University of Cambridge this August. Participants get to take short courses in a variety of subjects. "I'll be learning about Zen Buddism and British Architecture," says Doug Hanson, a past participant who liked program so much he's returning for more. This time, he's bringing along his 19-year-old son and another friend.

"One of the real benefits of the program is meeting people from other countries who also go to the school. It's an opportunity to exchange ideas, philosophies, and backgrounds," he says, adding, "I still keep in touch with people from Australia, Italy, and Japan who I met at Cambridge on my last trip."

All Wingspan programs are two weeks or less, making the trip to a foreign country realistic for busy people with careers. Cost for the programs range from $1,200 to $2,000, excluding airfare.

Wingspan also aims to create projects that working professionals could experience as part of their development or career training, making the excursions possible for tax write-offs. Last November, Gilberto and Doris Schaefer, graduates of the Basel School of Design and long-time members of the Salt Lake City design community, led a group of people interested in design and architecture to Basel, Switzerland. Karen Cahoon, a Salt Lake City designer at CCG, went as a way to augment her career. "This was the most perfect tour I have ever been on. It was extremely informative and stimulating," she says. "I loved the fact that our trip leaders were so familiar with Basel."

As the program evolves, more and more trips will be slated around various themes. Learn more about Wingspan trips at www.wingspan.aoce.utah.edu or call (801) 585-5472.