Shelter Island Students Fundraise For 'Once-In-A-Lifetime' Trip

SHELTER ISLAND, NY — The 16 students from Shelter Island have spent their lives living on a body of land that's only 29 square miles — a hometown infused with small-town values and familiar faces on every corner and in every shop. Now, the students and their parents have set their sights on a life-altering trip to Spain that will forever expand their proverbial horizons — but need help raising the funds to make their dream journey a reality.

The trip, organized with Centro MundoLengua, offers students a total Spanish immersion, experience both the language and culture. Students are slated to travel between July 2 and July 12, visiting Sevilla and other spots.

According to Kate Davidson, her two high school sons, Elijah, 16, and a junior, and Hayden, 15, and a sophomore, will be heading off to Spain. While the trip is not facilitated by the school, it is led by the school's Spanish teacher, she said.

The students, who will live with host families, will attend a Spanish school for half-day instruction then the second half of the day will be a cultural experience, she said. "Cooking class, dance lessons, seeing the amazing architecture, surf lessons."

Blanca Frausto's son Jose, a sophomore, will also be attending. "My son and I have the same thoughts on why this is such a great opportunity," she said. "Just being able to travel abroad — that, in itself, is an experience."

Her family, Frausto said, is Mexican-American, so they have traveled to Mexico often. "But every country has its own culture and language. He's excited to learn their Espanol and how it's different from our own. He's excited to try new dishes."

Frausto added: "I'm so happy that this program is available to our children. It gives them a chance to experience a different way of life than what they are used to."

The cost, at $3,440 per child, is prohibitive for some — so parents and residents have teamed up to fundraise.

"Many of the kids have received grants from the Shelter Island Educational Foundation, which was super generous but did not cover the full cost of the program — nor did it apply to airfare — so many of us are working on covering the balance," Davidson said.

The cost is especially daunting so soon after the pandemic, when many have faced cutbacks and a loss in business, she said.

"Being that we come from a small community, many of the usually donors are just at capacity," Davidson said. "There are so many fundraisers each year; we are hoping that 'off island' folk would be interested in donating to such a worthy cause."

Stacey Soloviev, who has businesses on Shelter Island, has also opened her heart to help. "This is a true, once-in-a-lifetime for them," she said.

To that end, Soloviev is organizing a dinner at the iconic Chequit inn, which was purchased by purchased at by Stacey's former husband Stefan Soloviev's company Crossroads Ag in 2020.

Her own son Hayden is also donating $25,000 to help the students, she said.

The dinner, "Fiesta at The Chequit to Benefit Shelter Island Students' Trip to Spain", takes place on Saturday, April 30, from 5:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. and can be purchased here.

The dinner will be a fun taco fiesta, with the students helping to set up, serve, clean up and engage with guests, speaking about the trip, Davidson said.

She and Patty Quigley kicked off a GoFundMe, "Study Abroad in Spain," that is raising funds for the entire group of students, Davidson said.

"We felt this was a good way to reach those who want to help but perhaps might not be able to come to the dinner at The Chequit," she said. "This also helps reach family and friends who don't live locally."

The trip will change lives, Davidson said: "Many, if not all, of these kids have never traveled to Europe or traveled without their family. They get to see the wider world outside of Shelter Island and experience a culture much different than their own."

The trip is planned every two years, Davidson said, so for some students, this year might be their only chance to participate. And it's an experience that can shape them forever, she added.

"Living on an island of roughly 3000 year-round residents and attending a school of only 250 kids or so, from grades preK through 12, our kids are sheltered — get the pun?" she laughed. "They don’t experience much other than what we see here. We are mostly all hardworking young families; we don’t get to travel the world. This trip won’t happen without help, unfortunately. I know for my two kids, this is a once-in-a-lifetime chance. Not only are they able to go to Spain, but they are staying with host families, not in a hotel. They are seeing firsthand how these families live, eat, educate, parent, play — they are one of the family, for those 10 days."