The Reagan Legacy Foundation Liberty Education Tours European
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The Reagan Legacy Foundation Liberty Education Tours European Tour 2011 Germany • Czech Republic • France • California This tour will be heldTWICE this summer: Tour #1: June 18 - July 1 & August 11 - 13, 2011 Tour #2: July 9 - 22 & August 11 - 13, 2011 Each tour consists of two segments: Segment-1 is Europe; Segment-2 is California with a break in between. Segment-1 of each tour begins on a Saturday for 14 days and 13 nights. Segment-2 of each tour begins on Thursday, August 11th for 3 days and 2 nights. Prior to our departure, each student will receive a copy of our Reagan Legacy Foundation’s Readings and Reflections on the Legacy of Freedom as well as an Educational Syllabus and Personal Journal. There will be daily discussion groups during the tour centered on these materials. There will be an emphasis on tangible and meaningful experiences, and for the students to form an emotional and intellectual investiture in perpetuating the principles of freedom and liberty President Ronald Reagan held so dear. Day 1: Travel to Prague, Czech Republic We depart Los Angeles and fly to Prague arriving the next morning (Day 2). Days 2-3: Tour Prague The beautiful city of Prague is nicknamed the “City of a Hundred Spires” and the “Golden City”. One of the high- lights will be Prague Castle (one of the biggest castles in the world according to Guinness Book of Records), home of the Presidential Palace. Other sites to be visited are: Old Prague Castle (Presidential Palace) Town Square, Jewish Cemetery, Astronomical clock, and the Charles Bridge. In the evenings we will participate in our first discussion group derived from our book ofReadings and Reflections and Educational Syllabus. Day 4: Travel to Znojmo, Southern Czech Republic After completing our tour of Prague we will travel to Znojmo en route visiting Telč, a town which has in- spired poets and enchanted painters. In the afternoon we will tour the Znojmo Catacombs. Days 5: Tour Znojmo Area and the “Iron Curtain” on the Czech-Austrian Border The royal city of Znojmo is situated on a rock outcrop- ping on the steep left bank of the Dyje River with a Colleen and Michael Reagan number of examples of medieval architecture. Today Iron Curtain, Czech-Austria border will be very busy as we tour many of the area’s treasures: Castle Vranov nad Dyji, MJ-S2 “Uvoz” Bunker, and the Cornstain Ruin & Lake. We will also travel to the Czech-Austrian border to visit portions of the Iron Curtain. The Reagan Legacy Foundation: Liberty Education Tours Day 6: Travel to Lidice, Terezin, and Berlin, Germany On our way back to Berlin we will visit the town of Lidice which was leveled (all adult males killed) on or- ders from Hitler in reprisal for the assassination of a top Nazi officer by Czech resistance fighters. We then visit the Theresienstadt (aka Terezin) concentration camp established by the Nazi secret police (Gestapo), and the Jewish Museum. We arrive in Berlin in time for dinner and a guest speaker. Day 7: Key Sites Around Berlin We will spend the day visiting the Checkpoint Char- lie Museum (home of the Ronald Reagan Room) and Brandenburg Gate, Berlin participate in a seminar at the International Education and Conference Center for Freedom and Democracy. We will then tour the Brandenburg Gate, Holocaust Memorial, Jewish Museum (covering two millennia of German Jewish history), Radio Tower (one of the best-known points of interest in the city), and other historic locations. Day 8: Berlin Tour Continued A full day touring two of Berlin’s most notable WWII sites: Stasi Prison (established in 1951 by Germany’s Stasi secret police) and the Sachsenhausen concentra- tion camp established by the Nazis and used primar- ily for political prisoners. Day 9: Potsdam We will spend the day at the Cecilienhof Palace, scene of the Potsdam Conference (July-August, 1945), where the victorious Allied leaders (Harry S. Truman; Winston Churchill and his successor, Clement Attlee; and Joseph Stalin) met to decide the future of Ger- Checkpoint Charlie, Berlin many. The afternoon will allow time for shopping at KaDeWe, one of Europe’s largest shopping centers. Day 10: Additional Sites Around Berlin Visit the Reichstag Building (home of the German government and par- liament), Glienicke Bridge (Bridge of Spies), Olympiastadion (Olympic Stadium, home of 1936 Summer Olympics) and Berlin’s Royal Palace (Stadtschloss) in which the Prussian kings and German emperors resided. We will also hear from local political leaders concerning the current po- litical climate in Germany. Day 11: Travel to Paris, France; Tour City We leave Berlin and fly to Paris arriving around noon. Not to waste a minute we embark on a city tour of Paris, the capital and largest city in France. Eiffel Tower, Paris The Reagan Legacy Foundation: Liberty Education Tours Day 12: Excursion to the Normandy Coast Today we will travel to the Beaches of Normandy and visit the Normandy American Cemetery and Memorial located on a bluff overlooking Omaha Beach where so many valiant solders died preserving the freedoms and liberty we enjoy to this day. Additional sites include Pointe du Hoc, the Ger- man gun battery at Longues-sur-Mer, and Claude Monet’s House and Gardens to name a few. Day 13: Versailles Palace and Gardens, Highlights of Paris We head out early for a tour of Versailles Palace and Gar- Normandy American Cemetery and Memorial dens, Louis XIV’s home from 1682. In the afternoon we will see as much of Paris as we can; Louvre, Eiffel Tower, Champs Elysees to name a few. Day 14: End of Segment 1, Travel Home... Fly out of Paris for home airports. — Break in Tour — Begin Segment 2: The U.S. segment of both tours begins on Thursday, August 11th for 3 days and 2 nights. Rancho del Cielo Day 15: Students Arrive in Southern California Santa Barbara to Join the U.S. Tour, “California Welcome Dinner” Student from all three summer of 2011 RLF tours will come together and enjoy an afternoon of swimming, volleyball and relaxing. In the evening we will enjoy a sumptuous “California Welcome Dinner” to kick off the final segment of all three tours. Day 16: Santa Barbara, Reagan Ranch Center, Rancho del Cielo In the morning we drive to the YAF’s Reagan Ranch Center in Santa Barbara for seminars given by outstanding speak- ers. After lunch we will tour Rancho del Cielo (Ranch in the Sky), also known as the “Western White House”, where President Reagan spent his most treasured days riding his horses, clearing brush, and chopping wood. Day 17: Ronald Reagan Presidential Library: Workshops and Tours. Evening Farewell Banquet and Graduation Ceremony We spend the day at the Ronald Reagan Presidential library participating in workshops and tours. In the evening all students (European and American), parents and guests will participate in the Farewell Banquet and Graduation Cer- emony where the students will be awarded certificates officially identifying them as Freedom Fellows. Michael Reagan, the President’s son, will entrust them with the charge to represent Ronald Reagan’s legacy in their future endeavors. Day 18: End of Tour. Students Depart for Homes Ronald Reagan and El Alamein 1985 The Reagan Legacy Foundation: Liberty Education Tours While on the tour you will meet Michael Reagan and Alexandra Hildebrandt Michael Reagan is the eldest son of former Presi- Tour participants must be high school dent Ronald Reagan and one of the most dynamic (secondary) students between 16-17 years and sought after public speakers. His commitments to public service and the conservative vision his fa- of age with a minimum GPA of 2.0 ther championed are second to none, making him Foundation covers the following tour costs: the natural heir to the Reagan conservative legacy. • Deluxe motor coach transportation Michael is also a frequent guest and commentator on National television programs, including The Today • Hotel accommodations Show, Good Morning America, and Nightline and • Local guides is a frequent Fox News Contributor. In addition his • Sightseeing tours as outlined on the itinerary weekly column, read nationwide in more than 300 newspapers, Mike has • All meals, activities, and graduation banquet authored many successful books including his best-selling autobiography, Students are responsible for the following: On the Outside Looking In; The Common Sense of An Uncommon Man; The Wit, Wisdom and Eternal Optimism of Ronald Reagan; Twice Adopted and • Round-trip domestic or international airfare Mike’s recently published The New Reagan Revolution. He and his wife, • Required individual travel/medical insurance and Colleen, have two children and reside in Los Angeles, California. trip cancellation protection • Passport & visa fees Alexandra Hildebrandt was born in Kiev, Ukraine. • Sightseeing expenses not outlined on the itinerary She is the current Director of the Museum at the • Items of a personal nature (i.e. phone calls, Checkpoint Charlie in Berlin. She, with her late hus- souvenirs, laundry service, internet, etc.) band Dr. Rainer Hildebrandt, created the museum which is the home of the Ronald Reagan Room. Al- Itinerary and/or dates subject to change exandra is an artist, author of several books, Presi- For Tour Information Contact: dent of the Dr. Rainer Hildebrandt Foundation in Switzerland and a member of the German Society for Denise Nielsen, Foreign Policy. Dr. Rainer and Alexandra have five Chair of Educational Programs children. The youngest son, Artiom, is Director of the International Educa- (805) 558-4097 tion and Conference Center for Freedom and Democracy at the Checkpoint [email protected] Charlie Museum. www.ReaganLegacyFoundation.org The Reagan Legacy Foundation: Liberty Education Tours.