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2025 PROGRAM DATES
2025 PROGRAM DATES
June 30 to July 18
plus additional sightseeing before and after
Contact: Kathryn Murphy kathy@wiesco.org
! Recruiting Is Complete !
! Recruiting Is Complete !
About Daugavpils
About Daugavpils
The city of Daugavpils is in the southeastern region of Latvia and located on the Daugavpils River. It is the second largest city in Latvia, after Riga. The population, with the surrounding suburbs, is around 100,000.
Daugavpils is an economic, tourist, and cultural center. It is home to one of the largest regional universities and several historical sites, including Daugavpils Fortress, a well-preserved 19th century military fortification. Daugavpils Fortress features the Mark Rothko Art Center - the only display of the painter's original work in Eastern Europe.
about the Program
about the Program
The program in Daugavpils combines the talents of the American teachers complemented with the amazing, creative staff (teachers and helpers) of Latvia. The activities are all planned to be engaging and fruitful. From writing to crafts to science to music and dancing, the camp is brought to fruition as a result of the efforts of everyone. Enrollment varies little as it sits in the 95-100 student number annually. Each teacher has a homeroom of 12 - 15 students.
Students learned about The Day of the Dead - from sugar skulls to face painting
Homemade cupcakes for the Birthday Party
Our first ever PHOTO BOOTH! All students made props and then individual and group pictures were taken.
Lessons include program-wide activities which revolve around the same theme. Ages of the students range from 11 to 16 and are divided according to age. Every teacher has a homeroom state and thus the students become quite familiar with their respective "home bases".
Wisconsin being so proud of 20 years
On Russian/Latvian Day we learned how to make wreathes
Painting flower pots for all program attendees
A trust walk to accompany a Disability Awareness lesson
Weekends offer a wonderful variety for WIESCO volunteers to learn about Latvia. Traveling to cathedrals, bread museums, a doll museum, the Hill of Wooden Statues, Riga, Jurmala, and children's homes, all offer an insight to the culture.
Volunteers will have the opportunity to spend a few days touring Vilnius at the end of the program. The cost of this stay is absorbed by the gracious Latvian program hosts.
Three American teachers enjoying a tour of the Laima factory in Riga
Logistics
Logistics
Getting There
Getting There
Volunteers must arrive at Vilnius International Airport by Thursday, June 20th. Vilnius is much closer to Daugavpils than Riga. Local program hosts will provide transportation between Vilnius and Daugavpils at the beginning and end of the program.
Lodging
Lodging
The American staff stays in the dormitory of a school located in the heart of Daugavpils. This setting has been most convenient for getting to school, shopping, eating, biking, movies, last minute needs, etc.
The cost of housing is supported by our hosts.
Kathryn Murphy has been affiliated with WIESCO since 2001 and has been the director of the program since 2002. Kathryn has also taught in Armenia since 2016. She spent 38 years teaching Language Arts at Rice Lake and Somerset, Wisconsin School Districts. Now that she is retired, she enjoys time with her granddaughters, gardening, reading, and playing the piano for various hospitals in the area.
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