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Encountering the Holocaust in Krakow, Auschwitz, and Plaszow

This trip offers participants an immersive tour of several Holocaust-related historical sites in and around Krakow, Poland. Four of our eight days abroad will be spent at Auschwitz, both the main camp (Auschwitz I) and its auxiliary, Auschwitz II/Birkenau. Our itinerary in Poland will be set by the CANDLES Holocaust Museum and Education Center, founded by Auschwitz survivor Eva Mozes Kor. Participants will experience Kor’s journey through her audio tour, learn the history of authentic sites with professional guides, and become witnesses both to historical atrocity and to the healing power of forgiveness. Eva’s son, Dr. Alex Kor, will accompany our group and offer personal insights. Days not spent visiting Auschwitz will be spent visiting Holocaust-related sites walkable from Krakow (Plaszow concentration camp, Oskar Schindler’s enamelware factory, Krakow ghetto fighters memorial, remains of the Krakow ghetto wall, the former Jewish quarter of Krakow). Additionally, we will visit some sites important to Polish culture and heritage, which may include the Wieliczka Salt Mine, Wawel Castle, and/or St. Mary’s Cathedral. Participants should expect to walk the equivalent of 3-5 miles per day.

To enroll in this trip, students must have taken “Encountering the Holocaust through Literature” elective course (English department) during the 2023-2024 or 2024-2025 school year.

This trip does not offer academic credit but is an optional experiential addendum to the George School course “Encountering the Holocaust through Literature.” A travel-abroad course, it requires parental consent.

Min-Max Credit Hours: 0.0-0.0