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Photo by Bob Pennell Saudia Sharkey and her daughter, Eden, work on sewing bedding for Eden's trip to New Zealand next month. The 10th-grader is traveling as part of an independent study class. Kiwi big adventure: New Zealand trek more than tourism Ashland kids learn responsibility, too By ALEX BREITLER ASHLAND -- Five teens hunch over sewing machines, fumbling their way through folds of fabric and giggling over misplaced stitches. "It's making crazy noises," one frets. A few moms, slightly more adept to the task at hand, stand by to help out if needed. "You guys look so cute!" one calls out. The teens' toils this Tuesday night result in "sleeping sheets" they'll use during an 18-day trip to New Zealand next month for which they'll gain independent studies credit from Ashland High School. It's a trip, parents say, that puts just as much emphasis on the responsibility of preparing as on the trip itself. "They're getting so much out of this trip besides the adventure," says Sue DeMarinis-Brandy, who is trip coordinator and parent as well as host of the evening's activities. In all, 10 Ashland High School students and three parents will make the journey. They'll jump from hostel to hostel and do a little camping as they travel across both New Zealand islands. AHS 10th-graders Sam McMillan, left, and Jasper Katz work with instructor Sue DeMarinis-Brandy to cut fabric for the trip. It's no spur of the moment excursion -- DeMarinis-Brandy, the kids and parents have planned the trip for more than a year through monthly classes on the geography and culture of New Zealand as well as how to pack, cook and sew the sheets they'll need to stay in hostels. The "sleeping sheets" -- thin sleeping bags made only from simple sheets -- are available for rent at New Zealand hostels, but to save money the group decided to make their own. Kids can't bring their own sleeping bags for use in hostels if they're at all dirty, DeMarinis-Brandy says. The sophomores raised their own money to pay for air fare and other expenses by doing odd jobs for folks around town. "Rent-a-kiwi," the cause was called. Now, months later, they're just about ready to go; Tuesday night was the crew's second-to-last meeting. They take off on a 14-hour flight to Auckland March 10. Keara Duggan, 15, says she likes the idea of going to New Zealand because it's not as commonly visited as some countries. "This way, we get to go to a country and explore it 100 percent," she says. "When we go, it's not going to feel super touristy." But Duggan has a secondary motivation: "Sue told us there weren't any snakes or spiders, so that was good." This won't be the first time many of these students have traveled together. An eighth-grade trip to England was the overseas initiation for most. "I've always loved to travel," says Eden Sharkey, 16. "England was fun, but it just didn't seem foreign enough." The only New Zealand veteran is DeMarinis-Brandy. She convinced the kids that the country with more sheep than people would be worth a visit. Students divided into cooking teams and have been practicing a variety of meals each session to lessen the odds of a culinary disaster overseas. "Eighteen days of spaghetti would get really old," DeMarinis-Brandy laughs. Also, each student takes charge for one day of the trip, planning activities, transportation and hostel reservations. It's all part of DeMarinis-Brandy's philosophy that learning the responsibility of planning is important for any excursion. "This has been an intense class for them," she says. But just because it's a class doesn't mean the trip won't be fun. The itinerary includes visiting botanical gardens, climbing into a dormant volcano, camping and even bungee-jumping. They'll get a chance to meet a group of New Zealand high school students as well. "They're learning more about the culture so when they go they can interact," DeMarinis-Brandy says. Parents agree the trip should be a great learning experience. "I think it teaches them a lot about losing their ethnocentrism," says Saudia Sharkey, Eden's mom. "Travel is one of the best ways to get a real-world view." "I'm so excited they get to do this," Sharkey adds. "They've got the travel bug." Mail Tribune Copyright � The Mail Tribune 1999, Medford, Oregon USA