Community Travel
Help turn dreams into reality and open doors to education abroad!
Ready to explore breathtaking destinations and uncover hidden gems?
Join Mesa College’s Community Travel Program
Our expert faculty will reveal unique insights–no studying needed! On these 10-day
trips, you’ll enjoy local cuisines and immerse yourself in the sights and sounds of
your destination.
This is more than a trip–it’s travel with impact
A portion of the proceeds from this trip will be used to support the San Diego Mesa
College study abroad program and students, making international education accessible
to all students, regardless of financial background.
Current Programs
Iceland
July 27th - August 5th, 2026
Join San Diego Mesa College geology professor Don Barrie on an educational tour of Iceland’s natural wonders: waterfalls, glaciers, icebergs, volcanoes, geysers, hot springs, lakes, canyons, beaches, and wildlife. The tour cost includes a contribution of $500 for Mesa College Foundation’s study abroad scholarship fund, which helps students live and learn in other countries.
LAND COST - $4690
Includes lodging in a double/twin room, private tour bus, many entries and activities,
Professor Don Barrie as group leader, GeoTours guide Matt Ebiner, breakfasts, high-quality
digital photos of the entire tour. Early registration discount of $100 if registering
by November 1, 2025. Single room costs +$1400.
AIRFARE
Airfare is additional, and costs approximately $900 round-trip from Los Angeles or
San Diego to Reykjavik.
Registration is open!
Sicily
March 26th - April 4th, 2027
Flavors of Sicily with Chef Tonya
10 days | Mar 26, 2027—Apr 04, 2027
Arancini? Cannoli? Caponata? All originated in Sicily, and all are just the appetizer to the island's matchless cuisine. On this Food Tour, you'll dig into this Mediterranean crossroads, pinpointing the Greek, Arab, Norman, and Spanish influences that inform Sicilian cooking. Start in Palermo—the island's storied capital—before sipping and snacking your way from town to town. You'll sample wines in Castelbuono and explore the sun-bleached streets of Cefalu; taste chocolates, cheeses, and seafood in Modica and Syracuse; and hunt for truffles in the fragrant forests of Catania. Each experience builds up to the grand finale: a contessa-hosted dinner.
As a reminder, this tour is not only an amazing travel experience, but also a meaningful way to support San Diego Mesa College. A portion of every traveler’s tour cost will come back to help fund the student travel program, and we truly appreciate your support in helping make these opportunities possible for students. If you’re ready to join us in Sicily, enrollment is now open!
We encourage interested travelers to reserve their spot early, as space is limited and initial excitement has us feeling confident about the trip filling soon!
Bonus $100 discount for repeat EF travelers. Please notify EF tour partners of your previous EF tour
Please direct questions about the tour directly to our travel partners at EF Go Ahead
3 ways to enroll!
- Call Go Ahead Tours Dial 1-800-438-7672 and reference the Flavors of Sicily 2027 with Chef Tonya Group Coordinator: Tonya Whitfield
- Enroll Online Visit our dedicated tour page: https://groups.goaheadtours.com/tours/san-diego-mesa-2027-sicily
- Request a Call (Most Popular & Easiest!) Skip the wait and schedule a time that works for you: https://calendly.com/groupsreservations A Go Ahead specialist will call you at your chosen time—no phone tag needed. Their team is available Mon–Fri, 9:00am–7:30pm EST and Sat, 9:00am–5:30pm EST.
Your Community Travel Leader
Don Barrie
Don Barrie is a partially retired geology professor at San Diego Mesa College. His
life’s work is to make geoscience accessible to general audiences in both academic
and non-academic settings. He has led or co-led geoscience-themed trips to Iceland,
New Zealand, Namibia, the Grand Canyon, the Eastern Sierra, the Anza-Borrego Desert,
and Joshua Tree National Park for various groups. Prior to joining the Mesa faculty
as a tenure-track professor in 2004, he taught geology, oceanography, physical geography,
and natural disasters at Mesa, Cuyamaca, Grossmont, and MiraCosta colleges, and San
Diego State University. As a registered professional geologist and certified engineering
geologist, he has managed geologic and environmental field investigations in San Diego,
Los Angeles, San Francisco, Arizona, Hawaii, and Guam. He holds a B.S. degree in geology
from Cal Poly Humboldt (formerly Humboldt State University) and an M.S. in geology
from the New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology.
Tonya Whitfield
As a Navy Veteran and a Professor of Culinary Arts at Mesa College, food and wine
is more than my profession, it is my passion. I have taught at Mesa for 16 years.
I have studied in Bologna, Italy for my gelato maestro certification from Carpigiani
University. My specialties are fine dining, aged beef and fish, live-fire cooking,
gelato and sorbetto creations. I love traveling the world looking for new adventures
and food to inspire the next generation of chefs. I have traveled to the UK/London,
all over France, Northern Italy, Australia, Fiji, and all over the United States,
which has more to offer than you think. I love what I do and cannot wait to share
my excitement in food and wine with others.
Support Study Abroad at Mesa
If you’re unable to join a trip but still want to support, consider donating directly to help more students study abroad.
Stay in touch
Sign up for our Community Travel interest list to stay up to date on upcoming trips and the latest announcements.
