The success of our trips is a direct result of our dual-focus trip-building model: pre-trip research trips– which we carry out before every trip we run, no matter the destination – and our local connections. Our research trips allow us to go through every minute and every mile of a trip, to prepare and customize our itineraries, to explore educational concepts, to create relevant activities and workbooks, and to make sure we design a tour that will enhance the students’ units of inquiry.
Just as important as being prepared, is having the right local connections. We have strong ties with people in the places we visit. These are places we have been visiting for years. Our local connections understand the experiences we are trying to achieve: for example what we need when we want to set up a cooking class in a homestay. Or how important it is that the students not only witness but also participate in tea harvesting and production. We are not a travel company that just takes students to tourist sites. Our goal is that the students fully experience the places they visit with us. Our research trips and local connections play a big part in that, and allow us to create itineraries with sound educational value, and memorable experiences.
Below are brief bios on The Hutong Education’s Leadership Team.
Stacey Shine, Australia
Stacey Shine completed a Master’s Degree in Educational Psychology at Sydney University, Australia. After teaching for 10 years, she took a break from school to embark on a half-year overland journey from Thailand to London. During this time she fell in love with China and returned to The Middle Kingdom to work in the travel industry. Stacey worked as a tour leader and operations manager for Intrepid travel and Peregrine Adventures. In 2007, Stacey returned to the field of education, as an elementary teacher at Beijing City International School. Stacey loves learning from her students and strives to always encourage natural curiosity and the desire to learn. She has made it her mission to never underestimate a student’s ability.
Mark Thirlwall, Australia
After graduating from university, Mark chose a less traveled route, choosing to register a modest company that operated as a traveling troupe of actors, empowering youth with limited access to the Arts in western parts of New South Wales. His mission was to raise the confidence of the students involved, and help them see beyond their own boundaries. Mark carries this philosophy to this day. After coming to China in 2001 to work for Intrepid Travel and guide inbound tourist groups around the lesser known parts of China, Mark designed many of the itineraries and trips that still run to this day. Since founding The Hutong in 2006 with business partner Stacey Shine, Mark has been involved with educational programs, including outdoor activities as well as indoor pursuits. Mark always designs his programs with an eye for education, fun and creating an interactive learning environment.
Josh Kernan, England
Hailing from The New Forest in England, Josh studied Sport and Recreation Management at The University of Edinburgh, where he made regular use of the rugged Scottish countryside for camping, fishing and hunting. He arrived in China in 2007 to work at The Olympics, and to further his event management and outdoor education experience. Josh is now The Director of Educational Programs at The Hutong. He loves playing all sports, but his passion is playing rugby as well as coaching and refereeing at the International Schools. Josh firmly believes that the key to inspiring growing minds is to make tangible, hands-on experiences accessible and fun, while offering students a window of reality into the country they live in.
Morgan O’Hara, The United States
Morgan O’Hara’s first true travel experience was in rural Mexico, where he spent a year teaching underprivileged indigenous college students. Morgan’s time in Mexico instilled in him a sense of humility, and blessed him with a group of lifelong friends. After working as news producer for Italian public television in New York, Morgan eventually returned to school to pursue a Master’s in Business Administration. A true wanderer at heart, Morgan considered the program’s culminating trip to India and then China to be the highlight of his MBA. The connections he made drew him into this fascinating country, and he stayed put. Morgan is now the General Manager of The Hutong, and believes that educational travel should inspire students, like it inspired him, and have a positive impact on their lives as well as on the places they visit.
Erin Henshaw, The United States
Erin Henshaw is from the Washington DC area, so she clearly has a thing for vibrant capital cities! Prior to moving to China, Erin studied Spanish, Sociology and International Business at the University of Virginia and worked in the field of charity event production. She came to China seeking a challenge, and certainly found it. Erin has led groups of high school students around the US, Europe and China, and often teaches and runs programs with the International Schools in Beijing. She remains active in charity work and events management, and infuses her educational trips and programs with her passions for Chinese tea, healthy living, language-learning and authentic cultural immersion.