About Kristin Thompson

In addition to Holocaust and human rights education, I am also passionate about travel and all that it can teach us. I’m fortunate to have had the opportunity to travel often, for both professional and personal purposes.

Travel, in general, helps us to better understand not only the vast diversity of people, cultures, and beauty found around the globe, but it also helps us see our common humanity. I have combined my interests and passion for history education and travel over the years and am grateful for the ways in which both have enriched my life. 

As a teacher, I started my own travel company to take small groups of students (& later, colleagues and other adults) on history tours during the summer months. For many of my students, this was their first experience traveling outside of their home state. Tours included Washington, D.C., New York City, and Europe.

I also worked for a professional travel company specializing in African Safaris as well as other international destinations. They sent staff on trips to become familiar with the locations and logistics that clients would encounter; embarking on a world-class African Safari, as well as traveling to Vietnam to hike through the jungle and camp overnight in a cave, were incredible highlights of my time with them and created memories that will last a lifetime!

I currently research, plan, and lead trips to Europe for Holocaust Educators. I believe visiting authentic historic sites gives us a deeper understanding of the history we study and can make a profound impact on our lives. These trips, entitled “The Power of Place”, have become even more vital as we continue to lose survivors. It’s imperative for teachers to personally visit authentic historic sites where the Holocaust happened; to experience the “power of place”. In the absence of survivors, the power of place remains and helps to tell their stories. As Yitskhok Rudashevski said, “Space stands as a witness to what happened.” Additionally, because truth and facts have come under siege, and antisemitism and extremism continue to rise globally, it is critical that teachers visit authentic sites where the history of the Holocaust is documented fact.

Travel Experience - Destinations Visited:

Africa: Botswana | South Africa | Zambia | Zimbabwe
Asia: Vietnam
Europe: Austria | Bosnia-Herzegovina | Czech Republic | England | France | Germany | Greece | Iceland | Ireland | Italy | Norway | Poland | Switzerland
North America: Canada | Mexico | U.S. (48 states)