The Welsh Society of Philadelphia had great pleasure in welcoming ten pupils and three teachers from Ysgol Eifion Wyn in Porthmadog, Wales, to the Philadelphia area September 30 - October 7, 2023 .
The trip was an educational visit funded partly by the Welsh Government and was the first time all the children - aged ten and eleven - had visited the USA. They were accompanied by teachers Heulwen Mai Williams, Elin Haf Davies, and Sioned Haf Edwards.
Our Society was able to help them connect with Russell Elementary School in Broomall where the children spent three days experiencing life in an American elementary school and where the teachers met with Russell teachers to exchange good practice. Principal Mr. Brett Thomas was delighted to welcome the group to his school and learn more about Wales as he is of Welsh descent.
On Tuesday, the group was taken on a tour of the ‘Welsh Tract’ by our President Jack Williams and Board Member Peter Jacobs and learned about the early settlement of Welsh Quakers in the area. The tour ended at Harriton House which was built by Welsh Quaker Rowland Ellis in 1704 and originally named Bryn Mawr.
The school presented a copy of the novel featuring Rowland Ellis’ life "Y Stafell Ddirgel” (The Secret Room) by Marion Eames to Laura Carpenter Myers, Executive Director of The Harriton Association.
On Wednesday, the pupils took a walking tour of Philadelphia’s Old City with our Society’s member Rick Starr followed by a visit to the Franklin Institute. They also visited Valley Forge National Historical Park and Philadelphia Zoo before returning home on Saturday evening.
Hyfryd oedd croesawu’r grŵp i Philadelphia. Dewch yn ôl yn fuan, Ysgol Eifion Wyn!