2027 U.S. Virgin Islands

Did you know the oldest Lutheran church in the Western Hemisphere is Frederick Lutheran Church on the island of St. Thomas?

Join College Pastor Matt Marohl and Associate College Pastor Katie Fick for an unforgettable experience of faith, culture, history, and nature in the U.S. Virgin Islands of St. Thomas and St. John.

We will worship during Holy Week at Frederick Lutheran Church. We will learn about the indigenous history and colonization of the islands, the slave trade, rebellion and emancipation, and the evolving role of religion. We will take historical walking tours that include sites such as the St. Thomas synagogue (a sand-floored synagogue that is one of the oldest synagogues in the Western Hemisphere) and the Catherineberg Estate, the headquarters for the African slave rebellion of 1773. And we will learn about Moko Jumbies, sample local cuisine, and explore botanical gardens, parks, beaches, and ocean sites.

This experience is designed to connect with the local people, businesses, communities, and natural beauty of St. Thomas and St. John.

We’re working on the details … please check back!

Our intention with each tour is to provide an itinerary that introduces you to key elements related to your destination or the educational theme, while also providing some free time for you to pursue your own interests or have some down time. The balance can vary from day to day, and from tour to tour.

We’re working on the details. You’ll be able to view – and print or download if you wish – the most up-to-date itinerary here. Please check back!

You’ll get the most out of study travel if you research what to do during your free time. This allows you to reap the benefits of group travel, while also customizing the tour to your interests and activity level. Read more about How to Be an Independent Group Traveler.

Matthew Marohl has served as the College Pastor at St. Olaf since the summer of 2012. Matt completed his Master of Divinity degree at Luther Seminary, a Master of Theology degree at the Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago and a Ph. D. in New Testament from the University of St. Andrews in St. Andrews, Scotland. Along with his wife, Sarah, Matt led a “Footsteps of Paul” tour to Greece and Turkey with his congregation from the Chicago area. He has spent time in New Zealand and Australia, India and Nepal, and Europe. At St. Olaf, Matt assisted on the interim program “Theater in London” in 2016. Matt says, “I have the best job in the world! It is an honor to be a pastor to college students.” Why does he consider his the best job in the world? The worship life at Boe Chapel is vibrant and he enjoys having conversation with Oles about every matter of college life. Matt loves music and is actively engaged in a number of writing projects. He is the author of three books and most recently penned commentaries on The Gospel of Matthew and Hebrews for a forthcoming single-volume commentary on the New Testament (Bloomsbury Academic Press). Matt lives in Northfield with his wife, Sarah, and their two daughters, Noa and Greta.

Katherine Fick has served as Associate College Pastor for over 11 years. A graduate of Luther Seminary in St. Paul, MN, she has fostered her love of travel by taking Luther and Bach tours of Germany as well as visiting friends working in Kenya and South Sudan. She has assisted on interim courses in the Holy Land and London, and co-led a previous alumni and family travel tour with Pastor Matt to the Holy Land. Katie is also a Licensed Associate Marriage and Family Therapist and practices in Northfield. She loves working on the College Ministry team, leading worship and chapel services, as well as working with students from all backgrounds, providing pastoral care and programming – she loves talking with students about whatever is on their mind! Outside of work, Katie loves to read, hike, go to the theater, and plan her next travel adventure. Her husband, Norbert, will also be joining the trip as a guest, and they hope someone safely looks after their cat while they are gone!

Expect to learn new things about a subject that you perhaps thought you were pretty familiar with!

Movement between our main activities will be by private motor coach. Movement at cultural/historic sites will be on foot, requiring a lot of walking and standing, often over uneven ground. You should be capable of walking a mile or more at a time and up to five to seven miles per day, often over uneven terrain, of climbing stairs that may not have handrails, of climbing in and out of various types of transportation, of keeping pace with an active group of travelers on long days of traveling,of dealing with the emotional highs and lows that can occur when experiencing different cultures, and be a considerate member of the group (prompt, courteous and flexible).

Any participant who has demonstrated an inability, in the opinion of the tour leader, of keeping up with the group or of safely participating in program activities may be prohibited from participating in certain activities.

You will be responsible for carrying your own luggage throughout the tour. Traveling lightly is highly recommended.

Hotels will be tourist class (four-star or superior rating) with private baths.

The tour price is PENDING. 

Inclusions and exclusions vary by tour, so please read the following information carefully. We try to strike a balance between nickel-and-diming you once on the tour and allowing you some freedom in your price point (for meals, for example). A variety of modes of transportation tends to be pricier than a single bus throughout the tour. Highly rated guides are essential and should command higher wages.

Inclusions: discussions led by Matt and Katie, a full-time guide, accommodations, breakfast daily and group meals as listed on the itinerary, admissions for group activities, ground transportation during the tour (except initial and final airport transfers), internal flight, gratuities to group guides, drivers, and meal servers, and some limited medical coverage while overseas.

Exclusions: Airfare to and from the US Virgin Islands is not included. Participants are solely responsible for all expenses not specifically included in the tour fee. Examples of excluded expenses are: international airfare, airport transfers, any passport and visa fees, any recommended immunizations or vaccinations, baggage and trip cancellation insurance, alcoholic beverages, including at group meals, laundry, dry cleaning, phone charges, room service or other items of a personal nature, expenses incurred during free time or non-group activities, lunch and dinner, unless specifically included on tour itinerary.

This schedule is TENTATIVE and will be based on payments St. Olaf College must make to tour vendors to guarantee group rates. We highly recommend that you purchase additional trip cancellation insurance at the time of registration to recover your payments should you need to withdraw from the tour.

Deposit due:                   $500 upon registration
Refund if you cancel:    $475 if you cancel on or before May 14, 2026. If the deposit is made after May 14, 2026 there is no refund.

Interim payment due:   $2,000 on May 15, 2026
Refund if you cancel:     $950 if you cancel on or before January 23, 2027

Balance due:                    January 24, 2027
Refund if you cancel:    None, unless the tour is full and your place can be resold

Cancellations must be in writing.

Read the Terms & Conditions (in draft stage) and Release & Waiver.

Review the latest information on recommended immunizations from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC).

Take time to Prepare for Your Adventure by checking out a variety of resources, including frequently asked questions, general health information, included travel insurance, a safety overview, and more.

Hold the dates of March 24–31, 2027, but do not book non-refundable airfare until we can call this tour a go. You could familiarize yourself with our tips on Booking Your Flights.