As a Boston Public School teacher for 34 years at Jamaica Plain High, English High and Boston International, Claudia Bell focused on incorporating educational opportunities that enhanced her history curriculum and engaged her students in deeper critical thinking and active involvement beyond the classroom. Her most comprehensive and impact projects were the 7 years of service learning trips to Honduras. These trips gave her students a better understanding of the history and impact of the inequality of wealth throughout the world and provided them with the opportunity to do their part in becoming actively involved and making a difference ; In this case, it was by building houses for the homeless in Honduras, following the destruction of Hurricane Mitch.
The long term impact of these experiences on both students and teachers inspired Claudia and Anne Wachtmeister, along with alumni of these trips, to start the non profit, Quest Adventures. As a result, many more schools across the BPS have equal access to similar opportunities for their students by receiving grants and personal guidance provided by Quest.