International Expeditions

Global Citizenship

Helping students become global citizens is central to our program. Our approach to international travel intentionally differs from that of some schools that purchase prepackaged tours for students. We develop our curriculum and plan travel arrangements using the same public ground transportation used by locals. Each trip begins with a substantial service project - usually in a school, orphanage or other youth service agency - that allow students to build relationships and link them to the culture they are visiting.

Each year, Explorations Academy students have the opportunity to travel overseas for a month-long study and service expedition.  In each case, a full academic curriculum accompanied by a busy travel itinerary and service projects give students a chance to interact in-depth across cultures. These expeditions take place during Winterim and include a full academic course load as well as a service project in the country to which we travel. Students interested in participating in our annual expedition complete a separate application, pay a separate activity fee to cover airfare and other travel costs, and fund raise for their group expenses. Further, participating students must also take part in public events designed to showcase the unique experiences they have while traveling, researching, and studying. Selection of students for participation in the international trip is based upon proximity to graduation, personal maturity, willingness to work as a team, and evidence of commitment to share in the challenges of group travel. Information about the expedition is circulated in the fall for the travel to occur during our Winterim - January and early February. We hold as a goal having every student take part in at least one international trip prior to graduation.

Over the years, Explorations students have studied and traveled in Mexico (2001), Ireland (2003), Nicaragua (2004), Thailand (2005), Peru (2006), Kenya (2007), India (2008), Belize/Guatemala (2009), Indonesia (2010), Cuba (2011), and Thailand (2012). Travel is fascinating and our blogs provide a view into the world of our young international travelers, their learning, and their adventures. Please visit our blog to read past entries from these trips.

In January and early February of 2011, ten student researchers and three lead people traveled to Cuba for three weeks. A rich itinerary took students to a country just 90 miles from America, but for all of its isolation, Cuba was a world away! Defying all logic, the world's 105th largest country is also one of its most instantly recognizable. This cluster explored the revolution that set them apart and the country's unique status in the world as the most sustainable.

The curriculum for this expedition included a study of Cuban Literature, History of the Revolution, Sustainability, and Human Relations Across Cultures. Additionally, the students conducted research on sustainability and high school student engagement in Cuba.

During Winterim 2012, a group of students traveled to Thailand. With biologically diverse jungles, thickly forested mountains, a pristine coastline, and rich cultural and religious heritages, Thailand is a land of exceptional natural and cultural beauty. Thailand is a country that spans urban centers of powerful 21st century economic development and remote the highlands home to cultures and religious traditions almost entirely cut off from the outside world. In these setting students encuntered abundant opportunities to discover the beautiful culture, history and wonder of Thailand.