Mercersburg Academy has proposed these travel programs for the 2007-2008 school year. Any given travel program may not go if it does not meet minimum enrollment requirements or other factors require the school to cancel it. Mercersburg has raised significant funds in the hopes of being able to offer an amount of financial aid to qualifying students for these programs so as many students can take part as possible.
December 2007
Oman/Israel – Six students have been selected as ambassadors and will go to Oman and Israel with William Willis, Allison Stephens, and Jeff Pierce. The six students will lead the NAIS Challenge 20/20 project with our partner school, the American British Academy (ABA), in Muscat, Oman from September through February. ABA is hosting a symposium on the same topic as the Challenge 20/20 project: “peacekeeping, conflict prevention, and combating terrorism” in Oman in December. The Israel leg of the travel program will mirror the symposium theme by meeting students in Jerusalem to discuss the topic, and is being planned in part by Mercersburg Board of Regents member James Snyder ’69.
Spring Break 2008
Costa Rica – For the fourth year in a row, students will travel to the Cloud Forest School in Costa Rica near the rainforests in Monteverde. Led by Trini Hoffman, they will experience the rainforest ecology, while engaging in community service projects to help the school. There they will also enjoy homestays with local families, which provide an opportunity to practice Spanish with native speakers.
England Arts – For the second year, Laurie Mufson and Jim Applebaum will lead this travel program in which arts students will have the opportunity to experience art, music, theatre, and dance from Renaissance to contemporary times in and around London, England. They will spend 10 days exploring the history of the arts as they developed in England, making cultural connections through and across the arts, literature and history. They will experience the roots of American artistic culture and see how it developed in England. They will see the birthplace of Shakespeare, walk on the streets he walked, and see the rebuilt Globe theatre where his plays were performed, connecting their study of Shakespeare with their English classes.
Ecuador/Galapagos - When you think of Ecuador, your mind should create images of large tortoises from the Galapagos Islands, beautiful birds from the rain forests of the headwaters of the Amazon river, and breath taking, snow capped volcanoes that straddle the equator. Because of its diverse, natural beauty Ecuador has promoted itself as the number one ecotourism destination. If you would like to discover these diverse ecosystems for yourself, consider joining Mr. Rutherford for a two-week adventure to Ecuador during spring vacation 2008. The tentative itinerary includes the Galapagos Islands, the rain forests of the Napo River, an overnight to a cloud forest, and a day trip to the native markets of Otavalo. The trip will be limited to 14 students. Before the group departs, we will read several articles and parts of books to enrich our experience in Ecuador. If you are interested in being part of this exciting trip please contact Mr. Rutherford or Mrs. Willis.
France AP Studies – In 2009, for the third year, the John H. Montgomery Program Award for Senior Field Study in France will send students from advanced French courses to France as a direct extension of their coursework at Mercersburg. They will plan the travel program around their academic research focus areas in conjunction with Heather Prescott, the travel/study program leader.
South Africa –Led by Jeff Pierce and Denise Dalton, this travel program will encounter peoples, cultures and societies totally foreign to our own and enjoy the rich and unique habitat and wildlife of southern Africa. Students will examine what is unique and what is common between us, examine the history of colonialism, imperialism, racism, apartheid, and resistance in the region, encounter the reality of the developing world, and explore the causes of socioeconomic conditions in that region. They will study the cultural legacy of South Africa and Swaziland through dance, song and other forms of art and interact with Xhosa, Zulu and Swazi people through urban and rural community visits. Student will have the opportunity to participate in community service opportunities, including orphan care for those children infected and affected by HIV/AIDS.
Summer 2008
Chile – This year will be the inaugural exchange with the Colegio Alemán de San Felipe in San Felipe, Chile. Their students will visit Mercersburg for several weeks in January of 2008. In turn, selected students will travel to Chile with Eric Fleming in the summer of 2008 for homestays and classes to immerse them in the Spanish language.
France - For the third year, the John H. Montgomery Award will provide an opportunity for a selected student or two from Mercersburg to go to France or Canada on his/her own for a French immersion language program of the school’s choosing. Heather Prescott oversees the process of student and program selection in conjunction with the Academic Dean and others.
Germany – For the ninth time, Peter Kempe, along with Matt Caretti, will take upper-level students of German to Austria and Germany for a travel program immersing them in the German language. The travel program also includes a homestay with students and families from the Gauss Gymnasium in Worms, Germany, with whom we have shared an exchange for many years.
Israel - Utilizing Mercersburg connections in Israel and in the US, a travel program is being developed for June of 2008. Board of Regents member, parent of an alumnus, and alumnus himself, James Snyder '69, Director of the Israel Museum, will help provide meaningful opportunities to explore Jerusalem. This trip is in the first stages of planning, but should be developed quickly - stay tuned for more details. Please see Mrs. Mufson for more information.
Spain – Led by Wendy Valenteen, this travel program will go to Valladolid, Spain (base for study campus) with weekend trips to Salamanca, Vigo, Santiago de Compostela, Segovia, Burgos, and Madrid. Students will be fully immersed in the Spanish culture by living with Spanish families, participating in the daily routine of their host family and friends, taking morning classes, and planning the main part of their weekend excursions.