This year's Maymester included a handful of international learning experiences, including eight programs that spanned the globe from the South Pacific, Africa, Europe, and Central America. While each program had a unique focus, all aimed to foster the development of caring and compassionate global citizens (students!) through travel.

A couple of programs included Woodward partner school visits with homestays – an incredibly impactful, immersive experience for Woodward's Upper School students. Woodward has partner schools in Australia, France, Spain, Germany, and China. These special relationships and programs are one way Woodward Academy sets itself apart from other schools.

 

L’esprit de la France – History and Culture from Medieval to Modern (Middle School)

On the L’esprit de la France program, Middle School students explored the historic cities of Paris, Rouen, and Honfleur, visiting renowned museums such as Musée d’Orsay and cultural landmarks including Monet’s House and Notre Dame Cathedral. Activities, such as a macaron cooking class, fostered creativity and hands-on learning while allowing students to connect with local culture.

 

Opportunity International Nicaragua: Exploring Community Impact and Connection

Fourteen students and four chaperones joined the inaugural program in partnership with Opportunity International Nicaragua. This Maymester program focused on learning about OI Nicaragua’s community economic development model, which has transformed the lives of many community members. OI Nicaragua's goal is to foster relationships with local leaders to help communities address their most pressing needs. The objective is to create lasting economic and social change, helping rural, low-income communities thrive.

Students had an intimate learning experience as they engaged with each of the four pillars of OI Nicaragua’s model: community, education, agriculture, and tourism. Woodward students met with students from OI Nicaragua’s two schools (a technical high school and a primary school), learned special techniques to plant and harvest yuca with rural farmers, visited a processing plant to learn how yuca is pulverized and packaged, visited a local community to learn about a well water installation project, and were invited to speak with community members in their homes.

The students also stayed at the Pacaya Lodge and Spa, which organized cultural activities and adventurous outings (the “tourism” sector of OI Nicaragua). This program provided genuine intercultural exchange and understanding through direct community engagement. To learn more about OI Nicaragua’s important work, visit opportunitynicaragua.org.

 

Institut Saint Paul French Exchange: Roanne, France

The French Exchange is an immersive cultural experience combining language learning and a taste of local life in the small town of Roanne, France. For two weeks, students lived with a host family while attending Woodward partner school, Institut Saint Paul. Students experienced everyday life with their family, along with participating in group activities such as visiting a primary school and agricultural school, traveling to nearby Lyon, and of course, learning all about French gastronomy with hands-on activities at a local bakery, chocolatier, cheese cellar, vineyard, and more. Woodward students will host their French partner when they visit in Spring 2027.

 

Sustainable Futures: Australia and New Zealand

This journey to the Southern Hemisphere began in Sydney, Australia, and included a five-day visit to Woodward’s longest partner school (of 30 years!), The Pittwater House School. Students stayed with host families, getting a genuine feel for local life. Students also joined a few group activities and attended classes. Although the visit was short, many students shared excitement as they made plans to see their host family again.

While in New Zealand, the group embarked on the Global Integrated Science Course portion of the program, learning about geological wonders from volcanoes and high mountain passes to the fjords and waterfalls on the North and South Islands. Students developed a deeper understanding of how geothermal energy is used for electricity generation, farms, and leisurely activities such as soaking in natural hot pools.

 

Eswatini and South Africa: Community Initiative, Trekking, and Safari

This program is built on the values of cultural immersion, leadership, and service learning in Eswatini and South Africa. For the community initiative, the group partnered with a rural Neighborhood Care Point in Eswatini, where they learned the local language and customs of the Swati people while engaging with children the project serves – many of whom lost their parents to the ongoing HIV/AIDS epidemic. The second portion of the program included a safari in Kruger National Park in South Africa, where students witnessed lions, elephants, giraffes, hyenas, hippos, baboons, along with a variety of antelopes and birds. The trip concluded with a multi-day trek through the beautiful Ngwempisi Gorge, followed by a final stop in Johannesburg to visit the Apartheid Museum and Soweto township before flying home.

 

Mathematical Odyssey: Discovering Greece Through Numbers

Students traveled to Greece to discover the ancient civilization that laid the very foundations of modern mathematics. Often hailed as the "home of mathematics," the ancient Greeks viewed math not just as a tool for calculation, but as a path to understanding the world and reaching absolute truth. This immersive journey brought ancient history to life and illuminated the Greeks’ enduring legacy on science, engineering, and modern technology. Students engaged with locals through food, the arts, and many visits to museums and ancient sites.

 

The Natural Wonders of Belize

This international program offered students an immersive experience in the culturally and ecologically rich landscapes of Belize. Participants explored ancient ruins of the Mayan, Xunantunich, and Lamanai people, along with the Hol Chan Marine reserve and Belize Zoo, gaining insight into historical civilizations, contemporary environmental issues, and wildlife conservation efforts. Students also visited a local school, providing opportunities for intercultural exchange and understanding. Of course, water sports were also included – snorkeling and swimming at beautiful beaches, and even kayaking and tubing along waterways that are part of a cave system.

 

Woodward Choir Tour: Germany, Belgium, and France

The Woodward Academy Choir embarks on an international tour every other year. This time, choir students experienced the history, culture, and artistry of Western Europe while sharing their musical talents on stage. Students explored three iconic countries: Germany, Belgium, and France, performing in beautiful and historic venues and deepening their understanding of music’s role in connecting cultures. Highlights included performances in prestigious European churches and concert spaces such as the famous L’Eglise de la Madeleine in Paris, walking the cobblestone streets of ancient cities, cruising the Rhine past the legendary Lorelei rock, and experiencing the charm of Brussels’ Grand Place, Paris’ Eiffel Tower, and Cologne’s towering Gothic cathedral.